Getting back into the groove...

(So, I'm listening to the new Seth Horan CD, Clang & Chime (as part of his team of producers, I got four copies...if you're nice, I may share!) Kickin' tunes, excellent vocals and bass chops!

Still hoping to do Berklee Online at some point in the next 18 months...may have to fix my daughter's teeth first though...in the meantime, the pursuit of musical excellence continues!

Getting back into the groove, students are back, and this year they're all doing really well for the most part. So the question is, how do I keep MYSELF excited and into the groove? Without a steady gig/creative outlet, what to do?

Well teaching guitar and bass in itself helps. As a mostly self taught musician, going through the theory and practical aspects, disciplining myself to teach proper techniques is good in and of itself. Plus, gotta keep ahead of them! So I'm throwing myself into Norm Stockton's Grooving for Heaven Video series, it's great material...learning not only theoretical and practical techniques, but also healthier, ergonomic ways to play.

Also, going back to the other instruments I've learned, and looking at picking up new ones! I pulled out the acoustic and played and sang before a student arrived earlier this week, and something just clicked. Later that night, I pulled the keyboard out (I'd put it away after the reno thinking it takes up a bit of space and I don't use it that much, so I'd just pull it out and use it as needed) and set that back up, played some gospel tunes on that...love the slash chords and shots...and yeh, that's going to improve my skills not only as a bass player, but as a musician, composer, arranger, and producer as well...

...anddddd....we're back! Had to run my daughter to the E.R., bruised bone in her foot, no fracture thank goodness...so I'm picking up my train of thought roughly 4 hours after I started this...


...and so yeh, feeling a little more inspired! Listening to lots of stuff...jamming with lotsa folks when the opportunity for rise (again, no steady gig right now, so I'm available for hire yo!)...just soaking up as much as I can musically and having as much fun in life as better...all about getting into the groove...and getting to the point where I'm the best musician I can be! Word!



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Now playing: Seth Horan - So Sorry
via FoxyTunes

Has it really been that long???

Wow, it has been a minute, eh? No posts at all in September...what's been happening?

Well, the Groovin' for Heaven Bass Clinic at L&M was a success, despite the storm and tornado warnings that evening. Next night I got to see Norm play with Lincoln Brewster at a concert in Barrie, great show, plus I learned a lot just hanging out with the band and watching the show. They're all a great bunch of guys, look forward to hanging with them again sometime in the future (ambitious project, but on my list of things to work on next year is bringing Linc, Norm, and the boys to the SWO area for a worship conference/clinic...may take a couple of years to make it actually happen, but I'm going to get started!)

Did an old school private engagement with Matisse and the Playground last month as well. Great to play some of that old school classic funk, R&B, and dance tunes, it's been a while. Great also to hang out with my boys Maurice and Tune, hadn't seen them since June...and hadn't seen 88 Keys and Shezelle since the Valentine's Day gig! But it was like old times, we had the joint hopping like we do, and heard we may have a few more before the year's end, looking forward to that!

Also had the privilege of playing for my "baby" cousin Erica's wedding to Orville Smith two weekends ago (note: like my mother, Erica is also a Richardson who married a Smith)...it has been a LONG while since I played straight gospel chops, but again, like coming home. Interesting in that there was very little rehearsal (the rehearsal I showed up at I actually played keys for the two main vocalists to work on their parts and not bass!) but it came off great! The MC they hired for the reception was off the hook, I have his card somewhere and will post his information, but he was just hilarious: the letter from "Cousin Blacka Smith" was worthy of being on Comedy Central's Comedy Special, no doubt!

And, played in Barrie this past weekend with the Collective at the Barrie Connexus, and will be heading to Orillia this Sunday again. Those are always learning experiences, both from a playing perspective (no rehearsal, learn the tune cold on your own and just do it with the band) and also from a fellowship perspective. We (the band) have some pretty cool conversations, some serious, some not, some spiritual ("Jesus was not thinking about you when He was on the Cross"...seriously, think about it...)...yeh, just realised how much I missed doing the Connexus services with the guys, looking forward to doing more of those...

Picked up 3 new students (actually, 1 of them is a returning student after a 3 year break) so I now have 5 students total, with room for one or two more (call me!) Did a "barter" deal (exchange of lessons for services) and ended up with a.) a beautiful new floor to replace the carpet I threw down in the studio and b.) a heating duct run out to the studio; no more electric heater and astronomical Hydro Bill to go along with it. I'm checking into this concept of barter replacing cash...I can dig it...just gotta make sure all parties are aware of what is actually being bartered (a small hiccup that's in the process of being resolved...lesson learned!)

Gear stuff: Still alternating between the Traynor DB300T and the Gallien Krueger NEO1001/212 combo...both are Yorkville distributed, though Traynor is made by Yorkville...the DB300T is perfect for smaller gigs, and for gigs where I need a stage monitor and have limited cargo space (i.e. Connexus gigs) and it's great as a head in a situation where there's a cab in house (i.e. 24/7 Church)...however, I really love the sound/idea of 2x12 cabs, and the weight, preamp, and built in wheels and handles (read: easy to transport) make it ideal for club/corporate shows. So I'm just enjoying the best of both worlds (BTW, YSL stuff is available for interest free financing this month, so if you're looking for an amp...)

Still rocking (and loving) my MTD Kingston Z5 and ZX basses. Saddened that we're not currently carrying them in stock, but hoping that will change soon...want to get a fretless and a 6 string fretted at some point!

Okay, that's enough of an update...I'll try to holler at y'all again before not too long. Blessings and groove be with you, shalom!



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Now playing: J Moss - Operator
via FoxyTunes

Norm Stockton Bass Clinic Aug 20th 2009

Yeh, so I noticed my good friend Norm Stockton was going to be in Barrie doing a concert with Lincoln Brewster August 21st, so I dropped him an e-mail to see if we could get another Groovin' Clinic happen at Long & McQuade Burlington...he was into it, so it's going to happen! Norm is a clinician endorsed by Gallien Kruger amps and MTD Bass Guitars, author of the "Grooving for Heaven" DVD/Video Bass Instruction series, and as mentioned, bassist for Lincoln Brewster and others, in addition to being a solo bassist.

Clinic Info

Norm Stockton

Norm's Facebook Fan Page

This is a FREE Clinic, just register by e-mailing me at ajacksonsmith@long-mcquade.com or call me at the store (905-319-3330 x.43) so we know how many seats to put out.

Looking forward to seeing you 8/20, peace!

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Now playing: Norm Stockton - Pondering The Sushi
via FoxyTunes

Quick iPhone Update

Well, so far, so good. Got a call from the office of Rogers Wireless's president, within a few days I got an iPhone...not the 16GB that I'd requested, it seems they're out of those and who knows when (or if?) they'll get anymore. So I got an iPhone 3G 8GB at a fair price. There's some billing adjustments that need to take place, but so far, so good.

Special thanks to John and Rob who're helping right the ship as it were...I'll blog more about that once everything is finalized!



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Now playing: Kanye West - Good Life (ft. T-Pain) CLEAN
via FoxyTunes

I Hate Rogers!

As of Friday PM, they're still back ordered on the iPhone. So Maura gets a manager on the phone, told him straight up I shouldn't have to be calling them everyday, the onus should be on them to get me the phone, ship it direct from Apple (which Ray thought was a great idea, I think he's going to steal it...)

So he promises me he's going to take care of this...his colleague Gerard is going to call me Monday morning since he's going on vacation and he'll look in on this when he gets back. However...a friend who works at Rogers but can't get involved due to conflict of interest assures me that they received stock on Friday as Max had indicated. I'm thinking GREAT!

Well, naturally, no phone call, so I call Rogers and speak with Joe...and he sez none available. I almost CHOKE! I think "maybe it's just not showing yet...and call back after work that evening and speak with Dianne...she also sez not available...I told her straight up I was told by someone who would know that they have them available and I'm told sale staff have them but customer service doesn't????

Now, logically I would suggest that they get one from the sales staff...right???

So she's promised to get back to me by 5 PM on Friday...or she will have the system e-mail me when my order has been placed (which is what should have happened in the first place!)

At this point, my opinion of Rogers has gone 180 degrees the other way. I have no faith in them to restore my warm fuzzy feelings I used to have for them. So I'm formulating plan B for Blackberry...second choice, but it's a phone with browsing capability. It's a dang shame that only Rogers has the iPhone in Canada, otherwise I would have went to a competitor two weeks ago! I can understand conversation with them, but their customer service turns out to be just as lousy as Bell...and I think that makes me MORE frustrated!

So, if they can't get my iPhone in my hands by next Tuesday, my daughter gets her wish for a cell phone, she can have my number and the crappiest phone that she's able to afford (mine's toast, which is what started this whole thing...) Then I will approach Bell and Telus and see who will give me the best deal on a Blackberry and data plan and suck their crap for the contract term...


...cell phones really suck...if I win the Lottery I'm going to start a wireless service provider that cares about their customers and doesn't screw them over!



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Now playing: Snoop Doggy Dogg - It Aint No Fun
via FoxyTunes

Wow...still without an iPhone

...so, first off let me start off by again saying that up to now, I've been completely happy with Rogers. Their customer service reps have been courteous, they speak proper English (as in they're Canadians, not working outsourced to some third world company) and up until now have been able to meet my needs. After a series of bad experiences with Bell Canada, Bell Mobility, and Bell Sympatico, we decided...well, I decided...that we would not do any further business with Bell. Home and mobile phones are with Rogers, Digital Cable and internet are with Cogeco (who I keep hearing rumours are partially or wholly owned by Rogers anyways...) However, recent events have conspired to make me take a serious look at my relationship with Rogers Wireless. The story's getting longer, so I thought I'd put part of it up while it's fresh in my mind...I've been taking notes recently, but some of the early stuff is getting kind of hazy.

Our tale begins on Father's Day, Sunday June 21st. I'm flipping burgers for the big BBQ, our friends the Walls are over with their 4 kids playing with our 4, and I get a call from Rogers CS, nice young lady by the name of Kristi. She reviews the upgrade options in regards to going from our Nokias to iPhones and what not, and then we decide that she'd give us a call back in a week for a decision.

Sunday June 28th roll around, we decide on the plan and a 3G 16GB Black for myself and an 8GB model for Mrs. Groove. Mrs Groove's phone arrives two days later on our 8th anniversary...she claims it's the best anniversary gift I've ever gotten for her? Umm...okay honey, you're welcome! My phone does not yet arrive...

...so on Monday July 6th, I contact CS to find out what's going on. Keith (I think, not taking notes at this point) looks it up on the system and tells me my phone was shipped that day, should arrive next day. Yay!

Not yay! The phone arrives, I go into my office to crack the box and charge it up...uh oh...it's the wrong model, only an 8GB...so I call CS and speak with Juliette (I'm starting to get that feeling, so I'm taking note of names at this point...). She was absolutely no. help. whatsoever. She basically said there's nothing she could do! So I hung up frustrated...

...I stewed for a bit...then called back again...this time I got Adam (1.0) He was EXTREMELY helpful, he was able to look on the system and tell me that there were 16GB phones available. But they wanted me to send them the phone first before they ordered me the next one. We discussed the option of me keeping the 8GB, but I wanted to be sure I wasn't billed for the 16GB incorrectly, so he forwarded me to "Track and Trace" (aka Resolve?) Now that lady talked too fast for me to catch her name, but the basic synopsis of that conversation was:

1. First have to send the 8GB back for the 16GB
2. The billing for the 8GB if I kept it would not be at the same price as the first 8GB...it would be for another $50 more than what I'd agreed to pay for the 16GB phone!!! ($120 more than the first 8GB!!!)

I got referred back to Adam (2.0., a different, useless Adam) who was no help and throroughly unsympathetic to my situation. So I decided to ship the phone back and see what happened when they got the form I'd filled out.

Anyway, it turns out that you can't upgrade two phones at the same time...I contacted Chris on Thursday the 9th, and he was very helpful. He agreed that if I'd agreed to a certain price for a certain product, then that's what I should pay for that product! He issued me a claim number, and told me that a manager would be in contact with me within 48 hours (my account apparently had to be reset or over ridden by a manager.)

So, 48 hours roll by, no phone call. My buddy Geoff tells me I should wait 48 business hours...sure, no problemo...so after work on Monday night, I contact Rogers CS yet again and speak with Devine...he can look at my file, but can't get a manager, no manager works there after 5PM??? So I asked when I could talk to a manager...and he sez he can put me back in the que and maybe someone in Ontario will pick up...um, turns out he's in Quebec???

So, back on hold I go and back to Toronto to speak with Augusta who got her supervisor Bonnie on the phone...Bonnie was extremely sympathetic to the situation, apologized that Chris's manager hadn't gotten back to me, and told me that he was the one who had to reset my account...so she updated the notes on my account and went the extra step of finding out what was the best way for this manager (Darryl) to get in touch with me...and said he should be in touch with me tomorrow (Tuesday...)

...so, all day yesterday, no phone call...a guy that works in our P.A. department had a number that I could contact Rogers Wireless directly and avoid Silicone Sally and the voice prompts, so I called that today after work and got through to Candace...she looks up my file...and puts me on hold...and 20 minutes later, after listening to their horrible hold music, I'm DISCONNECTED!!! Wow!!!

So I call back, and speak with Max. Another sympathetic person, apologetic...looks up my file, it turns out that my account has been reset, but that my order can't be placed...because they ran out of stock...last weekend.

AGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

If only Darryl had contacted me within the 48 hours!!!

So, because they can't just order out of the blue, I have to call them back daily to see if they have any in stock and place the order (they hope to have them back in stock by Friday). Frustrated? You betcha!

It has however taught me an invaluable lesson in the Golden Rule...as an Account Services Manager for L&M, I need to make sure I don't make people feel how I've been made to feel in this process.

Again, I love the Rogers service (not the franchises. Got sold a phone that was represented as new, the text messages on there almost got me divorced. Got advised by corporate off the record to deal only with Rogers and not the franchisees...) They've for the most part been great! And I'll be extremely careful when making arrangements in the future. We just gotta get through this tough time in our relationship...and then everything will be "just, fiiiinnne!"




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Now playing: Warren G Ft. Nate Dogg - Regulators
via FoxyTunes

iCovetousness

If you've been following my Twitter and my Facebook lately, you'll know that I'm having some issues regarding resolution of my iPhone order from my wireless provider...well, there's only one WSP that works with an iPhone in Canada, so I may as well go ahead and say it's Rogers...and I still think they're the best WSP in Canada, and we will get past this issue and go on to have a great relationship again...

...it doesn't help that Mrs. Groove has had her phone for over a week and is thoroughly loving it...calls it at first the best anniversary present I ever got her, and then the best present I've EVER gotten her! She's constantly showing me the new discoveries she's making with her phone...which irks me even more as I await resolution regarding mine! This has prompted feelings of what my friend Geoff has termed iJealousy...

...aka iEnvy and iCovetousness...jealousy is one of the 7 deadly sins, so you could come up with the 7 Deadly iSins:

1. iExtravegance
2. iLust
3. iGluttony
4. iGreed
5. iSloth (laziness for you non english lit nerds)
6. iWrath
   
7. iPride

I was trying to come up with 10 i-Commandments, but it after no i-Dolls, it seemed pretty sacrilious to this boy who's a Holiness PK (sort of). I mean 6 through 10 are pretty easy though

• Thou shalt not iKill
• Thou shalt not iFornicate
• Thou shalt not iSteal
• Thou shalt not iLie
• Thou shalt not iCovet
  

I suppose I'm also guilty of iWrath, or iAnger...I'm definitely not happy so far that there doesn't seem to be a resolution in site...wrong phone was returned (just checked the UPS tracker, it was picked up and is on it's way, whew!) I decided not to make any more calls today, getting some good advice from people, both customers that have had not so great experiences as well as others in the customer service industry...we'll see what happens next, I may call again tmo...or not...but I needed to just chill for a bit, and was joking around with some friends tonite, and came up with the above...

...so, I will pray for forgiveness of my iSins, and that my iEnvy and iWrath be turned to iJoy (or some semblence thereof, an iPhone can't really bring true joy despite Mrs. Groove's and other's protestations to the contrary) when the right phone arrives...at the right price...watch for a full blog with the entire experience soon, I'm taking detailed notes now...

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Now playing: Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough
via FoxyTunes