Steve Ball Diary
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Tuesday February 27
Wednesday February 28
Thursday March 01
Friday March 02
Saturday March 03
Sunday March 04
Read the archive
Tuesday March 06
Wednesday March 07
Thursday March 08
Friday March 09
Saturday March 10
Sunday March 11
Monday February 26
Looking ahead, I am so thankful that there is no travel in my
schedule this week. First week this year (or in recent memory) where I did
not have significant travel in the agenda. Looking forward to staying in
town.
Many things to focus on at home.
* * *
Rehearsal this evening with special guest DerekD, visiting and interviewing before he relocates to Seattle. Wish I could offer him a job. Much uncertainty in this department given the sad state of the capital markets and the economy right now.
From the e-mailbag today:
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Ball
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 12:41 PM
To: Curt Golden
Subject: Gemini
Do you ever get the feeling that everything you've done in the past is leading up to one moment in time, Gemini? Well, at least what you've done in the past couple of days leaves you well prepared for what's to come in the next 24 hours. Mercury flourishes in the proximity of Mars energy. You may be needed at the office to take care of some last-minute details. However, if it's business as usual, consider taking the day off to accomplish something really important.
-----Original Message-----
From: Curt Golden
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 12:43 PM
To: Steve Ball
Subject: RE: Gemini
Taurus
You can see where you're supposed to be, but you can't get your feet to take you there. As the Moon drifts slowly through its current Sign, Taurus is unready or unwilling to start the next project. You have much to consider, including whether you even want to be here. Share your thoughts with associates so they'll know why you've made them wait. No matter what decision you come to, there's no doubt that there are some major changes ahead for everyone involved.- Infospace
More from the e-mailbag:
----- Original Message -----
From: Curt Golden
To: Steve Ball
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 9:31 PM
Subject: strange days, indeed
I'm transcribing old diary entries to get them into the new GC Diary database, and I came across this from April 6 2000:
10:53pm
Someday Steve Ball will be compelled to write the definitive history of the early days of BootlegTV. Only then will anyone we know truly understand what a preposterous undertaking this is. If all we had to do was the work we have set ourselves to accomplish, it would be an amazing, unlikely and thoroughly fantastic enterprise. That part is straightforward. Daunting and terrifying, but straightforward. The soap opera that goes along with it. You will just never believe. I’m glad I’m along for the ride, if only to bear witness so that when Steve does write it down, and everyone accuses him of fiction or fantasy, I’ll be able to assure them that he is not exaggerating.
The stories I could tell. Someday.
Perhaps certain names will be changed to protect the less-than-innocent.
* * *
10:54am ~ Earthquake.
Many more stories could be told here. Most of them completely unbelievable, and exactly true. Biting my tongue for now. Not sure if it was Curt's act of signing checks or the conversation between CarmineM and KevinG that caused the earthquake. Either way, it shook up this team just before the team was to be shaken up.
Result: the real earthquake is postponed until tomorrow.
* * *
Thursday March 01
9am, the real earthquake hits. No last minute call from the Governor.
I bet the Governor is dealing with larger issues this morning. Like his 20
companies who are all tanking simultaneously.
Proactive work to take care of those who have given so much. Surreal.
Nothing is what it seems.
Cold in here? Let's set the curtains on fire to stay warm.
* * *
Friday March 02
A day spent recovering from the various earthquakes this week. Finally, a
meeting of the minds in the BN conference room. More clarity and some hope
surfaces amid chaos, rationalizations, and pre-mature post-mortems conducted on
this living body.
The good news: it ain't over yet.
No one suspects or understands the depth of the integrity, resolve, and determination that lives within this team. No time to talk now: watch and learn.
Gemini
What were you so worried about, Gemini? As the Moon begins to make its way out of its current Sign, yesterday's major obstacles look like minor speed bumps. No matter what your chosen profession is, today you are the master of interactive arts and media. Even though your words are clear, you like to leave people guessing what your real message might be. Just keep in mind that there's a difference between lying and simply choosing to omit all of the details.- Infospace
* * *
Worked in the yard. Cleaning up from the winter.
Spring, and many changes, just around the corner.
* * *
Monthly SGC dinner/meeting at Curt's; this is the first 'monthly' meeting we've had in 2001. Ooops. A partial reflection of uncertain times. Some excellent observations and an exploration of the intersection between what is possible and what is practical.
Dean's dessert and Eve's roll-over trick are the empirical highlights of the evening. The need to generate ongoing motivation to write, practice, and rehearse by providing exposure to potential public ridicule (gigs) is addressed in some detail.
Great to have this sextet in one room at one time.
This group needs to perform. And soon.
Need to clarify the definitions and difference between a "band" and a "group." For me, the SGC has never been a "band." It has been and continues to be a group, although, in my current state, I cannot articulate the difference.
No access to a dictionary right now. Who can help me here?
* * *
Sunday March 04
Brunch with the delightful extended family of LH followed by an afternoon of window shopping
and trying on various objects and articles to see how they fit.
* * *
Quick afternoon phone call with DavidS, now in LA to liaise with DGM-US and the Rosenbergs. We are meeting in LA tomorrow morning for the first time this year to reflect on where we've been and where we are going next. It will be great to see him.
Evening: a tedious production job for BN, preparing a leave- behind demo for interested potential strategic partners. Job not completed - I have neither the resources nor the energy to do this job properly tonight. Recognizing this, I cut my loses, and will pick it up again with some help when I get home from LA.
* * *
home
Monday March 05
Early morning flight to LA for more meetings. Four Musketeers traveling
together for this mission: GM, CVB, CM, and myself. A visit to the new DGM
office and a reunion with Amy, Bill, and DavidS in the office.
David and Amy present me with an excellent gift: a "Rosenbergs" hat which also carries the only officially sanctioned "Napster" logo. Offspring, schmoffspring. This is the real thing.
Great exclusive esoteric swag. Should be worth a mint someday. I look like a total dork in this hat. Oh well.
Then, Sushi lunch with this large team with some feature guests (Rosenbergs manager, Adrian, and a tech consultant whose name escaped me...) Great to sync up with DavidS again and this team. Many of the original BootlegTV needs are still alive and well within the world of DGM. Such irony.
* * *
Following lunch, an hour drive south to visit a company who somehow just managed to raise a small pile of cash in an unlikely market. A good meeting. Many laughs and much common ground covered. Complementary activity on all levels.
Hope returns with some phone calls late in the day.
* * *
The bad news: the flight out of LAX is delayed for three hours. Won't be home until after midnight. Also missing SGC rehearsal this evening. Giving up so much in pursuit of an honorable Bootleg transition.
Thanks to all who expressed concern following the earthquake(s) last week. I am fine.
* * *
Tuesday March 06
12:42am. A significant anniversary and a major turning point. Dinner
with my best friend.
* * *
My personal stress level is higher than ever. The reports, innuendos, and rumors of the assumed 'death' of Bootleg Networks are grossly overstated. However, there has been a heart attack.
But, there is still hope for recovery.
Much rides now on our continued ability to communicate and demonstrate the value of what we have built to date. But don't believe the stories you may hear or read. The 'wake' scheduled for Thursday evening may in fact be pre-mature.
Stress: yes. Death: no.
Yes, many things are changing and have changed. But there are still chapters in this unbelievable story that will be written in the next few weeks.
* * *
An active mailbox today. This report from the field made my day today:
----- Original Message -----
From: D
To: sb
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 9:21 AM
Subject: Ping
Hi Steve,
I don't think we've talked since I saw the CGT show in Santa Cruz.
I was in the Apple cafeteria for lunch with the bootleg shirt on, and there was the band. Pat noticed the shirt, came over and said, "Hey, I've got one of those too."
CGT/Tony/Pat did a small acoustic show at the Apple Company Store (in the same building where I normally work when I'm in Cupertino.) There I met R. Chris Murphy, he says hi. At first I thought the Washburn guitars they were playing were a joke. They looked like plastic toys, and they carried them in the cardboard shipping boxes! At the show in Santa Cruz it took a good 15-20 minutes into the show for the Washburns to settle down and stay in tune. They did sound great on the stuff that Paul used to do with the e-bow, sort of like they had the Fernandez sustainer that R. Fripp uses built in or something.
Pat was great, he's quite a fresh addition to CGT and KC.
So, cheers and good wishes,
--D
* * *
One other hilarious highlight from the mailbag. A PS from a mail from TravisH:
"P.S. In other news, I'd also suggest that when the urge to noodle during meetings strikes that the afflicted instead begin picking their nose and eating it. Should the need to noodle very quickly arise, the eater should also exclaim "Hmmm...tasty..." We have standards to uphold."
- TravisH
* * *
One more highlight that took away some of my dark-ness today:
----- Original Message -----
From: MaudeM
To: sb
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 8:51 PM
Subject: Re: Bonjour
Bonjour Steeve,
Turn on your light and getting started.
The sun is always there, you just have to look...
Maude
Sometimes, the hardest advice to take is that we liberally dispense to others. Thank you Maude.
* * *
Wednesday March 07
Waiting games. And homework. Hurry up. Wait. Hurry
up. Wait.
The story of my life.
* * *
This just in from BobW, courtesy of Encarta:
band 1 [band] (plural bands) noun
1. MUSIC musicians playing together: a group of musicians who play together, particularly a group playing popular or rock music
2. MUSIC HISTORY instrumental ensemble: in pre-18th-century Europe, an instrumental ensemble (archaic)
3. group with same beliefs or purpose: a group of people who have the same ideas or beliefs or who are pursuing the same activity together a growing band of supporters
4. ANTHROPOLOGY small simply-structured group: a small group of people with a relatively simple social structure
group [groop] noun (plural groups)
1. set of people or things: a number of people or things considered together or regarded as belonging together
2. people with something in common: a number of people sharing something in common such as an interest, belief, or political aim an unemployed workers' group
3. MUSIC band of musicians: a small number of musicians, especially in pop music, who play together as a unit
Good clarification, even if it provoked some semantic nonsense (mine) and interesting fallout.
<<particularly a group playing popular or rock music>>
In a nutshell, the qualification at the end of definition 1 for 'band' is is my issue with SGC as a 'band.' I don't consider the music we play to be popular or rock, and I heavily associate the word 'band' with rock and pop.
Semantic problem solved. BFD.
And now back to our regularly scheduled stuff that matters. Like getting in a room together and playing music.
* * *
Thursday March 08
Received a 'call for help' today from an old, very close friend, struggling to
find meaning when all around appears to be transient and empty.
* * *
An earlier-than-I-thought SGC 'calisthenics' rehearsal at Dean's means I have to sacrifice dinner with my sweetness.
A good rehearsal: airport exercise, interval training, King for a Day, and Star Power. Some new powerful material in the works.
* * *
Friday March 09
A long, long day. And a meeting at MS in the afternoon with some old
friends. Excitements brewing here.
* * *
A call from the 'Guv'nor' late in the day. A quick recovery and rebound from last weeks real earthquake now seems likely. Confirmation to come on Monday.
What a strange roller coaster ride. Around every corner, a new surprising horror.
* * *
Another inspiration from the mailbag:
----- Original Message -----
From: LH
To: sb
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2001 9:57 AM
Subject: quote of the day
"Dwell in possibility." Emily Dickinson
* * *
Practiced for two hours this evening. Worked on KFAD, Star Power, 'orphan,' and two new songs. LH having a night out with friends before ML's shower tomorrow.
Missed her badly, but got some good work done.
10:34am. This just in:
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brock Pytel"
To: "Steve Ball"
Sent: Saturday, March 10, 2001 3:25 AM
Subject: your unreadable diary
Steve,
Ha !
I pasted the text into BBEdit and successfully read your March 5th diary.
I have foiled your attempts at secrecy.
(The things some people will do at 3:22 am...)
BTW, there is a nice duckpin bowling alley down the street and Clem likes to pick the lucky balls. When was the last time you went bowling, businessman ?
All the best to your traveling blondness,
-B
--
Brock Pytel
Scamindy Records
1736 Napier St.
Vancouver, BC V5L 2N2
CANADA
www.brocksongs.com
Brock, we miss you, Heather, and Clem in Seattle. Please come home soon. Hope your new band is going well. Did you hear that Curt is now underemployed? < hint, hint >
Guess I'll have to try a smaller font.
* * *
Need to respond to long emails from SP and DS today. This will take some work. Sitting quietly at home alone to prepare.
* * *
Sunday March 11
Wonderful day, despite mildly apocalyptic activities happening all around.
In good spirits again after a bleak week.
* * *
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