This blog appeared a few weeks back on the Traditional Music Forum website by musician Duncan Lyall. It’s great, thoughtful and I think you would like to read it!
No.
NO.
I’m practicing here.
NO!
I find it difficult not to say yes.
If feels good to say yes when someone asks me to do a gig, or play on a recording, or produce an album, or do just about anything that makes me feel valued. It’s a buzz knowing someone likes what you do and wants a piece of it. It’s good for the ego, isn’t it? Plus there’s the other upside, making some green and paying the rent. In fact there are lots of reasons why YES seems to be the only possible answer. Hanging out with friends, travel, working in cool studios, playing beautiful venues, meeting new people, experiencing different cultures. It’s the dream, right? How could anyone say no?
But I need to learn how to say this word.
No. No way. Absolutely Not. Nix. Negative. It doesn’t feel nice to type, let alone say.
Read the whole blog here https://www.traditionalmusicforum.org/blog-post/?newsid=19452