Hi, everyone.

I bumped into this blog post on the Stick and it's not too bad, even if it does call us nerds.

http://techyum.com/2010/12/the-chapman-stick/

-Eric

It's not really a positive blog, but i have to give the writer credit that he/she took the time to do some research on the instrument. I think that people unkown to the stick, just might develop enough interest for the stick to check it out.

Cheers,
Bas.

I actually thought it was a pretty good write up. I think the writer has a good "tongue in cheek" attitude about the whole thing, and he hit a fairly good cross section of players.

And I think we all have to admit that we are a nerdy bunch.

Thanks for the link, Eric. Another bit of drive-by publicity, but I do like Tom Roche's "take" on The Stick, and there's no harmful intent, just a healthy dose of irreverence and one-upmanship, a stylistic thing. I think it's refreshing to receive coverage with a new and off-the-wall perspective.

It's true though we are nerds!

I found the blog interesting and this whole NERD thing is the type of attitude i've come to expect from rock guitarist. Many I've met and played with think if you don't play a rock guitar thought a Marshal all tube stack you're a nerd. (Ignorance has many faces) But as Emmett and others have pointed out the author seemed to be kind of tongue in cheek about his nerd references and did post some great reference videos.

Personally, although playing the Stick has "kicked my ass" over the past year and a half (I have gotten back into playing it over the past two weeks in a big way) I still think it's the ultimate COOL instrument to be associated with. COOL ... NOT Nerd!! COOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!

Whenever I get into the rut of trying to play "guitar and bass" on Stick, the musicality seems to suffer and the whole thing seems less than cool. BUT, when I find myself playing stuff that is strictly "Stick music" or styles that are unique to our instrument... it is way beyond cool.

Great quote, Walter. I feel the same way and I'm taking some surprising turns from where I thought I'd be going. This is the most fun I've had with music.

-Eric

I could care less what other people call "nerdy". I do what I love and I love what I do. Lots of other people do, too. I guess all the people who buy my CDs are "nerds" too. Funny. I laugh all the way to the bank. The "cool" guitarists have to go back to their day jobs after earning $100 playing a "cool" club. I just go home and make more music. Pretty nerdy, alright.

Matt, i know it's not my business but i have to ask ... do you make your living just playing Stick now? If you would rather not tell "the world" I sure respect that and won't take offense if you don't want to answer but your last statement leads me to believe that's how you make a living now which is very cool indeed.