Kingfisher: A Small Account of the Struggle (8)

The Craig Problem

Was our little project professional or recreational? This question was at the heart of the Craig problem. For me it was recreational. For the others, it was trying to be professional.

Craig has been one of my closest friends since Junior High, and is important to me. He is Tiffany's brother and is thus important to her. Jay and Craig worked together attempting to sell a screenplay, an experience that did not end well. Little trust remained between the two, and as a result Jay preached Craig's firing as our manager. Tiffany and I did not like the idea of firing our friend and brother from a project he started, and one that he received no money for. We did our best to quell the situation and keep us working forward with the music side. I assured them I would talk with Craig and help on the business side.

We held practice 2 or 3 times a week. We focused our energies on the setlist, creating somewhat of a battle for position:

Tiffany: 80's pop, songs sung by energetic women, songs driven by piano or synthesizers. We constantly reminded her that we did no have a keyboardist in the band. She made CD's enthusiastically and was never disappointed when we could not play her song.

Jay: Blues. His Originals. Came into the project with a wealth of songs and prefers to play ones he already knows. Is willing to learn new songs, but there is a definite shift in enthusiasm when he plays one he already knows. He is a quick learner and prefers to bring his style to any new song introduced to the band.

Hardy: Alternative and Classic Rock. I bring songs each week on CD with the lyrics so that I can try and sneak a few into the setlist. Rarely happens. And when it does, the lack of enthusiasm shared by the other members makes it difficult for a song I bring to stick. The ones that do in fact stick do not sound great.

Songs at this point: Ain't No Sunshine, Turn Me On (Norah Jones), Midnight Special, Bobby McGee, Proud Mary, Roadhouse Blues, Elderly Woman, several originals.