Buy In

When you show up to a show or a session, there’s a moment early on where you either buy into what’s happening or not.

You either like the vibe of what is going on, or you distance yourself a little or a lot because you’re not into it. Distancing can look like not engaging with anyone else in the room, subtly implying that you’re above this kind of work (usually masked by subtle bragging or name dropping), and/or ratcheting back any kind of enthusiasm.

Side note: sometimes this can come off as being “the cool guy”. But let’s face it, nobody wants to be on a session or gig with cool people who are excluding you, no matter how cool they are.

If you’re a hired gun (meaning someone is paying you to play on their stuff) part of your job is buy in. That doesn’t mean you accept the external crap that may or may not be going on. That means positivity, attention, kindness, presence, enthusiasm, and emotional intelligence are not optional. They’re the main reason people want you in the room.