Whose Opinion Matters

idea Pronunciation: \ī-ˈdē-ə, -ˈdēə also ˈī-(ˌ)dē-ə or ˈī-dē\

Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from Greek, from idein to see — more at wit

Date: 14th century

1 a : a transcendent entity that is a real pattern of which existing things are imperfect representations b : a standard of perfection : ideal c : a plan for action : design

I'm at the SF MusicTech Summit, a convergence of musicians, music technology companies and pundits that Brian Zisk as been producing for a few years. There are a lot of great folks who've assembled which can quickly get overwhelming —influence, buzz, whose making money, whose not, why, does music matter, where's the music?, etc, etc. I walked in as Jay Frank was mid-sentence saying ''...and make it about the music" and immediately, and happily, saw the faces of local musician friends Todd Tate and Valerie Orth and David Wilcock. Kicking off the event at the Meet the Press panel listening to Jon Healey (LA Times) ask the assembled folks who they thought of as influencers, and I thought, no matter what site I go to or what designated authority says, it generally comes down to these faces—the local (and on their way to regional, national...) musicians I know who have hung in and keep striving, growing and listening to one another as much as anyone else.
Which is part of what led me and Jean Mazzei to initiate our Great Idea Tour, a musical and mindful swing through the Southwest in March, that will find us playing music, practicing yoga and challenging local communities to think up 'great ideas' to better their local, grassroots communities in some way.
What's your great idea? We'll be taking suggestions very soon....