Warren Nast – Writer

There’s a story that ZZTop shares about a gig where only one person showed up! Being the professionals that they are, they played for that one person, took an intermission, had a beer with this guy and then finished their show. To this day that guy gets special VIP treatment whenever he goes to a ZZTop show. When I ran my cafe a band called Victory in Heaven Blues Band, played a gig there and they were great. The whole band was tight, and the guitarist was incredible! I feed those guys but felt terrible that no one had showed up. (I still jam to their CD.) As the band packed up their gear, he said, “Don’t worry about it, it’s part of the life.”

The life of a creative person. How many artists and writers were never popular until they were dead? It must have been frustrating to be creating stuff and never having an audience. I like the philosophy that put your ass in the chair, write what you like and maybe others will enjoy it also and you can make some money from it.

From my playlist this classic from ACDC covers all the ups and downs of being a creative person. Crank it up!

“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll)”

Ridin’ down the highway
Goin’ to a show
Stoppin’ on the byways
Playin’ rock ‘n’ roll

A writer often takes on assignments that may take longer and require more research than anticipated.

Gettin’ robbed, gettin’ stoned
Gettin’ beat up, broken boned
Getting had, getting took
I tell you folks, it’s harder than it looks

Some of the things you will write will not pay the bills. But if it is just about the money then you probablky won’t make it.

It’s a long way to the top, if you want to rock ‘n’ roll
It’s a long way to the top, if you want to rock ‘n’ roll
If you think it’s easy doing one night stands
Try playing in a rock-roll band
It’s a long way to the top, if you want to rock ‘n’ roll

The commitment to getting better at your craft requires countless rejections, sitting in writer’s groups, and zoom meetings but if you do the grind you will get better.

Hotel, motel
Make you want to cry
Ladies do the hard sell
Know the reason why

Gettin’ old, gettin’ gray
Gettin’ ripped off, underpaid
Gettin’ sold, second-hand
That’s how it goes, playin’ in a band

Getting old, getting gray…that damn clock won’t stop ticking away.

It’s a long way to the top, if you want to rock ‘n’ roll
It’s a long way to the top, if you want to rock ‘n’ roll
If you wanna be a star of stage and screen
Look out, it’s rough and mean
It’s a long way to the top, if you want to rock ‘n’ roll
It’s a long way to the top, if you want to rock ‘n’ roll

Well, it’s a long way
Oh, it’s a long way
(You should have told me)
It’s a long way
Such a long way

You should have told me! Move forward, don’t quit and finish strong! Maybe someday you’ll be playing to a stadium full of people.

Writer(s): Malcolm Mitchell Young, Angus McKinnon Young, Ronald Belford Scott