In April 2011, I took all my savings, bought a truck, and hit the road. I took my piano and my dog as my companion. I did it because I wanted to find meaning to my life beyond the monetary. I did it because I wanted to be challenged. I did it because I wanted to see what life is like in the rest of the world, to meet all kinds of people, to see if I could sustain a living doing what I love most: Making music.

I arrived home on September 2011 and went on another Roadtrip to Florida in November 2011 which taught me that with the right planning, I could make a living doing what I love by combining delivery jobs and playing piano.

I returned home to New York City in December 2011 and started putting together my ideas for the next big thing. I sold my truck for a loss and eventually saved up enough money through street performing in NYC to buy a smaller, more economical Van.

I spent 6 months in New York and started to go back to my old lifestyle: driving an Insurance Broker around NYC and working as an assistant for an artist. After 4 months, I became restless again and decided on a whim that I’m going to take another road trip and challenge myself even further.

This is the $2 Roadtrip:

The Challenge:

To see if I could travel across the Northeast and Canada starting with only a $2 bill and 1 gallon of gas.

My Gear:

My plan was to bring very few things with me. I learned in the past that simple is best. Here is a list of what I brought.

• Hygiene kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, Deoderant, mouthwash)
• Clothes (5 pairs of socks, 4 shirts, 3 pants, 3 shorts, 4 underwear)
• Sunglasses
• 4 Rachets to secure piano
• Dog Supplies (5 lbs bag of dog food, 2 collars, 2 leash)
• iphone 4
• Notebook
• Laptop
• Stool
• Bucket
• Kimball Piano
• All Terrain Piano dolly
• Sleeping Bag
• Food Cooler
• 3 Books: (Into the Wild by Jon Krakaeur, Walden by Thoreau, A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink)

Cities Visited:

• New York City, NY
• New London, CT
• Provincetown, MA
• Boston, MA
• Portsmouth, NH
• Kinnebunkport, ME
• Portland, ME
• Vinal Haven Island, Maine
• Acadia National Park, ME
• Bar Harbor, ME
• Quebec City, Canada
• Montreal, Canada
• Toronto, Canada
• Niagara Falls, Canada
• Buffalo, NY
• Rochester, NY
• Lake George, NY
• Saratoga Springs, NY

The $2 Roadtrip:

I started in NYC with $2 in my pocket and a gallon of gas…

1. TriBeCa, New York City

My first location was Tribeca in front of the Whole Foods. The same location where my Piano Fell on my Hand 2 years before. This area gets a lot of the Financial District employees and children from the park across the street.

After playing for 3 hours I made $152 which was more than enough to fill up my cooler with food and a full tank of gas. I left New York not knowing what to expect and a little nervous that I wouldn’t be able to make enough to support myself.

The next day was rainy all day until I reached New London where i went to school for a semester at the National Theater Institute. I spoke to some of my friends and they told me to go to Cape Cod.

My original plan was to go to Providence, Rhode Island, but already in the 2nd day of my travels I changed my course to head to Provincetown, Cape Cod. I didnt know anything about the town but I figured, since Ive never been to there I might as well check it out. How many times will I go out there in my life?

When I travel, I never go to Hotels because I think they are a waste of money and I try to use Couchsurfing or Craigslist alot to make new friends and find a place to sleep. This first night I spent sleeping in the van.

2. Provincetown, Massachusetts

I got there the next morning and watched the sunrise at 6 AM. By 9 AM I met a bunch of the other street artist. A street Face painter was there who told me that I needed to get a permit at the police station. It was quick and painless. It was also the first time I ever got an official permit.

I set up my piano at 10 AM to grab a good spot in front of the Town Hall. I couldn’t help but notice one thing. Everyone was gay. I thought there was a festival or something but then I realized that the entire town was gay. Even many of the police officers were gay and they were very nice. By Noon, we had a bunch of teenagers surrounding my piano and jamming out with us.

One person who inspired me was Will. He was 16 and has been living life on his own as a street performer after getting emancipated by his parents. What inspired me was his independent and the fact that he sings with his playing. I dont sing because I havent practiced it and I’m not as confident with my voice. But he inspired me to let go of my fears and just go for it. Who cares what people think?

After hanging out with Will and saying goodbye to him I left on a Monday morning towards Boston. There was a little morning rush traffic, but when I arrived I wanted to go back to Provincetown. This was definitely one of my favorite towns to street perform in.

3. Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is a big city with a ton of history but Provincetown had a lot of character and I made some great friends there.

This is the one thing that is tough about traveling the way I do. You work hard to open yourself up and make friends and within an instant you are off to another place to do it all over again. I miss all the close connections I made on this trip.

I adjusted to the big city life, and found some friends to host me through Couchsurfing who gave me a mattress and a blanket to sleep with, and we hung out that night and had some interesting intellectual conversations. The next day I drove all around the city and explored my options for playing. Because there are so many areas with pedestrians I found it difficult finding a good spot that includes parking. After many hours of driving, I settled for a location with a ton of pedestrians in the Financial district.I parked my car in a 2 hour spot and pushed the piano over to the 1st location. I played for 30 minutes and was told to leave by the manager of the building in front of me. With an hour and a half more to go I went to another location, got kicked out again, and then another location. By the end of the 2 hours I had probably walked a half mile and was tired. I loaded up the piano and grabbed some lunch.

It was so difficult playing piano in Boston I chose to leave the next day towards Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

4. Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Portsmouth was a great little town. I got there a little later in the day and walked around. Eventually I decided to play piano for a few hours in the afternoon as a few people walked by. I didnt make much money but by nightfall a group of traveling hippies came out and I hung out with them. More people showed up and we were banging on bongos and talking for a while. I had a few beers at this one bar that had over 100 beers on tap and I felt good at that point. I celebrated my first week on the road.

5. Portland, Maine

I arrived in Maine and noticed that everywhere I went I saw Lobster, Shrimp, and Crab. After stopping in Kennebunkport (such a wierd name) to get some fried clams I continued north towards Portland, Maine.

I got to Portland in the early afternoon and saw the beautiful red brick buildings of Commercial street. I love the old time, small town feeling of Portland, Maine. People were very friendly and there were plenty of tourist cruising through the shops. And of course, Plenty of Lobster.

The Next day was cloudy but I took out the piano anyway on Commercial street. There I met this other band playing for the brunch crowd at a restaurant. They called me over and we jammed on 3 songs. They gave me some coffee and afterwards I wheeled over to another spot to play some piano. Later in the day, the drummer of the band came over and invited me to come to his annual family gathering in Vinal Haven. Check out: The family in Vinal Haven Island, Maine.

I played for 3-4 hours and it drizzled a little bit. People were very friendly and I met people who were from all over. I even met a couple who saw me in Provincetown!

The next day I drove up to Rockport to catch the Ferry to Vinal Haven Island. There i met Dan (the drummer from the other day) and he brought me through the beautiful island to their lakefront home where I met his entire family.

6. Vinal Haven Island, Maine

Vinal Haven Island was one of my favorite places on this entire trip. I met an incredible family and just went with the flow. It is the truest feeling of letting life take you for the journey I have ever felt. Without a doubt one of the greatest moments I have ever had traveling. Check out: The family in Vinal Haven Island, Maine for the full story.

7. Acadia National Park

I was debating if I should continue going North or head West to Vermont. I know that I probably wont be coming up to Maine very often so I figured I would go up to Acadia and spend a few days hiking, enjoying the weather, and maybe playing piano in the woods.

I didnt end up playing in the woods, but I did do many hours of challenging hiking with Brando and saw some amazing views of the Maine coast. I would definitely come back here.

Bar Harbor was just another shopping mall town with plenty of tourists walking around. I didnt play there either because I read that they dont like street performers and I would be kicked out in a second. I didnt want to bother with dealing with police.

8. Quebec City, Canada

After dealing with some not so nice Border control people I drove all the way through the night and arrived in Quebec City. The next morning it was like a nightmare where I woke up and everyone spoke a different language I dont understand. All the street signs are different and i searched for 2 hours for a place to get a good exchange rate.

I was running around all over trying to figure out where to get Internet, how to get a permit for street performing, and finding a place to sleep. But by the end of the day I started to adjust and explored much of the Old City.

The next day I met a bunch of acrobats who were trying to get a busking permit. They told me to stay for the next few days because of the Quebec City Festival. I listened and stayed for a total of 4 very busy days. They also helped me get a 4 day busking permit.

I made a really amazing friend through Couchsurfing named Alex who I hope to see again in the future. He was very generous and showed me around to his favorite spots.

The weather was beautiful and I played EVERYWHERE in the old City of Quebec. People were incredibly supportive and generous. I had huge crowds of 40 people surrounding me at times and the energy was really open and supportive of the arts. Everywhere I went there was another street performing.

What is so amazing about Quebec is that it makes you feel like you’re in Europe but you’re still in North America. The city has so much charm and the people are open to all arts. The history is well preserved and the city is incredibly beautiful. Quebec City is truly one of my favorite cities in North America.

9. Montreal, Canada

Montreal wasnt as friendly as Quebec, but I did make another great friend named Alejandro from Mexico who was living there for a few months.

Montreal was my 50th city of playing piano on the streets. It was a big deal except for the fact that I needed to get a permit and I missed the auditions. The cops were nice though, they even enjoyed my story. See: Almost getting arrested in Montreal for playing piano.

10. Toronto, Canada

Toronto was where I felt like I was back in the USA. Everyone spoke English again and I was able to read the street signs without being confused.

I had the opportunity to stay with a family in Toronto who were so generous and really great cooks! I played with their kids and we had some in depth intellectual conversations.

I wanted to play everyday in Toronto, but it rained every single day I was there. But surprisingly enough, the people were still very friendly and open to my performance. I met a Cancer survivor, a piano technician who fixed a broken key, and a bunch of other musicians.

My last day there, I was able to smuggle my piano past the security and play for an hour and a half at the Taste of the Danforth Greek Festival. That was exciting with huge audiences!

11. Lake George, New York

I was really excited about playing my piano on the edge of Niagara falls but that place is like Disneyland. I’m not a huge fan of those kinds of generic Tourist sites with the “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” and “Hard Rock Cafe”. I think these places get old very quickly. On top of all that, it was very difficult to find parking.

I went to the City Hall and tried to get a permit but they didnt even want to hear my story. So I left and went onward to Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and landed in Lake George because of a tip from someone on Tumblr.

The next day i played on the main strip of Lake George for an hour and got booted because I didnt have a permit. They only give out permits once a year, however, I didnt see a single street performer the entire time I was there. But during that hour I met the owner of “Legends”, a restaurant in the area. He told me he could use me to play at his restaurant. This is one of my first real Restaurant gigs and they paid well.

I would do some hiking during the day and then at night play there for a few hours. We did this for 4 days and then I decided that it was time for me to leave and head home.

12. Saratoga Springs, New York

After finishing my brunch gig at Legends Restaurant I decided to stop in Saratoga Springs to play a little piano. The weather was beautiful, people were out exploring the town, it was perfect condition for playing. I played for 3 hours and decided to stop to meet some people and walk around. We had a good lunch and then continued South to New York City.

But before hitting NYC I called up a musician friend who I met in Boulder, Colorado and met up with him in New Paltz. We saw some Jazz at a small restaurant and went back to him place to chat about life. The next morning, feeling refreshed I arrived back in NYC to run into Joe the Sand Man in Union Square. I didnt play, I just reveled in the beautiful roadtrip I returned from. It was one month of exciting discoveries, making new friends, learning about how other live, and enjoying the fruits of the earth.

Final Stats

• Duration of Trip: 31 Days
• Miles: Approx 3600 miles
• Number of Cities Played Piano: 11 Cities
• Number of Cities Visited:

• Invited into: 2 Homes
• Days slept in Van/Camping: 15 Days
• Days slept in a bed: 16 Days
  
• Couchsurfed: 3 Cities
  
• Days spent Hiking: 3 Days

• Offered Gigs: 2 gigs
• Total Hours Playing Piano: Approx 68 hours (including Gigs)
• Average Hours Per Week: 17 hours Per week (Including Gigs)
• Average Hourly Wage: $32.77 per hour

I try not to focus on Money when it comes to Piano Across America because I believe there are many more meaningful reasons to want to travel across the world with your upright piano. But I choose to display my Financial stats to show the world that YOU CAN DO SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE. I want other to see this as inspiration for their own projects and ideas. It takes a lot of Creativity and Hard work and a tiny bit of luck to make these things happen. Go out there and do it!

Weekly Stats Via (PianoXAmerica.Tumblr.com)

• Week 1

• Week 2

• Week 3

• Week 4

————————————————————————————————-

• Total 1 Month Trip Expenses: -$1252
  • Total Food Expenses: -$582
  • Total Gas Expenses: -$571

• Total 1 Month Trip Income: +$3492
  • Total Income from Gigs: +$1060
  • Total Income from Street Performing: +$2432
    

Came home with a total of +$2,229.00

Imagine: To be able to travel the world, doing what you love, and making a decent living at the same time, WITHOUT A BOSS! This is a monumental accomplishment in my life and I hope you guys can realize that if you really put your mind and heart into your passion, YOU CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING. I can officially say that I make a good living playing piano.

There was so much I learned through this experience and I truly understood the importance of traveling, seeing the world, and meeting people who are living different lifestyles.

Couchsurfing was a great tool for meeting people on this trip, although, I did meet more people on the streets while playing piano. The piano is such an incredible ice breaker, it needs no introduction, which allows me to instantly make friends everywhere I go.

What did I Learn from this trip?

• I need a better, more efficient way to cool my food. I always ended up with spoiled or wet food every 2 days because the ice would melt. I am going to invest in an electric cooling device and a bigger cooler.
• I always bring too much stuff on my roadtrips. Its good to have a check list before heading out on an extended road trip. There are thing you need and then there are things you dont need. Check out the Roadtripper’s Checklist.
• Start scheduling gigs before I travel on my next trip. I’m going to do more research about the places I go and start booking some gigs. The gigs ended up being very profitable for me. I would love to do more in the future.
• When you let go of your every day routine and let life take control, you make incredibly discoveries and traveling this way will open you up to making new friends, seeing unknown places, and even learning something new about yourself. Let go of life and let it take you on the journey.
• Everyone must travel alone at least once in their life. I found myself driving in silence at times because it became an incredible meditative experience for me. I did alot of thinking about where I want to go next and the inspirations that I found on this journey.
• Once thing I learned from my time in Quebec City is that I need to develop a show and grab audiences. I watched a bunch of Acrobat circle shows on the streets and was enthralled to see how they can pull in an audience with their show. I want to begin using spoken word, poetry, storytelling and music to make my show even greater!
• I wonder how I can use Couchsurfing and Craigslist better to meet more people and find more places to stay. I made some great friends through Couchsurfing and would like to see how I can start using Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr to make some connections and meet musicians.

The post The $2 Roadtrip- The Northeast & Canada appeared first on Piano Across America.

Its true, you can teach yourself just about ANYTHING you want. There are no gimmicks and you dont have to spend a dollar. All you need is some time and an openness to explore and try new things. Your motivation and desire to learn is what will fuel you through this.

Information + Self Experimentation = Teach yourself Anything

Throughout the entire process of building Piano Across America I have done almost EVERYTHING myself. Its mostly because i didn’t have the money to pay people to do tasks for me, so I figured, why not just do it myself?

The equation above is a simple explanation of how I taught myself these skills:

• Jazz Piano
• Photography
• Video Editing
• WordPress + HTML
• Building groups and Management
• Organization and Productivity
• Videography
• Piano Moving
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Music Science
• Producing Video
• Making money on the internet
• Making money on eBay

Information

It is everywhere, but how do you find it and how do you know what to trust?

The 2 Greatest sources of FREE information right now are books from the Library and the Internet.

These are MASSIVE gold mines of News, Information, knowledge, Advertising, theories, and even lies.

Its important for one to remain skeptical of ALL opinions until you can read multiple sources that confirm it. Too many people believe the first thing they hear at the coffee table, when the truth has already been distorted.

Right now, with a few clicks I can be listening to a lecture about Physics, learning volumes of Bach Inventions, watching a TED talk about sustainable energy, and learning about how to manage my daily activities.

The hardest part about finding information is SEARCH. Even Google can be convoluted with too many Ads and not enough meat to bite into.

Knowing how to search Google is key to finding the right information. (See: How to Use Google Search Effectively)

Its certainly not as easy as 1-2-3 because everyone works differently.

We all learn and retain information in different ways. But after spending almost 21 years of my life in school systems I can tell you for sure that I’ve learned just as much by simply living my life, reading books, and exploring new ideas on my own than sitting in a classroom and memorizing facts.

Experimentation

Experimentation (also known as Practicing the craft) is the key to your confidence and learning how to do something better.

You can gain heaps of information and memorize tons of facts, but if you have never applied any of that information to real life, then all of it is useless. Experience is key to learning anything.

For example, I couldn’t speak Spanish after taking it in High School. But when I went to Dominican Republic for 2 weeks and started meeting people I was able to pick up words and phrases instantly.

By the 7th day of traveling I was able to have longer broken-spanish conversations with locals. I even made a few close friends who I still speak with via Skype.

As with anything, there are some drawbacks to doing everything yourself. When it comes to learning a skill like Piano, you may miss important details or become impatient and rush through critical lessons forcing you to go back and re-learn things. Which is why I recommend finding a Mentor.

Finding a Mentor

There have been many instances throughout the last 3 years where I hit a roadblock in my exploration of the Piano. I would reach a new level of understanding on approaching a piece of music, but somehow became stuck using the same ideas over and over again and not continuously challenging myself.

Sometimes I would keep persisting on my own until i found a way out. And other times I would need a guide to help me open those new doors.

I found that the times I met with a mentor/teacher were 100% valuable. He opened my mind to a new way of looking at the Piano and showed me the things I missed in my self exploration.

One thing that can help is creating a group of people who are learning the same subject. This would be a place where you can meet every week and discuss each others findings. It will only benefit each others minds in doing so.

ACTIVITY:

Make a list of 7 things you want to learn in 2013. Write them down and then start with some Google searches. Check out TED talks, StumbleUpon, and Twitter. Look up books on Amazon in the subject you want to learn. A lot of the times you can find so much free information, you wont have to buy anything.

The post Teach yourself Anything You Want for FREE! appeared first on Piano Across America.

• 15,000+ Miles

• Stopped in 50 Cities

• Played Piano in 32 Cities and 8 National Parks

• 5 months of Travel

• Date of Departure: April 4, 2011

• Date of Return: Sept. 5, 2011

After spending 3 months healing from a piano falling on my hand in the middle of NYC, I was determined to make my dream of traveling across America with my upright piano come true. Most people would think twice after having a 400 lb piano fall on your hand, nearly ending your career. But I am a firm believer of “Risk. Fail. Risk Again.”

In February of 2011, I bought my first Car with my savings. And no, its not the dream car you’re thinking of. This is my first car:

I fitted the vehicle with carpeting, wood beams, and make it feel like a home.

Originally I intended to leave so I could make it to New Orleans before Mardi Gras, but things never work out the way you plan. I also didnt have enough money to go on a road trip. So I took another month to save and by April 4, 2011, I embarked on my journey. (Click on the Cities to see more photos)

Philadelphia, PA

Washington, DC

Playing piano at Dupont Circle

Charleston, SC

The Angel Oak Tree in Charleston

Athens, GA

New Orleans, LA

I fell in Love with New Orleans. I fell in love with the culture. I fell in love with the people. And most of all, I fell in love with the music. There is NOTHING like New Orleans and It is my second home (after New York City).

Check out the New Orleans Photo Album

Austin, TX

New Mexico

White Sands Desert is another amazing sight in America.

I never experience more isolation than this desert. This place was magical and it showed me that there is very much beauty in a vast desert of nothing. See the Story of Claunch, one of my favorite places on Earth.

Albuquerque

See the Conversation with Mohawk Girl in Albuquerque

 Santa Fe

June 2012

The Canyons:

I couldnt decide whether to go to the Grand Canyon or Bryce and Zion. Instead I decided to go to all three. It was well worth the trip.

Grand Canyon

Bryce Canyon

Zion National Park

I played in this amazing field of yellow and purple flowers. This was above 7000 feet in elevation

Las Vegas

Crazy Drunk Folk

Los Angeles

I didnt have the greatest time in LA. I played at Venice Beach and at Hermosa Beach. The majority of my time was spent with my cousins who live out there and driving through traffic.

Driving Along I-1

One of the most amazing drive’s on my trip was going along the Pacific Coast Highway in California. Beautiful sights with plenty of dangerous curves up ahead.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is certainly one of my favorite small towns in America. I met so many musicians and down to earth people.

San Francisco

Someone spray painted my truck when I was in San Francisco. I was really pissed. But I got over it…

The Redwoods

 Click Here for the Redwoods Photo Album

July 2012

Oregon Country Fair

Check out the Photo Album from the Oregon Country Fair

Portland

First Thursday is a Street Art Fair that they do in Portland every month. The Streets were packed and I set up my piano fairly close to where all the action was happening. I met some really great people including a multi-millionaire who ended up taking us out for drinks afterwards.

Seattle

Seattle was where I ran out of money. I decided that I am going to attempt to travel back home to New York City with only $2.82 in my bank account.

Read How I traveled Across America with only $2.82 in my Bank Account

Coeur d’Alene

Glacier National Park

One of the most beautiful places on Earth. This is another magical and nostalgic place. The history of this planet is engraved in this preserved land.

Jackson, WY

Within the 36 hours I stayed in Jackson, Wyoming, I met more than 25 people and had some really amazing conversations. I didnt even play piano there, but I met so many people by walking around and being the outgoing person that I am.

Yellowstone National Park

Grand Tetons

Salt Lake City, UT

Colorado

Independence Pass

Boulder

The Midwest

Sunflower Field

Chicago, IL

September

New York City

Traveling to more than 60 cities in America made me appreciate New York City that much more. New York has Everything and there is absolutely no place like New York in the entire world!

November 21, 2012

Roadtrip #2 to Florida:

I received a call from an artist i once worked for and he needed someone to deliver his paintings to the Art Basel Festival in Miami, Florida. I was perfect for the job and I figured that while I was getting paid to deliver these paintings why not bring my piano down and play around town?

Check out all the photos from our Florida Journey

The post A Year in Review: 2011 appeared first on Piano Across America.

I got to experience Super storm Sandy on Long Island at my parents home and in NYC during the aftermath. It was certainly an incredible experience being without power in lower Manhattan. It was as if there were 2 separate cities. The uptown part of Manhattan was bustling and very busy while lower Manhattan was practically empty and after 8 PM became completely pitch black and empty.

What was really appalling was the line of Taxi Cabs that I saw waiting for gas on 11th Avenue at 11:30 PM, 3 days after the hurricane. And for weeks after there were lines at all Gas Stations. Some had even run out of gas. Prices reached around $5/gallon and even more.

I ended up playing piano in Union Square, 2 days after the Super Storm hit us and it was definitely something to remember. Below are 10 things that I learned from experiencing Super Storm Sandy in New York.

1. The Northeast is very much at risk of Hurricanes and Natural disasters. I never thought this was true until Hurricane Sandy hit us. In the last 3 years we have had 3 major storms tear through the Northeast United States. This is only just the beginning. Something like Sandy could hit us again and it could be worse next time.

2. Always have an Emergency Plan. It is essential no matter where you live to be prepared for any type of emergency and to have multiple options. When the emergency comes, it comes very quick, leaving you with little time to get your life together. Plan Safety routes, food options, Gasoline, Transportation, gathering of essential items.

3. Arrange a safe house or a friends home within 50 miles of your home in case you have to evacuate and stay somewhere else for a few days. Also make sure that safe house has plenty of food and supplies.

See: Super storm Sandy: Volunteering in Far Rockaway

4. Watching people wait on 5 hour lines for gasoline made me realize how important it is to learn how to be independent of material goods. This is much easier said than done, but if it is possible, learn ways to become independent of gasoline companies and supermarkets. If you can find a way to do that, you have battled half the mess. Cell phones are another big one that most people cant live without. One way to be independent is to plant your own garden or grow some vegetables at home. It takes minimal time to set up and can be very rewarding.

5. Traveling and living out of my van has prepared me more for events like this. I call it un-spoiling the self. If you have never tried to survive with very few material goods and money you may be missing some important lessons everyone needs to learn. Learning to live a life of simplicity is incredibly freeing. When you have a basement filled with objects and possessions, you are tied down and your object end up owning you. What if everything you knew disappeared tomorrow? Would you be prepared?

“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” — Cesare Pavese

6. Its better to be over-prepared than under prepared. My family wasn’t as prepared as we should have been for this mess. We were out of power for a week and without a fridge we were dependent on a cooler with only a small bag of ice. Make a list of essentials that you would need for another hurricane and keep it on the side for any kind of emergency possible. Be prepared for the worst. Hope for the best.

7. The ability to leave everything behind and start anew is a FREEDOM in itself. If you have too many responsibilities in the city that has recently been destroyed, you will be trapped. This is another idea that is all too difficult to achieve, especially when you have an important position at a company.

8. Never panic. There is no room for it and worrying about things only gets in your way. Instead, focus directly on the solutions and options on getting you out of the problem. Bickering and Argument only brings you back a few steps.  I believe that with a positive mind and focus on solutions, you can get yourself out of problems do occur but things usually end up working out.

John Lennon – “There are no problems, only solutions.”

9. We’re all in this together. Sandy didnt just affect those who were poor but also those who are wealthy as well. She certainly did not take any exceptions. Walking through the churches and seeing the lines of people waiting for food and clothing made me realize that in the end, we are all in this together. Planet Earth is our home and its time that we respect her for the beauty that she is and the blessing that she gives to us.

 10. When you lose everything you own you begin to realize what truly matters in life. When i volunteered in Far Rockaway, New York I saw people who were literally removing everything from their home to be thrown away. These people were totally distraught from the destruction and the new reality they faced. But what can you do? Looking at the past wont get you very far. Its deeper than money and material things and it all boils down to the people in your life, how you treat them, and how you treat the world around you.

The post 10 Things I Learned from Super Storm Sandy appeared first on Piano Across America.

Bobby McFerrin starts all his shows with 2 solo improvisations. Similar to Keith Jarrett’s solo piano improvisations. He sits down on stage and just starts singing. The magic is that even he doesn’t know where the piece will end up, but all that matters is that he doesn’t stop.

The next few pieces were done with a chorus of about 40 men and women. They were beautifully arranged pieces, with African themes and latin percussion. The way the voices intertwine and move amongst each other was brilliant.

What is amazing about the style of performance that McFerrin brings to the stage is how he incorporates the audience into the playing. He would literally pick someone out of the crowd to come up and improvise a vocal improvisation.

At one point he would walk up to a woman and try to get her to sing with him. Some people would choke up and wouldnt be able to open themselves up, but others are just dying to sing with him.

It was a really amazing lesson as a performer on how to get a crowd to open themselves up and let you mold their hearts. This was ultra-influential on me and I hope to use some of the thing I saw the next time I perform.

If you ever get the chance to see Bobby McFerrin Live, I would jump on the opportunity. It is an experience of a lifetime.

Afterwards there was a Q & A discussion with him. Here are a few of the questions that were asked:

What kind of music do you like?

“I like most things. I like anything that swings and has a nice beat to it. The kind of music I don’t like is the kind that is violent in nature or misogynistic or oversexed. There’s so many songs out there that are very degrading to women. I don’t like songs that are negative and have no redemptive value.”

What do you like about improvising?

“The thing that I like about improvising, just generally is the fact that you are doing something only one time. And there is something extraordinarily beautiful to me about that.

The first two pieces that I do at every concert are improvised. That’s sort of a rule of thumb for me. Its funny it used to only be the first piece, but then I discovered that after improvising the first piece the most difficult decision was to figure out what I would be doing for the second piece. So I decided to make the second piece another improv. And then after that it’s up for grabs, whatever comes to mind at the time. The halls are different, the audiences are different, and I just kind of go with whatever I’m feeling at the time.”

What is your favorite album of all time?

“…For classic rock music an album Eric Clapton, Ric Grech, Ginger Baker, and Steve Winwood did called, Blind Faith…

…Keith Jarretts first solo album called, Facing You. And Miles Davis Live Evil….”

When you improvise, do you ever get jammed up?

“At the very beginning of the show, when I do my solo improves, I ignore the audience. And I actually like a dark house where I cant see anyone. I like to get to the hall at the last second so I don’t have the hall in me. I like to have the street in me. So I get to the hall maybe ten minutes to 8 o clock. That’s the way I like it. I never get jammed in an improv because fundamentally improv is simply motion. The most courageous thing you need to do is keep singing keep playing. So you never stop. You would stop if you were thinking about what you’re doing. But if you don’t think about that and you just keep your attention on the motion the notes just continue to flow.”

The post Q & A With Bobby McFerrin at Jazz at Lincoln Center appeared first on Piano Across America.

We arrived at B138 Street and saw a street covered in 2 feet of sand. We spoke to someone who was emptying his house and he told us that there were some blocks that went up in flames because their gas tanks shattered. He also told us that when they first came outside there was 4 feet of water everywhere.

We then went to a church where there were people waiting on lines for food, huge piles of clothes everywhere, and people working to help those in need. I’ve never seen that many piles of clothes everywhere.

Speaking to many of the locals we heard stories that were appalling about the damage and deaths of people in the area.

Things werent very organized and there was definitely a shortage of people there to help. We met with these 2 girls who also had some supplies and went over to B15 where we heard they didnt get any aid. While walking through the area we spoke to some locals who let us set up shop on their property. We gave out toilet paper, food, hygiene items, clothes, and batteries.

The post Super Storm Sandy: Volunteering at Far Rockaway appeared first on Piano Across America.

Pushing a Piano throughout New York City is not easy. In fact it is one of the most physically challenging tasks I have ever attempted. Moving pianos is incredibly dangerous: Read the story of how a Piano Crushed My hand. You should not attempt doing this by yourself or you will end up like me– with a broken hand. There is a good reason why you should hire piano movers to move your piano.

But nonetheless, I will show you what I have discovered in the last 2 years of moving pianos by myself.

Method #1

POS Dolly (Piece of shit Dolly) and 1 strap

You can get these for $20 at any Home Depot. I call them a piece of shit dolly because they are not made well and you should not use these to move your piano. Period. The wheels arent even rubber which leads to a very bumpy ride.

Method #2

Two POS Dolly and 2 straps

Maybe we can take 2 piece of shit Dollies and it would be better. It was better for a few months, but then they kept breaking.

This method was shown to me by Colin Huggins who now plays his Baby Grand Piano in Washington Square park. (I’m sure he uses better dollies than this though)

Method #3

Build your own wood dolly with large wheels

My father saw this as a good opportunity to get involved and help me out. He likes little building projects like this. He decided to get some wood and build his own dolly. Unfortunately, the width was too small with this one which made it too wobbly and dangerous. On top of that it was really heavy because it was one large piece of wood. I used it once or twice but it felt as if I was using double the energy to move the piano.

Method #4

Build a dolly using a Hand truck and POS Dollies.

This was my fathers idea. I immediately turned it down because the hand truck had these arms that kept sticking out. But nevertheless, my father took some wood and screwed them in place, and then put the piano on top just to see how it would work. I’m too scared to take risks like this. I really dont want another piano falling on me.

Method #5

Build a Piano Bicycle.

The photo below is of Eric Rich and  Corbon Baldwin who built their own piano bicycle system to haul their 800 pound bicycle to and from the farmers market.

After doing some research I realized that it would cost me around $2500 to lease or build my own piano bicycle. On top of all that I would need to pay for a garage to store it overnight. I spoke with a Rickshaw company, a bicycle building company, and a metal welder about building this bicycle before deciding to throw out the idea and go back to the drawing board…

I thought the bike below would be really cool to have. It can haul up to 600 pounds. Or so they say it can.

Method #6

Buy a food cart and take off the box. I came up with this idea when I went over to Worksman Cycles in Queens. They showed me this food cart which was 400 pounds. It moved so well that I instantly started getting ideas. I then spoke to the owner of the company who gave me some interesting options. Which led me to the next idea…

Method #7

The All Terrain Dolly by Premier Moving Equipment

After talking to a welder about building a cart like the one above I discovered that it would still cost me more than $500 to build it.

As I continued my experimentation and research, I discovered this: The All terrain Dolly made by Premier Moving Equipment (A family owned business in Atlanta). I called up the company and spoke to George Patrick who designed the dolly. He told me the story of how he conceived of the idea. He came up with the All terrain Dolly when he had to move a large grand piano across the grass. He put two hand trucks together, secured them, and it worked but with alot of struggle. He then decided to make his own design and build one himself. Below is the All Terrain Dolly from Premier Moving Equipment.

After speaking with George we came up with an idea to build a custom dolly that would be stable and easy enough to push throughout the pothole ridden streets of New York City. Below are some photos of their process.

Check out their web site:

www.premiermovingequipment.com

I’m not getting paid to write this. Premiere Moving Equipment has helped me make my dream come alive and I’m grateful for their creative minds and hard work. Thank you!

The post How to Push Your Piano Through NYC: An Experiment appeared first on Piano Across America.

Its plain and simple. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise. There is no such thing as Overnight Success.

No one ever became really successful without Hard Work. It takes time to develop yourself, to develop your craft and your build your ideas towards success. Even those Pop Celebrities on TV who give the impression that they made it overnight, had to work incredibly hard to build their network and

Everyone knows the famous 10,000 hour rule from Malcolm Gladwell’s book: The Outliers. And it makes total sense. No one is truly a genius without putting in years and years of hard work, experimentation, and discoveries.

Patience is a virtue. This is something one has to develop. Its sort of like building stamina when you work out. You have to build patience and stifle your desire to want results right away. Learn to enjoy the PROCESS of what you do. I mean if you cant find the patience, then maybe you dont really love doing what you’re doing.

I cant stress enough the importance of experimentation and making small mistakes, especially in the beginning. You learn more from experience than sitting in a classroom of people. If you dont know what you’re passion is, go out and try it, you have nothing to lose.

One of the most important things you have to tell yourself is that later on in life you will regret the things you didnt do than the things you did.

Lastly, I believe the most important thing you can do for yourself is RE-DEFINE what Success is. There are more than 7 billion people in the world and each person has his/her own version of what success is. Be careful of generic ideas and people that try to give you those answers. Seek out and find them for yourself.

The post There is no such thing as Overnight Success appeared first on Piano Across America.

I just arrived in Charleston, South Carolina and was sifting through Tumblr when I noticed a photo of the Angel Oak Tree. I found out it was only 20 miles away and decided to check it out.

Driving through South Carolina is like driving through another country. The large old growth oak trees with moss, the churches everywhere, and the street signs are all different from what I am used to back home in New York.

After driving through a dirt road and past a bunch of small old houses, we entered upon the Angel Oak Tree.

Brando was running around like a little boy and I was taking photos like a mom with 3 kids. It was a beautiful sight

This is why the Angel Oak Tree is Amazing:

The Angel Oak is a Southern live oak tree located in Angel Oak Park, in Charleston, South Carolina, on Johns Island, one of South Carolina’s Sea Islands. It is estimated to be in excess of 1500 years old^{[citation needed]}, stands 65 ft (20 m) tall, measures 28 ft (8.5 m) in circumference, and shades with its crown an area of 17,000 square feet (1,600 m²). Its widest crown spread point-to-point is 180 ft, which is longer than any other live oak in the country. Its longest limb is 105 feet (32 m) in length. Read more about the Angel Oak.

Check out the Angel Oak Tree on the Map.

The post Angel Oak Tree Near Charleston, SC appeared first on Piano Across America.

Briefly what happened was I got a call from an Artist who I previously worked for and he needed someone to deliver his paintings down to Miami for the Art Basel Festival 2011. I had my truck available. I decided to take the job on the terms that I could bring my piano and dog with me. This gave me the opportunity to set up multiple incomes. In attempting to make money while traveling, the idea is to make your work, your play: Which is not an easy thing. This opportunity sort of fell in my lap out of the blue, but its important to have skills that allow you to Freelance with multiple jobs at once.

Here are the Stats for Roadtrip #2:

After every major task in life, its important to do an evaluation so that the next time you do it, you will do it 10 times better. 

We did it! The purpose of this trip was to do what I love (Play piano, Travel the world, and Meet people) while trying to make a decent living off it. This is the dream life.

• Total Miles: 4,400 Miles
• Total Days: 21 Days

• Total Spent on Gas: $0.00
• Total Spent on Hotel: $50.00
• Total Spent on Food: About $300.00

• Hours spent moving and packing: 20 hours
• Hours spent playing piano on the streets: 15 hours

• Total $$ from Delivery Jobs: +$1350.00
• Total $$ from Playing Piano: +$675.00
• Came home with $1700.00 in my pocket!

• Major Cities Visited: Charlotte, Miami, Key West, Tampa, Gainesville, Atlanta, Athens, NYC.

————————–

Pro’s and Cons

Pro’s

-When speaking to the delivery clients I always made sure to tell each of them that I work for myself. This way, they don’t feel like they can skimp on fees. I was able to negotiate my own payment and get a great deal.

-I SPENT $0 ON GAS ON THE ENTIRE TRIP! ALL GAS WAS PAID FOR BY THE CLIENTS.

-I made my own hours and have flexibility for when I can make the deliveries.

-I spent very little hours actually working. Most of the work was driving anyway.

-I met some great people through Couchsurfing.org and saved more money on hotels.

Cons

-The only downside to doing the deliveries was that coming back home I did get pressured for time by one of the clients which forced me to move quicker through the Carolinas and northwards.

-I didnt get to play piano as much as usual.

————————–

If I were to do this differently:

-I would organize dates and plan better so that each person I work with understands the dates I will arrive and deliver. Make sure to flush out all the specific information before taking on a job.

-I would play more piano in more locations as possible. I missed great opportunities in Key West, Everglades, Homestead, Miami, Tampa, Gainesville, Atlanta, and Asheville.

-Network and meet more people in general. I could have met many more artists and maybe even played piano at a few galleries or parties.

-Use Couchsurfing.org more.

-Always do a little bit of research before going to a major city. Its good to wing it, but when you arrive in a city that is empty, its not fun. Its important to do some planning.

The post How I Traveled for 3 Weeks and Came Back $1700 Richer appeared first on Piano Across America.