I’ve been reading the Lefsetz Letter for a few years. I agree with him about half the time. Half the time I think he has it figured out and 1/2 the time I think he is out of touch. This is understandable as the “music business” is changing so fast that you can’t begin to guess what’s happening next, even when you are right in the middle of it. This time, The Long Haul, he breaks it down in the most concise, focused and right on the bulls-eye way I have ever seen it. If you are at all interested in the “industry” and the challenges that face people who are trying to make music for a living this letter is worth a read. Turns out we are doing everything right. I mean everything. I could go line by line and give examples, but I’ll leave that for you to decide.

http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2010/06/03/the-long-haul/

For the longest time when I would read one of these things written by Bob, from the outside with no apparent experience to draw from, while we are out here in the trenches fighting tooth or nail to be successful, it would make me mad. We work hard trying to find success, thinking that with every record and with every tour something magical is around the corner. It wasn’t until I read The Long Haul by Bob Lefsetz, that I knew we had already found it. You guys (our fans) probably knew this all along, because you listen, buy records, buy tickets and have given us a career. And in doing and accomplishing all of these things that Bob so spells out, what we are really doing is building a relationship with our fans. We’ve created a symbiotic community where everybody wins. And because of that, we have had an almost 17 year career. Not only have we achieved success, but we are continuing to ride that wave. I would say are all in it for the Long Haul and thanks to you, the fans for paving the way. Now if we could only fix our bus to keep us rolling down that road.

Thanks Bob for opening my eyes.

Jason Walsmith – The Nadas