Richard Stains, Guitarist, in the United Kingdom

Welcome to the Music of Richard Staines

From his "Musical Biography:"

"I was born in Pontypool, South Wales in 1965, and grew up in Caldicot, Tintern and Chepstow, all within the county of Gwent/Monmouthshire.

"I learnt double bass while at Chepstow Comprehensive and participated in various orchestras locally, culminating in a Gwent Youth Orchestra performance in St Davids Hall, Cardiff. I sang tenor in the choir, and performed various classical pieces in churches in the area. I sang and played double bass in a small jazz group. I also jammed and performed bass guitar with a group of friends from Chepstow school.

"In 1984 I left Chepstow for London and Kingston Polytechnic to study Computer Science. It was here that I bought an acoustic guitar and started to teach myself to play, while jamming with other students as a bass guitarist. I also jammed with various local performing jazz groups in pubs in the area. By 1988, my transition from bass guitarist to acoustic guitarist was complete. Most of my friends not realising I played bass.

"In 1986, I spent 9 months in Aylesbury, and helped teach guitar at a local arts centre...."

You're not likely to hear Richard Stains perform live, unless you live in the UK. (According to his schedule, he was at The Portland Arms in St Albans today.)

I ran into him on MySpace (myspace.com/richardstainesmusic), and have heard recordings of his music. What can I say? He's good, really good, with the guitar.

Oh, yes: there are sample recordings of his music online: check out that MySpace account, and his website.

Damien Riley and his Guitar

"Playing the Ponderosa Tonight (4-17-09) "
Damien Riley, MySpace blog (April 17, 2009)

"I'm looking forward to playing guitar and singing tunes tonight at the Ponderosa in Apple Valley. I've been playing rooms like this for 22 years. That's almost staggering to watch myself type. I have to tell ya I love performing with my guitar...."

That announcement won't be of much practical use to you, unless you're close to Apple Valley, California. On the other hand, Damien Riley is a good example of what a performer's life can be life. I know him through Twitter (damien_riley), where he posts ("twitters" is, I think, the community's term) things like

• "Getting ready to take my girls to the park."
• "Looking forward to my show tonight"
• "Home sick watching my girls"
• "Arrival Moment: Lunchtime and son made me tuna."
• "9 days til the California Standards Test so we're working hard every day."

One of the big advantages I see to a career like his is the amount of time during the day, when the kids are around and awake - and you're not at work.

"Stable, healthy, families" and "show business" don't seem to go together - but I suspect that's in part due to the attention that major film studios and the mainline music performers get. I've known some people like Damien Riley over the decades - and wondered what my life would have been like, with different choices.

Two of my high school teachers tried to get me pointed toward a creative career - without success at the time. Getting laid off in the spring of 2006 gave me the opportunity to get some long-overdue operations out of the way - and room to try a new career, online.

Creative careers aren't all that glamorous - but they're great for letting a guy have time with the family.