Hey Folks:
It’s been a while but here is a brand new Musical Dads edition.
This one is hot off the presses with my dear friend, B.O.N.E Ent. favoriate and Musical Dad: Dan Freeman.
Dan is the proud Papa of two beautiful children Parker and Delia, husband to the wonderfully talented Natalie and leader of the two man group Comandonte Zero. CO as they are also known is a Brooklyn based bass/drum electro-funk duo consisting of Dan who is the bassist/vocalist and Ken White who is the drummer/producer/choreographer. Comandonte Zero can be seen performing all over NYC be sure to check their site often; it’s a show worth catching!
MrsDeveter: Dan thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with me. Since I know you are limited on time I’ll just ask you a couple quick questions so we can take a glimpse into the day in the life of a Musical Dad. Can you give us an example of a typical day for you as a musical dad?
Dan: I wake up at 8:30 and take Parker to school. Then I work out and take Delia to school at about 10:00 (If she has it that day) Otherwise, I usually spend time with her in the mornings. Generally, I’m home until about 12-1 then go to a local cafe to just work on business stuff. (e-mails, booking etc.) At 3 I either go rehearse, write in the studio or teach. When teaching gets busy, I have to teach from 4 until past ten. If I’m not teaching, I come home at about 7:30, have dinner and put the kids to bed. Then, I’ll either go to a gig (if there’s one) go to the studio or catch a show. Usually I go to bed at 2:30AM.
MrsDeveter: So you typically get about 4-6 hours of sleep a night huh? Sheesh. How do you balance all the hats you wear? Dad, Husband, Musician etc.?
Dan: This is probably the hardest thing about being a musical dad. In the past couple of years, Natalie hasn’t worked as much as before, so I also have to figure out how to keep the funds coming in too. It’s hard to strike a perfect balance – stop practicing and just make money, and your art and soul suffer. Only practice and don’t hustle and you don’t eat.
MrsDeveter: I know exactly what you mean. No work no food… the babies aren’t trying to hear that! What is the most difficult and then the best thing about being a Musical Dad?
Dan: Again – the uncertainty of the hours and income is the most difficult. The best is that I get to do something I truly love and am excited about. This love is something I want to give to them. It doesn’t matter what they do, as far as I’m concerned, as long as it’s a passion that’s based on love and the desire to create something good, whether it’s a business, a dance, a sculpture etc. Also, they get to grow up around cool, different people which hopefully will give them a very open mind. Music’s amazing in that all kinds of folks work together to make it happen.
Thanks so much Dan for giving us a glimpse your life. It is EXCITING and jam packed!
Hope you enjoyed this edition of Musical Dads.
Until next time…
Keep Jammin!