I love making a difference. When musicians come up to me at conferences or at gigs and say “Thanks for writing your book, it really helped me learn how to market and promote myself more effectively.” Or, They say: “I read your articles online and they really help me and my band.”  It makes my day.

So, when my former housemate (and GM of the Fox Theatre in Boulder CO) Bill Bennett called me last year and asked me to be on the board of Sweet Relief, a charity I have long admired I jumped at the chance.

It’s all over the news these days: Approximately 15% of Americans are without health insurance, but when it comes to musicians that number sadly exceeds 45%; and that when faced with a medical emergency or disabling event there are very few resources for support that a musician can turn to. Since 1993 Sweet Relief Musicians Fund has been a strong and steady resource for professional musicians struggling with illness, disability or age related problems; but they can’t do it alone and the shrinking economy has made it that much harder for them to help (read: fewer people are donating individually).