My solo on Sing, Sing, Sing was OK by my standards,  but not great,  and not like the solo I gave last Saturday at Croce's.   Now that was a solo I would have to hold close to heart because everything went well that night,  and the crowd could feel it,  and they really showed their appreciation,  which I am ever so thankful for.   Problem is,  what now?   How do you live up to that great solo,  or how do you match it.   Judging by this first solo today at UCSD,  after last Saturday,  I know it's going to be tough.   I have to change my attitude toward performing in order to better deal with this sort of dilemma,  and I know other performers must go through this sort of thing.   I suppose I must have the attitude that I must challenge myself constantly,  and to always concentrate on bettering myself.   As a performer and an artist,  it's always an ongoing struggle for me.   You can be excellent one night,  then great but not so excellent the next.   That's the greatest pressure I have to deal with,  and I truly need to psyche myself out into having a more positive attitude concerning this.   And I guess,  like Keith Jarrett had quoted in his biography,  "you're never at a point where you have it all sewn up".   With this in mind I can feel better about this, knowing that even a great jazz pianist and artist such as Keith Jarrett has to deal with the same dilemma.   I must now look at the constant challenge of becoming a better drummer and a better musician with a new light. 
 
It's three more days to the BIG gig in Las Vegas.   This event,  a Frank Sinatra charity gala at the Hard Rock Cafe in Vegas,  is being put together by Frank's widow Barbara Sinatra.  It looks like tickets start from $1500.00 on up.   I'm told Tony Bennett will be there and he'll be performing BEFORE us!   Great,  he's going to be a tough act to follow.   This will prove to be a valuable gig for us,  and I think I need to have the attitude that it's going to be a blast.   We're going to fly out there to Las Vegas and there'll be a drumset provided for me,  of which,  they say has been played by a number of great drummers,  including Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones. 
 
Well,  I need to psyche myself up for this event.   I'm a bit nervous,  but I can't allow that to happen.   Again,  I've got to put myself in the right frame of mind,  and kick @$$ on those drums.  ARGHH!