Meet Mike Guaragna

An Interview with Mike Guaragna

Hi Mike,  how many years have you been playing?

I played my first PAYING gig in 1964 when I was 11 but had been bringing my guitar to school from first grade on.

What musicians influenced you?

My first influences were from my father's Jazz guitar albums.  For myself, it was THE BEATLES.  

How many bands have you been in?

I've been in dozens of bands over the years.  There are too many to count actually.  They covered the full spectrum of music from Pop, to Prog, to Punk, to Roots, to Fun & Soul, to Country, Blues, Oldies, and most sub-categories too.

What's it like to gig?

That depends on the gig.  Some are routine, especially when you are with a busy working band that does a similar show 100 times a year.  It often gets mundane.  But then you grab something with people you don't play with too often.  That new "magical" thing happens where everything clicks and the creativity happens without even trying.

How often do you practice?

Probably not as often as I should.  However, after doing somewhere around 150 shows per year. I use my down-time to step away from my instrument and refresh myself.

What advice can you give to a new musician out there?

Don't compromise what you want to do.  If you want to play original material, then go for it.  If you want to work more by playing covers, don't be ashamed of that either.  It's what YOU want from your music.  Don't let anyone GUILT you into doing something you don't enjoy.

What was one of your accomplishments as a musician?

Besides my own self-satisfaction, I would think that it's seeing the look on people's faces, and seeing the enjoyment as they bounce to the music.  Another is that I have gotten to play with some amazing players and have shared the stage with quite a few "STARS".  Hearing yourself on the radio or in a commercial is pretty cool too.

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