Derek Sivers Comes Home

All of the playing music in front of people, performing on stage, and working on becoming a musician was supposed to end for Derek Sivers back in 2003 when he moved to the Tampa, Florida area. A long time resident of the Southern Tier since the age of 5, the move had made Sivers question whether he'd ever get to play music in front of people anymore.

Those feelings didn't last very long. Sivers began playing gigs in the Tampa area almost immediatly and has worked his way on becoming a working artist - uh, that means like, full time job people. He doesn't wake up and punch a clock, he tunes a guitar. Something every musician works for and something Sivers has accomplished with much hard work and sacrafice.

We caught up with Derek a few days before he plays his most anticipated show of his young career, his homecoming show at The Blind Tiger Pub in Johnson City on Saturday night

This gig coming up on the 3rd has got to be one you've circled a long time ago. You're living and playing a pretty healthy schedule in your home of Tampa, Florida but you're from the Chenango Bridge area originally. What emotions do you have going into the show at the Blind Tiger Pub?

Its quite surreal actually.I moved down to Florida and I never expected to play on stage ever again in my life. I got so involved so quickly in the Music scene in Florida that before I could blink, I found myself on beach bar stages and Ybor City Night Clubs. didn't musically blossom until I left Binghamton and I think alot of people are going to be surprised. Its definetly the most motivated I've ever been for a show.

You're 27 years old. Musically you still have a lot in front of you. To what would you attribute your success in the Tampa area?

Tampa has been very accepting of Musicians in a sense that its not a musical competition. Everyone has something they can offer and teach and everyone has something they can learn. I found myself in the first two years after I moved surrounded by some world class musicians who's dedication showed me what it was like to really appreciate the "art" of music. The network structure in Tampa Bay is alot like Seattle of the 90's. Everybody is very supportive of other bands and we help each other out as much as we can.

Just one look at your MySpace page shows that you're calendar is booked solid. When do you sleep?

Its quite crazy, I would've never guessed in a million years I'd be playing this many shows.... I was hoping to get a Fri night or a Sat night show here and there when I first started and the more business cards I passed out, the more people called and the next thing I knew I was playing 5 nights a week and had to quit my job to pursue my hobby.. I'm very blessed.. a bad night out at a show sure beats a good day in the office.

You write a lot of original material based on real events in your life. Have you ever got on stage and thought, "You know, this song may be too personal to share?"

Everytime I play a song I wrote for the first time on a stage theres alot of anxiety.. All my songs are too personal to share, but thats what makes music such a guilty pleasure sometimes. I can write a personal song and share it, but once its out there for the people to hear it, it no longer becomes your song. People will interpret the song in a way that they hear the song, not you. So once you get over that fear of "Rejection" and realize it won't sound to them how it sounds to you, it makes it easier to sing it.

What was the most memorable show you've played and why?

Spring Break out on the Beach at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill in Clearwater, Florida. There must've been 250 people in the general outside area in waiting to get in - standing room only inside - and we were in the middle of "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder. A ninety-five year old lady leaving the "family" portion of the bar comes over by the stage and starts busting out a dance move and the entire place went nuts. For five minutes she stole the show and it was by far the best thing I've ever witnessed at any show I've ever played. It set the tone for such a great night.

Coming back up to the 607, what have you been doing to keep yourself busy so far?

Just driving the hillside looking at the leaves change. Catching up on Family and Friends. Its been a great vacation so far. Every memory I've ever made from the time I was five til I was twenty-one was here in the Binghamton Area and its good to be "Home"

Alright so you've won us over. How do we see you live in the 607 this weekend?

Stop out to the Blind Tiger Pub in Johnson City from 7-11 on Saturday Oct 3rd. I'll be the guy with the guitar!