Blog | BAND CENTRAL

3 min read

Check Up From Your Neck Up - September '23✨

Dear Friends,

My first sales manager once suggested a “check up from the neck up” on my mental health and attitude. If we apply this adage to our society - we see a mental health crisis. We continue to experience increased homelessness, mass shootings, increased crime, abuse in the prison system, etc.

In May 2023 the US Surgeon General issued an advisory on the profound mental health risks of child social media use. Doctors, politicians, and educators are talking about mental health. As concerned parents, friends and citizens, what are we to do, especially when we experience these problems up close and personal?

Often, individuals experiencing a mental health crisis are put in prisons or shelters, given drugs, or both. These actions can sometimes temporarily alleviate symptoms, but they do not address the root problem.

What will it take for us to address this issue? What can we do as individuals?

The last major mental healthcare reform movement happened in 1963. It is time to revisit mental health, and move from treating symptoms to finding long term solutions and healing. This requires investing in prevention and recovery.

This complex societal problem needs emergency attention…perhaps a triage… of treating mental health as part of primary health, improving access to care, and focusing on long-term outcomes. We at Band Central want to support a movement, led by government and the private sector working together, using technology, entrepreneurship, and collective care to tackle the mental health crisis.

It might be a good time for us all to do a “check up from the neck up” by reviewing our 3 P’s: People, Places and Purpose.

People: It is essential to be surrounded by a community that supports healing. This can include therapists, teachers, support groups, co-workers, friends and family. Our insecurities may drive us to loneliness but meaningful relationships drive us to a good life. There is no shame in having a team of support for mental wellness, similar to having a dentist, plumber or mechanic. It’s time to move past the stigma that mental health issues indicate a personality flaw.

Places: “Places” can be thought of literally as the physical location where we reside. It can also be looked at figuratively as the space or mood we are in regarding security, resources, talents and possibilities. Everyone needs a safe, clean home, and other resources like employment, savings and education.

Purpose: Take time to explore and declare your purpose in life. This includes knowing that your purpose changes over the course of your life. Purpose makes us less egocentric and gives us an appreciation for how we are all interconnected. In short, purpose is about being engaged in helping others.

I hope you find our communications entertaining, informative and useful and will join us by attending our live music events, listening to Band Central Radio on WPKN (and WPKN Podcasts and YouTube) and following us on Facebook.

Peace and love,

Rob & The Band Central Team

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

On Thursday November 9th Band Central will present “Rock For Hope” at FTC Stage One to benefit Operation Hope and their programs for housing, feeding and caring for our neighbors in need. Operation Hope is an essential nonprofit in our community. Tickets are $45. Show Up, Get Down, and Do Good with us!

MORE INFO AND TICKETS HERE!

MORE INFO AND TICKETS HERE!

TAKE A BREATH

Here is a 2 minute video featuring Rob Fried, Andy Kadison and Steve DiCostanzo filmed live at WPKN’s Bridgeport studios during our August Band Central Radio program. Thanks to Andy’s filming and editing chops we are able to share the essence of Band Central’s mission along with the purpose of the radio program.

1 min read

Take a Breath✨- August '23

Dear Friends,

The Band Central team is observing our annual August break! Please enjoy this month’s brief update providing a “Take A Breath” video for inspiration.

Take good care and we will check in again with you next month,

Rob & The Band Central Team

TAKE A BREATH

Here’s a clip of Band Central playing Son Of A Preacher Man at Park City Music Hall in Bridgeport to benefit the Diabetes Research Institute. The band includes Carole Sylvan, Anthony David, John Torres, Eric Kalb, Marcos Torres Jr, Rob Somerville, Rob Volo, Cyrus Madan and Rob Fried. Park City Music Hall is one of our favorite music venues … the sound, lights, food, hospitality, staff and owner John Torres' family make this club a local jewel!

3 min read

The Lanthropy in FUNlanthropy✨-July '23

Dear Friends,

At Band Central we often emphasize the fun part of “fun philanthropy” or “FunLanthropy” as we call it. So, to change things up, we're providing you with a mid-year summary of the “Lanthropy” part of what we do. So far this year, Band Central has helped our nonprofit partners raise ~$700,000 through 10 live music events to which we contributed ~$70,000 in grants from the Band Central Fund to sponsor these wonderful causes. Thank you so much for participating in this meaningful work!

I recently spoke at Fairfield County Community Foundation’s Leadership Institute on the topic: Separating The Essential From The Noise. What does that mean? We are all inundated with stimulation trying to grab our attention across all our media devices. The choices we make regarding what we respond to and how we respond, if not made carefully, can reduce our effectiveness and our overall health (mental and otherwise), satisfaction, and our relationships.

Sometimes what might appear as noise to some people, is entertainment and a welcome distraction to others. In other words, noise to one person can be something essential to another. Through discussions with local nonprofit leaders and musicians, there was agreement that we need to refine our information filters based on what is essential to us specifically. This can be summarized by the Bruce Lee quote, “Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless, add what is specifically your own”.

Here are some of the results of the great conversations I've had on this topic:

Be curious about what grabs your attention & how it connects to your goals.

Be mindful to calmly remember your “why”, which means we need daily practices that nurture this attitude. Staying in bed an extra half hour, going for a morning bike ride and sitting on the couch with coffee were suggested as ways to get in touch with this attitude.

Be action oriented with discipline and preparation.

Be optimistic and employ a can-do attitude, which allows us to take things one at a time until our to-do lists are complete.

Once we perceive the challenge of separating the essential from the noise, and establish a constructive attitude, we need a strategy and tools.

Strategies/Tools to consider:

Personal Mission Statement: Write down the one thing you are trying to bring about in the world including what happens if you don’t accomplish the mission. Keep it short and punch so you remember it and embody it in all you do. Example: I want to provide comprehensive care for victims of sexual and domestic violence so that they find healing and do not pass the trauma to their children and families.
Review your process to get stuff done in order to build up your executive function muscles, including calendaring, ToDo lists, post it notes, spreadsheets and other tools along these lines. This can also include reviewing items to delegate to others.
Decide what to read, watch and listen to for relevant info so you can feel connected and involved without feeling overwhelmed. This could include Google searches, or even consulting with a local library specialist who can help you curate your sources.
Maintain a feeling of connection to purpose and your mission by journaling, listening to music, meditation, therapy, walking in nature, etc, that relax your mind and make you feel good.

Peace and love,

Rob & The Band Central Team

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

This month we feature Westport Library, an incredible resource for personal growth and evolution — Here is the Podcast of our June Band Central Radio program featuring Jennifer Bangser, Director of Strategic & Community Partnerships at Westport Library along with Barry Blumenfield from Bone Dry. Hear about the library’s initiatives in Jennifer’s words.

Click here for the podcast!

TAKE A BREATH

On June 16 Band Central sponsored and performed at the Children's Learning Center event honoring their CEO, Marc Jaffe who is retiring after years of dedicated service to the organization. We helped CLC raise money in excess of their goal! Children’s Learning Center provides early education and programs for children 6 weeks to 5 years old and their families.

Here’s a short clip of Tyger MacNeal, Anthony Gadaleta, Rob Somerville, Pat Marafiote and Rob Fried performing Chuck Mangione’s Feel So Good.