chris Wrote:I think it's all about priorities, dedication, where you live, and what you do for a living.
Had I known Mark when he was going on all of these roadtrips, I would've gladly ridden shotgun.
I was asked many times during our European tour, "How can you afford to do this?" and my answer was always the same.
"It's not that expensive really. I make a good living and this is my hobby. I don't smoke, don't drink much at all, and save for the things I want... like this trip."
I talked to this one dude after the show in London and he was carrying on about how could I rationalize the expense of the trip? I asked him what his hobby was and how much he spent on it last year. He said hockey and he spends at least $2000 a year on it.
What more do I need to say?
How much does a smoker spend in a year on cigarettes? Rarely does anyone question them as to how can they afford it? A pack a day = at least $2000 a year.
That's 100% true, chris, and that is what is so impressive (and seemingly "obsessive") about that number of 187 shows.
It's really the committment more than the cost that is hard for me to fathom.
As you infer, in order to accomplish that feat, I myself would have had to devote, over the course of a
decade, a vast majority of my allotted vacation time to the tours, and sacrificed many other various activities and events that I enjoy, like sporting events, and camping, and performances of OTHER musical acts. Furthermore, I would have had to neglect the wishes of people I love, as there would have been no time for for important things like holidays with family and the like. I would have had to miss weddings, skip family gatherings, be unavailable to assist those in certain projects who needed my physical help, and be absent from many social engagements. Yes, as you say, a matter of devotion and priority.
I love music, and The Hip in particular, but it's hard for me to imagine placing one musical act above all else in my life, sacrificing all diversity in interests and leisure activities that require time off of work, including quality time with those dear to me.
Perhaps mark didn't have to sacrifice those things to accomplish what he did. I certainly would have been required to do so, I promise you. And that's not good or bad, right or wrong. It's just remarkable in its focus and committment, and also in mark's good fortune in being able to manage it, I suppose......
hock: Maybe he's from a rich family 
