u/wynwilder

In regards to popularity on social media what do you think makes some artists click with viewers and not others? I play americana music and see artists who I love, like Phosphorescent, getting maybe 5 likes per video and am always confused. Someone who's been around for 15+ years and who I'd consider 'made it', but on social media just isn't that successful? As opposed to multiple other musicians these days that will blow up on TikTok before releasing a single song. And often those people are the ones labels sign based on internet popularity.

What's the most fun local act you've seen play in Portland? I play folk music and while I love it, I'm looking for fun, jump around, dance, high energy locals acts to see live. Any genre!

I normally sleep on my side, both right and left, but have started having shoulder pain and hip tightness because I end up in a fetal position with my legs curled up and my arm under my body.

So, I'm trying to sleep on my back with my legs stretched out (and a pillow propped under my knees for support) or on my side with my legs stretched out, but for some reason I can't fall asleep like that and it ends up making my restless legs way worse.

Anyone else deal with this or have experience fixing it?

I love this guide to portland (https://www.youwillfindtruelove.com/portland-guide) or palahniuk's book refugees and fugitives, but sadly a lot of the things referenced in these have permanently closed.

Anyone know of a good portland reference guide that exists? Would be interesting to make one that's communal and people could add their own spots.

I turned 40 a few months ago and feel like I'm going through what could be called a mid-life crisis. I'm a musician and am slowly deciding to "give up the dream," in that I'm still making music, which I love doing, but I'm not actively pursuing gigs, music community or relevance from my music.

Doing this has felt like a loss of self, since I've been in bands, playing shows and playing with other musicians for the past 20 years.

So, I'm not really sure what else to do with myself. My wife has ADHD+PMDD, and often has very little energy, I don't have very many friends to hang with and even though I'm taking care of myself through exercise, and creative pursuits it's been feeling like I'm just coasting through life.

For most of my life I've struggled with making friends and having close relationships. I'm much more extroverted and comfortable talking to strangers now, but I'm trying to go out to events by myself to meet people and most people seem to be in groups, so talking to strangers would require walking up to a whole group of people, which seems way harder and weirder?

I've also been told multiple times that people found me intimidating when first meeting me, which seems strange because I'm a very warm, goofy person in general. Maybe because I'm comfortable being alone in a public setting or something? How are you engaging in casual convo and then turning it into real friendships?

I'm an acoustic guitar and am trying to find instrumental acoustic emo music, if anyone has any recs? I've been listening to "Feels Like Your Best Friend" by Forests and like the instrumentation, but a lot of the time I have a hard time hearing the guitar work over the vocals.

I'm on my work's healthcare plan and it's way too expensive to have my spouse included, so we're looking for an individual plan for her. She makes around $47k a year and can only afford maybe $100-$150 per month. Anyone have recommendations for cheaper plans? It looks like she makes too much for OHP Bridge, but would like to find a plan and not just ZoomCare or something like that.

Anyone else have a hard time navigating guitar lessons with Patreon? There are a lot of teachers I like, but the layout is super confusing to my brain. Do you just work lesson by lesson and download the material onto your computer?

I have chronically tight hips and upper back muscles and after going to PT for the first time last week I was told that "those muscles are most likely compensating for an unstable core."

I currently do pilates 3-4 times a week and a 3 day push/pull/legs weight lifting routine, so I feel like my core should be pretty stable?

However, if I do certain exercises, like straight leg lifts or single leg raises, they're super difficult, so I'm just wondering what I'm doing wrong?

Does anyone have any advice regarding focusing on form while doing pilates or weight lifting? Are you supposed to be fully flexing your abs/core while lifting?