If you play a tune and a person don't tap their feet, don't play the tune.
The real innovators did their innovating by just being themselves.
I don't dig that two-beat jive the New Orleans cats play. My boys and I have to have four heavy beats to the bar and no cheating.
Of course, there are a lot of ways you can treat the blues, but it will still be the blues.
If you find a note tonight that sounds good, play the same damn note every night!
Learn to deal with the valleys and the hills will take care of themselves.