Music is a weird job. Imagine you're in a cubicle with a lot of work to do and a small crowd starts to gather that paid to see you work. Pretty soon they get annoyed because you're not keeping them amazed and entertained and start to heckle you as you're on the phone and multitasking. To make it worse there's video behind you and a light show and whatever.
most artists would be much happier about the art of music if they just did the art and stopped trying to get into the business of it. It's very hard to keep a love for the art of music when you're in the business of it.
Like nearly anything in life, sadly.. it once wasn’t controlled and was sooooo beautiful in that way. Part of the reason why I really respect artists like Tom Petty who did their best to hold that shit off
The sad thing is a lot of the most talented behind the scenes people who made hits in the 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's are pretty much forgotten today.
A great friend of mine whose a very well known musician always said : You have to work hard to get to the top but you have to work even harder to stay at the top. I once asked his opinion about talent shows like Idols and his answer was quite interesting. He said, if they didn't broadcast the show before the winner is chosen, the chances of having a very talented vocalist you can work with properly towards a career would have been bigger. Instead, you watch the program on tv, you see the singers performing mostly cover songs and once the winner is announced, the public is happy, but the question is, now what? Now you have a star with no material, songwriters and producers under pressure to push a production out and the public going on with their daily lives with all but a memory of the star who won. That leads to bad quality music due to the rush of the production vs talent shows where you are judged upon your own composition. My example I always use goes: "Your song must be famous before you" meaning for example you hear a very well known song like "Summer of '69" for the first time. That song will make an impression on you and you will ask "who's the artist?" That's when you learn of Bryan Adams and look for more of his material. If you had to say 'this is Bryan Adams' without hearing the song that made that impact the first time, wouldn't your reaction also be "Ok..... Nice to know" and not be like "wow! Let me leave what I'm busy with for a second and listen to this song again" Lol!! I'm sorry for writing so much to explain so little. Good luck to all the musicians out there. I know very well how difficult it can be when you have what it takes but seems transparent while someone who can't hold a straight note hit it big time. Always remember, that's the difference between music and the music industry or true music and the demands of the market. As for tips, I can say, Don't fall for talent scouts, there are many who will take advantage of artists and not compensate with the excuse of 'it's for exposure' that's the first mistake I made. Singing for free for years for 'exposure' just to realize the next day nobody I sang to remembered me cause I was a 'live radio' in a pub. Always ALWAYS be on time for a gig, look professional and neat, don't demand impossible things from the organizers just because you can. The more human and humble you are the more people will think of you. Don't treat your engineers badly, KNOW YOUR SET BACK TO FRONT, and make sure you have equipment that can handle the gig and that's proper. (If you can, take backup where possible) and lastly, be approachable.... Don't make it difficult for people to work with you. If you are open, friendly and not an ass, people would prefer you over most other musicians. Same with supporters. Greet them and show them some love back in a professional way and your name will reach places you never knew existed. I like your videos my friend. Great work. Greetings from me. I apologize for typing anonymously, this is my personal channel and the only one I can be relaxed on.
@Im_a_patriot It's funny because you sound a little bitter, but at the same time you seem to shy away from holding market actors (i.e. ordinary people) accountable for their market choices. I mean if consumers of pop culture are merely brainwashed, they're hardly responsible for any of this stuff, right? But, one of the reasons I phrased my comment exactly like I did was to oppose this kind of view point.
most people i met or listen to or read about or heard of dont give a rats fart about art or music or culture in general, except its related to alcohol or sex or brutality. they dont even understand whats goin on in art or music or tryin to understand, neither intellectual concepts nor craftsmenship
Not being confident in selling yourself . Not wanting to come across as having an ego and relying on just your talent or staying in a group hoping that will make it for you.
That is the thing. The real seller is writing good tunes. They could be simplistic songs that the audience loves, and so it sells really well. At which point all the super talented instrumentalists get upset and say I could have done that. I have been to night clubs and seen bands that show off during their whole set and still the audience doesn't care.
The audience is stupid. They are a bunch of vapid idiots that want everything to sound like Beyonce. At least that is how the industry sees them. The industry doesn't take chances on musicians anymore, they take replicas of what sold. Yet another symptom of the end of the current system.
Sometimes those lesser "talent" types are more fun to play with vs. The "I already know everything" type. A lack of knowledge or ability can sometimes make people more apt to stick to a simpler approach which is usually where the best musical ideas are born. Just speaking from a players standpoint. We all know the heavy metal drummer who thinks hes Keith Moon or the jazz guitarist who has to play diminished arpeggios in every song lol.
You're right. I was supposed to release an album last year, but due to my talents I have become complacent. Watching this really helped to change my perspective. I'll be sure to watch more.
What are you trying to make? Fame? Have you seen the fate of a lot of them? Play your instrument and do it well...you are a creator first and foremost. You are already great!💜
While for Vocalist, the hardest part is to find a Great Musician who knows how to make great music & knows how to align his Song to his/her Vocalists Voce Range..
I completely agree that many very talented musicians are ignored. 50 years my talents as a singer and guitarist were ignored by many in the music industry. I spent my entire music career having a day job because a "break" never came along.
I usually stay away from videos like this as I try to play for just myself, however this guys advice is kind of like gold dust. Work ethic can get you anywhere
Best musicians are always successful, because music is their success. They are aware that money is nice, but is not a goal. They are ambitious for their music quality, but not for its popularity. The focus is music, not popularity or money. 3 different things.
George Martin made a lot of sense he said when he was introduced to the beatles he thought their music wasn't very good but he really noticed their personalities and irreverent humour and thought that alone would make them marketable
The way that musicians make it is, having their own sound that fits right in with the time period and what is trendy at the time but also has a uniqueness to it. Secondly, that the message is clear, and creates a tangible mood and causes the listener to feel one cohesive emotion. Talent is really sort of secondary.
Well I think you need to first define what "make it" means. Everyone has their own definition of success. I've met a lot of jazz musicians that aren't interested in dumbing down their playing for the masses - it's just not exciting for them. Others aren't interested in dealing with all the crap that goes on in the music business. And another point is that music is subjective; everyone has their own tastes. People don't pay for talent, they pay for a product they want. Plenty of people love cheeseburgers and fries over a fancy dinner. And it's not a bad thing, it's just the way it is.
"Make it" means basically to have a considerable fanbase in the genre you're playing. The numbers are relative to the genre, e.g. a pop musician selling 1000 tickets/night isn't that big of a deal. A black metal act with these numbers is a fairly successful band though. If you don't care about people listening to your music fine, you don't need to make it anyways, so yeah, you're definitely right in that regard.
You are correct. I lived in a town where everyone you know is an amazing talented musician. The masses can only learn the names of so many...not everyone even cares to do it all the time or as a job, or has particular ambition, just like you say.
Musical success is not based on technical talent, it's based on these multiple (not necessarily all) items: technical playing ability, great/catchy songwriting ability, physical attractiveness, stage charm, ambition & hard work... to name a few. Music school only really gets you one of these items.
110% truth. Most talented musicians in my city, jump ship way too often, and get caught up in their lovely “I fill up bars” ego, and that’s no reason to have an ego, if that’s all you’re gonna do.
On the one hand it's great that there are so few that have this kind of ambition. On the other it's hard to find people to work with that want to put in the effort. I need to figure out a way to filter out time-wasters quickly.
There is no way of figuring out time wasters in advance mate... by the time you have put the effort and commitment into them and realised they are flakes they would have wasted your time... 😐 x
100%. Catching some breaks along the way doesn't hurt. Also, you're attitude on the job and getting along goes a long way. You've got to be a good hang.
100% accurate. I was lucky enough to get bitten by the guitar bug at a young age. I started playing electric guitar at 7 years old and developed my playing to a point where I was quite good by high school. I am a shining example of someone who thought that I was different than all the others because I had a natural talent. That belief was reinforced every time I saw others my age struggling with stuff I had "mastered "10 years prior. I too believed that it was just a matter of time, "when I'm ready I'll pop out on the scene and my career will take off soaring", I thought. Well, I'm 40 now, and I am still noodling around in my basement. I have never stepped foot on a stage or played to a crowd, ever. While I did come to the realization that talent was such a small part of success, I realized it way too late in life. The whole time that I was honing my craft, I was NOT working on things like my confidence, my attitude, my people skills etc. etc... You have to really believe in yourself and it takes a lot of soul searching to defeat the self doubt and self defeating thought patterns. (This is probably not a struggle for everyone, but it was for me.) Some people are born with that bigger than life self image, and I'm sure that helps them in a music career, but I certainly never had that. Apologies for the long comment, but I suppose what I'm getting at is, listen to this man, he is 100% right. If you're good at something, don't get too caught up in all the compliments, just smile and keep working on the big picture. 'Cause there are a lot of really, really good musicians who work in jobs they hate and grow old and depressed because of their missed opportunity.
His advice is just like the self-help book The Secret Book by Rhonda Byrne. It's your own fault if you're not thinking positively enough. In this case it's your own fault if you're not working hard enough. Even though some of us have got a full-time job and haven't been living off of mummy and daddy's since we were a teenager and have a overwhelming amount of competition out there.
As a self published writer, I'm finding a lot of teaching on this channel seems relevant to writers, not just musicians. I've only watched a handful of your videos but I'm going to keep watching cause what you're saying isn't being said in the indie publisher community, but it rings true
This is really true. In all parts of life. It leads to a sense of entitlement where sucess is taken as a given which dampens ambition. I've seen it time and time again in music and in the workplace
@@KateGrealy1 I just hate it for the ones who are truly talented that seem to be overlooked. Got no respect for the ones who use others/opportunist to make it big.
Agreed. Worked as a Sushi Chef for 10 years. But now I'm finally taking all my skills and things I've learned back into the music side of things. I've had a lot of songs written. Can't say I'm the most talented instrument player but I'm recording all my songs to share with the world out there. Good luck to all the musicians out there. Work ethic is key and your professionalism.
Joanie Mitchell put it well. The people who own the Fame Business are now looking for young people "with a look" who are "cooperative." That's why she's now mostly painting. The agents, managers, promoters and big money men will provide the rest. There's very little emphasis on instrumental skill any more - can you imagine an "instrumental" being a huge hit these days? Do many young people know what that is? And does anyone care who writes the songs? We used to say "Are those songs on the radio & TV because people like them or do people like them because they're on the radio and TV? The masses don't decide what's on the menu, so to speak.
Talent is a lie! I should know everyone says im talented but they werent there when I spent 100s of hours putting in the work to get good they just see the end result and want it to have come naturally cause people are lazy they want an excuse as to why they cant do something so they dont have to put in the effort to even try.
Bruce Wayne, your natural love of music combined with your disciplined drive to master & create it in to the best of your ability IS your gift/talent...😃👍🎶
I think you're making the mistake that "talented" means that it comes to you automatically. It doesn't. Just like any athlete doesn't get to the top by sitting on their couch watching TV, neither will a musician become great with doing nothing. Obviously you have to work for it. The difference between 'talent' and 'no talent' is that a talented person picks things up and is able to develop them, while a non-talented person just can't get anywhere with it, and will eventually give up.
Exactly! 'Talent' does exist, but the vast majority of 'talent' is actually 'skill'. ANYONE on Earth can become a competent, skilled musician. All it takes is huge amounts of time and effort.
So well explained! I struggled with this till I understood I am in fact not as good as maybe millions of other musicians, though I maybe gifted with more talent than many. That has no impact on the world unless you do something great with it. Your video reminds me to get real and treat the gift with the hard work it deserves.
Watching this over a year after it's posted but I had to give props for the perfect usage of Lister's "words that end in 'ibble'" quote from Red Dwarf. Bravo, sir, bravo.
The big problem is that musicians are mostly of a creative type and they don't understand the business side of it. The business of making music is almost non existent today . There aren't many record companies any more so you have to do everything from recording to marketing. I played out for about a decade and finally had a family to feed. Then I needed to get a new career . So before you start down this road make sure you have plan B well in place !!!!
In the 70s & 80s, musicians were given a chance to experiment new sounds. There were countless exploding on MTV. Then came the 90s, if you were a great guitar shredder, it was consider uncool unless you were a 3 chords nirvana band. All and all, don’t worry about making it, just enjoy what was given to you. If serving coffee is your job, so be it. Just be blessed your still here making music for yourself.
You are exactly right. The music business has always had closed doors as a rule. Not what you know but who you know. Talent is black listed to a great degree. A select few somehow break through many times through lucky breaks, right place right time. Sometimes the people running the business decide it's easier to manufacture stars rather than recruit and nurture stars. The Madonna, Milli Vanilli, Brittney Spears type of approach. Give somebody, almost anybody, a total makeover, pair up some writers or ghost writers in the shadows, create an elaborate stage show, mask the deficiencies of the artist. It's a crazy business to be sure. Having said all that, the Sixties and early Seventies were probably the best time for real artists to break through. There was a great diversity of music where any style could break through and be popular. Still, behind the scenes, even then, you had the Wrecking Crew, where many artists weren't allowed to fully blossom as artists. I read even on the first Byrd's album the Wrecking Crew was used.
My school mate from long ago is a super talented musician who has mastered several instruments, but is cringy unreliable, back stabbing, stoned most of the time, and virtually zero business sense, thus not achieving any great status, and still scratching the surface to make ends meet. Once - long ago - I envied his talent, but now I just smile.
So so true ma bro , I am a famous musician here talented but I put more work and effort in my craft than other musicians who are even more talented than me .
Being a band or an artist is equivalent to running a business. If someone has the talent, they have the business idea or the product patent. But if you don’t market and advertise for that idea, it’ll only be an idea, patent, or talent.
So what you are saying is, that it's one percent talent, and ninety-nine perspiration. Success is always going to be a heady cocktail of essential ingredients mixed in the right measure. Rather than working hard to compete against some one else who already caters for something why not carve out your own unique niche which only you can serve. Don't be a copy be original. That is easier said than done I know. Even the most successful acts have had their knocks and set backs but just kept going. Success is only a by product of doing what you do extremely well - not an end in itself.
In my early 20's I got to work with stars and genius sidemen. When I found out how little famous bands paid the other guys it popped my bubble. If I could go back and do it over I'd of stayed in school until I got my PhD then taught in a good college. Instead I always got hired because I was a monster around a bunch of drunk, drugged-out mediocre wannabe's. It's not even worth the effort anymore.
Attitude is everything and everything is attitude. Race is not always given to the swift, the battle is not always won by the strong. But he that endureth to the end. And in plain English “ don’t get drunk off your own koolaide. Keep striving to improve and get the job done no matter what it is. A master musician will always keep learning and improving. Always willing to take direction and better perhaps at a genre they don’t care for than the one they prefer.
What does “make it” mean? Playing in front of thousands? Making millions? Playing music you love? Recording a legacy? Staying active for decades? Hard to say. Perhaps “making it” really does boil down to a personal feeling of success more than anything. I do very much like the part at the end about wanting to play with musicians that will make the gig easier and push through the nonsense of ego. Taking the longview is the difference in my experience as well.
Spending years honing your craft, perfecting your skills, learning to play multiple instruments, writing deep, profound, meaningful lyrics, pushing your singing voice to the limit, learning all there is to know about music production, experimenting with different creative sounds and styles, mastering the art of music through dozens of courses and lessons, studying the greats......all just to watch the likes of Nicki Minaj make millions.
does that mar the pleausure of a real musician making real music, instead of Minaj's noise? well, I presume a real musician will say he prefers earning nothing for his real music than millions for the kind of crap recorded by Minaj and her like
I once heard a story about a band you all have heard of. They spent alot of time and money in the studio recording a masterpiece that none of you know. However, when they tried to release the single, they couldn't because they didn't have a B side for the record. So here they were out of money and time so they slopped together the quickest recording they could with missing lyrics and ridiculously simple pattern. The B side chorus was "NA NA NA, NA NA NA NA HEY HEY HEY GOODBYE". dunno the reality of this but what a great story about how simple music seems to sell better to the masses than masterpieces.
I’ve worked with everyone from Joan Jett, The Monkees, to former members of The Doors, The Beach Boys, etc. I’ve found that the musicians/singers who succeed are the ones who really want it, show up, don’t fight with the producers, behave. The musician/singers who might be extremely talented, but do not achieve success are the self-important, “you couldn’t understand our generation,” etc. etc. Jett’s producers were older than she was, she didn’t argue, “Don’t tell me what to do.” Yes, it’s very nice if Simon & Garfunkel or Cat Stevens show up with hit songs and all you have to do is hit record, but how often does that happen; even The Beatles had to take direction from George Martin.
Demo, when you say "make it" what does it mean? Become a great star, moderate star, have a one hit wonder or just be able to live from your musicianship?
I tried getting gigs in my local area. I worked so hard for it for nearly 10 years I can do opera, screams, I can go both really high and really low, I manage guitar, I trained everyday There's people who get gigs and can't even do half of what I put work into Not fair as I worked so hard bleeding and dying for playing shows, as spent most of my days traing and rehearsing Music life is no fair
Talent needs leadership. Talent needs ambition, talent needs more than average intelligence. It’s about bringing it, and what you and your given talent can bring into the music dynamic. Come together and create great hooks and riffs along with expressing to other musicians working with you on how to make them better. Writing lyrical literature that is catchy and emotional takes a specula kind of talent. Anyone can play and copy cat the best out there. The key is to find your own niche and run with it! Be beyond normal creative. Always think outside of the box. If you do, you will create masterpieces of music!
Probably one of the biggest reasons is we never pay enough attention as to how many people behind the scenes actually make solo talents who they are. No one can do all aspects of music (producing, songwriting, perfecting, having 2nd and 3rd listens, practicing, distributing, marketing, managing, hiring) all by themselves, and yet so many talented musicians think they have to. The BIGGEST strength you can build if you want to sell your music? Collaboration. Failing often and meeting asshole, having stupid stories to tell... That's why we aren't surprised when we see bands with good chemistry take off. Each of the members has their strengths in some aspect (sound design, a specific instrument, song structure, theory, lyrics, etc) and even when you're looking at a solo talent, they meet so many people along the way for feedback and collaboration. Even if you're in college. Meet another music major and just start vibing and writing the stupidest songs or bouncing the nerdiest ideas off of each other. Even if its online!!! Their energy and validation will motivate you to put your stuff out there without you even noticing
I like what you say. One clarification about 'Talent': No one is born with a 'certain' gift. Talent just means; being passioned and work hard for what you want. People often use talent as a excuse to NOT do something or become someone. Talent is a result not a starting point, remember that. Enjoy your day. Cheers.
Man this really resonated with me, thank you. Just for life in general I have always been conflicted with the image i hold of myself because of all the positive comments regarding my guitar playing or talent but my accomplishments/ goals are lacking and wow, you are right! I never tried 100%. 15 years, 1 rehab, and 1 child later and im ready to actually use what i have. Thanks again for the insight!
This is very true. I said this years ago. I think people who aren't overly talented, low-key know they aren't, so they hustle harder to make it, 'cause they know they won't stand out on talent alone. I mean, I've come across some people who were just 'WTF?!?!?!' in terms of talent, but usually were content getting praised by everyone. I know a guitarist from Hampton, Virginia who is fucking GODLY. For real. He's always being told how GODLY he is, and I think that's his pay, unfortunately.
From all of my friends, I was the worst at music. Now they all stop playing and some are still good but I learned a lot while they weren't doing music. I really do not have any talent and I always knew. It was hard to do something that was against my natural capabilities, but I guess I did my best. I keep the music for longer ehat I though i could, and it was not always easy, but I'm proud of what I have achieved.
This is another great video. Something that might be related but not quite is a notice a lot of local musicians not having any concept of entertainment. It’s one thing to play your instrument well, and it’s an entirely different thing to involve and engage the audience. A lot of bands seem to have an odd philosophy about shows “being about the music.”
question. what about musicians that want a mid stream success? e,g. don't want to go all out for world domination? but don't want to be scratching for pub gigs?
im glad someone made a video i have some amazingly talented friends.... and i listen to the radio or cd/ records... and honestly i dont know how that happends but like the feller said there's music and then there's the music business.
Exactly the same as sports.Always get the prodigy that falls by the wayside.Ability =talent +hard work+ mindset.Seen so many people that have more talent than those around.Someone gets close,they put in a bit of effort and pull away.Its a trap and they end up the big fish in the small pond.Seen it so many times,people think we’ll I can do things he can’t,Im better.No,just more gifted.Better is what you can achieve with your gifts.
The other side of this is that the business is sold differently than what it is. It's a lot of different things but not what it's sold as. It has much more hidden than transparent than ordinary businesses. Many complicated business models that take advantage of peoples hope for "discovery". There is funding from many kinds of streams to serve the illusory product of music. Plus it changes focus a lot and the publishers come and go. The most important thing is to have an inner circle connection (gatekeepers/taste makers), that means steady work, knowing what you should be doing without all the guess work. MUSIC is NOT VOTED ON by the people of the world, the people do not have an opportunity to elect talent based on what is liked the most by the majority. I think that people expect this behavior when they walk into a grocery store that has all the same products in all the stores. Whereas in music many think that the songs they hear over and over have some special quality that put them there. The quality that puts them there is a market controlled by big business. Talented people get redirected away from the audience to support the main brands the companies push because there are so many talented people and they don't want them to detract the focus of the market. The redirect pushes them toward anonymity rather than success. It's a terribly managed system, managed by misfits much like the rest of the financial world. #modularity
i think its the wrong era for musicians-unless they want to join an orchestra... i could be wrong, but most songs i hear in the charts barely use any musicians
High creativity tends to go with low conscientousness, you need the latter generally to be a really good musician, I have a lot of songs on UA-cam but I’m not the greatest musician, if only I could get a call from the ‘Bond’ people :-)
Case in point; Jeffery Gaines went on tour with Melissa Etheridge with his debut album. One of the greatest debuts i ever heard, it still stands up to this day. Check it out and you’ll see what i mean.
I am very happy I kept it as a hobby. First off I am not extraordinary, but more importantly I’ve only done projects that I enjoy because I had that option
Absolutely terrible advice. Fuck this pessimistic freshman-level bullshit. If you love music and want to make it your job, LEARN. Read books on how the industry functions, and where you want to position yourself in said industry. Do you want to get signed to a label as talent? Learn your rights as a potential copyright owner/creator. If you have a soul, but no brains, then by all means stay as a hobbyist. But if you want to carve a shiny spot just for you in the world, you need coordination, cooperation among your peers, a PLAN. And then GO... Then fail miserably... THEN GO AGAIN. This dumbass probably worked at Guitar Center for a week and said "I hate all music now."
The very few people that understand that you just explained the key to success for all things, will be successful in what they do. The masses will continue to be professional victims. I was a career development manager for many years and when I told people (in a polite way) that brains will get you a degree, it takes balls to win at anything, they would look at me like I was from Mars.
Everything here is true..but there are things that are making big problems for most of the people like being born in the some little forgaten town where is hard to find a group of people to work with, I mean we can not all be born in L A or USA for that matter. I had a number one band in town (Zadar, Croatia) till I lost my singer Co writer of the band, me and him were hart and soul of the band..he actually died 33 years old while we were making our first record and were preety popular around.Now Im 40 and life just breaking me with milions problems and for sure I never find substitution for my friend, even as a singer cause is a small town.I mean Slash was looking for 2 years before he found Scott for Velvet Revolver so how the hell can I.Maybe I m little of topic here but if I m living in the right city I would for sure be living as musician but here I get few weekends , maybe some gigs thru the summer and thats it...fuck
Would Jimi Hendrix make it today? He is regarded as one of the most talented musicians ever. No- because guitar music out. Same with Bach, Beethoven etc. It's not about talent anymore it's about appearence, popularity and image.
A Lot of Musicians spend so much time on the art itself and don't even bother with the Business and the Marketing which also plays a large role, and vice versa. You get musicians who spend way too much time worrying about the business side of things when they don't actually have any musical talent to put forward You have to have three things 1. Talent 2. Good Financial Education 3. Good knowledge of Marketing and Staying Relevant
There's music and then there's the business of music
Cornelio Jerez : that perfectly sums it all up.
Music is a weird job. Imagine you're in a cubicle with a lot of work to do and a small crowd starts to gather that paid to see you work. Pretty soon they get annoyed because you're not keeping them amazed and entertained and start to heckle you as you're on the phone and multitasking. To make it worse there's video behind you and a light show and whatever.
most artists would be much happier about the art of music if they just did the art and stopped trying to get into the business of it. It's very hard to keep a love for the art of music when you're in the business of it.
@300bpm wrong
Like nearly anything in life, sadly.. it once wasn’t controlled and was sooooo beautiful in that way. Part of the reason why I really respect artists like Tom Petty who did their best to hold that shit off
It's about business at the end of the day. Most people are looking for the package. Talent, charisma, work ethic, looks, connections etc.
The sad thing is a lot of the most talented behind the scenes people who made hits in the 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's are pretty much forgotten today.
A great friend of mine whose a very well known musician always said : You have to work hard to get to the top but you have to work even harder to stay at the top. I once asked his opinion about talent shows like Idols and his answer was quite interesting. He said, if they didn't broadcast the show before the winner is chosen, the chances of having a very talented vocalist you can work with properly towards a career would have been bigger. Instead, you watch the program on tv, you see the singers performing mostly cover songs and once the winner is announced, the public is happy, but the question is, now what? Now you have a star with no material, songwriters and producers under pressure to push a production out and the public going on with their daily lives with all but a memory of the star who won. That leads to bad quality music due to the rush of the production vs talent shows where you are judged upon your own composition. My example I always use goes: "Your song must be famous before you" meaning for example you hear a very well known song like "Summer of '69" for the first time. That song will make an impression on you and you will ask "who's the artist?" That's when you learn of Bryan Adams and look for more of his material. If you had to say 'this is Bryan Adams' without hearing the song that made that impact the first time, wouldn't your reaction also be "Ok..... Nice to know" and not be like "wow! Let me leave what I'm busy with for a second and listen to this song again" Lol!! I'm sorry for writing so much to explain so little. Good luck to all the musicians out there. I know very well how difficult it can be when you have what it takes but seems transparent while someone who can't hold a straight note hit it big time. Always remember, that's the difference between music and the music industry or true music and the demands of the market. As for tips, I can say, Don't fall for talent scouts, there are many who will take advantage of artists and not compensate with the excuse of 'it's for exposure' that's the first mistake I made. Singing for free for years for 'exposure' just to realize the next day nobody I sang to remembered me cause I was a 'live radio' in a pub. Always ALWAYS be on time for a gig, look professional and neat, don't demand impossible things from the organizers just because you can. The more human and humble you are the more people will think of you. Don't treat your engineers badly, KNOW YOUR SET BACK TO FRONT, and make sure you have equipment that can handle the gig and that's proper. (If you can, take backup where possible) and lastly, be approachable.... Don't make it difficult for people to work with you. If you are open, friendly and not an ass, people would prefer you over most other musicians. Same with supporters. Greet them and show them some love back in a professional way and your name will reach places you never knew existed. I like your videos my friend. Great work. Greetings from me. I apologize for typing anonymously, this is my personal channel and the only one I can be relaxed on.
There's a much simpler answer: it's that the market isn't asking for creativity.
Yes , many in the market are looking for molds ,men who can be more absurd and women who will strip down to their shoes and lip sync.
@Im_a_patriot It's funny because you sound a little bitter, but at the same time you seem to shy away from holding market actors (i.e. ordinary people) accountable for their market choices. I mean if consumers of pop culture are merely brainwashed, they're hardly responsible for any of this stuff, right?
But, one of the reasons I phrased my comment exactly like I did was to oppose this kind of view point.
most people i met or listen to or read about or heard of dont give a rats fart about art or music or culture in general, except its related to alcohol or sex or brutality. they dont even understand whats goin on in art or music or tryin to understand, neither intellectual concepts nor craftsmenship
that's not really what this video is about...
Or originality
Not being confident in selling yourself . Not wanting to come across as having an ego and relying on just your talent or staying in a group hoping that will make it for you.
Respectfully, this is so painfully honest that I honestly hate your honesty. Haha.
Instrument talent doesn't always write great songs
very true.. in fact a lot of the time it can hinder
That is the thing. The real seller is writing good tunes. They could be simplistic songs that the audience loves, and so it sells really well. At which point all the super talented instrumentalists get upset and say I could have done that. I have been to night clubs and seen bands that show off during their whole set and still the audience doesn't care.
@@TheKatlnelson 💯💀😂💀💯
The audience is stupid. They are a bunch of vapid idiots that want everything to sound like Beyonce. At least that is how the industry sees them. The industry doesn't take chances on musicians anymore, they take replicas of what sold. Yet another symptom of the end of the current system.
Sometimes those lesser "talent" types are more fun to play with vs. The "I already know everything" type. A lack of knowledge or ability can sometimes make people more apt to stick to a simpler approach which is usually where the best musical ideas are born. Just speaking from a players standpoint. We all know the heavy metal drummer who thinks hes Keith Moon or the jazz guitarist who has to play diminished arpeggios in every song lol.
You're right. I was supposed to release an album last year, but due to my talents I have become complacent. Watching this really helped to change my perspective. I'll be sure to watch more.
What's your release strategy for 2019? Lets make it a big one! :) Damo
What are you trying to make? Fame? Have you seen the fate of a lot of them? Play your instrument and do it well...you are a creator first and foremost. You are already great!💜
As a talented musician that is currently making it I agree with all of this. Good job Damian
What is the secret
Where are you playing?
Fancy seeing you here. I follow your smart rapper channel.
How to you do it
skipped the lessons on modesty tho butt))))
The hardest part is finding a vocalist whom has that magic
Very true
While for Vocalist, the hardest part is to find a Great Musician who knows how to make great music & knows how to align his Song to his/her Vocalists Voce Range..
Not vocalist Seller. Believe me it’s not about talent but how you sell.
I completely agree that many very talented musicians are ignored. 50 years my talents as a singer and guitarist were ignored by many in the music industry. I spent my entire music career having a day job because a "break" never came along.
Damn that's sad
What are you doing these days?
They get tired of putting a lot of time for such little return.
talent and creativity dont allways mix
what do you mean?
@@cjgreen4331 no i was talking about the bird
I usually stay away from videos like this as I try to play for just myself, however this guys advice is kind of like gold dust. Work ethic can get you anywhere
Best musicians are always successful, because music is their success. They are aware that money is nice, but is not a goal. They are ambitious for their music quality, but not for its popularity. The focus is music, not popularity or money. 3 different things.
George Martin made a lot of sense he said when he was introduced to the beatles he thought their music wasn't very good but he really noticed their personalities and irreverent humour and thought that alone would make them marketable
Not just talent you need to have a big budget behind you
The way that musicians make it is, having their own sound that fits right in with the time period and what is trendy at the time but also has a uniqueness to it. Secondly, that the message is clear, and creates a tangible mood and causes the listener to feel one cohesive emotion. Talent is really sort of secondary.
Spot on! People always say you need a slice of luck, and while that's true... talent + hard work = higher percentage of luck.
Well I think you need to first define what "make it" means. Everyone has their own definition of success. I've met a lot of jazz musicians that aren't interested in dumbing down their playing for the masses - it's just not exciting for them. Others aren't interested in dealing with all the crap that goes on in the music business. And another point is that music is subjective; everyone has their own tastes. People don't pay for talent, they pay for a product they want. Plenty of people love cheeseburgers and fries over a fancy dinner. And it's not a bad thing, it's just the way it is.
Roy Maya totally agree that you get to define success and decide what it is that drives you 😊
Yes. Very well said!
I think that if you can do it full time you're successful. Your genre may not be popular and is losing popularity as the years go by.
"Make it" means basically to have a considerable fanbase in the genre you're playing. The numbers are relative to the genre, e.g. a pop musician selling 1000 tickets/night isn't that big of a deal. A black metal act with these numbers is a fairly successful band though.
If you don't care about people listening to your music fine, you don't need to make it anyways, so yeah, you're definitely right in that regard.
You are correct. I lived in a town where everyone you know is an amazing talented musician. The masses can only learn the names of so many...not everyone even cares to do it all the time or as a job, or has particular ambition, just like you say.
This totally explains why no one has ever heard of me...
Same
Musical success is not based on technical talent, it's based on these multiple (not necessarily all) items: technical playing ability, great/catchy songwriting ability, physical attractiveness, stage charm, ambition & hard work... to name a few. Music school only really gets you one of these items.
Great post, I agree although i think having a mentor would feature highly as that coaching role can help you set the bar in the other areas 🙂
110% truth. Most talented musicians in my city, jump ship way too often, and get caught up in their lovely “I fill up bars” ego, and that’s no reason to have an ego, if that’s all you’re gonna do.
That last part hurt. The truth often does
On the one hand it's great that there are so few that have this kind of ambition. On the other it's hard to find people to work with that want to put in the effort. I need to figure out a way to filter out time-wasters quickly.
Why is this so true😔
There is no way of figuring out time wasters in advance mate... by the time you have put the effort and commitment into them and realised they are flakes they would have wasted your time... 😐 x
That because people expect musicians to bust there ass working for nothing
Yeah I hear ya
💯💯💯
100%. Catching some breaks along the way doesn't hurt. Also, you're attitude on the job and getting along goes a long way. You've got to be a good hang.
100% accurate. I was lucky enough to get bitten by the guitar bug at a young age. I started playing electric guitar at 7 years old and developed my playing to a point where I was quite good by high school. I am a shining example of someone who thought that I was different than all the others because I had a natural talent. That belief was reinforced every time I saw others my age struggling with stuff I had "mastered "10 years prior. I too believed that it was just a matter of time, "when I'm ready I'll pop out on the scene and my career will take off soaring", I thought. Well, I'm 40 now, and I am still noodling around in my basement. I have never stepped foot on a stage or played to a crowd, ever. While I did come to the realization that talent was such a small part of success, I realized it way too late in life. The whole time that I was honing my craft, I was NOT working on things like my confidence, my attitude, my people skills etc. etc... You have to really believe in yourself and it takes a lot of soul searching to defeat the self doubt and self defeating thought patterns. (This is probably not a struggle for everyone, but it was for me.) Some people are born with that bigger than life self image, and I'm sure that helps them in a music career, but I certainly never had that. Apologies for the long comment, but I suppose what I'm getting at is, listen to this man, he is 100% right. If you're good at something, don't get too caught up in all the compliments, just smile and keep working on the big picture. 'Cause there are a lot of really, really good musicians who work in jobs they hate and grow old and depressed because of their missed opportunity.
Well said
have you tried streaming? or submitting something to YT? I would gladly listen
This comment just inspired the hell out of me. Thank you for sharing. I hope you found happiness, most importantly.
His advice is just like the self-help book The Secret Book by Rhonda Byrne. It's your own fault if you're not thinking positively enough. In this case it's your own fault if you're not working hard enough. Even though some of us have got a full-time job and haven't been living off of mummy and daddy's since we were a teenager and have a overwhelming amount of competition out there.
As a self published writer, I'm finding a lot of teaching on this channel seems relevant to writers, not just musicians. I've only watched a handful of your videos but I'm going to keep watching cause what you're saying isn't being said in the indie publisher community, but it rings true
This is really true. In all parts of life. It leads to a sense of entitlement where sucess is taken as a given which dampens ambition. I've seen it time and time again in music and in the workplace
I think truly great ones tend to be humble.
@@javiceres especially those who really have worked to get where they are
Agree!!!
@@jenniferirwin82 have u seen it too?
@@KateGrealy1 I just hate it for the ones who are truly talented that seem to be overlooked. Got no respect for the ones who use others/opportunist to make it big.
MY father always said, the most talented musicians you will find playing on the street....
thank you bro i appreciate ur effort!
Agreed. Worked as a Sushi Chef for 10 years. But now I'm finally taking all my skills and things I've learned back into the music side of things. I've had a lot of songs written. Can't say I'm the most talented instrument player but I'm recording all my songs to share with the world out there. Good luck to all the musicians out there. Work ethic is key and your professionalism.
Luck does not exist
I thought you were going to say that the greatest talents are discouraged by the mediocrity of the music industry and public.
@American Fuel TV Well, that's a deceptive
question to say the least, and certainly one I shouldn't answer. By the way, I can read lower case letters.
Exactly. Hustle beats talent. If you hustle and never stop,you'll make it
Joanie Mitchell put it well. The people who own the Fame Business are now looking for young people "with a look" who are "cooperative." That's why she's now mostly painting. The agents, managers, promoters and big money men will provide the rest. There's very little emphasis on instrumental skill any more - can you imagine an "instrumental" being a huge hit these days? Do many young people know what that is? And does anyone care who writes the songs? We used to say "Are those songs on the radio & TV because people like them or do people like them because they're on the radio and TV? The masses don't decide what's on the menu, so to speak.
I love good music and i hate the music business!
Talent is a lie! I should know everyone says im talented but they werent there when I spent 100s of hours putting in the work to get good they just see the end result and want it to have come naturally cause people are lazy they want an excuse as to why they cant do something so they dont have to put in the effort to even try.
Bruce Wayne The sad truth is most people are “talented” in some shape or form, but are looking for cookie-cutter success in all the wrong places.
Bruce Wayne, your natural love of music combined with your disciplined drive to master & create it in to the best of your ability IS your gift/talent...😃👍🎶
Just because you need to put in the work doesn't mean there aren't lazy talented people out there.
I think you're making the mistake that "talented" means that it comes to you automatically. It doesn't. Just like any athlete doesn't get to the top by sitting on their couch watching TV, neither will a musician become great with doing nothing. Obviously you have to work for it. The difference between 'talent' and 'no talent' is that a talented person picks things up and is able to develop them, while a non-talented person just can't get anywhere with it, and will eventually give up.
Exactly! 'Talent' does exist, but the vast majority of 'talent' is actually 'skill'.
ANYONE on Earth can become a competent, skilled musician. All it takes is huge amounts of time and effort.
Wonderful advice, thank you.
So well explained! I struggled with this till I understood I am in fact not as good as maybe millions of other musicians, though I maybe gifted with more talent than many. That has no impact on the world unless you do something great with it.
Your video reminds me to get real and treat the gift with the hard work it deserves.
I think to make it big you need to have a personality people fall in love with.Even if your not a perfect musician.
Watching this over a year after it's posted but I had to give props for the perfect usage of Lister's "words that end in 'ibble'" quote from Red Dwarf. Bravo, sir, bravo.
The big problem is that musicians are mostly of a creative type and they don't understand the business side of it. The business of making music is almost non existent today . There aren't many record companies any more so you have to do everything from recording to marketing. I played out for about a decade and finally had a family to feed. Then I needed to get a new career . So before you start down this road make sure you have plan B well in place !!!!
In the 70s & 80s, musicians were given a chance to experiment new sounds. There were countless exploding on MTV. Then came the 90s, if you were a great guitar shredder, it was consider uncool unless you were a 3 chords nirvana band. All and all, don’t worry about making it, just enjoy what was given to you. If serving coffee is your job, so be it. Just be blessed your still here making music for yourself.
You are exactly right. The music business has always had closed doors as a rule. Not what you know but who you know. Talent is black listed to a great degree. A select few somehow break through many times through lucky breaks, right place right time. Sometimes the people running the business decide it's easier to manufacture stars rather than recruit and nurture stars. The Madonna, Milli Vanilli, Brittney Spears type of approach. Give somebody, almost anybody, a total makeover, pair up some writers or ghost writers in the shadows, create an elaborate stage show, mask the deficiencies of the artist. It's a crazy business to be sure. Having said all that, the Sixties and early Seventies were probably the best time for real artists to break through. There was a great diversity of music where any style could break through and be popular. Still, behind the scenes, even then, you had the Wrecking Crew, where many artists weren't allowed to fully blossom as artists. I read even on the first Byrd's album the Wrecking Crew was used.
My school mate from long ago is a super talented musician who has mastered several instruments, but is cringy unreliable, back stabbing, stoned most of the time, and virtually zero business sense, thus not achieving any great status, and still scratching the surface to make ends meet. Once - long ago - I envied his talent, but now I just smile.
So so true ma bro , I am a famous musician here talented but I put more work and effort in my craft than other musicians who are even more talented than me .
Being a band or an artist is equivalent to running a business. If someone has the talent, they have the business idea or the product patent. But if you don’t market and advertise for that idea, it’ll only be an idea, patent, or talent.
So what you are saying is, that it's one percent talent, and ninety-nine perspiration. Success is always going to be a heady cocktail of essential ingredients mixed in the right measure. Rather than working hard to compete against some one else who already caters for something why not carve out your own unique niche which only you can serve. Don't be a copy be original. That is easier said than done I know. Even the most successful acts have had their knocks and set backs but just kept going. Success is only a by product of doing what you do extremely well - not an end in itself.
I am here to do the JOB! And to stay cool while doing it. Hammering it out till the bitter fucking end to bring it.
In my early 20's I got to work with stars and genius sidemen. When I found out how little famous bands paid the other guys it popped my bubble. If I could go back and do it over I'd of stayed in school until I got my PhD then taught in a good college. Instead I always got hired because I was a monster around a bunch of drunk, drugged-out mediocre wannabe's. It's not even worth the effort anymore.
Attitude is everything and everything is attitude. Race is not always given to the swift, the battle is not always won by the strong. But he that endureth to the end. And in plain English “ don’t get drunk off your own koolaide. Keep striving to improve and get the job done no matter what it is. A master musician will always keep learning and improving. Always willing to take direction and better perhaps at a genre they don’t care for than the one they prefer.
What does “make it” mean? Playing in front of thousands? Making millions? Playing music you love? Recording a legacy? Staying active for decades? Hard to say. Perhaps “making it” really does boil down to a personal feeling of success more than anything. I do very much like the part at the end about wanting to play with musicians that will make the gig easier and push through the nonsense of ego. Taking the longview is the difference in my experience as well.
Spending years honing your craft, perfecting your skills, learning to play multiple instruments, writing deep, profound, meaningful lyrics, pushing your singing voice to the limit, learning all there is to know about music production, experimenting with different creative sounds and styles, mastering the art of music through dozens of courses and lessons, studying the greats......all just to watch the likes of Nicki Minaj make millions.
does that mar the pleausure of a real musician making real music, instead of Minaj's noise? well, I presume a real musician will say he prefers earning nothing for his real music than millions for the kind of crap recorded by Minaj and her like
I once heard a story about a band you all have heard of. They spent alot of time and money in the studio recording a masterpiece that none of you know. However, when they tried to release the single, they couldn't because they didn't have a B side for the record. So here they were out of money and time so they slopped together the quickest recording they could with missing lyrics and ridiculously simple pattern. The B side chorus was "NA NA NA, NA NA NA NA HEY HEY HEY GOODBYE". dunno the reality of this but what a great story about how simple music seems to sell better to the masses than masterpieces.
I’ve worked with everyone from Joan Jett, The Monkees, to former members of The Doors, The Beach Boys, etc. I’ve found that the musicians/singers who succeed are the ones who really want it, show up, don’t fight with the producers, behave. The musician/singers who might be extremely talented, but do not achieve success are the self-important, “you couldn’t understand our generation,” etc. etc. Jett’s producers were older than she was, she didn’t argue, “Don’t tell me what to do.” Yes, it’s very nice if Simon & Garfunkel or Cat Stevens show up with hit songs and all you have to do is hit record, but how often does that happen; even The Beatles had to take direction from George Martin.
Demo, when you say "make it" what does it mean? Become a great star, moderate star, have a one hit wonder or just be able to live from your musicianship?
good thoughts and smart take on talent in general.
I tried getting gigs in my local area.
I worked so hard for it for nearly 10 years I can do opera, screams, I can go both really high and really low, I manage guitar,
I trained everyday
There's people who get gigs and can't even do half of what I put work into
Not fair as I worked so hard bleeding and dying for playing shows, as spent most of my days traing and rehearsing
Music life is no fair
Talent is nothing without hard work.
This is true for sports or anything else in life
Right on the Money!
Talent needs leadership. Talent needs ambition, talent needs more than average intelligence. It’s about bringing it, and what you and your given talent can bring into the music dynamic. Come together and create great hooks and riffs along with expressing to other musicians working with you on how to make them better. Writing lyrical literature that is catchy and emotional takes a specula kind of talent. Anyone can play and copy cat the best out there. The key is to find your own niche and run with it! Be beyond normal creative. Always think outside of the box. If you do, you will create masterpieces of music!
*YES!!*
Probably one of the biggest reasons is we never pay enough attention as to how many people behind the scenes actually make solo talents who they are. No one can do all aspects of music (producing, songwriting, perfecting, having 2nd and 3rd listens, practicing, distributing, marketing, managing, hiring) all by themselves, and yet so many talented musicians think they have to. The BIGGEST strength you can build if you want to sell your music? Collaboration. Failing often and meeting asshole, having stupid stories to tell... That's why we aren't surprised when we see bands with good chemistry take off. Each of the members has their strengths in some aspect (sound design, a specific instrument, song structure, theory, lyrics, etc) and even when you're looking at a solo talent, they meet so many people along the way for feedback and collaboration. Even if you're in college. Meet another music major and just start vibing and writing the stupidest songs or bouncing the nerdiest ideas off of each other. Even if its online!!! Their energy and validation will motivate you to put your stuff out there without you even noticing
I like what you say. One clarification about 'Talent': No one is born with a 'certain' gift. Talent just means; being passioned and work hard for what you want. People often use talent as a excuse to NOT do something or become someone. Talent is a result not a starting point, remember that. Enjoy your day. Cheers.
He just described why I am (relatively) successful
Man this really resonated with me, thank you. Just for life in general I have always been conflicted with the image i hold of myself because of all the positive comments regarding my guitar playing or talent but my accomplishments/ goals are lacking and wow, you are right! I never tried 100%. 15 years, 1 rehab, and 1 child later and im ready to actually use what i have. Thanks again for the insight!
Malachi, thank you so much for this message and can I say a big congrats on persevering and sorting things out in your life. Total respect to you! 👏🙂
This is very true. I said this years ago. I think people who aren't overly talented, low-key know they aren't, so they hustle harder to make it, 'cause they know they won't stand out on talent alone. I mean, I've come across some people who were just 'WTF?!?!?!' in terms of talent, but usually were content getting praised by everyone. I know a guitarist from Hampton, Virginia who is fucking GODLY. For real. He's always being told how GODLY he is, and I think that's his pay, unfortunately.
Excellent approach to mindset. This is what should be taught in school.
Really wise words, not just true for musicians but for all areas of life
Love your videos, voice of a reason 🤘
Well, youtube is full of great records made by great bands that didn't make it.
From all of my friends, I was the worst at music. Now they all stop playing and some are still good but I learned a lot while they weren't doing music. I really do not have any talent and I always knew. It was hard to do something that was against my natural capabilities, but I guess I did my best. I keep the music for longer ehat I though i could, and it was not always easy, but I'm proud of what I have achieved.
This is another great video. Something that might be related but not quite is a notice a lot of local musicians not having any concept of entertainment. It’s one thing to play your instrument well, and it’s an entirely different thing to involve and engage the audience. A lot of bands seem to have an odd philosophy about shows “being about the music.”
Definitely true, but not a new problem.. Ironically, the bands who understand this and put on amazing shows live usually smash social media
'Making it' is not important. It means nothing. Music business is dead today.
question. what about musicians that want a mid stream success? e,g. don't want to go all out for world domination? but don't want to be scratching for pub gigs?
Preach it!!! Hard work beats talent! Great stuff:) i listen to your stuff everyday (i even rewatch for refreshments)! #grindNeverStops
im glad someone made a video i have some amazingly talented friends.... and i listen to the radio or cd/ records... and honestly i dont know how that happends but like the feller said there's music and then there's the music business.
Exactly the same as sports.Always get the prodigy that falls by the wayside.Ability =talent +hard work+ mindset.Seen so many people that have more talent than those around.Someone gets close,they put in a bit of effort and pull away.Its a trap and they end up the big fish in the small pond.Seen it so many times,people think we’ll I can do things he can’t,Im better.No,just more gifted.Better is what you can achieve with your gifts.
Am I a talented musician if people say my songs are outstanding, but it took me 10 years to get to this level?
Yes absolutely you are
This is so true!
You can tell by listening to the mainstream music that this guy is pretty much right.
The other side of this is that the business is sold differently than what it is. It's a lot of different things but not what it's sold as. It has much more hidden than transparent than ordinary businesses. Many complicated business models that take advantage of peoples hope for "discovery". There is funding from many kinds of streams to serve the illusory product of music. Plus it changes focus a lot and the publishers come and go. The most important thing is to have an inner circle connection (gatekeepers/taste makers), that means steady work, knowing what you should be doing without all the guess work. MUSIC is NOT VOTED ON by the people of the world, the people do not have an opportunity to elect talent based on what is liked the most by the majority. I think that people expect this behavior when they walk into a grocery store that has all the same products in all the stores. Whereas in music many think that the songs they hear over and over have some special quality that put them there. The quality that puts them there is a market controlled by big business. Talented people get redirected away from the audience to support the main brands the companies push because there are so many talented people and they don't want them to detract the focus of the market. The redirect pushes them toward anonymity rather than success. It's a terribly managed system, managed by misfits much like the rest of the financial world. #modularity
Great video! so much more than talent is needed to really make a mark in the music world
Great insight!
Thanks Karan!
So of you're highly talented, what would be the right thing to do to deal with this dilemma?
very happy i stumbled on your content
Always such an interesting video :))
i think its the wrong era for musicians-unless they want to join an orchestra... i could be wrong, but most songs i hear in the charts barely use any musicians
High creativity tends to go with low conscientousness, you need the latter generally to be a really good musician, I have a lot of songs on UA-cam but I’m not the greatest musician, if only I could get a call from the ‘Bond’ people :-)
Case in point; Jeffery Gaines went on tour with Melissa Etheridge with his debut album. One of the greatest debuts i ever heard, it still stands up to this day. Check it out and you’ll see what i mean.
if you love playing music don't make it your job
I am very happy I kept it as a hobby. First off I am not extraordinary, but more importantly I’ve only done projects that I enjoy because I had that option
Why...?
Absolutely terrible advice. Fuck this pessimistic freshman-level bullshit.
If you love music and want to make it your job, LEARN. Read books on how the industry functions, and where you want to position yourself in said industry. Do you want to get signed to a label as talent? Learn your rights as a potential copyright owner/creator.
If you have a soul, but no brains, then by all means stay as a hobbyist. But if you want to carve a shiny spot just for you in the world, you need coordination, cooperation among your peers, a PLAN. And then GO... Then fail miserably... THEN GO AGAIN.
This dumbass probably worked at Guitar Center for a week and said "I hate all music now."
I'm a music teacher and I love my job. It hasn't killed my passion at all.
Jacob Scott idk.
Talent in music is not talent in commercial success.
The very few people that understand that you just explained the key to success for all things, will be successful in what they do. The masses will continue to be professional victims. I was a career development manager for many years and when I told people (in a polite way) that brains will get you a degree, it takes balls to win at anything, they would look at me like I was from Mars.
This is the argument that I have with Musicians who are the "it's all about the music!" musicians.
Everything here is true..but there are things that are making big problems for most of the people like being born in the some little forgaten town where is hard to find a group of people to work with, I mean we can not all be born in L A or USA for that matter. I had a number one band in town (Zadar, Croatia) till I lost my singer Co writer of the band, me and him were hart and soul of the band..he actually died 33 years old while we were making our first record and were preety popular around.Now Im 40 and life just breaking me with milions problems and for sure I never find substitution for my friend, even as a singer cause is a small town.I mean Slash was looking for 2 years before he found Scott for Velvet Revolver so how the hell can I.Maybe I m little of topic here but if I m living in the right city I would for sure be living as musician but here I get few weekends , maybe some gigs thru the summer and thats it...fuck
Would Jimi Hendrix make it today? He is regarded as one of the most talented musicians ever. No- because guitar music out. Same with Bach, Beethoven etc. It's not about talent anymore it's about appearence, popularity and image.
Wise words and they apply to every industry
A Lot of Musicians spend so much time on the art itself and don't even bother with the Business and the Marketing which also plays a large role, and vice versa. You get musicians who spend way too much time worrying about the business side of things when they don't actually have any musical talent to put forward
You have to have three things
1. Talent
2. Good Financial Education
3. Good knowledge of Marketing and Staying Relevant
Bang on Damian