Good Morning to all my Fellow Musicians Im going to indulge you and your opinions on a thought provoking experiment Im sort of challenging all to participate in. A friend and a great Musician and also Psychiatrist told me that several known musicians/Artist No Names of Course Are dealing with a dilemma .I will attempt to write this with the same enthusiasm he talked to me with. These artist Musicians said they have turned sour repulsed and angry that they feel trapped by their chosen career or craft that their passion has kept them a slave to it .Does it count to be heard . be validated. But after many years of sacrifice and pursuing excellence at times sound mundane prisoned into a belief that their artistry is no more than an extension of their ego instead of passion for the creativity of music. That it does not matter how talented they may be or how long you dedicated yourself pursuing your excellence of your craft or life into it. We bare many losses financially socially relationships . we never spend quality time with those we love or love us. we work most Holidays weekends endure many many hardships the weather, equipment break down or stolen the money we have to invest in itself monsterous . and getting their to your performance even the cases to protect your investment of equipment Plus Fees registrations insurance PR Studio time, rehearsal time .We pay in more ways than one learning our craft and still pursuing that learning as a drummer its a life long journey then teaching our craft to others very little return there financially scheduling time consumption and exhaustion. The toll it takes on our health lugging equipment in and out of vehicles upstairs downstairs heavy heavy equipment. Dealing with weather and personalities egos of fellow musicians owners of clubs Managers PR people Sound Techs and all the success and failures. Wheres the pay off when is the Creativity going to come to fruition . Does it all come down to the song (Is That all there is ? ) .We live precarious lives relationships either flourish or fail. Most fail the cost is to grand to impose on a spouse significant other. Cant be married to two masters they say yet there are those who do last who are in a committed relationship few and far in between I suppose there are many aggravating factors also Dealing with your public your audiences. And all for a mediocre pay at best at times. Being Vigilant also its a very competitive field .This is were even I became disillusioned myself/Ive come to know now that friends I thought were friends even well meaning friends will hide their most inner most fears or loathing jealousy . unbeknownst to me that they all hid this silent agenda of stabbing you in the back while smiling at you. I must be naïve or to trusting because in all honesty I never ever held anything like that about any of them they were jealous of my success and relished in my failures all the while talking as a friend, Truth came to Fruition when my wife and I got Married and True I never saw this coming my own brother whom I helped more times than I can count Turned on me stole from me lied about me and my wife. I brought him back into drumming since he hadnt touched the sticks since he was 10 years old never wanted to read just make noise I built a set for him gave him the name to his jazz group taught how to play brushes and sticks but when he first started went around putting poster telling everyone he teaches , He didnt read music doesnt have clue about jazz but got into it not because he loves music or wants to developed his craft No just for bragging rights all Ego and in this I found out a very hard thing about in our family. But Ive gotten off coarse here and made this a personnel thing for that I apologize for involving you into my situation .again Im sorry continuing Contempt is a huge factor in all this an it becomes a vicious cycle How many Clinics and seminars do you attend and really see anyone there to learn and observe to learn .Nope I see a lot of posturing As in the NAMM show its a place for Musicians go learn about Equipment changes in the industry and get your picture with so and so or the flavour of the month and there are those who go just for that. Then throw them up on FB to show what you got your picture with so and so but do you really know them or the gear equipment jones who have to have the next thing just to beat out your fellow musiciians with equipment does not make you a better musician or sounding musician if you cant work with what you got by now, well Ive seen this a lot guys bring in their drums to sell just bought that set a month ago trading back and forth like their addicted theyll tell you .I cant capture the sound I want .Please you dont hang onto it long enough to let the shells cure LOL I put on new heads turn them up and woalla a new set. Everyone says this I never knew my drums could sound so good yeah its called tuning and changing your heads. There this addiction thing claiming Bragging rights to knows more information than the other guy it called lets Top you back and forth more posturing .we also may get surprise by over night wonders who come onto the scene then gone Endurance persistence has its own voice and value who last , whos successful enough to last . Thats why I try to encourage all musicians because its to easy to get discouraged disillusioned I tell them its not about making your ego bigger or better than theirs , that has its own deadly game of Tiptoeing you back and forth . Ive seen it and Thankfully never participated in it. You have to be flexible being able to adapt to changes very important its more than keeping up with all the new gear and equipment the music people the studios .I found out that you cant be stoic rigid in this business you have to have a thick skin so to speak You can be flexible and Adaptable without giving up tradition but you cant be so locked in tradition because it limits your growth. I do know todays musicians have avenues medium and Tools we never had so today theres really no excuse you cant be a Musician but to what end and degree .They have videos Skype and digital charts and gadets of all kinds but nothing replaces experience working with other musicians trying new ideas expressing yourself. A lot of this is selfgratification of coarse Mr Friend the Doctor went on to tell me .How all of this is causing such depression in musicians especially us older cats . I feel never have we as musicians been challenged with so many diversities and extremes .So My question is do you feel that you are trapped or a slave to your passion taking into account your age years of performing . Are you honest with yourselves about your goal as a musician. Im very interested in all your opinions thank you for my indulgence in in giving me your thoughts on this thanks all Peace Out
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 17:37:57 +0000