posted on May, 4 2011 @ 08:51 PM
In reply to the "I have to be a famous successful musician" deal....
I have to tell you something from experience:
I grew up in the Music Industry, have friends that are successful, and have super talented friends that went no where.
1. Mastery. Those that succeeded, became masters of their crafts. The gutarists that I know who tour with Santana, do studio sessions with Lady Gaga,
and travel the world..... they learned and practise every possible chord, style, acoustic, electric, and improv. They practice hours every day and
breath music.
2. Sacrifice. All the successful artists I knew, literally left girlfriends, left their lives and dont have kids, sacrificing just about everything to
get where they are. You can forget about a normal lifestyle or even a place you call home. Get used to sleeping on peoples floors, in tour vans, on
the grass at parks. You become a nomad and its about paying dues.
3. Who you know. Those that have been successful, always went to every party, every industry gathering, every show, got t know everybody. Eventually
it pays off. 6 degrees of seperation. Whoever you need to get to in order to be successful and take you to the next step, is usually less than 3-4
people away.
4. Study history. My successful friends know thier history. The understand all the different genres and can fuse any 2, 3, 4, 5 styles into something
unique.
5. Surround yourself with the best. Those that are grinding, that don't stop, that have this thing about them when they walk into the room, everyone
looks. These are the poeple that succeed in this industry and you need to be around them. Study the aura's and the gusto of people.
6. Collaborate and get along. Some artists create this Huge Ego persona and it prevents them from working with other acts. That is a one way ticket to
failure and I've seen it too many times.
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The bad side.
There is tons and tons of music out there that just sucks. I know lots of pro recording studio owners/engineers and they call it "polishing terds."
Most music from most people is CRAP and that is the first bias most people have in the industry, that your stuff is crap unless you can prove its
not.
All these bands/artists that have their terds polished at these fancy studios, they all talk just like you. They say they are the next big thing and
they have to be famous musicians, but 99% of them never make it and all of their music does mostly suck.
There are many that have Huge talents. They fail because of the following reasons: Do the same thing over and over and never progress. Don't work
well with others, or work with others at all. Too many attachments at home, child, girl/wife. Don't practise enough. They dont do any live shows. Ego
is too big and turns most people off. Wont leave home town. Won't tour. Won't do internet promo work. Don't have an agent/manager. Try to do
everything themselves. Drink/drugs too much. Too broke to invest in themselves/projects. Etc.
_______________________________
There is just way to much to overcome to make it. There is no money in album sales. The money is simply in tours and merch, and if you dont get
yourself a name, nobody will come to any tours nor will they buy merch.
This is the reality of it. I see to many youngins in these studios with stars in their eyes. Their minds create this fantastic megastar scenario and
they walk waround as if they are the next big super star. Then when I hear the music, it is just pure crap and I usually see these same kids 10 years
later still trying to make it with the same sound, the same style, the same crappy music.
Every once in a while though, I've seen somebody walk in. You could tell their was something about them, but they didn't flaunt it. They were
serious business and let the music speak for itself. These are the poeple that I know that have gone on to win Grammy's, go platinum, go on global
tours, get natioanl TV advertisements, and be really successful. But when I hear these people's music, it truly stands out and puts you at awe.