Comments on: A Life in Music. Fame, Fortune, or Fancy?

By: Lexi

Lexi — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:38:35 +0000

People should read this.

By: Neil Alexander a.k.a. the NAIL

Neil Alexander a.k.a. the NAIL — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:16:37 +0000

Hey Lobelia-
thank you for expressing so eloquently (yes, eloquently) some of the issues I’ve been struggling with (yet somehow unable to verbalize comprehensively) for the last 10 or so of my 30+ years as a musician/performer/composer, trying desperately like hell to make a meager freakin’ living at this. This post really expresses the unrealistic attitudes of 1) family members & 2) non musician friends who have “normal” jobs.
The one cool-as-hell thing is that I keep having 1sts - in other words, I continue to find myself in musical situations that have never happened before. I won’t go into details here, but it sure helps me keep going…
Anyway, thanks again for the excellent insight, and all the best -
-NAIL

By: Tess

Tess — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:32:43 +0000

I think sometimes what is overlooked is the basic economics of supply and demand. Why buy something you can get for free? If there is a line behind you, willing to beat your rate (as in most professions), employers will choose the best bargain especially when no major gain is to be expected from the venture.

There are booking agents who deal with artists who are local and are not looking for the jets and infamy.

It’s hard to fight against a system well ingrained throughout the world. Good luck in your fight.

By: Steve Lawson

Steve Lawson — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:59:15 +0000

Guess it’s worth logging my related (and possibly stolen ) posts here, just for reference:

Working For Free; Working For Friends is the latest one, and The Myth of Success before that…

Clearly it’s an issue close to my heart, and there are so many angles to approach it from, be they business focussed or to do with the interpersonal weirdness that drives most people’s handling of their music careers. The flip side of this, I guess, is people who do a bunch of work saying it’s for free, then suddenly decide it should be paid… The important ‘rule’ in all this is to get everything in writing, and keep the paper/e-trail.

Failing that, just do it all yourself - it’s exhausting, but at least you avoid the losers

By: Mike R

Mike R — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:18:49 +0000

I had a conversation with an art therapist last night about the fame/creatives thing - very interesting. I can’t remember how it came up, but the subject of abandonment was discussed.

The desire for fame is something that often comes to people who have really intrusive parents, and it often affects creative types. It’s funny - she said this without knowing anything about my family background, but it was absolutely spot on.

Quite often artists create work as a means of describing and validating their own universe, rather than really communicating and interacting with the outside world - trying to create a world that is one’s own, and not dictated to by other people. It’s the thing about not wanting to take a risk by abandoning oneself to other people (because the experience of trusting ones own parents has been so traumatic), and yet indulging in making music/art/etc. which requires true abandonment to make work in the first place. There’s also a lack of willingness to abandon the idea of fame or other tightly held things, especially when reality delivers a cold hard blow.

Interesting.