9giantsteps: Stop worrying about other people’s 800 pound gorillas
LyricalVenus
· 1 year ago
The whole "random acts of improvement" vs. "strategic plan" thing, and how the first can lead to such disappointment really clarifies a lot, thanks for that!
Question though - I've got some friends in a band who currently aren't very interested in touring or playing out (at least not all members equally, and they are likely to go their separate ways at the end of the school year). But they just made a CD and want to "get it out there". Any thoughts on a strategic plan for a short term project for a band that isn't planning to stay together or even wanting make it really big? It seems like there ought to be a way for that CD to be successful, that might also reflect well as a piece of their past on the individual band members if they decide to take a musical path in the future.
George Howard
· 1 year ago
Thanks for the comment and the kind words.
As to your question: I think more artists need to accept that they are basically "hobbyists." I don't mean this in a pejorative way. I mean that, while they love playing/writing music, and like to occasionally perform in front of people, they really are not "lifers." They will get jobs, get married, get mortgages, have kids, and - hopefully - play music to their kids, but they won't go on the road 200 days a year; they won't determine how to create social objects that can be shared; and they won't ultimately monetize their passion.
Again, nothing wrong with this. It's the reality for most artists. Often, it just takes them a long time to realize this. Better to realize it sooner, enjoy what you're doing, and keep your expectations in line. (problems exist, of course, in a band where some % of the members are as described above (hobbyists) while others either are or believe they are lifers. At this point the values within the band doesn't align, and the band will eventually break up - again, better to reconcile this sooner rather than later).
As for your friends, I'd try and create a couple of events to sort of celebrate the band. Use the CD they've created as one of the social objects. Leverage their own site, FB, etc. to really create some sort of special event - think a party - where the band can let people know about their music, and sort of be proud of their accomplishment. Think of it almost like an art gallery opening.
Hope this helps a little.
best,
George
LyricalVenus
· 1 year ago
Ah ha! Yes, this all makes a lot of sense. They are already planning a concert/party and thinking of it as an art gallery opening helps a lot for me to categorize it in my mind!
"Better to realize it sooner, enjoy what you're doing, and keep your expectations in line." - exactly! It will be good for them to be clear on what they want, because they will run into a lot of people who expect them to want to "make it big" and have all sorts of suggestions on how to do that.
I keep thinking of it as being pregnant or planning a wedding - special life events awaken something in people that make them think they can/should suggest how the person should go about things, even if they don't actually know that person! (Strangers giving a pregnant woman advice in the supermarket for example.) The human connection over something special is beautiful, but not being prepared and centered in yourself makes it easy to get overwhelmed by outside suggestions, especially when you get conflicting ones.
Tom Williams
· 1 year ago
George -
Great post, I agree 100%. It reminds me of what Chuck D said recently: “There is nothing wrong with the music business, there is a problem with the CD business.” Once people and bands start to take a wider look at what is happening, they will see a ton of opportunities. So many of the musical success stories from this past year were successes because they made a conscious effort to avoid those 800lbs gorillas. The one that immediately springs to mind is In Rainbows.
@LyricalVenus If I were the band, I would be very open about the plan to breakup at the end of the school year. It places additional value to every gig or thing they do. Immediately their gigs and recorded output becomes a scarce quantity and will likely garner more attention in a shorter period of time.
DanoSongsBlog
· 1 year ago
Wow, so true. Compare it to any other business. If you want to start a restaurant you just do it, you wouldn't even think about the fact that you are not McDonalds (800 pound gorilla)... it's not even an issue. If you have great food, good press and a good location, you will do well.
LyricalVenus - it is very easy to "get music out there" and plenty of thousands of gigabytes on iPods to fill up in the world. Tell them to get a package of 1,000 Cds, spend some time to burn it and make their own paper sleeves with "Free Sample" printed on the cover. Total cost is about $.05 each! People to this day tell me that they still play a CD they picked up from coffee shop I long ago dropped them off at.
Jeff Shattuck
· 1 year ago
Just discovered your blog. Super cool. I have a lot of catching up to do, but going back through your wisdom I'm sure will help me with my own record project.
All Comments
Question though - I've got some friends in a band who currently aren't very interested in touring or playing out (at least not all members equally, and they are likely to go their separate ways at the end of the school year). But they just made a CD and want to "get it out there". Any thoughts on a strategic plan for a short term project for a band that isn't planning to stay together or even wanting make it really big? It seems like there ought to be a way for that CD to be successful, that might also reflect well as a piece of their past on the individual band members if they decide to take a musical path in the future.
As to your question: I think more artists need to accept that they are basically "hobbyists." I don't mean this in a pejorative way. I mean that, while they love playing/writing music, and like to occasionally perform in front of people, they really are not "lifers." They will get jobs, get married, get mortgages, have kids, and - hopefully - play music to their kids, but they won't go on the road 200 days a year; they won't determine how to create social objects that can be shared; and they won't ultimately monetize their passion.
Again, nothing wrong with this. It's the reality for most artists. Often, it just takes them a long time to realize this. Better to realize it sooner, enjoy what you're doing, and keep your expectations in line. (problems exist, of course, in a band where some % of the members are as described above (hobbyists) while others either are or believe they are lifers. At this point the values within the band doesn't align, and the band will eventually break up - again, better to reconcile this sooner rather than later).
As for your friends, I'd try and create a couple of events to sort of celebrate the band. Use the CD they've created as one of the social objects. Leverage their own site, FB, etc. to really create some sort of special event - think a party - where the band can let people know about their music, and sort of be proud of their accomplishment. Think of it almost like an art gallery opening.
Hope this helps a little.
best,
George
"Better to realize it sooner, enjoy what you're doing, and keep your expectations in line." - exactly! It will be good for them to be clear on what they want, because they will run into a lot of people who expect them to want to "make it big" and have all sorts of suggestions on how to do that.
I keep thinking of it as being pregnant or planning a wedding - special life events awaken something in people that make them think they can/should suggest how the person should go about things, even if they don't actually know that person! (Strangers giving a pregnant woman advice in the supermarket for example.) The human connection over something special is beautiful, but not being prepared and centered in yourself makes it easy to get overwhelmed by outside suggestions, especially when you get conflicting ones.
Great post, I agree 100%. It reminds me of what Chuck D said recently: “There is nothing wrong with the music business, there is a problem with the CD business.” Once people and bands start to take a wider look at what is happening, they will see a ton of opportunities. So many of the musical success stories from this past year were successes because they made a conscious effort to avoid those 800lbs gorillas. The one that immediately springs to mind is In Rainbows.
@LyricalVenus If I were the band, I would be very open about the plan to breakup at the end of the school year. It places additional value to every gig or thing they do. Immediately their gigs and recorded output becomes a scarce quantity and will likely garner more attention in a shorter period of time.
Dan-O's Free Music Downloads Blog
http://www.danosongs.com/music_blog/
but going back through your wisdom I'm sure will help me with my own record project.
Jeff
www.cerebellumblues.com
Music industry Is really having a hard time because of piracy..
I hope the government will solve this issue..