Sounds I Hate
1. the sound of all vacuum cleaners
2. the sound of large air conditioner and refrigerator compressors
3. the sound of jack hammers tearing up the street
4. the sound of a New York subway braking, screeching to a halt on a winter day
5. the sound of monotone voices
6. the sound of the word ‘awesome’
7. the sound of a nagging continuous complaint
8. the sound of a leaf blower
9. the sound of chalk on the blackboard
10.the sound of my brain having an anxiety attack
The Conflict (making music - selling music) (pt 1 - introduction)
I have a gnawing urge to sit at the piano and play and at the same time I feel guilty about not making a phone call to promote the music I write and play. This never-ending pull that lives inside of me is the source of the conflict. My intent is not to be a self-help guru for musicians. So if I get to preachy, please excuse my lust for the subject. My intention is simply to put the information out there for you to take and incorporate into your own working situations and make for a positive way that may help you.
I often hear musicians say…
“I don’t have enough time to do the business.” And then in the same sentence say, “I want to get my music out there.”
Then muscians say…
“I have to practice, it is the labels job to promote the music.”
Then musicians also say…
“I am an artist, a musician. I have talent. But, I need to make money. But if I concentrate on making money, then my music suffers.”
As a composer and pianist, I completely understand and sympathize with the problem, but as a label president, I find the reasons for not acting and the excuses for not acting tiring. I don’t think there is one set of rules that addresses this problem. But there is a realistic and practical approach that allows the musician to remain balanced between the creation of their music and the effort it takes to promote it to the public.
I do believe that every creative musician has the ability, understanding and the time to both create the music and successfully create the business for their music.
I think one must be realistic with one’s expectations and keep a quick witted approach to the endless struggle of balancing the business and the art. (….to be continued)
