PASSION

I'm still not understanding why The Nightly Show was cancelled. It's not because it wasn't funny, smart and substantive. Wow. Who makes these decisions? Who do they ask? Who said quality doesn't sell? 

I read a comment by a discouraged young musician about the trajectory of his career. Someone apparently gave him an unfavorable review. That's the danger of placing your gift or talent on the platform of someone else. At any moment and for any reason, you can be toppled.

 

Remember why you do what you do. You want to make music? Make it. You want to be famous? That requires the cooperation and consent of others, and that's not always so easy to get, nor is it guaranteed. Don't lose the joy. It's called your "passion" for a reason. Being engaged isn't predicated on who else likes it.

 

There's a whole lot of mediocrity and delusion masquerading as excellence, and seeming to prosper because of the machine that's behind it. 

There are so many awards these days you lose count, and many are being tripped up by the politics, suckered into paying to play, and paying to be rewarded, but the Music--which SHOULD be the principal thing...well... 

I'm the first person to argue how subjective The Arts are, but we all know when our ears are working. Everyone will not enjoy everything, and audiences are as diverse. One has to find one's own.

 

There are lots of beautifully photographed and packaged CD's that you realize are nothing more than the Science projects of studio engineers after you've sat/suffered through live performances...People still want GOOD music. Even though we're more saturated with music than ever, we WILL find and support it. 

Ambitious young music makers should heed good advice and constructive criticism, but I hope they won't be deterred from their goals and dreams. Feedback is like fuel. Sometimes we assign too much power to people; we get blinded by perceived spheres of influence, and the opinions of those whose words are colored by things we don't even realize.

 

God knows a lot of people--and remember-- those who WILL be genuinely supportive of you--in lucrative, tangible, negotiable ways-- may not always LOOK like you. 

 

 #stayfocused