Debate/Poll: Why are you posting your music here?

[homeuser]

Disclaimer: As a newbie I'm just trying to spark debate about a topic that I'm a tad bit confused about.

I see so many "people" here taking the time to write/perform music and then uploading it, posting a link and then ask for people on the forum to check it out. Sure there are a few who post because they are working on a professional mix for a client, and then there are a few who are actually trying to release a cd and want some comments, but as far as the rest of you goes, I'm kind of confused what you're getting out of it.

I've seen alot of comments like, "I'm not looking for a market for my music", "I'm not trying to impress anybody", "I'm not in this for the money, what money?". I'm actually VERY shocked (and impressed) by the lack of egos here. I'm about to release some music and I WANT people to like my tunes, actually I want ALOT of people to like my tunes, so hopefully I'll generate some Indie CD sales.

If you're not looking for a market, and you're not trying to impress anyone, why are you posting a link to your music? And more importantly, what are you getting out of it?

 

[demensia]

We post here because we want to grow as musicians and recording engineers so we borrow the ears of other more seasoned (or not so seasoned) individuals.

I enjoy listening to the music of those that post here, most of the time I have no advice to add, but its nice to hear the people that I'm talking to and taking advice from on a daily basis.

We're getting feedback and advice, people are listening to our mixes through different monitoring systems, headphones, radios, and computer speakers..

Its not really possible to be subjective when mixing a tune that you spent a week tracking.. you've played it over and over, it sounds just the way you want it too.. listen to the same mix a month later and realize how much it sucked.

Posting in the clinic lets you know how much your mix sucks (or doesnt suck) before you do something silly like try and sell it.

 

[Stratomaster]

Well, to me the value of putting a mix up here is that this is a place of genuine "peer" review. By that I mean, not only are most of the people here musicians but they are also recordists of all different levels. These are my people!! Many times a mix I've done has gotten by myself and my bandmates as acceptable, only to be pointed out that; the vocals are sibilant, the guitar sound stinks, the vocals are buried etc etc etc. You won't get this kind of advice from your friends, and its even hard to trust yourself when you've been mixing intensely for weeks at a time.

As far as the "market" thing, I think that if you work to please yourself, you're doing the best thing possible. Sure I'd like other people to like what I/We do, and I'd like the product to reach its highest potential. But I'm not going to second guess myself to try to make it fit some market niche I think exists. But I really have no expectations other than to please myself and improve.

Some people live for live performance, my goal has always been to capture a song with a good recording that can outlast your present band, musical taste and even yourself. Thats what I get out of it, regardless of how other people react.

 

[SLuiCe]

girls. Lots of girls.

Didn't see that on your rather limited list of reasons to make music.

 

[DaveO]

I can't add much to what's already been said. In fact just about the only thing I can't agree with is SLuiCe's statement. My wife probably wouldn't be too into me using it to get girls (of course, if she wanted me to bring them home for us BOTH to enjoy then that's a whole other story ....)

I played guitar a long time ago and then for a variety of reasons I stopped playing. Now years later I'm trying to relearn guitar (not that I was ever any good) and also learn bass. I record as a way to help motivate me to play more and better. And if I'm recording songs, why not make them sound the best I can make them sound? Then I could put them on CD and have them forever.

I'm strictly amateur. At my stage in life I'll know I'll never tour, and I'll probably never even play in a band again (the last time I did was almost 20 years ago). And even if I do sell a few CDs when we have enough materal, I doubt I'll ever make enough to buy more than a few cables. I do it because I love it and if a few people get to hear my songs and enjoy them all the better. But this is for me.

 

[Pedullist]

I make music to make my wife happy....plus:

My ego is so big that I make music just for myself. Creating something beautiful and new (in my ears) makes more sense to me than playing a computer game or playing sports. Accidently I found out other people tend to like it too (which is flattering, but without them I would still make music). So I share my songs. I've 'released' a full length cd, I sell them for such a low price that I'll never get out of debt. But I don't care (well, maybe a little ). Absolutely NOT interested in the business side of music whatsoever. I want to make beautiful songs, mixed as best as I can with my amateur equipment. Interesting note: as soon as I released the album I noticed I was only thinking about selling it ('must get my money back, must get my money back'). I totally forgot about making music. It almost seemed like I had a writers block. But as soon as I forgot about the whole money thing, I could write songs again. Hence my allergic reaction towards money. It kills my creativity.

I'm here to meet peers and to get technical critique: I'm a fairly good songwriter (sounds arrogant, but hey, I know what I'm capable of) but lack technical knowledge about mixing. Especially with my extremely dense mixes I can use all the help I can get...like Stratomaster says, your family and friends won't be able to help you with choosing the right compressor & equaliser settings.

Further, I'm here to get inspired/motivated and to open up my (already open) mind. It's good to listen to all kinds of music and see if you can find something beautiful in it. I'm not a huge americana fan, but I'm always able to discover something beautiful in Chris's, Jagular's or Crawdad's music. And I'm sure Chris will never buy a cd containing music that sounds like SLuiCe's (there isn't many around ) , but he's always very enthousiastic. To sum it up:

The open attitude towards different musical styles (and experience levels) of this board rocks!

 

[homeuser]

"Didn't see that on your rather limited list of reasons to make music."

Don't confuse the options in the poll. They aren't referring to why we MAKE music, but why we are posting the music for other people to listen.

Now me, I have the biggest EGO in the world. Sure I want my music to sound good to "me" but I also want to write/perform music that ALOT of people like. Ultimately leading to potential commercial success, however small that may be.

Thanks for the replies so far, very enlightening.

 

[Toki987]

This is a clinic, AKA "lab". THis is a place where everyone can crank up their inventions to see if they fly, introduce new ideas, remodel or recreate, share and learn by the better of educational methods for skill training, which is almost realtime craftsman to apprentice interaction, although its done on many levels of expertise and through many levels of experience instead of one craftsman. If there are issues in a presentation, folks that recognize and point out the same with experience in many areas of recording and songwriting can offer tips, tricks, suggestions, personal opinions, and help the inventor clear the issue before it goes to the streets, if that's the intent of the creator.

For me? I just get a big buzz off leanring how to use the new toys, gettin to ride a new riff that pops up, helping other folks with my humble experience and opinion, and sharing with many of what I seriously consider my friends and fellow scientific artists. Most of the ego`s are hung on the rack at the front door when entering.

 

[DaveO]

Well put, Toki!

I like that "scientific artist" concept. It's true that the science-art continuum is more of a circle than a straight line. Go far enough in either direction and you start to blur the line between them. We have a lot of technology availabe to us to do all kinds of things but the art comes in with their creative use to better your music, not just use them for the sake of using them.

 

[Guernica]

...at first i took your post to imply that there was something wrong w/ just putting up your creations 'cause you want to.... but im sure you didnt mean it that way.

Ive done the whole touring/fighting for a deal thing..... ..and it isnt one of my interests anymore. I always told myself that if i didnt become commercially successful by a certain age, I would look for a way to succed financially so that i could support a family. For me though, the biggest drag about changing my life in such a drastic manner (and my life change was drastic) was that you loose one of the most important and wonderful things that we got as musicians......... and audience.

....Its nice to have peers listen to and critique your music. ...It's a gift really. This is a hobby for me, nothing more..... but for the few hours that im hear listening and bullshitting each day... ...It feels like hangin out in the clubs again, and bs'ing with old friends.
.....thanks for that.

 

[Chibi Nappa]

The main reason is to get feedback on my mixes, although I have to admit it always helps the ego when people like it.

 

[Pedullist]

I almost forgot: it feels great to help people....

 

[Skysaw]

Would have selected all five of the options if that were possible.

 

[Doug H]

I checked the feedback on mixes, but I'm starting to wonder if that really sums it up. Were it not for a couple of the options I would hae checked an "all of the above" box.

I'd have to say that anybody after listening and posting in this forum is going to have their mixes improve, and that's a big plus.

 

[DavidK]

I like to do collabs with other people here. Since we are all closet homosexuals here, I am hoping that I find that special someone, and our relationship will blossom into something beautiful, and I will fill the void in my life with long walks on the beach, holding hands with that special someone, gazing at a fire with my man holding me, whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

Oh Yeah, I like listening to you knuckleheads too, yada yada...







I would vote for number 5. My ego is pushed to the maximum, I think most of us just enjoy sharing music with each other, and since we must be open to criticism if we post tunes, I would assume that not many people post for an Ego Boost, I think it is ultimately for sharing, and learning.

 

[Pedullist]

I like to do collabs with other people here. Since we are all closet homosexuals here, I am hoping that I find that special someone, and our relationship will blossom into something beautiful, and I will fill the void in my life with long walks on the beach, holding hands with that special someone, gazing at a fire with my man holding me, whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

Why didn't you tell me earlier? I'm your man, DavidK!

Seriously, I'm going to PM you when I need some violin. Cool!

I'm sure our relationship will blossom after our collab, and I'll tell my wife to leave me...

 

[dobro]

Why do people post their stuff here?

Because they want to improve their mixes, and this forum helps them do that.

Why do they want to improve their mixes?

a) They wanna be famous and rich eventually

b) They want people in this forum to go 'wow'

c) They want to make better mixes. Don't discount this one. It's addictive. People get hooked on challenges sometimes. You can get hooked on a computer game, or making money, or making better mixes.

d) They wanna connect with people socially. Sometimes this one masquerades as something else.

e) miscellaneous - I know one person here who wants to be able to critique things freely and not have his critique challenged. It's a deep personal thing with him, a 'felt need'.

I'm in three or four of the above categories, myself.

 

[muzeman]

I post my mixes here for several of the reasons Dobro mentioned.

I'm a 43 year old construction worker,and will be till the day I die.
I have no illusions about it,I'll never be famous!
I'm also extremely shy,so this is the only place anyone ever hears my music.

I like the social interaction with other musicans,which I don't get in the real world.
There are some really fine,talented,just down to earth good people around here.
I consider them friends.

But it's a little more than that for me.
I love music with all my heart.
I truly believe it's one of God's gift's to man.
It dosn't matter what the genre of the music,if it's good it touches me.

And to be able to record,post it here and have other people listen,and to listen,comment and be a part of other peoples music, is just it for me.

I'm addicted to getting my mixes sounding better too.
Mabey someday I'll do something good enough to touch somebody.

Pete

(Hey,did I just answer DavidK's post or what!)

 

[DavidK]

.

I'm a 43 year old construction worker,and will be till the day I die.

Oh Shit. You are going to be 43 when you die? That doesnt give you much time, get your ass into the studio while you still have a chance

(Hey,did I just answer DavidK's post or what!)

Nope, I am only 38, got's 5 years of good livin left, Amigo

 

[TheRealWaldo]

I don't....

W.