Do I have talent?

[propman]

Hey guys. I have posted a lot of things here, and I was just wondering if I have any talent. Well, I know I have talent, but I mean talent to actually make this my living, and stuff. I love music, and I want to do this for a living. Do you think I could? Please give me the pleasure of listning to all of these song through, and tell me what you think. Please. http://www.soundclick.com/members/default.cfm?member=passengerairbag&content=station&ID=536727
Thanks.

-Adam.

 

[Xeries]

That's a pretty tall order. Perhaps you like to listen to all of my songs and tell me if I have talent. 55 at Soundclick and counting.

But, seriously, I don't know what you are asking. Can you sing? Yes, obviously.

Do you write interesting songs? Definitely, yes . . . and no.

Can you do what you do as a single in clubs in your area? I doubt it.

Can you sell records? No, but someone who promotes you could.

Should you get a promoter? Only you can answer that one.

Do I think you are a good enough performer? Never seem you perform.

Do you have a signature sound that you could beat to death like Jimmy Buffet and do 20 albums that all sound the same? Probably.

Should you be asking someone smarter than me the answer to your questions? Yup.

 

[faderbug]

i started over three times writing this. very hard question. very difficult.

i listened to all your songs and i do think you have a real knack for songwriting. 'three is a magic number' is just ... perfect. a perfect pop song. so are the others. (except for muffin cake, don't like that one)

but i just can't answer the question if this will ever be a commercial success. i have no idea. it's top material as far as i'm concerned. but in an industry where you have to compete with jessica simpsons tits ...???

 

[fasterthanu]

I listened to Signal in the sky and fire ants.

I'd say you have potential. You need to decide which area of music you want make your living in e.g. Band, songwriter, tribute act, producer etc. In my experience you'll need the following, persistance, dedication, thick skin, talent and luck.

Make your choice and go for it. You have as good a chance as any.

 

[propman]

I know this must be a dumb question to ask. It really seemed so on a re-read of what I wrote. It is just, sometimes you kind of sit there and wonder if you will ever make it the way you want to, or become the next big berger king worker. I know muffin cake was stupid, and I wrote it to be. It is just, sometimes, I like just wonder. You know? I do this for fun, and if I can help it, I will never stop. It is just, I look for others approval of my stuff for some reason. It is just something I search for. I am very shy about playing or singing stuff for people, because I am afraid of what they might think. That is all this question was about. Would people like me? That's what I was going for. and BTW, I didn't write signal, or three. The others are mine though.

 

[Xeries]

I know this must be a dumb question to ask. It really seemed so on a re-read of what I wrote. It is just, sometimes you kind of sit there and wonder if you will ever make it the way you want to, or become the next big berger king worker. I know muffin cake was stupid, and I wrote it to be. It is just, sometimes, I like just wonder. You know? I do this for fun, and if I can help it, I will never stop. It is just, I look for others approval of my stuff for some reason. It is just something I search for. I am very shy about playing or singing stuff for people, because I am afraid of what they might think. That is all this question was about. Would people like me? That's what I was going for. and BTW, I didn't write signal, or three. The others are mine though.

Look at the above text and you will find the word "just" five times.

I mention this only because you seem to be looking for "just"ification.

You are justified pursuing an art form whether or not you are particularly good at it. I think you are good at it, but so what?

A lot of us are in the same boat. Sure, my wife and son and friends think that I write good stuff and can perform well, even though I'm retired from performing, but does that mean other people like my music?

Therein is the question of "validation" not "justification." Sure I am justified, Tiny Tim was justified. Paris Hilton is justified. Are they valid? Who knows?

If you measure validation by financial success, you may not be justified.

Van Gogh died poor bleeding in his bed and lived a miserable existence. His paintings are the most valuable works of art in the world. Any one of them is worth over 50 million, some of them 200. Was he justified? You bet.

Was he validated? I'd say yes, but if you asked him, he'd go to Guiguin in France and say, "Paul, do I have talent?"

I'd say, write because you can't help it, you can't not write. If you can not write then I don't think that you need to.

Ever wonder about the singularity? Why are you you. Why aren't you someone else. What are the odds that you would be created as an individual with a singular point of view and look out of YOUR eyes? Very small, I'd say.

It's probably more accurate to say that we are all looking out of His eyes.

That's what makes us justified by our birthright. What makes you validated is a pretty subjective thing. Thus, the singularity.

I am valid. Every day I wake up and write something from nothing. I create. Or do I? Perhaps I only channel some other creator's work.

It doesn't matter to me. I am valid because I do it. Not because it's great. We all know what great is. It's Jessica Simpson or Spears or Hilton or the flavor of the month. It's some French vanilla cowboy who couldn't tell one end of a horse from another. It's whatever the machine is pushing, that is what's great.

You want to be great? Good luck. You want to be justified? You are.

You want to be validated? Go to an open mic and sing a song. If one person claps, you are.

You want to be rich? Your best bet is not to be an artist, but a thief instead.

Hope that helps.

 

[DavidK]

Do I have talent?

One of my violin teachers felt that there was no such thing as talent, only hard work. This was one of the biggest teachers in the world. I dont agree but I see her point.

but I mean talent to actually make this my living, and stuff. I love music, and I want to do this for a living. Do you think I could?

Often it has little to do with talent, skill etc. There are some uber-crappy musicians making a living at it. And there are some world-class ones struggling to pay the rent. It has more to do with drive, networking, stuff like that.

To make a living, one needs A JOB. Before you can make a living in music, you have to figure out A JOB. I've made my living at music all my life. I have A JOB. Actually I have several. I play for several symphonies, do opera and ballet, back up pop acts, do musicals and other gigs. I can make a living because I have a specialized skill that people need and are willing to pay for.

It will be the same for you. You need to figure out, in music, what you could do that people are willing to pay you for. That usually involves performing for people who are paying good money. Since the record industry is in shambles, people can only ( usually) make a living by performing. If you can do that and make lots of people come and pay you money, you can make a living.

 

[DavidK]

I am very shy about playing or singing stuff for people,

Then dont think about a career in music.

 

[faderbug]

Then dont think about a career in music.

what about Nick Drake? he was shy about singing for an audience and never even performed. but thank god he decided to go ahead and record his songs.

 

[jjtcorsair]

Post your stuff on thesixtyone.com. I do. Everyone should. It's a great way to get your stuff heard and some recognition. You won't make any money but it's a new age.

 

[yamilv]

Hey guys. I have posted a lot of things here, and I was just wondering if I have any talent. Well, I know I have talent, but I mean talent to actually make this my living, and stuff. I love music, and I want to do this for a living. Do you think I could? Please give me the pleasure of listning to all of these song through, and tell me what you think. Please. http://www.soundclick.com/members/default.cfm?member=passengerairbag&content=station&ID=536727
Thanks.

-Adam.

You have an interesting style, your voice reminds me of the singer from Wilco. Both of you have this soft way of singing but you still manage to retain a certain pop sensibility. I would say you're headed in the right direction. As for stage fright and shyness, you'll overcome that once people acknowledge your talent and eventually you'll realize what are you doing isn't anything to be shy about.

 

[DavidK]

what about Nick Drake? he was shy about singing for an audience and never even performed. but thank god he decided to go ahead and record his songs.

Since the record industry is in shambles,

It's over. Yeah, people like Tomita, Vangelis etc. rarely performed. The Beatles quit performing, so did Glenn Gould. Thats over, piracy has killed it. The number of full-time session players is now a handful. Only films like Spiderman use real musicians. In the late 80s and 90s I did recording sessions all the time. Today I do two or 3 a year. The record industry is about as relevant as the typewriter industry.

As for songwriting: the RIAA is lobbying to cut the royalties IN HALF. The internet is paying almost nothing, including downloads. The piracy is insane. It's dead, and musicians who want to keep on working know that.

Its all down to performing now. If one is shy in music, that's like being a snake handler who is afraid of snakes.

 

[faderbug]

It's over. Yeah, people like Tomita, Vangelis etc. rarely performed. The Beatles quit performing, so did Glenn Gould. Thats over, piracy has killed it. The number of full-time session players is now a handful. Only films like Spiderman use real musicians. In the late 80s and 90s I did recording sessions all the time. Today I do two or 3 a year. The record industry is about as relevant as the typewriter industry.

As for songwriting: the RIAA is lobbying to cut the royalties IN HALF. The internet is paying almost nothing, including downloads. The piracy is insane. It's dead, and musicians who want to keep on working know that.

Its all down to performing now. If one is shy in music, that's like being a snake handler who is afraid of snakes.

you have a point but the sword cuts both ways. independent artists now have a way to record their music at home and distribute it on the net.

 

[Greg_L]

I guess you have talent. We all have some talent. Personally, I find your music boring and timid, so no, I'd never ever buy an album or even download a single of yours. You'd probably hate my music too, and I don't care, so it's no big deal. That's how this works. Just do what you do, and if people like it, great. If not, oh well. Don't be so hung up on approval. Just make music you like for yourself. Maybe others will get on board.

 

[DavidK]

you have a point but the sword cuts both ways. independent artists now have a way to record their music at home and distribute it on the net.

Name some who are making a decent living at it.....

There is no code of morality involving piracy, contrary to what some people might claim. People arent "stickin it to the man" and "boycotting only the majors", that's rubbish. People steal music. If your music gets popular enough, people will steal it too.

Local boy Scott Savol was a finalist on American Idol. Yes he sucked, but he has some serious national exposure on the show. He put out a Christmas single and sold 300 on i-tunes. And he made it in a studio. 300, at 71 cents I think. Enough for him to buy a nice meal.

One of the singers in TSO ( a band that plays arenas) made an indie Xmas CD. I asked him how it was going, and he said " Good, we've sold 285". I almost said "285 THOUSAND"? No, a guy in a band with a huge following sold 285 albums on his own. Thats the state of the biz.

 

[Greg_L]

That's what I try to tell my bandmates. Forget touring the world and selling millions of CD's and all that shit. It will never happen. The "frontman" thinks we're gonna be huge one day. I'm like dude, we're in our 30's, we're ugly as fuck, and we play music that only we like. Let's just have fun with it.

 

[XLR]

I listened to a couple of your tunes, propman. You have a soft-spoken and sensitive singing style and I enjoyed the songs. It does come across as a little timid, as Greg mentioned, and that might be something to address if you want to connect strongly with more listeners.

I'm not going to say whether or not you should try to make a living at music. I will say though that of all the people who dream about doing music full time there's, I think, only a small percentage that would still love performing if they HAD to do it full time (meaning they've got contracts to fulfill and are depending completely on music related income). Performing music as an escape from the daily grind gives many people a certain spark of excitement to it. But if the music becomes the daily grind, that spark can get lost and it's just another day at the office.

 

[Supercreep]

Hey guys. I have posted a lot of things here, and I was just wondering if I have any talent. Well, I know I have talent, but I mean talent to actually make this my living, and stuff. I love music, and I want to do this for a living. Do you think I could? Please give me the pleasure of listning to all of these song through, and tell me what you think. Please. http://www.soundclick.com/members/default.cfm?member=passengerairbag&content=station&ID=536727
Thanks.

-Adam.

Adam, you're asking the wrong question of the wrong people.

Ultimately you have to want to be doing this for it's own reward. Having talent doesn't mean anything if you don't enjoy writing and recording music.

I think you're talented. But my approval isn't worth anything, and shouldn't be. Your approval is what makes or breaks it.

I knew a guy named Thom. Best drummer I've ever had the pleasure to know. Seriously amazing chops and timing and look and endurance and showmanship - the whole package.

He wasn't into it, sold his kit, went to be a forest ranger and never looked back. He's happy. I couldn't figure it out for a long time and then it hit me: Thom had zero responsibility to do anything other than to make himself happy. That is all. I might think it is a waste, or that he's a fool - but he never worried about it for a single minute.

Adam, what do you want to do? Whatever it is, do it for you.

 

[MadAudio]

i listened to all your songs and i do think you have a real knack for songwriting. 'three is a magic number' is just ... perfect. a perfect pop song.

That's a cover of an old "Schoolhouse Rock" song.

 

[propman]

Thank you greg for your dislike of my music. Seriouslty. I don't expect everybody to like it, and I shouldn't. It took me a while to figure out what I was asking, and it seemed I asked a question that I can get no answer for. Why? Because it is all subjective to the individual. And as to another post, that I can't remember the name of who wrote, I do find it strange that I was born as me sometimes. It is interesting you said this, because I was thinking about this the other night. It started to but me, because I started thinking, the people you know and don't know are living right now, and doing things you have no idea that they are doing. If you don't have some kind of contact with that person at that moment, in that moment, they don't exist to you, yet they do. It made me angry to have such a complicated (to me) thought like that. It is cool in a way though right? If you had contact with that person whenever, then it could alter your life big time. It is just so cool. How could people think there isn't a God? And I do like music, and the making of it. It is hard sometimes, but I like the end result. What I go for realle, is something that makes ME feel good to listed to. That is what you are hearing. I like nonsence, and I like silly songs. Cool melodies, and all of that. What you hear in my music is what makes me happy. Even if I write a song as an inside joke, that is what you are hearing. And there are some inside jokes. I have always thought, if I like it, there must be some out there who it will effect in the same way that it does me, and I want to reach them. Brighten their day, and cheer them up. That would give me all the satisfaction I could want. And on another note, I think Tiny Tim's talent is though the roof. He is the reason I have a ukulele. Sorry for any spelling errors or typos I have made.