Great Expectations

[nate_dennis]

Another thread sort of spun out of control on this topic, so I thought I would start one here.

I think many young artists come into recording (home or otherwise) with the notion that you cut some tracks, and put them on CD baby, Amazon, iTunes, etc and you start rolling in the dough. Many assume that this can be done over the weekend or in some off time at night. Full time student studying chemistry? Cool, just make records in the evening and you'll be a rock star next month.

Though I am neither a proficient recordist, a rock star, or a full time student; I am a full time employee, a full time father, and a full time husband. I had many of the same expectations. I truly was crushed when the realization hit me that this would be a passion, a hobby, and a creative outlet, but in all liklihood, never a career.


My advice to those of you starting in recording is: decide what is important to you and go headlong there, let the other stuff come when they can. For some of you that will be music/performing/recording. For others; your family/school/work. Just like with recording . . . MAKE A DECISION AND GO WITH IT!!!! Keep your expectations realistic.

If you decide to go headlong into music, you will not be rich off of MP3 sales. No one knows you yet. You need to play shows. Most of your first shows will be filled with mostly your friends and family. But as more and more people come to hear your music you can branch out.

If you decide to go full-on into more traditional paths (i.e family/work/etc) then be ok with only working on music the odd weekend or evening. Play a few shows when you can. Hell, sell some records when you can. But understand, that at best, it may support itself at some point.

I just believe that its very difficult to have both lives. *NOTE* I said difficult, not impossible. Yes, working musicians can have a thriving family. But you have to have a very very understanding family. This is not a dissertation on what choices you HAVE to make. Just some thoughts on expectations. Be realistic with yourself. If you're not gigging, you aren't going to sell records/MP3s. It just doesn't work. Yeah, I know, I hear you know "but this one band got a record contract from being on MySpace." I know. This one guy also won the lottery and was very rich, that doesn't make the lottery a viable career path.

So that's my rant. Agree, disagree, or whatever. I just hope to maybe spark some conversation. What are/were your expecations starting out? Not about recording quality or anything. Just about art in general or life in general.

Cheers


(BTW, let's hear it for my 700th post!!!)

 

[mjbphotos]

An additional thing.
Even if you get 'famous' - to any degree - you'll never get rich selling CDs or MP3s. Why do you think bands tour?
Think about it - you sell 10,000 MP3s (or iTunes does) @ $0.99 each. How much do you, the performer and the songwriter get from each sale? Pennies, if you are lucky. call it 10 cents per copy. 10,000 sales = $1000. If that's 10,000 sales in a month, that's a whopping $12,000 a year (before income tax).
Play in front of 500 people with tickets @ $25.00 each, and say you/the band get $10 from each ticket - that's $5000 for an evening's work.
It's not hard to see where the real money is generated these days.

 

[stealth_prod]

And I think another important part of doing anything in music, is to realize that you must practice your craft. Has anyone just randomly picked up a guitar for the first time and ripped it up? No, and there are not many things in any aspect of music that doesnt take practice.

Doing shows sounds cool, but you must know that you need to practice...ALOT and be very good with what your doing. That goes for any style of music out there. Nothing will happen overnight.

I myself am a hobby enthusiast and do music in my spare time. I also hope to one day make a career out of it but I fully understand the chances of it not happening and im comfortable with that. I have sold CDs and MP3s and even some merch but the money you get verses the money you put in takes years to start showing any kind of positive income. If you are going to involve yourself with music then you should understand that you should be ready to work hard or not expect much.

 

[bjorg]

I've only been here a little while but it does seem that so many members are asking what they need to record and what they should charge in the same sentence. How can they seriously consider charging anyone if they are just starting out? Pay your dues young man and learn because you love it.

 

[kcearl]

my advice would be press record and stay out of the cave!!!

 

[kcearl]

on the flip side a guy I know back home recorded a track called pump up the volume back in the 80s....he's never worked since

 

[grimtraveller]

A good post by Nate. When I started frequenting HR, I soon discovered that there's a real mixed bag here, professionals, ex professionals, semi professionals, hobbyists seeking to improve, hobbyists that just love doing what they've been doing with no intention of improving or taking it further, wannabes, has beens, never weres, the youthful fresh, the jaded, the seemingly bitter, the unrealistic........
Not everything applies to every person and it's important to take what's for you, not what isn't.
Personally, I have to say that I've been impressed and encouraged by the quality of some of the music coming from home recorders. There's very little I hear in the mainstream or even underground these days that makes me want to turn cartwheels and as I've gotten older, I've become ever more content to knock out music as a passionate hobbyist that has no intention of being under commercial constraints. Much of the music I've long listened to is off the radar and there's gold in them thar hills {}. It would've been nice at one point to have made a living making and performing music but life went in different directions for me. And I'm glad it did. I feel I have the best of both worlds.
While it's often a progressive thing, knowing where you want to be, being real and realistic is one of the truly important qualities one needs when starting out. You can always dream in your head.

 

[nate_dennis]

Doing shows sounds cool, but you must know that you need to practice...ALOT and be very good with what your doing.

Yeah, I guess I took that as a given. Playing shows and selling music only comes after practice. I find it aggitating that so many musicians say things like "I don't want to learn theory, it will stifle my ideas." WHAT? That's like an author saying "I don't want to learn grammar, it will stifle my ideas." FUCK THAT!!! Learning your craft and honing it is a prerequisite to both performing and recording.

While it's often a progressive thing, knowing where you want to be, being real and realistic is one of the truly important qualities one needs when starting out.

So true. And that's really the essence of what I was saying. Be who you are. Do what you NEED to do. If it's work...then WORK and be satisfied playing shows to mostly family and friends. But whatever the case may be. Be realistic.

 

[cashcohen]

on the flip side a guy I know back home recorded a track called pump up the volume back in the 80s....he's never worked since

HOLY SHIT you know the guy who did "Pump Up The Volume"?

That's crazy.