Royston, no animosity here, you asked the question; if this sounds ignorant, tell me, so you invited a response?
Perhaps I haven't made my point clearly enough. I'm all in favor of governments supporting the arts - the right way. I've seen many highly talented musicians go through hell and without basic necessities of life for their art. What I am trying to say there is that those people perhaps deserve financial help - more than you do? You have a wife and kid to support. Oh yeah, big difference, you mean others don't?
The main point I was trying to make is that government money should be well directed. It so happens that education in the arts in general, and music in particular, is severely lacking in the US as well as in Europe. This despite the fact that it has been proven to be of great importance to children's development. That is where money should go, to make things better for the future.
Without trying to blow my own trumpet, no big deal 'coz you don't know my real name anyway, I have been actively involved in attempts to improve music and recording technology education, both here as well as in the UK. My son had a band since he was 15, they had music education at school, it was an "on the side" thing, the teacher couldn't really teach anything. I set up meetings with the school, with the education authorities, solicited the help of pro musicians. As a result my sons band, and many other bands in the area, were given access to rehearsal space, got mentorship / teaching from pro musicians, could organize concerts at the schools etc. This ongoing program has, in the 5 years it has been in existence, produced some superb results.
Ex-pression Center for New Media is another example. Good education in audio engineering and digital media is very hard to find, so I started putting the concept together for a new way of doing things. I found the key people, I found the source for many millions of finance, I arrange meetings which were attended by people from all over the US and Europe. I paid for accountants, lawyers, architects, I worked on it full time for over 4 months, and spend a good 6 figure sum on the project. I don't hold shared in "Ex", I didn't ask to be compensated for my time and efforts. Why? because it is a private facility, and I believe that is wrong, even though it was the only way to do it. It should be paid for by government, all education should, and kids who really want to know how to record, how to create media content, should have access to education so they can follow their dreams.
Perhaps now you will understand why, when you moaned about having to pay for studio time years ago, when you said you were a financially challenged musician, with a good job and good pay, it hit a bit of a sour note with me. My belief is; if you want something in this life, you go for it. If it means working 20 hours a day, seven days a week, so what.
Again, no personal malice intended
