This is something Ive put alot of thought into the past few years. Im interested to hear your folks opinion on the matter.
Let me tell you my story:
Ive been playing in a few different bands for well over 10 years now. It always started out in good fun, but at some point everyone decided that we needed to be heard. That was the ultimate goal. Print albums, go on tour, get our tshits on their backs, (usually) loose money in the process. Offer free downloads to those who were too broke (or cheap) to buy. All to get the music heard. At some point I started to study how music marketing works, how copyright works, all the business side of things. All in an effort, to increase our chances of getting HEARD.
Im sure this is a familiar story to many...
Well, In the last few years, I began to feel very burnt out from playing "the game". So I quit. The bands I was in, either disbanded or announced hiatuses, and I walked away. I was a noob "engineer" for years during all this, and once I stopped playing, I started focusing on recording and mixing, as an effective way to waste my time.
At some point during all this, I started a crappy solo recording project. 50% because I wanted to explore a particular genre, 50% because I wanted something to hone my mixing skills on.
Last week I started working on my 9th album for the project. I never had expectations that it would come this far, and I still enjoy the hell out of it. I think for one particular reason: Ive never shared it with anyone. Asides from playing it for a few close friends, I have given it ZERO promotion. Ive never printed an album. Never once made a facebook post or a youtube video. Ive never worried about writing a hook, or wether or not a lyrical pattern is effective, because Ive never been concerned if someone else would hear it. Im simply CREATING, and Im doing it for myself. Granted, there are alot of songs that arent very good, I have a few that I consider my "gems"...
And im ok with all that.
Lately, the music scene where I live has grow substantially. Many bands, many friends Ive toured with and shared many a beer, are starting to find a decent level of "success"... Theyre being heard. Many of these people are also doing (IMO) questionable things to get heard in the first place.
Theyre travelling 1000's of miles to record with the greats. Paying more than they can afford for better sounding albums with big producer names on them. Theyre paying these promotional companies that exist now, top dollar to spread a good word about them when they go on tour. I know people that have offered So-and-So large amounts of $$$ to get introduced to the big names in marketing, to get their foot in the door of labels. Joining "bandwar contests" and spamming their friends for votes, so they can win and play a huge show somewhere for better exposure.
Most of these people could have put a down-payment on a house by now with all the "promotion" theyve hired. And these people arent stupid. Theyre well aware of how things REALLY work. Everyones heard the story of the artist who sold 100.000 copies and could barely cover their rent.
The point Im making in all of this is, what difference does it make?
We all started out on this path for the same reason. Because we had the fire inside.
Were you concerned with facebook likes when you first picked up an instrument or a paintbrush? Of course not.
Of course its natural for an artist to want to share their work.
What length do you go to, to be noticed?
And in the end, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?
Thank you.
Let me tell you my story:
Ive been playing in a few different bands for well over 10 years now. It always started out in good fun, but at some point everyone decided that we needed to be heard. That was the ultimate goal. Print albums, go on tour, get our tshits on their backs, (usually) loose money in the process. Offer free downloads to those who were too broke (or cheap) to buy. All to get the music heard. At some point I started to study how music marketing works, how copyright works, all the business side of things. All in an effort, to increase our chances of getting HEARD.
Im sure this is a familiar story to many...
Well, In the last few years, I began to feel very burnt out from playing "the game". So I quit. The bands I was in, either disbanded or announced hiatuses, and I walked away. I was a noob "engineer" for years during all this, and once I stopped playing, I started focusing on recording and mixing, as an effective way to waste my time.
At some point during all this, I started a crappy solo recording project. 50% because I wanted to explore a particular genre, 50% because I wanted something to hone my mixing skills on.
Last week I started working on my 9th album for the project. I never had expectations that it would come this far, and I still enjoy the hell out of it. I think for one particular reason: Ive never shared it with anyone. Asides from playing it for a few close friends, I have given it ZERO promotion. Ive never printed an album. Never once made a facebook post or a youtube video. Ive never worried about writing a hook, or wether or not a lyrical pattern is effective, because Ive never been concerned if someone else would hear it. Im simply CREATING, and Im doing it for myself. Granted, there are alot of songs that arent very good, I have a few that I consider my "gems"...
And im ok with all that.
Lately, the music scene where I live has grow substantially. Many bands, many friends Ive toured with and shared many a beer, are starting to find a decent level of "success"... Theyre being heard. Many of these people are also doing (IMO) questionable things to get heard in the first place.
Theyre travelling 1000's of miles to record with the greats. Paying more than they can afford for better sounding albums with big producer names on them. Theyre paying these promotional companies that exist now, top dollar to spread a good word about them when they go on tour. I know people that have offered So-and-So large amounts of $$$ to get introduced to the big names in marketing, to get their foot in the door of labels. Joining "bandwar contests" and spamming their friends for votes, so they can win and play a huge show somewhere for better exposure.
Most of these people could have put a down-payment on a house by now with all the "promotion" theyve hired. And these people arent stupid. Theyre well aware of how things REALLY work. Everyones heard the story of the artist who sold 100.000 copies and could barely cover their rent.
The point Im making in all of this is, what difference does it make?
We all started out on this path for the same reason. Because we had the fire inside.
Were you concerned with facebook likes when you first picked up an instrument or a paintbrush? Of course not.
Of course its natural for an artist to want to share their work.
What length do you go to, to be noticed?
And in the end, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?
Thank you.