In facebook the other day, I put up a post ranting about how other young bands are getting all this success (getting lots of fans, being part of battle of the bands competitions, maybe even getting some fame and opening for national acts, etc.). I left out the bands names so I wouldn’t get into any heated flame wars with their fans in facebook. They would probably figure out who I’m referring to anyway.

In the post, I admitted, I sometimes get a little jealous of them but in a good way. I do want all that stuff myself for my own music. Yes, I would like to be signed to a small indie label someday, perform on large stages in front of thousands of fans, open for some national acts, I wish I had a very large following, etc. I’m not rushing it and don’t want to get too far ahead of myself.

If all that stuff, don’t happen to me, I’m all cool with it. I’ll just stay happy playing music. After I wrote all that, a guy replied back and said, “Well said, because you create art, you already are a success”. I agree.

Thing is, I can’t tell whether I’m a successful musician or not. I’ve always had mixed opinions with my music over the years. You either love it or you don’t. Over the years, I’ve been made fun of and people bashed me saying I had no talent and was accused of not being a musician. I was also ignored by a lot of people no matter how hard I tried to promote my music and my music dreams were shot down by a lot of people too.

I believe I’m already am a successful musician, the way I’m looking at it. Like I said before, I’ve played over 30 gigs in the past. Shared the stage with almost all the bands and solo acts around the area. I’ve played almost all venues around here too. I had radio airplay with one of my older songs from the past, did a radio interview and had the opportunity to perform on a local TV show for Public Access. I also played on a few huge festivals. Plus, pretty much all local musicians all over the place know who I am and pretty much all of them, follow my blog. People are talking about me, either good or bad.

I think that’s pretty successful don’t you think? Seriously, think about it a few minutes. I think I had a successful music run. Of course, there will be some that will disagree with it and say all that stuff is nothing, but that’s alright. No matter what you think of my music run, I was very proud of it.

I may have not been signed yet, or may have not played Coachella or Lollapalooza, I may not have won Battle of the Bands or any of the stupid radio contests, but I was successful.

Then, of course, other people won’t see it. They would think this band here and that band there is something special and they would think that band has something good going, and I would get ignored completely. No Metroland cover. No local press coverage. Even though I didn’t get anything back from my music run, I was happy with it and I did accomplish things greatly.

I still have lots to learn and lots more to go to get success in music. I’m trying. Trying very hard. Not rushing things, taking my time. Success and getting well known don’t happen over night. It’s a long long road. I also want to get better at playing the guitar and singing before I go any further in my music dreams. Another example of not getting too far ahead.

It’s just that too many young bands are living in fantasy worlds. Thinking they’re something special and they look at music like a popularity contest. That’s never been me. I didn’t care about popularity or success, I just wanted to play music and enjoy myself. If I don’t get any of those huge opportunities other bands are getting, that’s cool with me. I’m just happy sitting here in this room, with my guitar and creating art. I think that’s being successful more than what other bands are doing.

Bands can be insane sometimes, and the way fans look at music can be too. I’m not afraid to tell the truth about this stuff. Young bands should take their slow time and not rush themselves. I’m 35 right now and I don’t even have a band yet, but that is something I would like to do down the road. See? Not getting too far ahead of myself.

Kev