There’s a lot of musicians out there who are “yes men”. There are too many that live under the delusion of supporting everything positively. Too many that agree withe everything and too many that says, “yes”, to everything. In my opinion, they just do it to be “nice”. As a way to be “polite” and have a “professional” attitude in music. They also do it just to try to be supportive of musicians and the local music scene. Sorry to say but you don’t need to be any of those things. Playing the “yes” man is probably the most unprofessional attitude I’ve ever seen. Being realistic and honest is what’s being a “professional” is all about, in my opinion. Of course, nobody knows what being realistic is anymore. Being realistic is probably the best way to be.
Examples of musicians playing the “yes man”. Bands & musicians saying “yes” to every gig that’s thrown at them. Agreeing with everything they see when there’s some type of discussion going on. Supporting all of the musicians and bands “positively” even if their music is crap. Supporting every big event like festivals, competitions, award shows, etc.
I never liked being the “yes man” type. That’s never been me. I like being the real and honest type. If I get asked a gig and didn’t agree with it, I would have no problem turning it down. If I don’t like a band’s music, it’s my choice to ignore them and voice my opinion that they suck. If I don’t like how bands run their shows, I would have no problem voicing it out publicly. If I don’t like a musicians attitude and think they’re an asshole & a dickhead, don’t be afraid to voice it out. Don’t be supportive of them if they do have a horrible attitude. I think you get the idea now, right?
It’s about being realistic and honest with me. When you want to be realistic and honest, people will try to paint you as a jealous and hateful troll or a bully but that’s okay, let ’em. In my eyes, there’s nothing wrong with being this way at all. It’s just who you are. You’re just being you and there’s nothing wrong with it. Be who you wanna be. That’s the kind of attitude to have as a musician. Be real with yourself and don’t take yourself serious, people will respect you a lot more. You’re not gonna make a lot of friends with a realistic and honest attitude but the right “friends” will come along and enjoy what you do. They will give you the utmost respect for being “real”. That’s probably part of why I have a lot of subscribers and why people are supportive and why people follow everything I do online.
I like being “real” instead of being the positive and happy and lovable type. Don’t get me wrong. I can be the positive, happy and lovable type but I’m not afraid to be honest and real also.
I am not a “local music” hater. I am actually pretty supportive of local musicians and bands. I can’t support all music out there ’cause there is so much music out there and that’s why I only support the music that I like and ignore the stuff I don’t like. I do support local music, I just feel the need to be realistic which so many people are afraid to do these days. I know I’m gonna make a lot of enemies with my honesty but that’s okay. As long as people are talking, it lets me know I’m saying the right things and getting my points across. From my understanding when people get mad, they just don’t like the truth being told.
Being the “yes man” is being a fake person and I don’t wanna be that. I prefer to be honest and real with things. Makes life better and easier that way.
Kev
K'Brocking 
I am right with my definition of “yes men” in my topic here. A “yes man” is someone who agrees with everything with someone who is more superior than you. When I talk about being a “yes man” in local music… that means you agree with everything toward venues, booking agents, musicians who are more successful than you, other musicians, etc. I know exactly what I’m talking about in this topic. I’m not dumb.
I gotta learn to ignore the idiots and trolls who tries their best to make me look unintelligent. Fuck ’em. I don’t need idiot blog commenters trying to be my school teacher.
Kev
Hey man…I agree with MOST of what you said, but one thing is a bit silly: calling someone a “yes” man because they said “yes” to a gig? I mean, unless you are being colossally screwed (EXAMPLE: they ask you to play an entire residency for tips instead of a definite payment) or you don’t agree with the way the venue does business (EXAMPLE: a Jewish band should NOT play at a club run by Nazis!), then naturally you’re going to say “yes” to a gig.
Some musicians, like you, are content with playing music at home and recording. Others want to play out. It’d be kind of silly if I were looking for gigs and said “no” every time I was offered one.
At any rate, I’m glad to see a music post on here. They have been too scarce. I know it’s your blog and you have the right to post what you want and all, but the political stuff gets old. I want the musical Kev Brock to pop his head out more than once. I mean, this shit is getting to be like Ground Hog’s Day: if you see your shadow, you start doing the political rants again!
I’m not saying that you are not allowed to play out. I’m just saying that you don’t need to say “yes” to every gig that you see or you get asked to play. Don’t be afraid to turn down gigs you disagree with or don’t be afraid to not play clubs & venues you don’t like. You don’t need to play at every opportunity. Saying yes to everything makes you look like a desperate opportunist.
I like playing live. I just don’t play live all the time like most out there. I only play live when I’m ready.
Kev
Anyway, remember this is not a strictly music blog. This site is about everything. I write a lot about politics on here ’cause I feel it’s more important for to people to wake up about our evil president and trying to bring to people’s attention with what’s going on in America. I feel that’s more important than music. Yeah I do need to write about music more and I’m trying.
Kev
I’m sorry, man, but I can’t agree with you on the opportunist thing. Some people grab up gigs because they either want their music heard, or they just like playing live. And not for nothing, but if a musician is looking to make a CAREER out of their music, then they need to book as many gigs as they can in order to be heard.
I think this is a topic that would benefit from specific examples. What do you mean “a gig you disagree with” and “a venue you don’t like?” I don’t understand what there could possibly be about a gig that I would “disagree” with, unless like I said above they want to book you for a “free showcase.” You know, those gigs where you play your ass off FOR FREE in the hopes of being booked there for a paying gig…and then they never book you again. Or if the gig had a certain cause I couldn’t get behind. But if it is just your typical Friday night gig at a bar, I don’t see what the big deal is.
As for “venues you don’t like,” again I am not getting the objection. Some venues are smaller, some are bigger…some are dirtier, some are cleaner…so on and so forth, but in the end that makes no difference to me. I want to play live, and that’s it. The only objection I can see here is if they are famous for screwing musicians…like the time at Valentine’s when they told me the sound guy got the first $40 and we got the rest…then they had TWO sound guys (who SUCKED by the way) and so they got the first $80. THEN we got paid.
I’m not saying politics aren’t more important than music, I’m just saying your original renown came from the music portion, and now that is the subject you touch up the LEAST.
Yeah, I have noticed I have posted about music less and less this past year, admittedly. I only write about music when there’s something to say.
I’m trying to talk about music more and more though. That’s why I thought up the new, “Song of the Day” topic and I’m trying to post more music reviews too.
Kev
That’s cool, man. I mean, not to tell you how to write your blog, but you could maybe do an online version of VH1 Storytellers where you explain some of the stories behind your songs…unless of course you want them to be deciphered by listeners rather than spoon feeding them the answers.
I used to be like that…”yeah keep ’em guessing,” but sometimes I DO like to share the idea behind each song.
Or you could go into the creation of a song, like I did in the article I wrote called “Song for William.” Go read that one and see what I mean.
Truthfully, I never really enjoyed talking about the stories behind my original songs ’cause that’s for the listener to decide themselves. At live performances, I never liked to talk too much in between songs and I don’t like it when performers ramble on and on and on. I’m like, “Man, just stop talking and play the song!”. I just sometimes say the name of the song and then I start jamming away. Talking is a waste of time.
Kev
It depends on the crowd. I talked about the Pumpkins’ influence on me when I played a show on the same day as the 20th anniversary of SIAMESE DREAM, and everyone listened attentively…even though it got to a point where I was saying to myself, “Damn, I’m rambling…gotta wrap this up.” But that was me talking to myself. No one else said that, and no one even left the room. It was pretty damn cool, especially for a guy like me that NO ONE listens to.
And like I said, I suggested the other idea: writing about the creative process. That’s actually a lot of fun, to me anyway.