A lot of you have seen me criticizing bands trying to make the big time. Doing their best to get signed and get fame. A lot of them think that social media and living around the Albany area, will make them famous. There are too many around here trying to make the industry. I can tell, and facebook is evidence of that. Musicians would try to enter themselves ridiculous competitions and contests to get on reality TV shows such as “X-Factor”, “The Voice”, “Idol”, etc. I even see quite a few bands trying to make, “The Grammy’s” competition show they got going for unsigned bands. Look, there is nothing wrong with trying your best to make it in the music business. It’s a great thing that these guys are trying to chase after their dream and become successful, but you have to be honest here.

Do bands and musicians have a chance in making the big time? Making the industry and get fame. Possibly, fame and fortune too?

The answer is no. A lot of them don’t have a good chance of making the industry, even though they try. Sorry to say but it’s true. Now, I’m not being jealous. I’m NOT trying to take away their success or take over their spotlight, it’s all about giving these guys, a reality check. I’ve seen plenty of bands and musicians trying to make it. Not naming names here ’cause this post will spark a lot of controversy, if I named names publicly. Plus, there’s a good chance they could respond and we could have a heated flame war here, so I don’t need that.

Why won’t they make the industry? Why don’t they have the chance? Simply put, they don’t have the marketing skills to get there. Sorry, but having between 1,000 to 10,000 fans in your social media pages is not going to land you a record deal. To grab the industry’s attention, you’ll need to reach a fanbase of about 100,000 or more. You need tons of fans to grab the industry’s attention. They won’t be interested in you, unless you have a lot of fans to prove them that you can sell a lot of records. Today’s industry is not the same anymore as it was back in the day.

Back in the day, record labels especially the majors, used to sign bands & artists if they like their music, but it don’t work like that anymore. Popularity is key to making it big. Plus, you must prove to the labels that you have the marketing talent which a lot of people in this area don’t. You see, it’s very difficult to get in the industry. It’s almost impossible. People in Albany making it in the industry only happens for a few bands & artists like drummer Jason Bittner, who made it and is now playing drums for Shadows Fall. Lana Del Rey also made it big. Phantogram, however, yes they are famous, but they are not in the major label industry quite yet. They’re almost there, but they didn’t quite make it big. Phantogram, still has a long road to go. I do wish Phantogram luck though, ’cause I like them.

Making it in the industry is a long tough journey guys. There’s only very few bands & musicians who have the potential of making it in the industry. EBJ? Maybe, if they keep it going and don’t give up. Sean Rowe? He definitely has a chance, as he’s almost there.

On top of this, you’re not going to make it in the industry, just by being stuck in Albany. Move to Nashville, NYC, or L.A. You have to be near those three cities where the music industry is nearby. I would recommend Nashville or L.A. You want to move in an area where the music scene is huge. Live in a music city. Again, marketing and promoting is key to making it. You don’t have the marketing drive and skills, the industry will continue to ignore you. It doesn’t matter how good your music is.

If you’re serious on making the big time. Learn and study up the industry. There are plenty of books out there. Get agents, managers. Get contacts from professional people from the music business. You have to have an extremely large fan following in order to make it. I repeat, having the marketing talent is key to getting there.

There was a singer/songwriter guy in facebook (nameless for now), who I got into an e-mail argument with. He thinks he’s going to make the industry, and I tried explaining all this stuff to him, that the industry is almost impossible to get to. Sure enough, he became defensive. He’s not going to give up this dream. He promotes himself publicly that he has a dream and won’t give up, going after it. You’ll figure out who I’m referring to, soon enough. He’s from Glens Falls area.

On top of all this, are you guys sure you want to make the big time? Once you do, you lose all control of your music. Your control of your music is gone. All of it. They’ll control your copyright. They’ll control your songwriting. The making of the albums. You don’t get to pick what songs you want on the album anymore, the label does. Plus, they do all the marketing and promoting for you. All these major label bands in social media sites like facebook, twitter, etc. Those pages aren’t really the bands behind those pages. It’s probably agents, managers, promoters, etc. Yes, sometimes the band themselves would write to the fans in those pages, once in a blue moon, but that still doesn’t mean they are in charge of their pages. Famous bands has better and more important things to do instead of hanging online. They’re too busy playing music all day long, and traveling the world.

Again, nothing wrong with going after a dream. I kind of would like something like this myself a little bit, but who cares about getting signed, right? Just play music and enjoy. That’s it. Don’t take yourself so serious. A lot of us shouldn’t care about getting signed, anyway. Being a local musician, just play music for the love of it. We shouldn’t worry about getting in the big time. I don’t care if I make it or not. That’s not what I do this for. Quit living in your fantasy worlds, and just enjoy life, and play music. That’s the end of it.

Kev

Okay, yes, I’ll admit it. I can be a bit of an asshole in music at times, and for good reasons. Is it bad to be an asshole in music? No. A lot of people make the  mistake that they think it’s a bad thing, but in reality, it’s actually a pretty professional thing to be an asshole in music. Let me explain why…

I honestly believe that all those musicians out there who want to be positive, lovable, and be a “yes man” at everything, is doing it wrong. Some musicians mistakenly see music as being positive, but not everything is going to be. You have to do what’s best for yourself as a human being and for your music. You can’t be friendly at everything, there are times when you need to be negative.

You can’t trust everyone you meet in the music scene. That includes other musicians, the venues you work with, or hell even regular music fans. The music world is one crazy ass place. So if you want to go somewhere with your music and keep doing it, this is why you have to be a bit of an asshole. Also, don’t be afraid to turn down gigs you don’t agree with, you don’t have to say yes to everything that throws at you which a lot of bands seem to be doing around here.

It’s about protecting yourself, and your music.  This is why I do what I do. Being honest and real about everything, also helps give you more respect from people and the industry. I’m real tired of people thinking how I act is wrong. I’ve heard that from many for years. It’s about being yourself. Being who you are. If you’re the lovable and the “Yes man” type, then you’re not being true to yourself. You also need to be a bit of an asshole, if you want become successful. Being a jerk sometimes, actually helps.

You need be the Simon Cowell of music sometimes, to make your dreams come true. Think about why all those bands and musicians who stay positive all the time, never make it anywhere. Think about it a few minutes.

Kev

Edit to add: Yes, I can be a positive guy in music a lot too, but only when you feel it’s worth it. Being real about yourself is how you go forward in music.