I miss the earlier days of local music when everyone saw themselves as local musicians and unsigned. That was back in the days when the internet wasn’t as big. The internet certainly changed the way local musicians look at music for sure. Pretty much most local musicians want to see themselves as rock stars these days. They either think they are “indie” artists or they think they are famous or something. They want to think of themselves as something important and great. Most unsigned acts want to make the big time ’cause they get so obsessed with the mainstream.
I still see myself as a true local musician. What makes someone a true local musician? The way I look at it, is someone who doesn’t obsess with fame and doesn’t see themselves as a “local” superstar. A true local musician is someone who isn’t a self centered ego-maniac like most musicians seem to be these days. Someone who isn’t worried about how many people show up at your gigs or what kind of venue you play at. Someone who doesn’t mind going to open mics all the time just to play out. Someone who actually sees music as a hobby, and not a job. Most musicians around here see music as a “job”, but not with me. I never lived the rock star lifestyle as a local musician like most seemed to do these days. Someone who doesn’t care to get paid or not. A true local musician is someone who doesn’t think they’re bigger or better than other people. They would also admit that their talent is crap, that they play for the love of it.
It’s sad that the way this scene is, but it is what it is, everyone wants to see themselves as stars lately. I’ve never had that problem over the years. I try my best to not be a self centered person and try to leave my ego at the door. I try to support other musicians and music fans as much as possible. I try my best to have a positive musical life. I see music as a way of life. If you’re doing it for fame or for your own ego, then you’re doing it for all the wrong reasons. Music makes me human. I’ll never get away from it. I’ll be a musician and music lover ’til the day I die.
I’m not disrespecting the scene in anyway, just being real about stuff. I hope all musicians and bands get success and move forward, but when they do, that doesn’t make them any better than others. There are only very few local musicians around here that see themselves as local musicians, but we don’t see that much around here anymore. I blame that on social networking sites like myspace/facebook over the years. That’s when musicians started to show that they all suffer delusions of grandeur. Musicians are nuts, I tell ya.
Kev
You must be logged in to post a comment.