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

Another thing that bothers me about the local music scene around here, is the way fans support local music. It seems that most people only support the music they like and they completely ignore the local bands they don’t like. Which is understandable. It also seemed like that the only time I got to play in front of a huge crowd at a gig, is when I open for a band with a large following. When I play a gig by myself, I don’t get much of a crowd. Some people just support your gig, just to be nice and friendly, when in reality they don’t actually like your music.

Yes, I did have actual fans that came out to see my set, so that was better than nothing. I will admit that sometimes it is hurting and disappointing being a struggling musician. Other people supporting other bands more than my music, is a little weird and strange.

I just wish fans would support all local music, ya know? Not just supporting the bands and musicians that they like. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried my very best to promote my past gigs and too many people ignored my show invites. Yet, they accept other invites from other bands that they like. Only very few people actually accepted my show invite and they actually came to the gig.

Yeah, I do have loyal fans of my music, and would like a lot more, but if people don’t like my stuff, like I said before, I’m fine with it.

So this is why I thought I would step up and try and become a better songwriter and musician. Become a better guitar player and singer. I’m working hard at both trying to improve.

I guess writing good songs is the only way to be accepted as a musician. It is tough being a struggling musician trying to get recognized, I’ll admit it, but I’ll take it for what it is. All songwriters deserve to get supported and get heard. It doesn’t matter if they suck or not. In my opinion, it’s just rude and disrespectful to be opinionated at local musicians.

Kev

For the past couple of years, I’ve been enjoying reading the Crumbs blog website, at the Times Union. It’s one of my favorite blogs on the web, that I keep an eye on a regular basis. I enjoy reading the posts by Andrew Gregory, Dan Ross, Mike Grosshandler, and all those guys.

All of a sudden, the CRUMBS blog turned into an advertising website of local bands and events, when the blog shouldn’t be about that. The blog should be about “local music” discussion, not an advertising website. Yes, I am talking about Crapital Underground.

Crapital Underground, have already been doing all that on his facebook and official website, so what’s the point of doing it on Crumbs? Doesn’t make a bit of sense. Crapital Underground certainly loves to hog for more publicity, and that’s all it is, in my opinion. The blog suddenly turned into the Crapital Underground website, acting like as if he owns the site now.

Are we going to see like 7 – 10 posts a day by Crapital Underground on the Crumbs website? It’s not giving the other bloggers a chance to post and Crapital Underground’s ego is sky flying high.

Come on Crumbs, this guy already has a few other websites where he does all this. Just being real and honest, I’m not afraid to call out on things like this, and I’m not deleting this post.

Kev

There are quite a lot of local bands around the Albany area, that have been using Kickstarter and other fundraising websites, to help raise money for studio time or go on a US tour. This is a new trend that’s been going on with musicians all over. There are a few reasons why I disagree with what bands are doing here. It’s a wrong thing to do and it’s not a smart move for your music. Why?

No. 1, I truly believe that all these fundraising websites, are a complete scam. Bands just go on these websites, mistakenly believing that it’s legit. Why? Because they are probably new musicians just starting out and they don’t fully understand the way the music business works.

No. 2, I believe it’s a wrong thing to do is to rely on your fans for money to help fund your album. If you can’t afford to make an album, why bother? There are other ways of getting your music out there. It’s much more affordable and cheaper to make your album home made instead. If you’re a graphic designer, you can make a professional looking album cover right at your own home.In my opinion, taking money from fans for your projects is pretty disrespectful. It’s going to make it look like you’re all about the money and nothing but that. Do you want to be looked at as a greedy money grubbing person? Not me.

I understand that economics times are tough which is why a lot of bands can’t afford to make albums or tour on their own budget. I believe that when fans put their money toward their favorite musician/band to help their projects, it’s doing nothing but kissing their asses.

When I get my music going again, I would have nothing to do with any of this. Like I said, you can make a pretty good professional album at home, it just takes some planning and thinking.

All this stuff, Kickstarter, AftonLive, etc. Scam, scam, scam. Why associate with these websites when you can do your music on your own without any help? If you work with these websites, it’s doing nothing but promoting them and not your music. Think about it.

Kev

There are too many local bands & unsigned acts these days calling what they do an actual “music” career in social networking sites. Fans would go along with it calling it a career as well. This is the thing that musicians are very confused on.

When you’re a local band or an unsigned solo act, playing music under your own budget and performing live at small venues/bars, that is not an actual career, in my opinion. An actual career is a musician who is signed under a big label, be it, either indie or major. If you’re a musician who writes music for TV shows/movies or for other songwriters, that is also considered a career.

Musicians that play music in a small town, is not a career.

I know it’s pretty nice to feel like a rock star and try to make yourself look like you’re in a career online, but a career is something you do that you make big money for a living. Making music nationally would be considered a career.

I never called what I do a career. Music is just what I do.

Kev

Over the years in my blog site, I have been pretty critical and honest over the music scene and local bands. Well, here’s the thing. If you can tell, I take professionalism with music very seriously. When a band or musician decides to misbehave unprofessionally, or starts to act all crazy, I’m not afraid to call out on that. I thought it was a pretty good idea to expose those that acted unprofessional. I just want bands & musicians to be professionals, that is all. That way we can make this a better music scene for myself and others. I just want everyone to work on their music and do their thing.

There are too many bands & musicians with ego problems and many have bad attitudes. There are also a lot of childish acting musicians who think they’re cool and stuff, just because they play in a band and playing gigs. Bands should be worrying about the music, but instead there’s a lot of ego & politics in music that get in the way in the scene.

A lot of bands around here are in it for the drinking and partying. Most bands are pretty obsessed with wanting more publicity, when they should be worrying about making the music. If you’re a band who think it’s alright to criticize and make fun of other bands & musicians for laughs, then you’re into music for the wrong reasons. If this is all you, then you’re not a musician, period.

I’ve said it before. A real and true profesional musician who is dedicated to music. A real professional is someone who survives on it. They concentrate on the music alone. Not worrying about anything else but that. If you’re a musician who concentrates on the music alone, that’s when they get my respect. Making albums and touring, not worrying about the bullshit that gets in the way.  I know a true professional when I see one and I know an amateur when I see one.

I don’t talk about the music scene too much ’cause I don’t go out there much anymore. I just write about what I see on the internet of what goes on around local bands, and facebook is evidence of that. We’re not rock stars guys, and most all of them, think they are. It’s sad really. I never acted like a rock star. I just wanted to write the music and play the gigs, that was all I cared about.

You’re never gonna be famous even if you want it and won’t admit it. Seems like most around here wants to get signed and hit the big time these days. Just enjoy your time and play music for the fans here. You can create a good music scene just by doing that.

Kev

There’s a lot of musicians online, that enjoy getting into debates, ranting & raving about things. Of course,  musicians talking about politics is the most popular. Then all this negative drama will start online. It’s been this way with unsigned musicians on the internet for years. You see musicians talking shit about other musicians & bands. They also like to discuss things that goes on in the news. Facebook is good evidence of all this of what I’m talking about.

I think it’s because, that they play an instrument or if they sing, they think it makes them smart in some way. It makes them feel important, and just because they’re a musician, they think they’re respected by everyone around them. It’s an ego kind of thing for sure.

Every musician wants to think they’re so great and special. It’s crazy, I know.

I understand freedom of speech, but if you all want to be a successful musician and reach for your dreams, then you must stop the bull shittin’  and focus on the music. Many of them don’t sadly. Why do you think they’re still doing what they’re doing?

Of course, people will tell me to look in the mirror and probably will call me a hypocrite, I don’t do music professionally. It’s just for fun and a hobby like I always say. I just want to see other musicians do their thing.

If you put your music career in a negative direction, you’re not going to get much out of it. Which is called, karma. I know from experience and learning from my mistakes. If you work on the music and focus on that only, you’ll get good things coming up ahead. That’s good karma.

That’s what I’ve been doing. Working on my music, trying to become a better guitarist/singer. Hopefully, try to write new songs which is what I’ve been doing. I remember watching Ultimate Warrior’s “It Does Matter” videos, he says if you want to be successful in your life, he said, “Do the Work”. I agree with him totally. By not talking about it and doing the actual work, will get you somewhere in life.

If all these musicians want to get recognized for their talent, then they must do the work, yet, I see them in facebook bullshittin’. Sad but true.

Kev

Some of you might wonder why I don’t go out to the local music scene much anymore as much as I used to. I used to play gigs of my own and used to go check out other talent around the area, but honestly, I don’t care about the local music scene anymore.

This area’s music scene is not good anymore like it was back in the day. That’s why I hardly ever blog about local music. Talent just come and go around here. They don’t stick around Albany forever.

It’s just that this area’s music scene is so negative. I’ve been accused of being a negative person around here, but I can say that there are people around here that are 10x’s worse than me. Not naming names. The bad attitudes of people around the music scene hasn’t changed.

All I wanted to do around here was play my music and support other talent, but sure enough, the ego’s and jealousy of other musicians will come around to try and destroy your dreams. Sad but true. All the people who I had grudges with in the past, they haven’t changed either, I see.

I’ll always stand by it that this music scene is unprofessional and childish. Sure, there will be some musicians & bands that are professional, courteous, & friendly, not all musicians are assholes, I know, but I would like this area to become a better scene.

It’s never going to become a better scene ’cause there’s nothing here. There’s no places for bands to play around here anymore. There maybe a few venues around here where bands play at on a regular basis, but that’s about it. No wonder so many bands & musicians move out of this area ’cause this area is pretty much a dead music scene.

I know some will think I’m being a little dramatic in this post, but deep down inside, you know I’m telling the truth.

These days, I’m just enjoying life and moving forward. Just continuing to make music and play guitar for myself.

Kev

Don’t you just love facebook when it comes to music? When unsigned bands & musicians get their 15 minutes of fame, whether getting the opportunity to perform on a national TV show, getting featured in a national magazine article, getting your video played on MTV/Vh1, etc. Whatever it is, their egos will get even bigger after that and they are in facebook acting like they are a celebrity now. It’s crazy, I tell ya.

Yes, it must be great getting 15 minutes of fame, but you’re still unsigned and still a local musician like the rest of us. This is an example of the type of fantasy world that musicians are living in that I’m talking about. 15 Minutes of fame, may get you a little more exposure, sure, but that still doesn’t mean you’re big & famous.

I’m not naming names ’cause it would do nothing but create controversy. I’m just being realistic here. It’s just that there are plenty of unsigned bands & musicians in facebook who either want fame or think they’re famous. Albany, still playing the rock star wannabe thing here.

I’ve been a part of local music for years, folks. I’m sure some of you readers know that and I’ve never once had this kind of ego.

Kev