There are some musicians out there who make claims that musicians work hard for what they do which is how they got where they are today. They make claims that hard work pays off for all their success they get. Now before anyone gets all pissed off and gets their panties in a bunch… you should carefully read what I’m saying first. It’s partly true that musicians do a lot of work to get where they are but it isn’t a hard job as they all say it is. You see, I see that being a musician is not a hard job at all and it’s pretty easy. It’s nothing, really. Anybody can do the same thing that you’re doing. We all write the songs, perform the stages just like you do so we’re no different.

When musicians tell me that they work hard to get there and put their heart & soul into what they do… I see it as them saying, “I am better than you. You should respect me and you’re nothing.”.

Playing music is not really a hard job at all if you think about it.

When musicians get success: get a lot of fans, playing the bigger stages and moving forward… all that stuff is great but hard work didn’t really get you there. The people helped get you there. They seem to forget that the people helped get them there but instead, their egos makes them want to believe “hard work” got them that success.

In my eyes… being a successful musician doesn’t always have to mean getting lots of fans, playing bigger stages and getting big opportunities. As long as you’re writing music and creating art, getting it out there, that’s more successful than anything doesn’t matter whether that musician is good or not. Who cares about the good stuff that the bigger bands get, ya know?

So you had some success and maybe a little bit of fame… that doesn’t make you better than everybody. You’re still a local musician like the rest of us. I hate when bands get to that level — that’s when their egos start to get real huge, they start to have attitude problems, and things could get real crazy with them.

That’s the problem with this area in the Capital Region. Too much jerking off when bands get to the next level in their music.

I give the most respect to bands and artists who don’t realize that they are successful. I think bands who talk about their own successes and popularity is just inappropriate, in my opinion. If you want more respect… don’t brag about your successes. I never did. I can never tell how many people like me out there.

I just think that bands that say they work hard is just a load of crock to me. It’s just an excuse for them to boost their ego and pat themselves on the back. Even if it’s true that they may have worked hard, ALL musicians work hard even the beginners and amateurs around here who try to get themselves out there.

Don’t feel intimated by other bands when they talk about their own successes to you, that’s all they’re trying to do… they’re trying to make you jealous. Being a musician is nothing and pretty easy.

If you wanna see hard work look at the people who play sports out there or the people who serve in the military. Maybe people who work in factories and farms. That’s what I call hard work. Playing music is no different than watching TV or playing a video game.

Kev

Apparently, the so-called award show called, “The Jammy’s” which is happening at Trickshot venue later this month has gotten mixed opinions from musicians around the scene.  There has been some controversy over it. When musicians disagree with this event it isn’t because they are jealous. There’s a pretty good reason why musicians disagree with an award show in the local music scene. I think the main reason why musicians turn it down is ’cause they don’t need to be awarded for the music that they do. That’s not what they do this for. They don’t need a trophy or a medal to do what they do. It’s not about jealousy at all… it’s about themselves and being a musician. As I explained in a post before a lot of these guys just play music for the love of it. They don’t care to win anything.

Musicians who do happen to support a local music award show are probably those who are willing to do whatever it takes to get recognition… in other words, they are desperate. Mostly musicians who are struggling to get recognition. The more successful musicians wouldn’t care about something like this.

I understand that people want to do something positively for musicians who work hard for what they do but an award show is not a way to do it. Musicians award themselves on their own terms… we don’t need people in the music scene awarding them. Kind of hard to explain but I think you might understand what I’m trying to get at here.

On top of that, an award show shouldn’t be hosted by amateurs such as Tier One Talent. If there was gonna be an award show in this area… it would be run by professionals, and not frauds. An award show would not be at a small pool table hall either. An award show would be at a small theater or at SPAC in Saratoga Springs. Not at some freakin’ bar.

I’m pretty sure these guys at Tier One Talent can’t afford real trophies or medal plaques (they would be very expensive). So chances are, the winners are probably gonna get some cheap plastic thing.

I think this event is going to fail, anyways. It’ll probably still happen as planned but I don’t think there will be a good crowd turnout. I think the only crowd they’ll get are the usual regulars at Trickshot, probably a bunch of drunken whack jobs. A lot of musicians nominated probably have shows that night anyway and I’m sure a few of the bands scheduled to perform probably won’t even show up. This event is scheduled pretty close to Thanksgiving and people won’t show up for that reason alone. Local music gigs usually slow down during the Holiday season.

I’m still interested of how this show is going to turn out, though. It’s probably gonna be a disaster of a show. They’re just going to try and be copycats of what you see on TV. I can see a lot of bad Miley Cyrus jokes going through this whole show.

Kev

I put up this little post in facebook this morning:

I have always believed that if you play music for fame, popularity, money, or awards… then you are playing music for the wrong reasons. 

Just be appreciative of what you have now. Leave your ego at the door and just play music for the love of it. That’s what it should be about. Music should be for you. 

I never cared to get big with music. I just wanna play and have fun! I have no problem just writing songs at home on cheap recording equipment. I see it as a hobby to me. Not as a career.

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I meant what I said too!

Whenever I say this stuff on forums, blogs or facebook or where ever… musicians usually get all pissed off and defensive.

Seems like most local bands and solo musicians wanna be big or make money with their music in this day and age. I’ve always blamed this on the national music industry. Reality shows like Idol, the Voice, X-Factor, America’s Got Talent, etc. inspire these musicians for wanting to get big and famous. Those shows make it seem possible that anybody can be famous. That’s part of why local and unsigned talent think they can go to that level. Musicians wanna get big these days ’cause of the way the mainstream industry promotes music and unsigned musicians get pretty obsessed with it.

Musicians put their heart and soul of what they do to get bigger but that doesn’t make them any better than the amateurs/hobbyists. The hobbyists put their heart and soul of what they do as well. They just wanna make music at home just for fun… they don’t care to play the bigger stages or win any stupid competitions and awards. They just wanna make music as a way to get through life. Don’t be desperate for fame and recognition. Just make music and enjoy. That’s all you really need!

Kev

To the Capital Region:

I don’t understand why Tier One Talent’s upcoming event, “The Jammy’s” is getting the huge publicity around here when it doesn’t deserve it. This event is supposed to be a smaller version of the Grammy Awards like you see on TV. It is being put together by, Tier One Talent, a so-called talent agency around the area. It is being held later this month at a crap venue called, Trickshot, which is a pool table hall in Clifton Park. This event has been making the rounds of facebook and I wanted to take the time to warn you about the guy behind, Tier One Talent (who is a guy by the name of, Dan Coler).

When I bash this event on my blog… I’m not bashing the talent or the music scene. I’m only bashing this guy and this event which is NOT to be trusted. I’m only doing this out of love for my fellow musicians around the area and for the music scene itself. I don’t want to see musicians around here getting hurt and destroyed by this Tier One Talent guy who is nothing but a fraud and an egomaniac. I’m just telling musicians to watch who you trust around here.

I know an award show in this area sounds exciting but when it’s hosted by Tier One Talent, it is something NOT to be trusted. They pulled some pretty shady shit earlier this year when they did an event called, “Monsters of Mock” in benefit for the Wounded Warriors project. In that event, they had like 1o tribute bands play and they said they raised a little money for the Wounded Warriors (a charity in which benefits wounded soldiers). They may have kept the money for themselves instead of sending it to the Wounded Warriors charity. They never registered to the Wounded Warriors site and they never showed any proof that there were money raised for the event. I remember asking to post the proof like a receipt or something like that and sure enough — they never did. I used to support Tier One Talent and Dan Coler but after their “Monsters of Mock” thing earlier this year… that’s when I started NOT to trust him or his idiot friends. For that”Monsters of Mock” show earlier this year, they not only made the venue look bad… they made all the bands look bad for playing on it.

Who knows what Tier One Talent is planning to pull for “The Jammy’s”. I’m not trying to get musicians to avoid this event ’cause I’m jealous… no, not at all. I’m only trying to save you guys from getting hurt and destroyed like I said before. I love my fellow musicians and the music scene!!!! You should not only avoid this event, you should also not associate with Tier One Talent at all. I never met the guy and hope I never do.

He is just doing this to shove Tier One Talent in your faces and his two shit bands: Sludge Factory and Swerve which are both Alice In Chains Tributes. He gave both of his own bands nominations and don’t be surprised if he gives himself the win there.

I am noticing that a lot of musicians have turned this show down and they even turned down nominations so good for them… they are smart and know what they are doing!

For the musicians planning to attend this thing… are probably people who don’t know much about how music works. They aren’t careful with themselves and they trust everything too easily. Watch who you trust around here, folks. I know musicians are trying to get publicity and recognition at every opportunity but you must be careful with yourselves. You don’t have to play the “Yes” man and agree with everything that comes to you. You must be honest with yourself ’cause you must do what’s best for you and your music. Don’t get your music career destroyed by associating yourself with Tier One Talent.

I’m actually interested on how this thing is going to turn out. Hopefully, this event won’t end up happening at all once they know a lot of people aren’t interested. I hope it fails miserably. Tier One Talent is a disaster. They aren’t a business. It’s just a guy living in his own fantasy world. I’m 100% certain he never got a business degree in college to run something like this. He’s just an amateur. He probably can’t afford a lawyer either. With somebody like Dan who has horrible writing skills… you would immediately think there is something fishy going on there. A real talent agency would be a professional with good writing skills, professional attitude and a good education. Watch out for these signs, folks! Tier One Talent just exploits other talent around this area for his own agenda. Just his sneaky way of getting Tier One Talent and Sludge Factory out there.

Think about what you’re getting yourselves into, guys. I’m only trying to help. I’m not trying to ruin the fun for you all… just trying to save people from getting hurt. I care about other musicians… make no mistake about it. There are shady people around the music scene and I’m only trying to tell you to watch out for them.

Thank you for reading this!

Kev