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