The funny thing about being a musician or singer/songwriter, you can never tell if you’re supported or not. It really is hard to tell whether people like you or not. I know I’ve been complaining a lot about how I get lack of respect for my music and guitar playing, but I gotta stop that. It is turning out that I really do have loyal followers and true fans. It may not seem like it but they’re out there. Sure, there may not be any fan sites of me online and I may have very little followers in my facebook “like” page, but I have quite a bit of lurkers out there who don’t want to admit that they’re a fan of mine.

I put up a rant about the way local musicians support local music this morning. On how they think they are better than the amateurs and the music scene need to treat all musicians with equal respect.  Meaning, they need to leave their egos at the door and support all musicians, regardless of the level of talent they’re in. The reason I put up that rant was not to talk about myself and my music. The problem of this area with local music is what they call, “cliques”. There shouldn’t be any “cliques”. The point of the rant, was that I wanted to vent about that all local musicians need to work on this together, if we want to put on a good local music scene. Even though, you think other musicians and bands are bad players, you should keep that opinion to yourself and support them, anyway. Be more music appreciative.

A woman quoted me that in a facebook music forum, and that post got way over 20 likes, and people gave it some likes on my personal facebook page, so I must be saying the right things, and people are agreeing with it.

I really didn’t want that debate to be about me originally (my original intention was to help make the music scene more positive), but some people replied explaining I do have a loyal fanbase out there and other musicians enjoy what I do. They also said, that I am a good musician. I do have fans out there, but they said some are silent about it, and some are not. Maybe I am a recognizable music artist and respected, after all! It was good to know that and am honored.

It’s just that I still feel underappreciated and overlooked by the scene, though. I still would like to get some recognition with my music from the scene. Maybe a radio interview, or an online review of my songs, or a newspaper article. Just anything! I know I can’t demand the respect, it has to be earned. One day though, I will create a huge buzz with my music with the local media, just give it time. It’s why I decided to take a long break from songwriting. Start practicing guitar and singing, so I can improve my skills to the next level.  I’m just like every musician, yo. I want my stuff heard and enjoyed by as many people as possible too!

If local super stardom doesn’t happen to me anytime soon, that’s great. I’m just as happy, playing my guitar and rockin’ out ’cause that’s all I care about, really. I still would like to get recognized for it, somehow. I just need to make my songwriting as best as possible and learn new marketing skills. Not only good songwriting, is a way to get recognized for your music, good marketing is key for getting recognized.

Back to the topic, I was talking about, I just want a positive music scene, ya know? Enough of the ego clashing with musicians and we all need to get together and help each other out. Help each other reach the same dreams and goals that you achieved. Instead of being opinionated, bashing, and hating. Get my point?

Kev

There’s an interesting discussion in facebook that came up, that intrigued me to follow, and people were trying to define what a “professional” musician or a hobbyist is. There were some facebook users getting into that discussion and even I got into it a little bit as well. It seems like everyone has their own definition of what a professional musician is. It has been debated by musicians for years and there is always crazy myths about it. Everyone else thinks their version of “professional” musician is exactly right and thinks they have it defined.

In my opinion, I think a “professional” musician mean 3 different things:

1) If you make good money doing it

2) Your playing ability and skill. If you’re in the advanced level of playing your instrument and pretty much mastered it, you’re a professional.

3) Your professional attitude. Meaning being polite and courteous to everyone. Keeping negative opinions to yourself. Just having a positive attitude as a musician just like you would do on  your day job.

If you have any of those three things, that’s a professional musician, in my book.

A”hobbyist” (or an amateur), is someone who plays music just for fun, and doesn’t really look at it as a job (or a career). A lot of people want to mistakenly view an “amateur” musician as a crappy musician, but that’s not the case here. There are plenty of VERY talented musicians in your hometown and plenty of great guitar players in youtube showing off their stuff, but they play music as a hobby. Just because you maybe an amateur, doesn’t make you talentless. Some of these guys just don’t care to make a name for themselves. So they just play their music at home, show off their talent online or play local open mics occasionally. They never really cared to get big. This is where I fall in.

I never saw myself as a professional musician, even though, some folks out there would mistakenly see me as one. I don’t take the “career” thing seriously, even though some people would like to see me move forward and make a name for myself. I just do it for fun. Period, end of story.

It’s crazy how, most musicians want to see themselves as “professional” ’cause they get so caught up in delusions of grandeur. They all want to see themselves as professional. Think about it. You wouldn’t be a real “professional”, if you weren’t online, trying to define it. Why are they on here, trying to define “professional” musician? I’m not afraid to say this, but it’s gonna be said. It’s because they are scared of the truth. They are worried that they really may not be a “professional” musician, and it’s bothering them a little bit.

If you were a real professional, you wouldn’t be in facebook. You would be working on your albums, playing your gigs, doing your marketing, and just keeping, busy, busy, busy. If you were wealthy and make good money off of music, you wouldn’t be online much. I’m not saying these guys are not, “professionals”, some of them are, but I’m pretty sure a lot of bands around here don’t make a lot of money playing music. Some of these guys are afraid to admit that they are not really professionals, but I’m not afraid to admit it.

Now to be a professional musician, you don’t have to be a big name solo artist, or play in a huge band. You can be just a session musician. Session musicians are considered professional too, but they are smaller gigs. Subbing for members in other bands, and collaborations. Things like that.

To be a professional musician requires those three things I pointed out above: 1) Making a living off of music 2) Having the skill and talent 3) Having a good attitude. All those counts. If you don’t have any of those, then you don’t have a right to call yourself a “professional” musician. I’m sorry. Just being realistic here, folks!

Kev