I believe in the power of great music to accomplish anything. Music creates moments, transcends chasms, and powers the soul. That’s the reason I got started in this industry in the first place.
Without rehashing my entire resume, I’ve spent my entire career working in and around music. I’ve had some very cool successes and a couple less than proud moments along the way. Lately though, more than any other time in the past, I see a rising wave of resentment coming from many of the artists I encounter, and I don’t understand any of it.
At my company, we provide services for a price. Just like when you hire a guy to mow your lawn, we get paid to do a job. Truth be told, and we’ve actually been told this more than a few times now, we undercharge for our services. Maybe I’m not the strongest salesman, but often I’m more excited about doing the work than I am about getting paid for it. Still though potential clients call and when quoted a price, either get frustrated by the cost or (almost reflexively) ask if that’s really the bottom/lowest price. They expect me to share their vision for musical world domination, and I should somehow be able to build my name upon the (free!) minimally compensated work I’d be doing for them. Unfortunately, AT&T prefers I pay them with cash, not your potential — so do the gas stations, Whole Foods Markets, and a bunch of other places. If you could find me places that let you pay for groceries with potential, I’m all ears.
I understand that the economy sucks. There’s no magic money faucet with cash just flowing out non-stop. I get it. At the same time, I don’t ask the Ferrari dealership to cut me a deal today because I know I’m gonna be famous in a few years. There’s a cost to doing business whether the product is physical or intellectual.
In days of old, your hopes were centered around finding the A&R guy who could hook you up with a record deal. Or you’d talk to your dad’s cousin’s friend who worked in the mailroom at Capitol Records, or maybe he was a guy who wired up some rockstar’s house with a new hi-fi system. Your band busted its ass working on a demo disc, and you were so amazingly proud of what you did that you were willing to play your music at any dive bar just for the sheer rush of performing.
I guess I’m asking musicians to do some type of reality check. Here would be my (slightly less than polite) questions:
- Are you aware of what you’re asking for?
- Why do you really expect things to just “magically” fall into place when other bands spend years, even decades slogging away in clubs?
- Do you think that a slick YouTube video will make up for the fact that you can’t play a single instrument?
- Do you understand that a level playing field for musicians really means you’re competing with everyone from your neighbor to The Beatles?
- Why would you expect a vendor/contractor/service provider to make a sacrifice on your behalf that you’re not prepared to make?
- Does anyone who’s not your friend, and might be a “qualified” judge of talent, think there’s potential there to explore? Really?
I’m not asking these questions to be a dick — though you might think that anyway. Just before you ask me to do thousands of dollars worth of work based upon your potential, please understand that you’re not unique, I’m not trying to gauge you for cash, and as long as we’re honest all the way around, things’ll work just fine.
End rant.
