Don't Believe The Hype

The more things change, the more they stay the same. It never ceases to amaze me how most of us, in spite of our intellect, continue to fall for the same games and hustles. I guess deep within even though we know this is a business, fame and adulation can really be addictive drugs. Once you've experienced it at any level, it seems that you can't get enough of it and people use this addiction to pimp and exploit us at every turn. I recall a scene from Cadillac Records when Chuck Berry and Leonard Chess were in a meeting and the man told Leonard that he would make him rich and Chuck famous. Now Chuck then switched chairs with Leonard and said that he preferred the feeling of the money chair. LOL. That was a great example of what we still deal with today. DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!!!!!! Fame does not pay the bills. Fame is an illusion or a distraction. While we are busy chasing fame, their are people using our talents to make money and most of the time they don't share that money with us. I'm not even speaking about it on a grand scale. I mean I get calls weekly from people telling me how great they think I am and how they want me on this tour or that show. Now they are selling me all this hype to stroke my ego but the minute we start talking about money, they start doing what we call "Po Mouthing". They explain how they can only afford this or that but it will be a great chance for me to get exposure and so forth and so on. What happened to my greatness? Yes, exposure is important and we all need it to grow our careers but my problem with these kinds of people is that they are not sincere. They really believe that it's fair for them to make fifty to seventy percent more than the talent. Even though without us, they wouldn't be able to make a dime. Hell I recently played a show with some friends and the sound man got a larger guarantee than the band WTF! This only happens to us because we choose to believe the hype. I'm not suggesting that we become jaded or bitter. I'm just saying that it is time that we utilize our wisdom and intellect. Sometimes we just have to say no or at least let people know that we understand their game and we are choosing to do whatever not based on their hype but based on our own business interest. I especially warn young artists. Don't get so caught up in the image and fame that you allow people to make you a dancing clown. Be sure to take care of YOUR business and don't buy into the hype. IT'S ALWAYS GOT TO BE ABOUT RESULTS. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2012

Finding Your Identity

The music business can be very confusing. Everyone seems to have a definition of what they think good is and as artists we continue jumping through hoops to no avail. How many times have you seen an artist sell tons of records or concert tickets and people will say that he/she can't really sing or he/she is not as good as whomever. Well let me tell you a secret. The key to longevity and success in this business is finding YOUR identity. We all have something that is unique to us. Not everyone is a super vocalist but it doesn't take being great to define an identity. Great singers are a dime a dozen but unique voices are few and far between. This goes for singing, writing or playing and it is often the imperfections that help define this identity. Music is about being honest and connecting with an audience and that often times has little to do with how you compare to someone else. If you deliver art from your heart that connects and inspires people, then they just accept YOU for who you are and they invite you into their lives. We all start out by imitating or admiring someone else but we eventually have to define who we are. This is a really hard thing to do because it takes courage and resilience because it can take time for people to understand who you are. It is always worth it though. You want to have an undeniable identity so that when people hear your sound they know it immediately. I mean take Bob Dylan for example, he was not a great singer by regular standards but he was such a great song writer and no one else sounded like him at all. He created an undeniable identity. Love it or hate it, you definitely knew it was him. We can play in cover bands or we can try to create music based on what we think the public wants to hear but this will just keep us jumping through hoops. People don't know what they want but they are always ready for something new and unique. Whether it be your music or stage show, define your identity and it will insure you a spot in this industry. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2012

All About The Music, Not Competition

I just returned from participating in the International Blues Challenge. This was my second year doing so. We made it to the semi-finals last year and to the finals this year. There seems to always be a huge controversy over the inconsistency of the judging but that is neither here or there. The most powerful thing about the experience was seeing musicians from all over the world that truly live and love the blues. Now don't get me wrong, we all do various styles of music but we never forget that the blues is king. The camaraderie was amazing. It was a simple reminder that it's all about the music and not the competition. After all no man can TRULY sit and judge another man's blues. That's what makes the blues immortal. It's because the blues is not just any one sound or style, it's a little bit of everything and it continues to morph because it is a living thing. The blues is ALL about expression and honestly and for those that have participated in the IBC I challenge you to not not be defined by the competition element of it but understand that there is no right or wrong way to play the blues. You define your own musical path and you need not be validated by any organization or person. Yes, it's nice to have people say nice things about you and recognize you but in the end it's all about you telling YOUR story the way YOU see it and only that defines you. During the finals, we were sitting backstage with other finalists jamming for at least two hours and it was the most beautiful experience because it showed us what we ALL had in common and that was a true love and respect for this music and each other. Let's continue to stay focused on these things and the blues will be assured to grow and flourish in love and truth. It is truly all about the music, not the competition. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2012