You have just spent your time on your dream project. Song, record, band, website, business. Some of your friends know about it. Maybe they even heard or saw incomplete versions of what you were working on. But now its done. You have to put it out in the world and you are just praying that it garners the attention which can translate into perhaps some dough so you can keep doing what you love right?
Then the first reviews start coming in. Can you handle the truth? Is it the truth? What if all the naysayers are just wrong? What if they are right? how do you know? Its a little easier to quantify in a business venture than in music which can be subjective to say the least. But now that we are in a nearly completely democratized online world, the public gets the final say. Is anyone listening, streaming, downloading, buying your stuff? Is it any good? Is it too good? Is it ahead of its time and will eventually find an audience? Can it be retooled and made to be the dream you first envisioned? Was it a waste of time?
I'm good at asking questions, and maybe not so great with the answers. But luckily there are a lot smarter people out here than me. :)
There's a wonderful little book called The Dip by Seth Godin. It helps you objectively and very creatively look at when something you are doing is worth continuing to do. That's a pretty massively important issue, given that the one thing none of us can ever buy, the most precious thing we have is TIME. If you are wasting time on something you can never get it back.
Now of course I am also a firm believer that every failure (in whatever sense of the word that means to you) is a great higher education if you allow it to be and in fact, the adage really happens to be true, "if you've never failed you haven't really tried too hard". I have failed. Various times at various things in various areas of life and business. I have been in a cul de sac (which is a dead end as opposed to a dip as defined by Seth's book) and spent months and years toiling at something which amounted to nothing. It is frustrating. It can be paralyzing .
But, it can be liberating to know that you pursued something with all your heart (if you did) and that it's time to move on. Starting over has its up sides. You can't use those business cards, but you get to keep what you learned about yourself and others and how you relate to others. You can't use those posters or demos maybe, but you have the memories of what worked and what didn't. You probably have a ton of laughs. Most ventures are kind of a hoot at some point whether its a band or a business venture. Remember the good times and learn from the bad.
Ultimately, whether our ideas, songs, movies, plays, websites, businesses or blogs becomes hugely popular or successful in a monetary way isn't really up to us after we have done all we can to make it the best we can. And that IS liberating. Go forth and create and change the world for the better, (whether we like it or not).
12.12.2009
12.07.2009
its not about us
I am just literally laughing at the wonderment of some younger music addicts discovering the joy of Spilt Milk for the first time. What a precious joy to watch their faces like Christmas morning as they hear something vaguely familiar and yet beyond anything they have ever heard. Eyes wide, mouths open they want to exclaim but are speechless. YES YES this is great music that your father loved before you and now you can share it together.
If you don't know this seminal record by Jellyfish you can still understand the graduation from Abbey Road to modern pop at its absolute FINEST. Its wonderful to hear Grizzly Bear mentioned as connected to the middle section of Russian Hill. AND THEY ARE - but thank Henry Mancini who was there first.
There is hope. There is a Santa Claus Virginia. If young music lovers can appreciate this record. One of the most special of the sometimes confusing 1990s then yes there is hope for the future.
Then you go to youtube and are amazed at the live performances and wish to God that you could have seen them. Maybe you did. Maybe the next Jellyfish is coming to your town soon. You may want to get your ear to the ground and get out there and find them. Or be them. Go forth young musicians and change the world.
If you don't know this seminal record by Jellyfish you can still understand the graduation from Abbey Road to modern pop at its absolute FINEST. Its wonderful to hear Grizzly Bear mentioned as connected to the middle section of Russian Hill. AND THEY ARE - but thank Henry Mancini who was there first.
There is hope. There is a Santa Claus Virginia. If young music lovers can appreciate this record. One of the most special of the sometimes confusing 1990s then yes there is hope for the future.
Then you go to youtube and are amazed at the live performances and wish to God that you could have seen them. Maybe you did. Maybe the next Jellyfish is coming to your town soon. You may want to get your ear to the ground and get out there and find them. Or be them. Go forth young musicians and change the world.
11.24.2009
Don't make that call
I was in the car racing to another appointment and started to do what we ALL do. Make that call. Get that NEXT appointment set up. Return that voicemail call. Try to open another door and make another connection.
Ahhh there is the magic word. Connection. We have to connect or we cannot get our dreams done right?
I mean if we don't connect with people we can't help them and they of course cannot help us. We simply have to reach out and connect. That's why mobile phones are the world changing phenomena they are. They give us 24/7 anytime ability to connect.
But the connection I needed most was in a place deep in my soul that only music could reach. I mean I am a guy who calls home so much when traveling even my wife says "talk to you TOMORROW right?". But I NEEDED to hear a song. A certain song and there the connection technology saved me again.
So instead of using the phone to place a call, I dialed up a track that my brain had been itching to hear and been echoing through my heart. I cannot tell you how much of a connection there was when the track flowed out of the speakers.
I turned it up. Louder and louder till the crack of the drums and the whispers of the vocals pushed me and pulled me along to a place I needed to go so badly. Its probably very weird to be so moved by a song in traffic that you begin to tear up. I'm not talking about a sad love song, I am talking about a bombastic rocker song that just hit me and moved me. Ok. Call me insane. I don't care. This is what I live for.
I need these musical connections. We all do. If you love music, make music, listen to music, promote or sell music. Put down the phone and turn up the tunes. You'll be better for it. Even if you missed the call of your life. They will call back. and you will be so much better to talk to .
Ahhh there is the magic word. Connection. We have to connect or we cannot get our dreams done right?
I mean if we don't connect with people we can't help them and they of course cannot help us. We simply have to reach out and connect. That's why mobile phones are the world changing phenomena they are. They give us 24/7 anytime ability to connect.
But the connection I needed most was in a place deep in my soul that only music could reach. I mean I am a guy who calls home so much when traveling even my wife says "talk to you TOMORROW right?". But I NEEDED to hear a song. A certain song and there the connection technology saved me again.
So instead of using the phone to place a call, I dialed up a track that my brain had been itching to hear and been echoing through my heart. I cannot tell you how much of a connection there was when the track flowed out of the speakers.
I turned it up. Louder and louder till the crack of the drums and the whispers of the vocals pushed me and pulled me along to a place I needed to go so badly. Its probably very weird to be so moved by a song in traffic that you begin to tear up. I'm not talking about a sad love song, I am talking about a bombastic rocker song that just hit me and moved me. Ok. Call me insane. I don't care. This is what I live for.
I need these musical connections. We all do. If you love music, make music, listen to music, promote or sell music. Put down the phone and turn up the tunes. You'll be better for it. Even if you missed the call of your life. They will call back. and you will be so much better to talk to .
11.16.2009
Clearing the dead wood
I just had 2 formerly magnificent large oak trees removed from my front yard. It was very sad at first. I was pretty upset that these wonderful shade trees had to go. My house will not look right from the street for one thing. For another, why did they have to go?
Because apparently, they were completely dead. Ok. so no leaves in the spring, but can't we just leave the huge structure for posterity? Nope. You see, with a windstorm they could come right down on the house. Right down on the corner where my kids sleep. I couldn't take that chance.
But why did they die? Who knows. But they were very much not alive and very much not going to come back so they presented a danger. So for a couple of sad days we watched them be hacked up and taken apart and taken away. Perhaps something useful to come from the dead wood, but here in the landscape where they dominated, nothing but a memory of their glory days.
Once they were gone, I took a look around and realized how much yard was suddenly available for other things. How the seemingly endless stream of falling leaves might not be missed. Yes the yard was different, but it was more open and a new sort of beginning seemed possible out there. My sadness became introspection as to the possibilities. I had to see things differently but simply could not imagine the new until the old was out of the way.
This mirrors in many ways what has happened in the music business. The old strong oaks are dead or dying. Some of the old powers that were, cannot dream of life without them dominating the landscape as they have seemingly forever. but its too late. If we don't clear the dead wood we cannot build anything new. We are in danger of old structures falling and crushing precious new things before they can become vital. We have to accept that a new day has dawned.
Music goes on forever, as does plant life in my little yard. But the old ways must be cleared for new things and new life.
My hope is that, as an older guy who has made a very good living in the old music world, I never cling to dead trees. I want new life and new music and new fans. I hope that TourSavant can be a part of the new along with many other new plantings.
Because apparently, they were completely dead. Ok. so no leaves in the spring, but can't we just leave the huge structure for posterity? Nope. You see, with a windstorm they could come right down on the house. Right down on the corner where my kids sleep. I couldn't take that chance.
But why did they die? Who knows. But they were very much not alive and very much not going to come back so they presented a danger. So for a couple of sad days we watched them be hacked up and taken apart and taken away. Perhaps something useful to come from the dead wood, but here in the landscape where they dominated, nothing but a memory of their glory days.
Once they were gone, I took a look around and realized how much yard was suddenly available for other things. How the seemingly endless stream of falling leaves might not be missed. Yes the yard was different, but it was more open and a new sort of beginning seemed possible out there. My sadness became introspection as to the possibilities. I had to see things differently but simply could not imagine the new until the old was out of the way.
This mirrors in many ways what has happened in the music business. The old strong oaks are dead or dying. Some of the old powers that were, cannot dream of life without them dominating the landscape as they have seemingly forever. but its too late. If we don't clear the dead wood we cannot build anything new. We are in danger of old structures falling and crushing precious new things before they can become vital. We have to accept that a new day has dawned.
Music goes on forever, as does plant life in my little yard. But the old ways must be cleared for new things and new life.
My hope is that, as an older guy who has made a very good living in the old music world, I never cling to dead trees. I want new life and new music and new fans. I hope that TourSavant can be a part of the new along with many other new plantings.
11.06.2009
What are we doing here?
That is probably the question most of us have asked ourselves from time to time, whether you are contemplating life, your career or the cosmos. Its a really good question.
I got a glimpse of some music business folks answers in the Lefsetz letter today. Most of you reading this will be a Lefsetz subscriber anyway, but in case you didn't see it here is the post. http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
I love the quote in there where Bob says "People are always looking for the answer. Usually, the answer comes after the start. You've got to begin in order to find out where you're going. But if you never begin, you never get to the destination". His Eureka moment and one we all should pay attention to. If you never begin you never get to the destination!!!!!
There are 1000 reasons for us to hold off on things and sometimes you should make sure you have certain things ready, but honestly our website at http://toursavant.com is in beta. We could have, should have waited right? things don't all work perfectly! you know what? you gotta launch and correct course, surge forward and correct course. Based on the feedback you get, your own discoveries as you go. If you don't go you will never know.
As an artist this should be even more simple. Follow your heart PERIOD (note you are following - the heart wants out the door to show the world its goods all the time - we just repress it). Don't let too much info change your thinking. If your heart accepts some guidance and you feel it -do it! but don't you don't have to please everyone, just yourself to start with. and if you are sitting in your bedroom wishing people could hear your stuff, stop wishing and start moving. I hope we can be of some help.
Show people what you are doing here. as with all advice, this one should be tempered by the reality that you gotta put in the time to get good enough to deserve people paying attention to you, so use that time in the garage well. then get going.
I got a glimpse of some music business folks answers in the Lefsetz letter today. Most of you reading this will be a Lefsetz subscriber anyway, but in case you didn't see it here is the post. http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
I love the quote in there where Bob says "People are always looking for the answer. Usually, the answer comes after the start. You've got to begin in order to find out where you're going. But if you never begin, you never get to the destination". His Eureka moment and one we all should pay attention to. If you never begin you never get to the destination!!!!!
There are 1000 reasons for us to hold off on things and sometimes you should make sure you have certain things ready, but honestly our website at http://toursavant.com is in beta. We could have, should have waited right? things don't all work perfectly! you know what? you gotta launch and correct course, surge forward and correct course. Based on the feedback you get, your own discoveries as you go. If you don't go you will never know.
As an artist this should be even more simple. Follow your heart PERIOD (note you are following - the heart wants out the door to show the world its goods all the time - we just repress it). Don't let too much info change your thinking. If your heart accepts some guidance and you feel it -do it! but don't you don't have to please everyone, just yourself to start with. and if you are sitting in your bedroom wishing people could hear your stuff, stop wishing and start moving. I hope we can be of some help.
Show people what you are doing here. as with all advice, this one should be tempered by the reality that you gotta put in the time to get good enough to deserve people paying attention to you, so use that time in the garage well. then get going.
11.04.2009
The new time frame
Well its been a revelatory week for yours truly. I came from the music publishing world and more specifically international music publishing. The pace of that business is positively old school. You get paid 2 times per YEAR! It's pretty relaxed. Big checks show up every 6 months and you figure out who gets what. That's why music publishers are not nearly as uptight as their label brethren. This has been true forever and in every country of the world.
The new music business reality has made things a little more intense for music publishers. For one thing, there are so many fewer royalty opportunies for phyiscal product that EVERY publisher from the giants to the smallest are chasing the nickels and dimes for film and TV placements and performances. So its a little more intense in terms of business competition, but the pace is still pretty relaxed. Especially compared to the online world.
This week was a fantastic real life lesson for me about how different the old world is from the new.
We launched our beta site monday at http://toursavant.com . Our mission is to help bands get to fans.
Its the music industry. But its a whole new pace. Here is one example of how.
Our Toronto office sends out a twitter about the site and our auto tour router feature -
http://tinyurl.com/yzd2ten Within an hour he gets a DM back from a follower (http://twitter.com/geminijess) to look at http://shrednews.com since they think it might be a good fit for TourSavant. He looks, calls me. I look. I email the founder Eric Sullivan. Within 10 minutes I get an email back with a note saying "yes, looks cool lets talk" and btw links to our site are going up immediately on their 2 sites. huh? In the period of less than an hour we did a link exchange deal with a party I had only spare knowledge of this morning!
This is the new time frame kiddos. It is light speed compared to the old music business. better get used to it.
The new music business reality has made things a little more intense for music publishers. For one thing, there are so many fewer royalty opportunies for phyiscal product that EVERY publisher from the giants to the smallest are chasing the nickels and dimes for film and TV placements and performances. So its a little more intense in terms of business competition, but the pace is still pretty relaxed. Especially compared to the online world.
This week was a fantastic real life lesson for me about how different the old world is from the new.
We launched our beta site monday at http://toursavant.com . Our mission is to help bands get to fans.
Its the music industry. But its a whole new pace. Here is one example of how.
Our Toronto office sends out a twitter about the site and our auto tour router feature -
http://tinyurl.com/yzd2ten Within an hour he gets a DM back from a follower (http://twitter.com/geminijess) to look at http://shrednews.com since they think it might be a good fit for TourSavant. He looks, calls me. I look. I email the founder Eric Sullivan. Within 10 minutes I get an email back with a note saying "yes, looks cool lets talk" and btw links to our site are going up immediately on their 2 sites. huh? In the period of less than an hour we did a link exchange deal with a party I had only spare knowledge of this morning!
This is the new time frame kiddos. It is light speed compared to the old music business. better get used to it.
10.29.2009
Get it together
Last night I was a guest lecturer at the Art Institute of Nashville. My friend is teaching a class on Music and Media Business and Law. I guess given that I have worked for a rogue law firm in LA on music royalty recovery issues for Major film studios combined with my foray into film producing and of course now launching TourSavant that at least I might be entertaining.
Fortunately for me and the kiddies she also invited another guest speaker (back up? plan b?). This was fortunate for me not because I didn't have to spend 90 minutes on my own history and grand illusions of the future of music, but because of some very profound things the other speaker said. I got something out of connecting with another business person in this crazy business. I mean I know the guy, but I haven't spent a lot of time with him. It was enlightening. and FUN.
I did get to spout off on my thoughts about the current situation and the future (shocking not a single student had even heard of Spotify! - and these are future engineers, artists and business people who want to be in music and media - actually made the old man here feel pretty good about myself - anyway.....).
I just want to encourage us to reach out and get together with our peers, be they artists, publishers, booking agents , business folks in the industry. I mean I have a very different opinion on certain things than the gentleman I was with last night (he thinks you need $40k to make a record - I know I have done great records under $4k and less even - BUT he owns a studio so he has his view).
That's not important, what was important was the passion this guy has for sound. Pure sound. He is an engineer by training and is a purist. We think there is no room for purists in this world and practically speaking, it is cumbersome to be that way. But he shared a wonderful analogy (applicable mostly to audio guys, but bear with me) about training yourself to know the real deal and the best.
He was lamenting all folks listening to mp3s when clearly the do not reproduce sound in a way he considers worth listening to and how if you want to be an audio engineer, you can't keep training your ears to hear that stuff or when you go to reproduce sounds in the studio you will reproduce that level of quality. Here is how he made his point:
If you want to study to be a painter, you don't look at paintings on your computer. You can't learn much that way. No you go to the museums where you can look at the brush strokes themselves, see the medium of the work. you look from the side and see how the light plays off of the canvas and paint and brush strokes. Its the only way to see the real thing and how it SHOULD BE.
Wonderful analogy. We need to know the real thing. I mean I'm not an audiophile (I like punk rock too much) but I do appreciate hearing a gorgeous recording for all it is worth. I mean think of Jellyfish and JJ Piug's recordings, Wilco's Sky Bluye Sky record. and hundreds of others you will write in to tell me to listen to (and I will!)
Give it up for Fred Paragano and Paragon studios in Franklin, TN. He is the real deal.
Fortunately for me and the kiddies she also invited another guest speaker (back up? plan b?). This was fortunate for me not because I didn't have to spend 90 minutes on my own history and grand illusions of the future of music, but because of some very profound things the other speaker said. I got something out of connecting with another business person in this crazy business. I mean I know the guy, but I haven't spent a lot of time with him. It was enlightening. and FUN.
I did get to spout off on my thoughts about the current situation and the future (shocking not a single student had even heard of Spotify! - and these are future engineers, artists and business people who want to be in music and media - actually made the old man here feel pretty good about myself - anyway.....).
I just want to encourage us to reach out and get together with our peers, be they artists, publishers, booking agents , business folks in the industry. I mean I have a very different opinion on certain things than the gentleman I was with last night (he thinks you need $40k to make a record - I know I have done great records under $4k and less even - BUT he owns a studio so he has his view).
That's not important, what was important was the passion this guy has for sound. Pure sound. He is an engineer by training and is a purist. We think there is no room for purists in this world and practically speaking, it is cumbersome to be that way. But he shared a wonderful analogy (applicable mostly to audio guys, but bear with me) about training yourself to know the real deal and the best.
He was lamenting all folks listening to mp3s when clearly the do not reproduce sound in a way he considers worth listening to and how if you want to be an audio engineer, you can't keep training your ears to hear that stuff or when you go to reproduce sounds in the studio you will reproduce that level of quality. Here is how he made his point:
If you want to study to be a painter, you don't look at paintings on your computer. You can't learn much that way. No you go to the museums where you can look at the brush strokes themselves, see the medium of the work. you look from the side and see how the light plays off of the canvas and paint and brush strokes. Its the only way to see the real thing and how it SHOULD BE.
Wonderful analogy. We need to know the real thing. I mean I'm not an audiophile (I like punk rock too much) but I do appreciate hearing a gorgeous recording for all it is worth. I mean think of Jellyfish and JJ Piug's recordings, Wilco's Sky Bluye Sky record. and hundreds of others you will write in to tell me to listen to (and I will!)
Give it up for Fred Paragano and Paragon studios in Franklin, TN. He is the real deal.
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