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Originally Posted by atsonicpark
I have a friend who is one of the best musicians I've ever seen. Can literally play anything. A true musical prodigy, has had no training whatsoever. I mean, the dude can touch ANYTHING and make it sound great. But he's too lazy to play live very often, too lazy to advertise himself, etc. It's really remarkable... but he still has no inclination to do anything with his talent.. it's weird.
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Originally Posted by pbradley
What surprised me was how unsurprised I was by this revelation. It seems to me that more kids nowadays (or maybe white middle class to well off) are really into the idea of becoming a famous musician or rockstar. I just don't understand that fame drive thing.
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The problem I've noticed with a lot of people I've seen get a degree of success (with a few exceptions) is that the drive to succeed is a really important part of succeeding. Like Herr Park says, sometimes massively talented people get no-where. You
do have to push yourself. Sometimes this might involve having a more appealing live show. Musicians tend to be a curmudgeonly lot with a shit sense of stage apparel. And, unfortunately, unless you're as gorgeous as Cobain, you will look like shit in shitty jeans and shitty t-shirts. It's not true in every case, but it's sadly true in most cases.
For myself, I'm pretty proud of what music I've made, and there's going to be more of a push next year, but if I could say that the people who mean most to me enjoy it, then that's better than having 10,000 friends on myspace. For me, the bottom line is - I can make a better life for myself without music being at the centre of it. I have that option. I'm not saying I have the art/life balance right, but at least I have the option to push my music (and choose not to). Some people can do nothing but make music, and make it as a career.
The thing that really puts me off is a few bands I've know who are mid-20s to 30s now, and they've worked their arses off for 10-15 years for nearly no financial return (just keeping roofs over their heads) and are starting to fall out of love with music. Some of these are very good musicians. Some of these are very good musicians with very good tunes. One of these bands produced a metal album that is much better than most metal albums released for the 5 or 6 years of the band's life.
I personally have no problem with people who are into music for 'the wrong reasons'. As many of you are aware, I'm fairly opinionated with music, and that opinion tends to err towards saying that most music is shit. If somone's doing something they enjoy, even if it is ripping off something that was terrible in the first place wearing cloths I don't like, that's fine, I don't have to go to their shows. I have much more empathy with Herr Park's friend. I live with someone who's a better violinist than a great many, but has very little inclination to push himself. The problem is that when you've got a lot of talent, you're much more of a perfectionist than someone who is entirely talentless but may have the skill of self-promotion. And rarely do the two marry up, sadly.
I possibly am sat on a goldmine. I'm sure a small bit of the world will hear it one day.