Quote:
Originally Posted by pootkao  The kicker is that I actually quite like living here. Despite its many small-city hangups which drive me absolutely insane, there is a strong music scene and lots of wonderful people. I have great friends, a great relationship, and above all, would really like to help put this place on the creative map and make some really great and daring records. The problem is that I'm not always sure its possible in this place, and that the ceiling is in fact an actual ceiling. But I love this place, and its hard to leave a place you love for the great unknown. It would be hard to pack everything up if I didn't know there was a good situation & opportunity to learn and grow waiting at the other end of the line. |
Hey,
I respect you for making it this far. Endless musicians never even reached the point your at, to make your living off of making music!
I'm in a similar situation though you are a further along than me professionally speaking. I have no advice whatsoever to offer; only junior camaraderie. Like you though, I love my city too. It's pretty small and there's an ok music scene here like your city. I have many connections around the city and a great support system. I'd love to move to a bigger city with more challenges and more talent and more pressure. Once I find a job somewhere I'm gone. But until then I am just going to focus on the task of making great recordings of great songs. I'm going to need some big guns with me when I go.
Romantic, sure...
This is coming from an amateur and a hypothetician but I don't think anyone can argue with a great recording. Nothing except foolishness can really stop a truly great and singular recording either. I'm sure that if you can make one of these then it will take you where ever you think you need to be. Of course when I say 'great recording' I am talking about something highly exceptional from every angle conceivable. I mean a rare beast. Something transcendent. These are rare and I'd bet that only a handful in a few thousand engineer/producer/rock performer wannabes will ever produce or be a part of such a thing.
Anyway, all I can think of to do is to keep working on that, be on the lookout for opportunities. Keep making connections. Return favors and be a nice guy to work with.
I think it's important for me to remind myself of what's out there and what has come before and the magnitude of some of the great recordings of the past and those of the present. I try to always remember the madmen that I am up against. The level that my material must reach.
I have a photo of Franz Liszt on my wall. He looks over my shoulder watching the things I do, thinking about the decisions I make, the notes I choose and the ones I don't, the directions I give. He seems to say, "Do you have any idea of you're f***ing with?"
If I could, I would answer him, "Yes, Franz, I do. And in my stubborn humility that is the only reason I continue - because I know exactly what you are." But of course, I cannot reply.
Franz is dead and it's my turn.