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From | "Bobby Sutliff" <rsutliff@columbus.rr.com> |
Subject | Re: The Great Debate (No Answers Here) |
Date | Wed, 16 May 2007 14:19:34 -0400 |
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Well,
I made a very conscious decision 2.5 decades ago that I was giving up the
idea of making my living via the music biz. I found that I was making
compromises for the sake of eating and paying the rent that were at odds
with how I wanted my music to sound. Also, it dawned on me that perhaps I
wasn't really good enough at what I did to really support me.
I have nothing but EXTREME respect for those like you, Michael and the Bruce
Brodeens of the world who are fighting the good fight. I do know just how
hard it really is.
So my own "career" has been nothing more than a hobby underwritten by my day
job for a long time now. That works well for me but there's still that part
of me that wishes it was otherwise.
Bobby Sutliff
---
>
> Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 18:11:49 +1000
> From: "Michael Carpenter" <stagefright@msn.com.au>
> To: <audities@smoe.org>
> Subject: Re: The Great Debate (No Answers Here)
> Message-ID: <D2786B6FB2AC42A59B11B99616EE01B8@MikeyMikePC>
>
> Someone wrote..
>>
>>>No, you're not--of course it can--but very few have the luxury to
>> be able to devote enough time to the creation of said art without
>> having to worry about what they're going to live on.<
>
> Then Kerry replied...
>>
>> See, this is what I don't get. I work a 40-hour a week job. I have a
>> live-in girlfriend. I have a house and a yard to maintain. I fly
>> fish my ASS off (trust me, it's a major time commitment). I have no
>> children, by choice.
>>
>> And, yet, here I have a 53-minute solo drum piece by fusion drummer
>> Marco Minneman that he sent me to compose music for, at my request.
>> I've written and fully demo'd almost thirteen minutes so far, all
>> instrumental and a LOT of guitar wanking, but who knows, I might
>> throw in some vocal sections of the urge hits me.
>
> <snip>
>
>> That's why I feel a little less like laughing when people tell me
>> this shit can't be done. I'm doing it, I always have, and I'm ABLE
>> to do this because I KNOW WHAT I LIKE DOESN'T SELL, so I have to
>> make my OWN MONEY via a job.
>>
>> It's not that hard. The bottom line, as always, is: it keeps me
>> amused.
>>
>> When guys like Will Owsley say they're done writing music, I always
>> wonder, how can you turn it off just like that? How can you just
>> STOP? Because I can't. The day I stop hearing music in my head is
>> the day I die. Hopefully not before I finish the 53 minutes!!!
>
> I've been staying out of this one, but Kerry, i'm afraid my tolerance for
> your line of thought just went over the edge..
>
> I've only met you a couple of times, but know people who know you and you
> seem like a nice enough guy. But your generalisations in this whole
> discussion have just been infuriating. I'm not sure where to start.. so
> much
> of what you've said has been unconsciously (i'm sure) hurtful to those of
> us
> trying to make a living out of this music business.. within this dubious
> realm that means so much to so many people.. guitar pop.. or power pop or
> whatever it's called.
>
> I love the Beatles. I'm derivative of them. Certainly my first few albums
> were a homage to many who've gone before. But i take my career, my
> writing,
> my voice, my productions and the like extremely seriously... constantly
> trying to get better at expressing who i am. Your opinion is your own, and
> that's fine, i guess. But with the things your saying so generally, you're
> essentially dismissing the careers of a lot of people, and that can be
> hurtful. I may be overly sensitive, but i was hurt by it.
>
> And then, your comment above, about how you make music.. man.. i've spoken
> publicly about my struggles to keep alive my career and my studio enough,
> and then you come here and talk about how 'easy' it is. You just have all
> the answers don't you? I shouldn't be upset by it i guess.. you're like an
> armchair critic.. it's easy i guess to scream at the game from the
> sideline,
> without ever really being in the game. And it's easy to hide behind "it's
> ok
> because what i do i do for fun and it doesn't sell anyway".. and i guess
> that's fine for you.. you've worked out how that fits in your life, and
> i'm
> genuinely happy that you're happy with that. But please don't compare what
> you're doing to Will Owsley, or me, or Bruce Brodeen, or David Grahame
> among
> others. We're literally staking our lives and those of our families and
> our
> financial futures on our belief in ourselves.. in our dreams...and we're
> failing!! I expect you can't imagine what that feels like. We don't talk
> about giving up because we want to... it's because we only know to give it
> everything. I've been a full time musician/producer now for ten years..
> every day the reality of giving up becomes more tangible. After putting so
> much into it.. giving everything i can to make this work, the idea of
> going
> to my little room in the back of my house to make a record after working 8
> hours a day at a job i believe isn't what i'm meant to be doing hardly
> seems
> appealing. And unlike you, i like making music that people might want to
> listen to.. maybe even buy. So please don't compare your music making
> situation to those who are trying to find an audience.
>
> So anyway.. i probably shouldn't reply in anger, or frustration. But i'm
> tired. My 3 year old daughter wants my attention. A record company hasn't
> paid me a huge bill for a record i produced, and it seems like they may be
> dodging it, in which case i'll be out of business next week. And.. i'm
> tired
> and bored with whining about money. So please indulge my lack of tact..
>
> MC
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