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" > To: > Subject: Re: The Great Debate (No Answers Here) > Message-ID: > > 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. > > > >> 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