Read this before you start sharing your next tune..

[abort]

I agree with the OP 90%...
with the exception of real talent...
(you know...
kinda people that put you and your buddies all in awe doing their thing..)

I was going to wright some lengthy post explaining fan base, worth, and self value but seems your post sums it up nicely for me. I think if the shits that good it kinda sells its self. instant fan base. Listen once your hooked, 10 friends turns into a mosh pit slamming stadium with kid saying oh oh can I have your autograph And you say "NO", having your body guard push the chick back into the hungry sweet soaked mosh pit swarm -END of story.

[chevthewizard]

Great post.

There is a very strange 'phenomenon' going on here in the UK at the moment. some woman called Susan Boyle seems to have gained millions of fans overnight after a distinctly average performance on Britain's Got Talent. I can guarantee if her performance was played on the radio with none of the build-up, any of her "fans" would have just been wtf is this shit. Just goes to show how expectations, stories, presentation, (and television mind control) can all affect people's perception of music and performance.

[Tone Deft]

Great post.

There is a very strange 'phenomenon' going on here in the UK at the moment. some woman called Susan Boyle seems to have gained millions of fans overnight after a distinctly average performance on Britain's Got Talent. I can guarantee if her performance was played on the radio with none of the build-up, any of her "fans" would have just been wtf is this shit. Just goes to show how expectations, stories, presentation, (and television mind control) can all affect people's perception of music and performance.

I just yesterday watched her performance, holy @#$%^&*!!!! that was amazing, and I don't like those shows. distinctly average? you're just a hater. I really like the Les Mis soundtrack and have heard many people sing that song, she nailed it and it's not an easy song.

the perspective skew with her is that people of her caliber don't go on those shows. nobody expected a humble frumpy old woman from some random village to be able to sing like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk <--- her performance

[debu]

click on link, close your eyes, open them when you hear her voice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8r9lRJ6yHY

[ThrowAway]

wow. thats a powerful voice. totally dropped my jaw on the ground.

[fishmonkey]

wow, one of those rare great moments of TV for sure...

[innerstatejt]

Yeah I saw that performance as well. I thought she was brilliant.

[ethios4]

I probably wouldn't have cried if I hadn't seen her or the buildup to the performance. Still, music never happens in a vacuum and, as John Cage would say, it's all theatre.

[3dot...]

I probably wouldn't have cried if I hadn't seen her or the buildup to the performance. Still, music never happens in a vacuum and, as John Cage would say, it's all theatre.

+100000... more like a lab..

[jcwillia]

gave some more thought to this over the weekend...

a first time listener also has no idea how much energy you put into the song. Sometimes, songs write themselves overnight and you're like "yah, whatever" if someone does / doesn't like it, but other times you've toiled on something for months and then when you finally have gotten it to the point where you've gotten rid of all the things that "bug" you about the song, you audition it for someone else.

I'm not a very good song writer, so that experience has usually been a real let down for me Funny part is I usually get better reactions from songs that "write" themselves vs the ones I REALLY work on.

[heavensdaw]

Funny part is I usually get better reactions from songs that "write" themselves vs the ones I REALLY work on.

It's called 'flow'.... Being in that 'zone' where the magic just happens!... Often I have the same experience.. That is where the Art lies.. Staying in that flow whilst you're REALLY working.. And I think that's where knowing your gear inside out REALLY helps!

Hd

[jcwillia]

Funny part is I usually get better reactions from songs that "write" themselves vs the ones I REALLY work on.

It's called 'flow'.... Being in that 'zone' where the magic just happens!... Often I have the same experience.. That is where the Art lies.. Staying in that flow whilst you're REALLY working.. And I think that's where knowing your gear inside out REALLY helps!

Hd

yah good tip - the troublesome part for me is that my "flow" typically happens when I am nowhere near my workstation. Between family, work and my commute I typically get about 2 hours a week to sit down with Live. On the off chance that those 2 hours are actually the time that I am in "flow", I might get seomthing useful done.

I'm curious to hear how you interact with your equipment ("knowing your gear") when your not in the flow. Because your right - I spend so much time trying to figure out HOW to do something (the problem can be hardware/software related or music knowledge related) that it takes me out of the creative flow and ruins the whole process.

I've started watching Ableton tutorials on the train hoping that it will have some beneficial impact when I actually sit down to compose.

[UKRuss]

Why are you watching videos on the train when you could be composing man!

That's two hours a day for me, ten hours a week of dedicated composition time!

For the OP, yeah, something we can all relate to I guess.

I disagree slightly though, you have to work on your online presence and Myspace etc. are good places to promote your gigs and the like. The trick is not to think it's gonna make you famous and just enjoy putting your stuff out there!

I accept that some people like my stuff and some don't and it's cool whatever they say about it. I enjoyed making it and i enjoy performing it and if some of the people join me in that experience that i enjoy it even more!

[jcwillia]

most days i am just too tired to do anything "brain active" on the train, but yah I really should be trying that more.

It is also about 2 hours a day for me. I guess the trick is figuring out how to be productive during those 2 hours. The other problem is if you REALLY get in the groove and then you have to shut it down and go to work.

we're way off topic here - sorry, OP

[Angstrom]

back on topic:
Reversing the angle of the OP.
when you play something (to anyone) you need to have a good look at your own motives for doing so. Do you want a bit of adulation, do you want some critique, do you want them to pass it on to their big-time showbiz promoter buddy, etc?

there are different techniques to achieve your aims in each of these cases, but you need to understand your own motive before you do anything.

EG: If you play want adulation and you play new track to your girlfriend or ex-band member in the hope of getting some, don't be disappointed when you get a mild "hmm that's OK" response. Similarly if you want your work to be passed on to mr big, do not play it to the go-between with a slew of "ah here's my unfinished track it's sorta like across between the chem's and amon tobin, I really hope you like it but this stereo is a bit shit, so imagine more bass ..."
... insta-fail!

If you want to get your desired outcome from the process of 'asking someone to listen to your track' then you will need to make sure you do it right.
There's a few good books on persuasion, IE: the art of getting the outcome you want (once you figure that out!)
I recommend
http://www.amazon.com/Influence-Psychol ... 06124189X/