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Voodoohead Productions
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12/21/2012 12:51:08 PM
Rejection
I had a group send me a cd a few years ago, they apparently got on a few CBC TV shows and such ,big whoop. who cares, means nothing, oh it might mean something, i mean i know a lot of artists who have there songs on sound tracks and such, its cool , but these guys thought just because they had success (through people they knew in various organizations who helped them out) that their songs were hit material,you kidding, I did a listen and I did a review told them what i thought, one song was ok the rest was garbage, should have never seen the light of day, man were they pissed. just because I told them the truth. but you have to believe in yourself, cause nobody else will, keep on trucking
rejection is painful. but reality reveals truth. some have it most dont
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Steve Ison
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12/21/2012 2:50:17 PM
---- Updated 12/21/2012 3:40:56 PM
Delusion mixed with highly ambitious mediocrity is a toxic mixture indeed and clutters up and pollutes the musical airspace we live in today
I used to get so totally cheesed off on myspace as the 1000th average rock band -a cookie-cutter xerox of whatever happened to be popular at the time= spammed me once again to listen to their music...
Nearly always well produced,well performed utter mediocrity...Like those bands'll do anything-ANYTHING to be succesful other than take the time learn to write really cool songs and express any genuine individuality,soul or flair....
Those kinda acts screwed it up for everybody......and still do imho
There was a time on myspace (maybe 7 years ago) where the general listening public would be open and receptive to hear new indie music online if you skillfully invited people you could see had a similar taste and might be interested...
But that door quickly slammed shut as the greedy,soulless wannabees spam-bombed everyone indisciminately untill they were drowning in a sea of homogenised $$$ eyed goo and became totally numb and unresponsive as a result..
I hate that kinda music with a passion.....
But in a way who can blame those musicians for being that way ?
From the 80s onwards with terrible,terrible hair metal bands raking in millions when they couldn't write a half-decent song to save their life -to todays designer dressed corporate modern country pop -thats usually so musically dull witted you can predict exactly where the song will move in the first 5 seconds -it seems the general mainstream public has lost its taste for anything songwriting-wise that bends the musical rules even a little or has any element of suprise at all..
So since the entry bar songwritingwise is so low and the multitude of charmless,interchangeable copy-cat acts will always try to follow the money -they reason -quite reasonably- that there's litttle point working hard to write great songs when an 'ok' one should do the trick nicely..Provided the singers strong and the bands tight of course..
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Voodoohead Productions
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12/21/2012 2:53:14 PM
---- Updated 12/21/2012 2:57:00 PM
Steve, your reply is well taken and well thought out, you present things in a way that is extremely logical and easy to read and have a real understanding of what goes on. thanks for this, I appreciate the time and energy you took to do all this
and as for me, I am still learning and experimenting,. learning what I can, and having fun, but most of my time and energy is taken up working for others, so I dont have much left in the tank for me and my own children of songs. I mean, have fun, do what you can, enjoy and be in the moment. that is why i prefer live shows, it is real. and where one gets the most satisfaction........
bryon
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Steve Ison
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12/21/2012 3:03:59 PM
Cheers Bryon..Its something i'm passionate - and angry about..
But am powerless to change it lol
I think you're a rare idealistic breed indeed if you're prepared to tell those kinda bands how it actually is,rather than lie to them and take their money,filling them with false hopes n dreams- like the sharks in your other thread do
Good on ya man :)
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Stoneman
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12/21/2012 6:50:29 PM
Without truth we never grow. A long, long time ago, when I first started writing songs I thought were good enough to be heard by others, I thought that I would be an instant hit. I sent out hundreds of cassette tapes (yeah, it was that far back) and reels to publishers and A&R folks all over the nation. When the rejection letters started coming in I was so stunned by the reality that either the industry was closed minded or I needed to get better. I decided it must be the latter so I worked hard at perfecting my craft. One thing I did was to read every negative comment in search of the areas I could improve on. I even responded to all of them with a thanks for listening and a hope that they could share more insights into how I could improve. I also studied recording engineering so my recordings would get better. About 4 years later I received my first contract in the mail. It was a small gospel company in Georgia but it was the first sign that I was growing as an artist and songwriter.
Since then I have I signed many contracts and had many commercial releases. No hits, but I have built lasting relationships with lots of music industry folk. I have also won many music industry awards and contests. I owe it all to listening to the critiques of others and implementing changes in my creative processes. Those people who rejected my work in the early years did me a huge favor. They inspired me to study, work hard and grow.
With this as my template for teaching my students, I am very tough on them. They know I will tell them what sucks. But I also tell them why it sucks. Just trying to pay it forward. The truth will not only set you free, it will liberate you from the mundane. I also teach that those who can't take the criticism should just get out of the business. In this business, everyone has an opinion and there are some that even the greats have not impressed.
Quite often, in the middle of a coaching session, I pull out a box that has over 100 rejection letters in it. I start passing those letters around so my students can read them. I want them to know that they have to develop a thick skin and an eye towards perfection. Anything less is just not good enough. Some of those rejection letters are from companies that dried up and died over 30 years ago. They rejected me but i outlasted them! Go figure. I also take my students up to my awards room and I show them what hard work and believing in themselves can do for them. I want them to see both sides of the coin. I want them go farther than I have gone. I want them to blow me away!
Steve, I remember how Myspace use to be. You are so right! It was a great place for artists to showcase their music to a wider audience. But now that place is a cesspool of ingrates who send message after message about listening to their music. Then, when you take the time to listen, it is so bad that you want to send them back a cuss out message. The garbage makers have polluted the place so badly that I hardly ever log in over there anymore. I know if I do, there will be hundreds of "come check me out" messages that I just flat out don't have time for. That place is pathetic now.....
Much Respect Guys!
Stoneman
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Voodoohead Productions
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12/27/2012 9:44:44 AM
Stoneman has some of the best recollections,stories(and challenging experiences) and I suggest he write a book on all that has happened in his life, Boy, Stoneman you have had some of the real amazing things occur in your colorful and dynamic life. realizing your full human potential and beyond, walking in the faith and believing in yourself and not being afraid. good on you
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