Stoneman
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11/2/2019 1:20:04 AM
Why Do You Do It?
A few weeks ago I got a call from an old musician friend who was really discouraged. He sounded totally defeated talking about how tired he was of traveling from town to town playing gig after gig and sending out demo's to promoters, publishers and venues. He was so disgusted with the music industry that he wanted to just quit and rely totally on his day job. My reply? I replied with a question. Why do you do it? Do you even know why? Why do you work your ass off playing music day and night? Why do you spend hours daily in the studio crafting songs and honing them down to as close to perfect as you can get them? Why? He said, I do it because I love making music. I said "There it is" That is the correct answer. You do it because you love it and the love of doing it is your reward. He said what? I said the love of doing it is your reward if you never make a dime at it or never become a household name you will have already been paid in full because you got to do something that you love. I asked him that question because I have asked myself that question many time in my life. I have asked myself, Damn Stoney, why are you doing all of this music and working tirelessly on this craft of music making? Why do you put up with the bad behavior of music industry people? What is it about this music thing that you cannot let it go? My answer is always the same. I love this shit! I do it because I love it and if I never get a hit, win another award or have anything tangible to show for my music making I will still be paid in full. Just because I get to do what I love every day. Every day I get to play my instruments and sing in my studio. I am blessed and I know it. What about you? Have you asked yourself why you do it lately? Sometimes a little self clarity brings forth smooth emotional seasonings. If the answer is because you love it then you have already reached the pinnacle of success. The true rewards in life come when you learn how to make yourself happy. Making music makes me happy and that is how I know that I am blessed. By the way, my friend who called me, he is back in she studio working on a new project. When I told him I thought he was through with it and had given up. He said "Naw man, I can't give up". I tried but the music is a part of me and i love it. I just looked down at the ground with a knowing smile and said yeah, I feel you man.
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Richard Scotti
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11/3/2019 1:23:43 PM
---- Updated 11/3/2019 4:16:28 PM
Well said, Stoneman. You're an inspiration to be sure.
Some of my friends record at home and have the skills to record pro sounding music but unfortunately some either can't afford all the necessary gear or even if they could they may never have learned how to use it to it's full potential. Pro-tools and Logic are very hard to learn especially when you've spent most of your time on the road and playing local venues. Some can play many instruments but others can not. Blessed are the one-person bands with all the gear to rock out in the comfort of their homes. I have respect for all kinds of music warriors. All roads lead to rock and roll heaven or something equivalent. It doesn't matter how you get there.
Regardless of their circumstance, they worked hard and some achieved commercial success and some didn't. Some were able to just make a living. Music is a tough business. It's not for the faint of heart. I've seen fallen comrades who went through hell and never returned. I mourn for them. I mourn for all the dreams they had that never became realized because of so many cruel obstacles and pitfalls. Sometimes they just messed up on their own. But in every case, they did it for the love of the art. Why else would anybody sacrifice so much for so little or gamble with their lives without any guarantee or certainty of success? It has to be for something intangible, something that fills up a hole in the soul, something like air or water or love, or music.
Creativity is an amazing process. There's nothing else like it. Creating something that never existed before is so rewarding and such a privilege. Then you share with it with others and the thrill gets multiplied many times over. It starts in the deepest part of your subconscious and evolves into your conscious. Then it travels through the ears of other people and enters their consciousness. What a ride!!!
I make no pledges about the future because I have no idea what the future holds. Life for me would be a bore if I had it all mapped out in advance. I always use my intuition and my instinct when I make a move. Health and finances always impact decisions in one way or another. I do the best I can with what I have. If I feel good, I can do good. I've done a little bit of everything. I've won some medals in the war against mediocre music and the industry that perpetuates it and I have the battle scars to prove it. Bob Dylan sang: "In the final end he won the wars, after losing every battle." (from "Idiot Winds")
I've made peace with the gods when it comes to music. I gave everything I had and I'm not done yet but when I am I'll have no regrets. The well being of myself and my family are paramount. Everything else is gravy.
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