If you're a non professional musician (ie not making a living or not making any money at all from your music), does it ever get frustrating not to have an outlet for what you do? You spend hours and hours on a song, then another then another, and it's all very nice, and maybe people tell you that your stuff is good, but then that's it.

********************

It seems to me that these days you have to be good not only at all the skills involved in making music in the first place (fair enough, that's what it's all about) but a host of other things too, in order to be noticed, let alone make any money from what is essentially a serious hobby. Things that maybe aren't your strengths at all. Stuff like creating a website (and all the technical stuff that comes with that). Not to mention having to be really, really good, and appeal to loads of people.

********************

I've been making music for years and years now, and the outcome so far has been :

People who I show it to say that I'm good

I've had some songs reviewed and the opinions were mixed. Some said I was very good, others focused on my substandard production quality

I earned £5 from a gig once

********************

Does anyone here think that it would be good to have some outlet for their music, where all they really had to do was create it (on their own terms) and upload it, and then they would be heard? Some kind of grassroots music scene for non professional musicians (where all are welcome) who just want to showcase what they do? Because it seems like such a shame, after spending years becoming pretty good at something that you love, to then go nowhere with it.

********************

Please think carefully about what I'm saying, and what I'm asking.

[Edited 10/27/13 14:36pm]

[Edited 10/27/13 14:42pm]

[Edited 10/28/13 3:38am]

Good idea, although there are already a couple of those sites (e.g. soundcloud, soundclick, etc)

Many non-pro musicians go there, but the main issue is, how to get the non-musicians to visit the side and listen.

You would think with the internet, things would be easier to get your music "out there", and it is.... perhaps even too easy.

This causes that the masterpieces you'd like to be heard by other, are drowning in the masterpieces of others.

The only thing that would let you stand out, would be advertising, promoting and harassing people, to please listen to your stuff

I wish I had the answer.... it's hard.... but, don't forget about the most important thing:

ENJOY MAKING MUSIC!!

Yes, there are a lot of sites where you can upload your music, either just for the sake of having a means to be heard by whoever has a link to your page, or in order to sell. And in some cases both. But the problem is that you still have to promote yourself, which is boring to a lot of people, including me. I mean, if you spend weeks creating an album and then you put it on CDBaby or Reverbnation or whatever, that's all very well, but who's going to notice you? No one. Some people are good at promoting themselves as well as being musicians, but others, like me and I'm sure many others too, have no aptitude or interest in anything other than just making music.

*******************

What I'm talking about is a kind of community of bedroom musicians / non professionals, just people who think they're pretty good at making nice music, and who aren't making a living from it, and who would appreciate at least having some kind of outlet, a sense of purpose. Even just being heard and maybe getting a bit of feedback can be quite satisfying. And yes they could also promote their music with the intention of selling, but the focus would be to create a community, a kind of independent music scene for people who just don't have what it takes to make it in the conventional way and / or who can't be bothered to waste their lives trying. A music scene where the bar is much lower, ie all you need is recordings of your music. The quality doesn't matter, the production doesn't matter, as long as you're proud of what you've done. That's it.

*******************

There's so much choice nowadays, and the illusion that anyone can do anything, but in reality, it's extremely competitive. I don't want to compete. Why should I? My music has value and so does that of all the other frustrated musicians out there who can't get a break or simply don't want to break their backs trying to justify themselves to others. Imagine how many people give up on their music just because they have no outlet for it. What a waste.

*******************

Look at this part of the forum. It's for musicians to showcase what they do. And that's what I'm talking about. A website that does that, and only that. Maybe it could be done in the form of a multi author blog, where each member gets a page for themselves, and they can present and promote their music however they like. Rather than trying to crack the music scene, why not create one from scratch, where everyone is equal. And even if it grows, it can still have the feel of a village, or many little villages (genres) next to each other to create a city where all are welcome. And it would be 100% free. Just bring yourself and your music.

[Edited 10/28/13 3:39am]

i think you can do that with facebok, reverbnation and a website. the great thing about the internet is it's entirely open. let people know from the beginning what you are about and like minded people will gravitate to you. it will take a little promotion but let people know that you are no about competition or being a "musician" but you love songwriting and the art of making music. I think people will get it.

The problem with all those sites is that there's always another angle, and they're too big. What I'm proposing is the creation of a music scene. An actual real community of musicians. Not some anonymous facebook / reverbnation / soundclick thing where 1,000,000 toms, dicks and harrys upload their music thinking that anyone is going to even hear it. I'm talking about something much more accessible, where you can upload your songs and people will hear them and give you feedback. Something aimed at musicians who are not making a living off their music, but who just want people to hear it and give their opinions.

**************************

For example, there are quite a few forums for songwriters. Lyricists. They post their lyrics, and people critique them. What does the lyricist get out of it? Money? "Fans"? No. They get the satisfaction of knowing that someone has read their lyrics and given them feedback. And all they had to do was start a thread about their song. That's it.

**************************

I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel. There's nothing that I could ever come up with that hasn't been thought of before, but not everything that has been thought of has been done. Some things are so simple and obvious. Imagine being in a room with 10 other musicians, and you're all listening to each others' music. That's what I'm talking about. And if it grows, just create more "rooms".