The Documentary Channel is airing "The Work Series" which profiles four occupations.
For those that are interested in the life of an actual working MUSICIAN (opposed to a celebrity pop-star), this is for you.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "Musician" (September 11, 8 p.m. ET/PT) -- Part of "The Work Series." Common sense says you can't make a living in America playing avant-garde improvisational jazz -- but Chicago-based musician Ken Vandermark does it anyway. The recipient of a 1999 MacArthur genius grant, this passionate artist still spends most of his life in smoky clubs and low-budget recording studios, hoping people will plunk down hard-earned cash to hear his wholly non-commercial music. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Time was, I bought probably at LEAST half the music I did based on who played on the album (or even just one track at times). Vinyl liner / back cover notes were essential
So lost on the I-Pod generation.....so many key musical contributors go unheralded.
Without the "working / session" players...there wouldn't BE "stars" to fawn over quite so much.
Not to mention the live music experience.
All in, I'd wager it's a pretty damned hard way to make a living for most of 'em.
Without the "working / session" players...there wouldn't BE "stars" to fawn over quite so much.
Since a lot of popular music now is made by beatmakers playing ringtone riffs, drum programming, or using samples, technically there are no session musicians to credit.
You can take a black guy to Nashville from right out of the cotton fields with bib overalls, and they will call him R&B. You can take a white guy in a pin-stripe suit who’s never seen a cotton field, and they will call him country. ~ O. B. McClinton
Without the "working / session" players...there wouldn't BE "stars" to fawn over quite so much.
Since a lot of popular music now is made by beatmakers playing ringtone riffs, drum programming, or using samples, technically there are no session musicians to credit.
Sadly, yeah...I thought about that after posting. It's far from producing stellar results generally, IMO.
I guess it's more at the live level for me these days. I shouldn't be the ONLY audience member freaking out when the "headliner" says...."and on the drums, Dennis Chambers" (or insert session legend here).
Appreciation (or worship even in some cases) shouldn't be the exclusive domain of musical uber-nerds like us @ The Org Just ticks me off. These folks should get at LEAST accolades if they aren't gonna get the fat cash.
Hard to pay the bills with passion. What do you ACTUAL musicians here at The Org say? Is it REALLY "all worth it" like NDRU said?
Sadly, yeah...I thought about that after posting. It's far from producing stellar results generally, IMO.
I guess it's more at the live level for me these days. I shouldn't be the ONLY audience member freaking out when the "headliner" says...."and on the drums, Dennis Chambers" (or insert session legend here).
Appreciation (or worship even in some cases) shouldn't be the exclusive domain of musical uber-nerds like us @ The Org Just ticks me off. These folks should get at LEAST accolades if they aren't gonna get the fat cash.
Hard to pay the bills with passion. What do you ACTUAL musicians here at The Org say? Is it REALLY "all worth it" like NDRU said?
There are tons of "musicians" out there.
You just usually never know about them because they're not having TWITter wars with each other, trying to get on TMZ every night for something ridiculous or hyping themselves non-stop on any and all social network sites. They're either working or trying to get work.
IMO, it depends on whether you view music as an art form or strictly a commerical endeavor. For true musicians, you do it because you love it first and foremost and cannot do otherwise. If being a celebrity is your end goal, that's another story.
Since a lot of popular music now is made by beatmakers playing ringtone riffs, drum programming, or using samples, technically there are no session musicians to credit.
Sadly, yeah...I thought about that after posting. It's far from producing stellar results generally, IMO.
I guess it's more at the live level for me these days. I shouldn't be the ONLY audience member freaking out when the "headliner" says...."and on the drums, Dennis Chambers" (or insert session legend here).
Appreciation (or worship even in some cases) shouldn't be the exclusive domain of musical uber-nerds like us @ The Org Just ticks me off. These folks should get at LEAST accolades if they aren't gonna get the fat cash.
Hard to pay the bills with passion. What do you ACTUAL musicians here at The Org say? Is it REALLY "all worth it" like NDRU said?
I'm a musician who doesn't even get the accolades, let alone the fat cash, and works a day job.
But personally, I am the type of person who has never been the center of attention. So being onstage is an incredible narcissistic affirmation and a personal challenge for a shy guy like me. Plus, it's a collaborative effort coming to fruition, where the energies multiply, lifting the whole thing higher.
And as theAudience said above, you just have to like the process of making music in general or it is not worth it. Most likely none of us will "make it," so you have to like rehearsal, and like eating at Denny's, and driving to a little place and playing your songs for nobody, otherwise there is no reason to do it.
For example, Mozart and Beethoven both were great artists making artistic statements the West
still heralds (hell, I'm going to go hear Mozart's Symphony 40 at the end of this
month) who also penned their great artistic statements trying to make them ducket$
as well. And both of them were considered Viennese "rock stars." For some musicians, it's both an artistic endeavor and a commercial endeavor; Davis and Monk weren't giving away their music for free, you dig?
For example, Mozart and Beethoven both were great artists making artistic statements the West
still heralds (hell, I'm going to go hear Mozart's Symphony 40 at the end of this
month) who also penned their great artistic statements trying to make them ducket$
as well. And both of them were considered Viennese "rock stars." For some musicians, it's both an artistic endeavor and a commercial endeavor; Davis and Monk weren't giving away their music for free, you dig?
There are some that can blend, no doubt. Generally speaking, for everyday musicians where this is all they do for a living, they have to. It's either that or starve.
There are others that simply will not compromise. They'll do something else to earn an income and do whatever they want musically.
Once Miles discovered that Rock Stars were making at least 10 times what he was for a lot less work, he changed his game up. Not necessarily musically. But definitely from a marketing standpoint. Mingus, on the other hand (mental issues aside) didn't seem like an individual who was prepared to compromise.
For example, Mozart and Beethoven both were great artists making artistic statements the West
still heralds (hell, I'm going to go hear Mozart's Symphony 40 at the end of this
month) who also penned their great artistic statements trying to make them ducket$
as well. And both of them were considered Viennese "rock stars." For some musicians, it's both an artistic endeavor and a commercial endeavor; Davis and Monk weren't giving away their music for free, you dig?
There are some that can blend, no doubt. Generally speaking, for everyday musicians where this is all they do for a living, they have to. It's either that or starve.
There are others that simply will not compromise. They'll do something else to earn an income and do whatever they want musically.
Once Miles discovered that Rock Stars were making at least 10 times what he was for a lot less work, he changed his game up. Not necessarily musically. But definitely from a marketing standpoint. Mingus, on the other hand (mental issues aside) didn't seem like an individual who was prepared to compromise.
I get the sense that Miles liked it too, wearing wild outfits and stepping on a wah. It did not make his music any easier to listen to, though, if anything it became less accessible
But, yeah I think all musicians want to be accepted and play to a packed house. And I think most artists (even Taylor Swift) don't believe they are selling out the music. But know they are selling out in promoting it, but that's just part of having an audience.
I get the sense that Miles liked it too, wearing wild outfits and stepping on a wah. It did not make his music any easier to listen to, though, if anything it became less accessible
But, yeah I think all musicians want to be accepted and play to a packed house. And I think most artists (even Taylor Swift) don't believe they are selling out the music. But know they are selling out in promoting it, but that's just part of having an audience.
No doubt.
I'm sure Miles dug the cash. Probably enabled him to go way-out musically.
You're right. Some just can't hang through what it takes to make it to that level.
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Kool, thanks!
