Can artists come in here and talk...

Muse Ritual · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 45 Location: Western NY

...about artist type thingies?

I dont have a show or anything but do want to give a big yummy hello to my fellow music makers ( I refuse to use "shout out" because it sounds like "shat out" in my head and that just does me no good visualization wise).

There are so many things that we can be discussing and getting ideas for and from eachother in here.

Things like... how much is too much artist/fan interaction online?? I mean when does it come off as annoying or creepy from over communicating with individuals in your fan base? Aside from spammage that is.

How do you deal with rejection or harsh criticisms or even light critique just done in a tactless manner. I dont mean the "I just blow it off and dont let it get to me" type answers. What do you do when it does get to you, when it does hurt, when you get so low and you want to hang it up for good...when you get so low that its either, create something or sink even lower into that depressive abyss?

I could go on but Im sure my point is somewhat recognizable through my drivel.

Indie artists have it so rough in so many ways. Its both an extremely rewarding and incredibly harsh road to walk. If we dont support each other emotionally and otherwise, than who the heck will? Fans??? Nope... most really dont want to watch the sausage getting made, if ya know what I mean Smile

.

Its up to us to support eachother (not blindly but with an empathetic nature I think).. make sure we stay inspired, that we keep passing the open windows, that we stay grounded within reality and not get carried aloft by adoring fans or sent under by hyper critical ones.

Anyways.. I just had some time to kill and wanted to get these thoughts out there. Im always open for helping , chatting and/or getting us all through and on to the next great project (that includes PMing me here Wink

).

peace and inspiration to you all!
Muse Ritual

(I hope this didnt come off as uber dorky but if it did, please for the love of Calliope tell me Very Happy

)
_________________
A muse is hidden in every moment of your life.

batface89 · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:54 am Post subject: artists

Of course, ramble away.

If you would like me to set up another forum for artists to chat, I can do that too.
_________________
---
Batface89

Muse Ritual · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 45 Location: Western NY

skyflyingby · Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 27 Location: Boston, MA

Muse: its funny, and remarkable, i've been thinking about these questions.

first, i don't know if there is a good or right answer about how much is too much (if that even exists) communication/connection/whatever between the artists and listeners. i mean, i should step back and mention that i was brought up in the hardcore/punk scene of the late 1980's and 1990's and the line between fan and artist was one was playing a guitar and the other wasn't... which is to say, the line was quite fuzzy and the bands lived off of the energy and almost communion that happens before during and after a show, being around the participants (they weren't fans).

so having said all that, i usually tend on more openness and really get a lot out of the interaction between artists and listeners. but i do believe that you make a point about "how the sausage is made," it has to be up to thelistener just how much exposure they feel is appropriate. me? i keep a blog, and post about making music and the crap that happens in my life that drives a lot of the music i make, which means it up to a listener to seek it out.

now as far as rejection. i've been around a long time and have had some of my stuff flat out butchered, and have read reviews of past bands i've been in that got down right personal. it happens, but while it still bothers me (its perfectly natural and normal for it effect you i think) it is just opinion, and you have a choice, what are going to do about it? sure i get those "i'm just a hack, a fraud, a nothing" feelings... i get them ALL THE TIME, but hey i do this because it helps me, i have to do it... i have to make music, as bad as it may be, i have to, or i'll go crazy. my attitude is, if someone doesn't like what i do, then that's ok. what they think doesn't change anything. i still have a nice home, a good job, i can still make my music, my way.

i like the idea of a "support network" for artists. i mean, to one degree or another, we are all standing up here naked, on a "stage" and showing our hearts to absolute strangers, and we run the risk of some real serious abuse (to one degree or another). but that's the price we pay, right? i mean, we're out here, making things, contributing, and that isn't easy. But, at the same time, the listeners shouldn't have to concern themselves with our trials and tribulations, that isn't part of the deal, the social contract if you will (unless they want to, then splendid! welcome to the world of the long-suffering independent musician!)

well, this was a good thread Muse, thanks for starting it Smile

i like the idea of a community of t61 artists Smile

_________________
on t61: http://www.thesixtyone.com/skyflyingby
has a blog: http://www.skyflyingbymusic.org

batface89 · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:49 am Post subject:

Oh, I think it's very interesting to learn about the life of a musician. I can live vicariously though you Smile

_________________
---
Batface89

skyflyingby · Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 27 Location: Boston, MA

Pansophical1 · Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 34

At times, I find it very frustrating to try and communicate with Artists on t61. Not only communicate with them, but also often times even finding more information, is an exercise in futility.

I honestly found my way to this site(MaxBumps), in hopes of finding the community and COMMUNICATION that is so desperately lacking on t61. Artist AND listener.

And before I go any further... I hate --, NO I LOATHE, anything to do with Myspace. It's causing me to clench my jaws even typing about it.
More on this later, but I have been forced to create an account, for this purpose.

Now, I seem to be something of a nerd, so when I trip over an artist that I really like, I tend to research the crap out of them. If I like what I see, or something grabs me for some reason, I try to get a comment to the artist, or drop them a note saying something about, "Hey, I caught you guys on thesixtyone.com. Thanks for posting, blah, blah, blah...

I make sure that I mention t61, if for know other reason, than to let them know that marketing themselves on t61 worked, at least in my case. Yes, I could post to t61 Wall and be done with it, but some artists seem to have given t61 a try a few months ago, nothing took off, and they left the account languishing. For these artists, it's important, to me, to reach out through other means, to try and let them know, etc..

The main reason that I attempt to contact any band on t61, is to let them know that they are making it WAY to difficult for ANY fan to try and give them money. If t61 profile says go to myspace, myspace tells me to, "Check out the new Website", and finally the 2 year old NEW website tells me that all songs are available on iTunes... Why did I just spend .5 an hour doing this? Not worth it. And I think the Artist needs to know that.

I'd love to find a place to catch up with the Artists on t61. I’ve tried AND trolled most every route possible, including Myspace (/shiver). The fact remains, I just can’t find any place.

Pan

batface89

skyflyingby · Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 27 Location: Boston, MA

Pansophical1 · Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 34

batface89

Muse Ritual · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 45 Location: Western NY

Muse Ritual · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 45 Location: Western NY

phreakymonkey · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 20

MediaWiki and the sort are pretty plug and play, aren't they?

craigm · Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 97 Location: 404

batface: I have a phpBB that has been 100% spambot free for well over a year. If you're still having problems with spam and want to know the all of the mods I installed to keep the bots out, PM or email me.

To the original questions:

I'm very curious about the how much is too much question myself. I only started making a serious effort to market my music a few months ago. Before that I didn't even bother. I tend to HATE spam and I think I probably err on the side of too little communication for fear of alienating listeners.

For many years, I was making very experimental electronic music, so I'm pretty used to rejection. My friends would nod and say, "yeah it's cool," but after several years of making unpopular music, you get pretty good at recognizing when someone is patronizing you. While my new music is MUCH more accessible, it's still not very pop-like.

I've always made music because I'd rather be dead if I couldn't, not for fame or money, although those things would be nice too. A music teacher of mine once told me, "Make the music you want to hear. If you don't want to listen to it, why bother?" It was the single best piece of advice I've ever been given in regards to being a musician. I've been trying to do that ever since. I'll be making music whether I have zero fans or a million fans.