Write music
Record music
Play shows
Connect with audience
I don’t think artists get burned out by these. Artists get burned out by all the other stuff…the pressure that gets added to each of these core elements…plus the pressure of the business.
There isn’t a manual for how to weave through the burn out to get back to being an artist but while you’re figuring it out sit down and make some music.
Isn’t news for long
So if you’re in the business of traffic news, it helps to know that what you’re building today is going to have to be rebuilt tomorrow. That’s the gig.
On the other hand if you want to build something that compounds and grows…it’s best to not get distracted by traffic…or the news about it.
While you’re in the middle of your set people have posted videos from your show for others to see. And those other people, who are far away, are making comments. While you’re still on stage.
It’s hard enough being an artist playing live shows…and then people who aren’t in attendance are making sweeping judgements and drawing conclusions about your performance before you have a chance to catch your breath.
It’s part of the new price you pay for having the audacity to get up and perform.
Keep laying it on the line.
If you’re an artist and you have professionals on your team (agent, label, manager, publisher, business manager) and you stop doing things that generate money, they will likely not work with you for very long.
It’s not that they don’t like your new clarinet Gregorian chant album…but your pop rock album was a lot easier to plan for and execute and make money and support everyone’s families with.
Part of doing music as a career is getting buy in from your team. It’s not that they have to be in love with every song…it’s that they have to see a way for themselves to succeed with you. They have dreams and desires professionally and personally and they hope working with you can take them closer to those.
We tell the big fish story over and over. Dinner parties, meetings, family reunions. The big fish story is a winner.
We never tell the stories about catching the other stuff…the pan fish or the seaweed or the carp…even though we were in the same boat with the same hook, eating the same snacks.
We tell the big fish story cause it sells…but it’s the pan fish, seaweed and carp stories that make us fishermen.