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Gee, I really enjoyed reading this article.
I had to share it with you folks.
It's a brief recap of John Mayers symposiom at the Berkelee Performing Arts Center.
.
http://forum.bandmix.com/posting.php?mode=newtopic&f=4
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It's not the 'same ol fluff.'
Nice to hear this from someone with his experience.

That's not a link to an article.
?

I Clicked the link and it opened up the editor here for responding...

Aww Crap!


http://www.berklee-blogs.com/2011/07/jo ... -yourself/
.
Sorry 'bout that!

good stuff, I especially l like that he said this clearly....





Myths (and Negative Mindsets To Avoid) - The Idea of "Right Time, Right Place"

?Not true! That would be true if you only played one show for your entire life. Then, the mathematical construct would make sense that you have to be in the right time at the right place. Forget about right time right place ? it doesn?t exist! You create your place and you create your time through what you?re doing. It?s not about getting your foot in the door or meeting a person and them giving you an opportunity. Doesn?t exist. Does. Not. Exist. Nobody is going to sign you at a record company anymore ? they?re not in the business of building an artist from scratch anymore. You got to bring them what you already have. ?


Instead, John Mayer encouraged students at Berklee to focus on their craft and to prepare themselves for their career without concern for depending on others for a lucky break.

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I read it... Frankly, I'd rather hear what Mick Jagger has to say about making it in the business... I don't buy half of what Mayer says.

In fairness, I agree that a musician should bring something great to the table, but I disagree on the "right Time, Right Place theory that he espoused. Maybe that worked for him, but he cannot speak for ANY. BODY. ELSE.
There are lots of promoters who would kill to get another prolific genius song writer in the market... and they would jump 20 trains to get to that guy first.

Mayer says they don't build musicians from scatch anymore... But he totally failed to mention that about 80 percent of the musicians who came ready -made ...still suck. And just maybe, that's a reflection on the bad decisions of Record labels, to abandon the apprenticeship factor of the music industry.

I do agree with Mayer about telling these kids that they need to focus on the craft and not so much on twittering to push it out there...

Kids... If you suck...there aint no tweeting in the world that is gonna fix that for you... And also...what the hell did musicians do before there was Facebook and cell phones?

All he's saying is that "making it" doesn't happen because of a chance meeting (or even a one-time opportunity), where someone sees potential in you and develops your talent and then builds your career. An artist basically has to prove themselves many times over a long period to be noticed.

And it's entirely true, as I've said here many times, that labels aren't interested in breaking an unknown these days. They are looking for someone who has already shown sales success that they can sign, repackage, and release more than 98% of the time.

All he's saying is that "making it" doesn't happen because of a chance meeting (or even a one-time opportunity), where someone sees potential in you and develops your talent and then builds your career. An artist basically has to prove themselves many times over a long period to be noticed.

Anomaly Alert: This guy -
http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/01/05/ted-w ... dio-voice/

And it's entirely true, as I've said here many times, that labels aren't interested in breaking an unknown these days. They are looking for someone who has already shown sales success that they can sign, repackage, and release more than 98% of the time

That's what s puzzling... How do you self package and show sales success and get "known" by any substantial degree..., if nobody ever promotes you? This is the same dilemma that Unemployment at large has endured

I understand why all of us jump You Tube. In fact , I predict that You tube is the "new" radio of the times... But, Instead of having some parasite manager push your work, now its up to you to film /record and upload your own work for exposure.

In radio, monetization from your songs was an arrangement between a promoter and an Ad exec...for the radio station or network. Now, with you tube, monetization is an arrangement between YOU and the You -Tube Engine that supports the mechanical arrangement. Nobody needs a promoter (aka the middleman, aka the gatekeeper) . That's the bewuty of You Tube...Its not a gate-keeper. If you get 1 million hits, you can earn some money for that... and its pretty straight forward i would think.

I agree YOD, I'll use Van Halen as an example. A couple of weeks ago I happened to read an old article from guitar player mag. An interveiw with Eddie. He said they played EVERYWHERE they could. They were doing their own promo and Gene Simmons heard them and paid for their Demo that led to Ted Templeman showing up and BAM! They were on their way to the bigtime! It was NOT a coincidental meeting THEY MADE IT HAPPEN by being tenacious and relentless.