General Music Chat

Where there is no vision, the people perish.
- Proverbs 29:18

The best way to predict the future is to design it.
- Buckminster Fuller

What do you do when you’ve got ideas requiring more people or resources than you have and can’t find anyone “on the same page” as you? Or, even if they ARE they find some fault with you as an excuse to not get involved?

I put it in the back burner and move on. I can always come back to it some other day.

Compromise is a tool that gets ideas realized quicker.

Find some new people

I'm BLIND!!!

Figure out a way to motivate those other people (see my last thread).

Yep. Same boat, Mike.


And for the first time that I can remember, I have to disagree with Jimmy. Compromise is settling...that is not reaching your goal, fulfilling the vision...and in the end, you are the one that is dissatisfied-you gave in, and everyone else got what the wanted.

Figure out a way to motivate those other people (see my last thread).

Yep. Same boat, Mike.


And for the first time that I can remember, I have to disagree with Jimmy. Compromise is settling...that is not reaching your goal, fulfilling the vision...and in the end, you are the one that is dissatisfied-you gave in, and everyone else got what the wanted.

I've settled and settled and settled, for years.

I'm so fed up with people I may pull a Prince or David Grohl; record everything myself, put the album out, and find people to play it live later.

Yep, I've done that myself many times. The problem is, later never comes, and all you have at the end is another interesting item for your resume. For some reason most people like to be involved with the writing and recording aspects to be involved with the performance side.

Yep. Been there, done that. Two albums, two more near completion. Nobody to play them. I've heard every excuse in the book, too. My favorite is that my material is too hard...I've got a little bit of a prog-rock background, and the stuff I'm recording doesn't come anywhere close to being that complex.
This past year, I broke down and got a business license. If nothing else, I'm gonna apply for some small business loans-then I guess I can go the hired gun route...we'll see how that works.

Compromise is how marriages, government and business gets done. It's great to have principles and stand by them; I know a few guys that won't get married unless the woman is model quality. Meanwhile life is passing them by. The same goes with being a musician; you can go it alone, but it's hard to get anyone else interested. I'm glad I did all of those projects of course, I learned a lot and they turned out darned good. But the stuff I write with my bandmates is much more relevant, exciting and frankly profitable. So keep looking for people, but give them a break if they can't play your compositions note for note; just be glad you have them.

Compromise is how marriages, government and business gets done. It's great to have principles and stand by them; I know a few guys that won't get married unless the woman is model quality. Meanwhile life is passing them by. The same goes with being a musician; you can go it alone, but it's hard to get anyone else interested. I'm glad I did all of those projects of course, I learned a lot and they turned out darned good. But the stuff I write with my bandmates is much more relevant, exciting and frankly profitable. So keep looking for people, but give them a break if they can't play your compositions note for note; just be glad you have them.

I try to be flexible and incorporate other people's ideas. It's not like I'm telling prospects, "It's my way or the highway."

I updated my profile and ads with more details. Maybe it will help. Maybe it will make things worse.

Surprisingly, I may be adding a guitarist / multi-instrumentalist. That is, if I don't scare him off. I wasn't really looking for one. But, it seems like he'd fit really well. We'll see.

I hate to tell you this but it sometimes gets worse with age.

But IMO it's important to have as clear a vision of reality as you can get, free of delusion, and then just do all you can to go after your goals, because what seems to sting more than anything at this point in my life is the fact that I could have done alot more to help my causes, but for being lazy or distracted I didn't put forth my full efforts.

Just from my Point of view....

Some things should never be compromised.

The most pain and suffering I have ever caused or endured was caused by an compromise of my integrity.

I think that's the issue I struggle with as well...when I look back at some of my band situations, I wonder where they would have gone, had I NOT compromised so much. I've been through a few bands over the years, and I'll guarantee that, most of the time, their failures are the results of trying to please too many people...too much tug of war going on. Had I stepped up (which I know now that I have the knowledge to do so-as well as the testicular fortitude), those bands could have gone a long way. Instead, I know exactly where they went...nowhere.
I'm currently in contact with a band looking for a vocalist/songwriter. It would be a perfect situation for me-and like Mike, I'm hoping I don't scare them off. That being said, I have to remember to be diplomatic yet assertive. I can honestly say that I'm confident in my own abilities, and I cannot afford to settle for less than what I am capable.

I used to try to micro-manage my life, including my music. Not anymore. A good manager delegates work to people who specialize and lets them go. I still bring the vision but let the musicians I have chosen complete the picture. You must trust yourself and your bandmates.