twiddle twiddle twiddle

Posted by koripop on May 15, 2010 in "From the Outskirts" Journal, Thinking Out Loud | 2 comments

Step One: write songs

Step Two: record them

Step Three: relinquish them

Step Four: ummmmmm????

For months now I have been pretending that I have it all together – that I know exactly what I am doing. Truth is – I have no idea what to do next. When I first thought about sharing my panic, I figured “Do not even THINK about letting on that you are feeling lost.”  So I heeded my ego and have since been avoiding posting because I have nothing to say except “What the F am I supposed to do now?”

Then I realized, I am really not alone in this.

There are thousands upon thousands of musicians everywhere who are feeling exactly the same way I am feeling. And that this confusion has nothing to do with the merit of our music. The problem is… in an industry whose currency is “Who You Know’s” – the only option that remains is pounding the pavement. I need to be more VISIBLE.

In this day and age, you need to be visible in so many place at once it makes the head spin even thinking about it. Conquering a stage is simply not enough anymore. An online presence is just as essential. In fact, I know of people who rarely play live, yet they have managed to build a very loyal online following. Balancing both is the perfect tonic, I think.

Every musician who is releasing a record absolutely needs a PB Sandwich:

P=Publicist (takes care of making you “visible” online, in print and on screen)

B=Booking Agent (takes care of making you “visible” on stage)

Problem is… they are INCREDIBLY hard to come by. Therefore, we the unsigned artists must wear not only the performer and songwriter hats, but the PB hats as well.

This is why the overwhelmed independent musician surfaces.

But despite the panic and night terrors (just kidding), there is nothing else I would rather be struggling with. On with the dance!

“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration”

~ Thomas Edison