You may have noticed that I haven’t posted any new or old songs to my song blog in the past few days. I’m in California for a conference on Information Marketing where I’m hoping to learn more about how to get my music and other “knowledge sets” out into the world.
One of my weaknesses as a “marketer” (or as a human) is that I have a tendency to be inconsistent. So last November I made a commitment to myself to put up a song every single day or communicate to my fans every single day regardless of what else was going on in my life.
So each day I usually start with this post and then put all the other activities and responsibilities AFTER that.
So I’ve been consistent. Up until the other day.
But here’s the problem.
After 6 months of faithful posting. I still have only a handful of people actually clicking and listening. And I appreciate all 7 or 8 of you so deeply I can’t express it. But Songwriting is still a long, long way from paying “the bills.”
And so be it. I “get” it. It’s not the 1960’s any more when singer/songwriters were GODS.
Now EVERYONE is a singer/songwriter! LOL
Rumi is only the best selling poet in the English language some 14 CENTURIES after he wrote his “songs”.
But here’s the point I want to make. Last night out by the pool at my hotel, there was a “one man band” playing “cover songs”. And the people around the bar basically ignored him. When he announced, “This next song is an original from my CD.” They ignored him EVEN more. No one showed the least bit of interest.
And he was good.
And no one actually seems to care in our culture. Music seems to be more and more just a “background thing.”
Unless you’re famous, not many people want to hear what you have to sing. And how do you get “famous” enough for people to pay attention? And what if, “being famous” is the absolute opposite of what a solitude loving introverted songwriter prefers?
Personally I’d be happy if someone else sang my darn songs. But it’s a vast mountain to climb. And today even the music industry is pretty clueless as to how to get new music into the ears of a lot of people.
I don’t know if you noticed but the next time you encounter a guy playing cover songs at a bar or restaurant, notice that NONE of the songs are new. They are all from the days BEFORE the internet.
So while I’m readjusting my hopes and expectations about what is possible, I’m taking just a little break from this blog. I’m not giving up and not going away. Just “getting” that what I do best is something that just doesn’t generate much cash for a while… maybe never.
I’m ok with that because all the other things I’ve learned and studied over the years in order to get out of my own way around my music has led me in some fabulous directions. My music also supports my various trainings and courses. I also get to do my music each Sunday at Unity Church where it is wonderful to be appreciated and valued.
So it’s all good. The question remains, what do YOU love doing so much that you really would do it for free?
I will always write songs. I may never make a living writing them, but I will always enjoy the process of writing them and the freedom to not have to “fit in to some music business formula”.
Yesterday I spent the day at the beach as well as hiking just inland from the coast here in southern California. And all day my own song, “Lucky” was on a loop in my head.
The result was a fabulous day. If I could share that with more people I’d be grateful. But if it’s just you and me, that’s ok too.
All the best! Hopefully I’ll be able to get back into the studio soon and continue to record the “Life in Song” project so that in 2100 AD these songs will help a few more people to dance through their day with the Lucky song in their head! LOL.