IT’S ALWAYS SOMETHING
Back in the 70’s, when Saturday Night Live was totally funny, Gilda Radner created a character called Roseanne Rosanadana. Her catch phrase was, “It’s always something…” which was then followed by her final thought, “Nevermind,” to conclude the observation.
Well, the one thing you can count on when pursuing a career in music is that “something” will always happen that may distract or even bushwhack you from your mission. It’s natural, and it happens. As such, you should avoid creating the something that pulls you off course. It will occur – all on its own. What I’m talking about are the things artists do to spoil their dreams. The list is long; and, this could be a lengthy rant if I covered all the ways artists could hinder their careers. But, I’ll save that for a book.
The deal is, today, artists have more power than they ever had. The music business has changed considerably, creating a wealth of new opportunities. But for some artists, it makes no difference. They create illusions that they think are true. When, really, they’re simply self-imposed obstacles.
As you can imagine, I talk to a lot of different artists. And, all too often, I hear them cite one excuse after another as to why they can’t do things. We’ve all heard the same clichés: “I can’t afford to tour” – “I can’t find players for my band” – “I can’t get people to my show” – “I can’t get a break,” and on and on and on. It’s always something.
After a while the whining gets on your nerves and your sympathy disappears. You want to scream at them, “Look around, for godsake!” There are plenty of artists that have managed to find a way past all those barriers. Some did it themselves, while others enlisted help. In fact, the word “can’t” should be permanently deleted from your database. Because that four-letter word will be the biggest obstacle you’ll ever face.
If you really want to make it in this business, you need to be determined and confident (in addition to talented, skilled and all that other good stuff). Without those basic traits, however, the journey will be long, hard, and never-ending. Face it; it’s tough enough as it is, even when the stars are aligned. To be self-defeating, along the way, is just plain crazy.
The real upshot, though, is this: When people who can actually help you achieve your goals hear that worn-out phrase, “I can’t,” leave your lips, Roseanne Rosanadana’s closing comment will inevitably cross their mind… even if they don’t say it out loud. “Nevermind.” And we all know where that leads – to Nowheresville.
—Bernard Baur
Tags: something
