I love documentaries, especially ones about the music and the industry. Last week I watched, 20 Feet from Stardom which is about back up singers. Some of them wanted or still want to be the star and others are simply happy being in the background boasting someone else’s career.
I bring this up because a lot of people that I’ve been talking to or dealing with in music are pretty much under the impression that they will become famous once their music hits the internet. I wish that was true. Most people, including me, will never have the kind of stardom in our lives. We are going to be in the background having to make our living doing something else.
I’m not trying to bring everyone down with this, but I am saying, make sure you have a backup plan if your dream fails. I did have a backup plan and I thank my parents for it.
I’m also not saying, don’t try. If you fail, keep going. Try again. I personally LOVE recording / playing / producing! Just because it may never become a full time position for me doesn’t mean I’m simply going to stop. I’m in the middle of recording a Christmas song so that I can release it shortly. Will it go anywhere? Who knows. Does it matter to me? Not really. I wrote it, I want to finish it and let the world hear it.
I think everyone should have this attitude, but keep it in perspective. There are a lot of talented people out there. There are a lot of beautiful people who want to be famous singers. If there wasn’t, shows like American Idol and The Voice wouldn’t have any contestants, but look at how many people try out for this and don’t get anywhere.
Music is a hard business and it is luck if you get far. Even these amazing backup singers, who were already known in the industry sometimes didn’t get any further than being back up singers.
Other documentaries I suggest watching on the music industry, not to bring you down, but because they are great films:
Thanks!
— Mike