Have You Got What It Takes?
January 18th, 2010 by Lior ShamirI attended the NAMM show today in Anaheim. It’s the largest industry event that I know of.
Walking from the car park to the convention center, I heard a familiar melody echoing in the distance. As I approached, it hit me that the song I was hearing was being performed live, on stage, in front of the entrance, by one of our very own song contest winners: Michael Logen.
Michael Logen is a two-time We Are Listening song contest winner; in 2005 and 2006. Only one other artist has won our song contest twice. He’s an immensely talented artist and an awesome human being.
After his 45min set, we had lunch together.
Three years ago, Michael was going through a rough patch professionally. In the last year, though, his luck changed. He has been writing and touring with Jonny Lang and Matt Kearney, both of whom have become close friends of his. He has a number of cuts on their records and recently became a free agent. Consequently, several major publishers, labels and managers are courting him now. Things couldn’t be better.
Running into Michael was my favorite part of the day.
When I returned to Santa Monica where I’m staying for the rest of the week, I was struck by something he mentioned over lunch:
Lior, most artists don’t realize how long it takes. I’ve been doing this for quite a while and it never occurred to me to quit. I stuck to my plan. That’s the difference.
A plan. Now that sounds like a good thing to have!
What is your plan?
Have you got what it takes to stick to it?
Leave me your comments.
January 19th, 2010 at 9:51 am
Lior,
Do you have a plan. That is key and it is clear I dont have one. Life has this funny way of getting in the way. I get so many mailings from sites like yours (Broadjam, Sonicgids, Taxi) more than I can possibly follow up on. I created another mailbox to hold them and of course NEVER get back to them. I say ok, Monday morning for 2 hours I will look at them and never do. It is overwhelming and of course i am frustrated. I recently relocated to Africa and surrounding myself with the scene. But I know the elements of the plan, but lplan creation. My business partner wants to start artist management and I am saving all of your mailings bc this is the foundation of managing any artist — just need to start with myself.
January 19th, 2010 at 10:03 am
My comment is — I’ve come to realize (okay, I admit it took a while) that this is just what I do. Of course I’d love to make a living, and it would be wonderful to make even more than a subsistence amount, at doing what I love. But (and I’ve heard other people say this of course, so not to sound pretentious) there is no choice. I do it through day jobs from hell; I do it when I’m sick; I do it when I think I’m dying; I do it when I’m happy, or sad. It’s how I express myself, I have to believe it’s why I’m here. And when I’m (yet again) not “successful” I try to figure out what the lesson is, sometimes (there usually is one). Other times, I just accept, this is my life, and keep on chooglin’.
January 19th, 2010 at 10:30 am
very true and inspiring quote.
January 19th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
A LITTLE ABOUT MYSELF…I HAVE BEEN A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN FOR MOST OF MY LIFE…IVE WRITTEN AND RECORDED.PRODUCED,,,FROM TOURING WITH DIFFERENT BANDS,,TO THE DRAMA MOST OF US HAVE IN OUR LIVES..TO THE BITTER THINGS THAT LIFE THROWS AT US..MY MUSIC HAS A MARKET..THE BABY BOOMERS..AND I HAVE NO DOUBT..THAT NOW IS THE TIME..FOR THE TYPE OF MUSIC I HAVE WRITTEN,,IVE BEEN AROUND FOR 64 YRS,,AND AM STILL TRAVELING AND PERFORMING IN VENUES THAT ARE GROWING AND FLOURISING..THE BOOMERS ARE NOT BUYING THE NEW STUFF THAT COUNTRY MUSIC IS TRYING TO SELL THEM,,,THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOME OLD MEMORYS,,SOMEONE IS MISSING OUT ON A GREAT MARKET FOR MUSIC,,I BELIEVE I HAVE SOME MATERIAL THAT COULD FIND ITS WAY INTO AND FULFILL WHAT THE BABY BOOMERS ARE LOOKINF FOR IN MUSIC…THANKYOU BOBBY BIRD
January 19th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
My plans are very vauge I seem not to be serious, I can’t say more I have thought that I was serious. So what do I do I think about music often however my work ethic is very lack and that is not a plus. I have always felt it to be the fault of someone else that I have not succeeded in music you know support,someone a parent a spouse any one to say you can do it go getem its time I be true to my self my lack of success is no consistancy lazy I get started a fizzel out I not asking for any push any longer. I just know that I know where my cause for not getting the job done my next goal is finding what in me will get me going I really don’t know I have searched and Tv gets me back in its grasp every time I think of how much time I spend in front of my set and on my computer doing much of nothing just eyeballing shows and dreaming of being inside theres a real problem here maybe I can write a song a bout not writing a song who knows. To be continued. Time to watch some tv. Thats no joke ha ha on me.
January 19th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Back in the day when DJs broke artists they were the A&R People,They are the ones who deal with records and CD’s everyday so they know whats a hot or miss. Not the looser A&R people who are only protecting their jobs or Music critiques who feel without them your career will go no where! They don’t make and break artists never did. Some of the most successful artists got slammed by critiques matter a fact the critically acclaimed artists only see marginal commercial success. So yes I still believe the Dj’s make and break artists and yes I believe I got what it takes
January 19th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Well all I can say is what is it to you that a person has to have when you ask such a question like! Have you got what it takes? My answer is if what you are doing in life makes you and others happy and the most important one concerning this question is you. If your goal, plan, idea, love so on is playing clubs and your doing that then your successful. I have had the so called glamour of the big stage and record deals and it seemed something was missing. I found trough the years of hard work a devoting myself to music of all kinds you can only rate success by your happiness. The Beatles told it very well Money Can’t Buy Me Love you may think it can but it doesn’t. Sure money will allow you to do things that you can’t do without it. If your music touches anyone and make a difference in the lives of others to those persons you have what it takes. I found out long ago plans will be broken maybe not by you but others around you. Plans are destined to have road blocks and most of the time we write them in stone. So when, your bassist or drummer or solo player whatever band member up and runs off for whatever reason your plan is now broken until you find a replacement. This causes you to question yourself and that means your human do not kick yourself there are plenty of critics out there who will kick you. However I prefer to set goals. Why? Your goal can be revised, changed, and/or adapted more easily than a plan written in stone. Think about what a plan means (a system for doing something that is worked out in advance). Now look at the meaning of goal (aim: something that somebody wants to achieve) The music business is not a one model plan fits all type business. What made Elvis or the Beatles a success may not work for you (their plan). Set goals realistic goals simple things like I will learn a new guitar cord on Wednesday then do it. Then as you achieve your goals write it down pat yourself on the back Set goals you know you can reach at first then reach a little higher success will lead to more success. To answer the question. Have you got what it takes? Yes I have what it takes and so do you. Anyone can achieve whatever their heart and mind can conceive it takes hard work and time.
Lior Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 5:29 am
Okay, good.
So what is YOUR plan? Details please.
Can't say Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Hi Lior
As I said before I do not setup a formal plan as these tend to be written in stone.
My first goal was to write 300 songs and I have achieved that. Then my goal was to find a publisher I achieved that. Then I set a goal to tour the UK did that in 2003. Then I set the goal of landing a recording contract achieved that now my goal is to retire by 2014 and I am right on track to achieve that.
Lior Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
That’s incredible.
How did you do that?
Can't say Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Hi Lior
I will try to summarize this as it is a thirty year process.
I was working for a Major Company in Florida and was putting in 16 to 20 hours a day. While the money was good it wasn’t satisfying, I realized I was only making the owner richer and richer. So I devised my goal to become a musician which was revised many times.
1. Goal find a job that would reduce my hours! If you are married or living with someone who depends on you income talk it over with them before you make this move. My wife was more than happy to support me in my decision. I achieved that. Then I had to decide what I wanted to do in music. Lets face it not everyone can or should try to be a vocalist. Decide what you want to do be a vocalist, bassist, guitarist, drummer, producer, manager, booking agent, promoter etc.
2. Goal decide I wanted to be a bassist bought a bass taught myself with books and tapes spent two hours a day 7 days a week. Goal achieved
3. Goal find a band or start one goal achieved.
4. Goal write 10 songs I did, then my goal was to write 2 songs a day then 15 songs a week and so on until I had a goal of 300 songs to be written and I achieved that goal. I used the feed back from our audiences in the clubs to rate my songs we then recorded a single and sold them. I would recommend that song writers join not only one of the P. R. O. ( Performance Rights Organizations) but also one of many song writers associations. I would also recommend buying The Songwriter’s and Musicians Guide to Nashville.
5. Goal to find a publisher my wife and I took every vacation and went to Nashville I joined BMI made new contacts every year. Finally with a sales history in our local clubs doors started to open. Goal achieved.
6. Goal 2 revised I did not want to be the front person or Lead vocalist which is what I ended up as, by no choice of my own in order to fulfill a contract at one of our gigs as our vocalist went to jail. I took formal vocal training so I would not ever be put in such a position again. Goal achieved.
7. Goal to be a guitarist to help with the vocals took formal lessons. Goal achieved.
8. Goal to better understand the music business I started taking music classes at our community collage one class one hour a week. Which included business, music theory, sound engineering, promotion and publicity. Goal achieved
9. Goal to tour the UK. With the knowledge I had received from our community collage and the experience of booking gigs locally and trough the Southern United States I went to work. Goal achieved in 2003.
10. I now had a record of sales in the US and in the UK so I shopped for a recording contract signed one in 2008. Goal achieved
11. Goal to retire by 2014 since my first gig I have put back 20 percent of my income from music and will have enough with my investments to achieve my retirement Goal in 2014.
Anyone can do this its just hard work, dedication and true grit. I would say that I was turned down a lot and at one point was told not to quit my day job by a person in Nashville. Their gone and I’m still here making money. As I stated above don’t kick yourself there are to many out there just waiting to kick you. However be honest with yourself and by all means get rid of the negative attitude around you if your friends and family are negative about your choice tell them to just don’t comment about it. Do it like this (If you can’t support me I would prefer that you don’t say anything at all.) Good luck to all of you. I hope this helps!
January 20th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Good post, and encouraging. My plan is to finish recording, mastering and packaging my first collection of songs by February 31, 2010, then get out there and do my best to meet people who can help me pitch my songs either for licensing purposes or for use by other performers. I WISH I COULD PLAY LIVE, but health issues (complications from a brain injury) prevent me from doing so.
Lior Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 5:28 am
Thank you for sharing your plan, Jeff. Now that I have it in writing, I expect you to stick to it!