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This week, Talent versus Drive, Let’s go -
Why is it that some artists make it and some don’t? And why are the ones that don’t seem to have more talent than the ones that do? 🤔 To start you have to ask what is your definition of success or “making it.” Some musicians really want to make it to the big time, record label deal, tons of radio airplay, headlining a major tour etc etc. Some musicians are great with playing enough local gigs to pay all the bills, take a vacation and raise a family; that part depends on you. Moreover this is not a “how to make it in the industry” blog. But it's to show what some musicians/rappers/songwriters/storytellers focus on. Some believe that it takes mastering your craft to an insanely high level - and it does...well it should. The problem with this thinking is that a lot of very talented musicians believe that now that they have mastered their craft, success should come to them quicker than those that don’t have this mastered level talent...but it’s more to it than that. First and foremost, talented, especially virtuoso level talent, have to understand that this is a business. A cold hard sometimes unforgiving business. Labels sign what people will buy, radio plays what holds people's attention so advertisers buy ads on their station.
So how do you balance music which is warm, soothing and gives you goosebumps with a business that cares about people that buy? If you’ve never heard of the 10,000 hour rule, which Malcolm Gladwell talked about in his book Outliers, it goes like this: it takes 10,000 hours of intensive practice to achieve mastery of complex skills and materials.... So what does that mean for the musician, writer, storyteller that’s trying to make it? It’s going to take that 10,000 hours to perfect that craft + another 10,000 hours to make it in the industry. Now of course some make it out of sheer luck, some had to put in the hours. If you haven’t heard of Malcolm's book, you’ve heard the Tyler Perry and Steve Harvey stories on sleeping in their cars to make it. They focus on the drive, not just the talent. The reality is; you got to put in the time to train AND to “make it” in this business.
This week's #IAOTW - Independent Artists Of The Week is Ben Bohorquez, extraordinary sax player of the Ben Bohorquez Quartet will be performing this Sunday at the Sunset Summer Concert Series at Jazz Becuzz.
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