Gary Hatcher

David Byrne has written an interesting piece that appeared in the Guardian on Friday about the state of the music industry. Thought provoking, a little lengthy but good. Although the mode of music marketing has changed, in many ways it is still the same as it has always been with the arts in my opinion. The most aggressive creators find a way to make money and survive. There is a small percentage of artists (performing or fine arts) who find a way to make a living off of their creativity. For every one that figures this out, there are thousands more at any given time who do not or can not make it work. Many give up. One of my recent past times connected with study of classical piano has been to read biographies of great pianists. The one I am reading now is Bach by Christopher Wolfe. So take Bach for instance.....or Mozart, Horowitz, or any "successful" fine artist, you plug in the name. They all struggle(d). The point is this, you work your ass off with your art because you love it, because it is your passion, because you really have no other choice. You must express yourself creatively. Sure, there are artists that get filthy rich from their work.....but, the passion is about making the work, not becoming wealthy. So read this Byrne piece, it is pretty bitchy and I don't blame him or others who are being robbed for being cynical. But remember, you do art because you have no other choice. If wealth is your primary objective, get a job and stop doing what you love. If you really love creating you will figure it out. The most important thing is to be relentless, absolutely relentless and committed to the thing you love. So most have stopped reading by now. That is OK, I have work to finish in the studio, am firing a kiln, have yet to practice my Chopin pieces today and would like to work on those new guitar scales....but you know what, I am going to get all of it done. I have no other choice.
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/11/david-byrne-internet-content-world?CMP=twt_gu