Comments on: Readers letter: Musicians are the new starving artists http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/ Inspiring tales of tenacity, grit & determination for ambitious individuals. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:38:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Maru http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/comment-page-1/#comment-776 Maru Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:44:39 +0000 http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/#comment-776 GREAT WORDS. GREAT WORDS.

]]> By: Neil Simpson http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/comment-page-1/#comment-758 Neil Simpson Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:22:55 +0000 http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/#comment-758 Well said, but this is also true for most other art forms also. The thing is, the support and information is out there, if you look for it and more importantly act on it. Well said, but this is also true for most other art forms also. The thing is, the support and information is out there, if you look for it and more importantly act on it.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/comment-page-1/#comment-757 Jonathan Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:44:01 +0000 http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/#comment-757 Thanks. I really needed to hear that. Jonathan Thanks.

I really needed to hear that.

Jonathan

]]> By: SUBvert http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/comment-page-1/#comment-754 SUBvert Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:13:03 +0000 http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/#comment-754 "not necessarily a bad thing" is a good point. For me, happiness - which includes a sense of fulfillment and self expression - is the goal. Now that is achievable at many levels of wealth and fame. I believe in the 'salt scale' your body needs some salt and it makes your food taste better, but too much will make you sick. We all have to find our own level of success. I think ultimately it always comes down to our ability to face and overcome our fears. There have been a few studies that show people don't get much happier when they earn more than 68,000 a year. (And I can't remember whether it's dollars of pounds). Either way, you don't need millions to be happy with your life. The funny thing is, the more fears you are able to face and overcome, the more the money flows. “not necessarily a bad thing” is a good point.

For me, happiness – which includes a sense of fulfillment and self expression – is the goal. Now that is achievable at many levels of wealth and fame.

I believe in the ‘salt scale’ your body needs some salt and it makes your food taste better, but too much will make you sick.

We all have to find our own level of success. I think ultimately it always comes down to our ability to face and overcome our fears.

There have been a few studies that show people don’t get much happier when they earn more than 68,000 a year. (And I can’t remember whether it’s dollars of pounds). Either way, you don’t need millions to be happy with your life.

The funny thing is, the more fears you are able to face and overcome, the more the money flows.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/comment-page-1/#comment-752 Nathan Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:44:37 +0000 http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/#comment-752 The idea of the musician as a starving artist playing in bars some food and a place to crash, yeah, a bum with a hobby, but not necessarily a bad thing. Doesn't make him any more or less talented than the next one who strives for success and riches either, just a different way of approaching life. If you want your music to be heard by as many people as possible and live through writing and playinig music then you're going to be eating beans for a while, especially if you have no backing. The problem is if you identify with the life of the starving artist and are actually striving for that out of a sense of some romanticism. The starving artist will sweep the floors of the bars, not just play in them. It is not their choice to be the starving artist. I have a friend from a very good middle class, well off and pretty loaded background, but he identifies with this ideal. Tries his and a photography, writing, starting bands, but it never goes anywhere as he doesn't apply himself to any of it. The reason he doesn't apply himself is because he doesn't really want to be a musician, writer, photographer; he wants to be the starving artist, but he ain't. He's just starving. The idea of the musician as a starving artist playing in bars some food and a place to crash, yeah, a bum with a hobby, but not necessarily a bad thing. Doesn’t make him any more or less talented than the next one who strives for success and riches either, just a different way of approaching life. If you want your music to be heard by as many people as possible and live through writing and playinig music then you’re going to be eating beans for a while, especially if you have no backing. The problem is if you identify with the life of the starving artist and are actually striving for that out of a sense of some romanticism. The starving artist will sweep the floors of the bars, not just play in them. It is not their choice to be the starving artist. I have a friend from a very good middle class, well off and pretty loaded background, but he identifies with this ideal. Tries his and a photography, writing, starting bands, but it never goes anywhere as he doesn’t apply himself to any of it. The reason he doesn’t apply himself is because he doesn’t really want to be a musician, writer, photographer; he wants to be the starving artist, but he ain’t. He’s just starving.

]]> By: SUBvert http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/comment-page-1/#comment-750 SUBvert Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:03:10 +0000 http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/#comment-750 Hey Julian, thanks for your comment. Yeh, I've met a lot of 'funky time wasters'. :) I see you've featured Steve Rack in your mag as well, we are big fans of Steve's, he's got a great attitude and is going to go a long way. Maybe you can give me some tips on layout some time? Paul Hey Julian, thanks for your comment.
Yeh, I’ve met a lot of ‘funky time wasters’. :)
I see you’ve featured Steve Rack in your mag as well, we are big fans of Steve’s, he’s got a great attitude and is going to go a long way.
Maybe you can give me some tips on layout some time?
Paul

]]> By: krakit http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/comment-page-1/#comment-749 krakit Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:32:47 +0000 http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/#comment-749 Good words to live by Good words to live by

]]> By: Julian James http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/comment-page-1/#comment-748 Julian James Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:44:35 +0000 http://www.subvertmagazine.com/blog/readers-letter-musicians-are-the-new-starving-artists/#comment-748 Hands up, you pretty much hit the nail on the head! My name is Julian and I used to be a 'bum with a hobby' (group applause). I have been clean now for five years and am running a successful illustration and design company and an online magazine. I'm making money. It feels good. It is hard to see yourself in that light when you are in the studio dreaming of that big break, you know, the one that is going to come to you because your music is awesome and you're the coolest person in 'Naughtsville'. It doesn't really work like that and if your not prepared to be part business person as well as an artist (or at least employ one - and not some funky time waster. Another bum with a hobby - I have to keep using that phrase it's great!) You will be in the same frustrated place you were when you started. Granted I chose a change in path but it is a creative industry all the same and the rules still apply - do it or don't. It's only your fault if nothing happens. Thanks Paul awesome article! Wish I had read it a decade ago! I would have thought you were full of it back then though and sulked all the way to the unemployment office for my free money! Hands up, you pretty much hit the nail on the head!

My name is Julian and I used to be a ‘bum with a hobby’ (group applause). I have been clean now for five years and am running a successful illustration and design company and an online magazine.
I’m making money. It feels good.

It is hard to see yourself in that light when you are in the studio dreaming of that big break, you know, the one that is going to come to you because your music is awesome and you’re the coolest person in ‘Naughtsville’. It doesn’t really work like that and if your not prepared to be part business person as well as an artist (or at least employ one – and not some funky time waster. Another bum with a hobby – I have to keep using that phrase it’s great!) You will be in the same frustrated place you were when you started.

Granted I chose a change in path but it is a creative industry all the same and the rules still apply – do it or don’t. It’s only your fault if nothing happens.

Thanks Paul awesome article! Wish I had read it a decade ago! I would have thought you were full of it back then though and sulked all the way to the unemployment office for my free money!

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