Ever heard the phrase, "preaching to the choir?" If not, it, basically means attempting to make a point or convince someone who already agrees with your position on a particular matter.
Well, I tend to be my own worst critic, even surprising people at how I occasionally self-criticize.
Because while it is normally human nature to tend to not only reject criticism, externally and, especially internally, I found years ago that when I was truly honest about myself and my own shortcomings, it helped me improve both greatly and faster in the area in which I was lacking.
In fact, this personal therapy became so helpful, as off-centered as this may sound, I actually looked forward to opening up myself to, well, self-analysis.
Some friends have occasionally suggested this exercise of mine was a result of my refusal to compensate duly certified psychiatrists or psychologists.
In any event, this is about me "preaching to the choir," with the choir being me. And, should you choose to come along for this ride, you may find it a bit bumpy albeit helpful.
On several occasions, I have believed and/or felt that I was 'burned out', so to speak, on the music industry and tired of various aspects of it. As a result, I would sometimes opt to venture into entirely unrelated fields.
However, another phrase that applies, "the grass appears greener on the other side, but isn't," readily describes what was often the result.
Because, when I had briefly gone into these areas, I realized that most people who were in them were not blessed to awake each day (or night) and go to a job that they had been born to do.
From birth to high school graduation, I found that most people had not made a conscious decision to do the things they were doing to make a living.
Most often, many people had subscribed to and had become victims of life, either through a lack of planning for their true desires, or through circumstances.
If you consider it, most people with whom you are acquainted are probably not doing what they truly want to do in order to earn a living. And, when they see you working at something you enjoy, and earning a living at it, jealousy and envy can (and often does) arise.
Accordingly, most people work all of their lives in jobs they, at least, dislike, and may even hate, as a result of the trapping of ongoing bills, such as; home mortgages, car payments, etc.
The desired vocations that they may have once had and, perhaps, still do have, are pushed aside in the interest of "security" of their lives while maintaining their acquired existence without a perceived risk.
Yet, most never account ahead of time for the negative psychological connotations they are likely to experience as a result of not continuing pursuit of their dreams.
And, I am acquainted with far more bedroom musicians, wannabe actors, and heartbroken authors than I should be. I am well aware of how some of these folks' true desires and closeted ambitions eat away at them daily like corrosion on a battery post.
When I see the misery that is expressed on their faces, I am forced to revisit my music vocation and career to consider just how incredibly blessed I truly am.
I then consider how, each day, I awake and go to my office to do the one thing that I completely understand more than anything else in the world, in an industry that I have been involved in to some degree for the past 46 years since I was only four years old (I am now 50).
In fact, one of my main inspirations for my life-long foray into the Music industry was due to my being given a miniature trumpet to play during a March of Dimes parade, of which I could not play it, and it was taken away and given to another boy.
Ironically, I not only went on to command First Chair trumpet in both my junior high school and high school bands, but I also played trumpet in both my College and Army bands as well. Funny how a little 4-year-old anger can be inspiring.
But, what about you?
Do you suffer burn-out with your music career, or with the music industry itself? No one could or would ever fault you for doing so, particularly, in the state the industry is today.
But! Consider the unique talent that you have to create from your heart, mind, and soul in an inanimate area of life that continues to be misunderstood by so many, yet, enjoyed by most through their experiencing it through performances, recordings, etc.
Also, when starting to experience burnout, consider evaluating the alternative of working at a day-to-day grind (job) that has no remote, nor the slightest connection to your psyche.
The mere brief daily loss of freedom, decision-making, and control that you have given up to earn a living doing something, whereby, every waking minute is utter frustration.
If your music is not simply a hobby, and you are serious about becoming successful in your music career but have not yet attained that level of success yet, and you are working elsewhere in an unrelated job, you readily understand what I am speaking of. But, if you have not had the misfortune of doing so, try at all costs to never fall into such an area.
Because, the absolute utopian existence is to have a "job" that you like extremely well, or may even love, then create avenues for earning income with it that supports you.
We should all be so fortunate, shouldn't we? I believe that if we were, a significant amount of the stress in our lives would be instantly eliminated accordingly.
I suppose that a sort of litmus test for the music industry, for both music personnel and non music personnel alike, would be to try to imagine the world without music for even a day... no music in television commercials, no movie soundtracks, no music to listen to on that cross-country trip, no music, no music, no music...
At the end of a 24-hour period, I venture to say that it is very likely that more than a respectable number of us would probably be ready for the rubber room at the local state mental institution. This goes triple for people I know who cannot even get out of bed before the stereo is blasting.
So, count your blessing that you are a part of an industry that most, if not all, of the world needs for practically every aspect of society, and of which you are one of its unique creators.
And, after refreshing your perspective, take it with your renewed and newfound vigor to its next level in enabling it to improve your financial support and well being.
Editor's Note: Kenny Love is a radio/video promoter and media publicist, as well as co-owner and Director of Marketing for Eartastic Records. Get more information regarding him from his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/jazzman795
