Guts lead you to your pinnacle and then reputation takes over and keeps the mortgage paid.
Once you have reputation it’s hard to have guts because it could cause you to lose your reputation. And you’d rather pay the note on your Ferrari than have guts.
Everyone wants just enough going on so that they have something to talk about but not enough going on to where they would miss out on the cool thing of the day.
We always want the freedom and availability to say yes to a better, cooler, shinier option. And in doing so we only half way commit to the current option we’re putting our action behind…therefore never realizing the full potential of the work we’re actually engaged in.
Last year The Rolling Stones were the highest grossing band. The top prize.
To be a part of that organization you are at the top of the pecking order.
But if you’re somehow lucky enough to be a part, you quickly realize that within the organization there is a pecking order. And you’re not at the top.
And then there’s probably another one within that one too…which you’re also not at the top of.
The music business is famous for flexing what you have and being terrified and painfully insecure about what you don’t. Of knowing and paying way too much attention to the pecking orders you deem important and where you perceive yourself on that scale.
Pick your pecking order. What does it cost to be at the top of it? Is it worth it once you get there if you know there will be another pecking order waiting for you?
During the first few years I lived in Nashville there was a guy named Dean who would just show up at club shows here in Nashville and MC the entire evening.
He had an Australian accent so immediately everyone loved him and were perfectly ok with him getting on stage and talking after each act and then introducing the next one.
He set them up each artist really well, in a way to try and get the audience to give them the benefit of the doubt.
He was great at it. I loved it. It helped the night feel cohesive and he always introduce the bands in a very positive way.
But my question is this: how would you prepare and perform differently if the voice announcing you said…
“And now, here to entertain you, ladies and gentlemen please welcome…”
This is the music business. This is the entertainment business. It’s showbiz baby. Never forget that.