New To Town
Being new to town is scary because there’s a lack of connection.
So the first thing you want to do when you’re new to town is…not feel so new to town.
The real tricky part is after you’re not new to town anymore, did you connect with the right people? Are there cooler people to meet? Are you on the right path? Are you moving up? What’s the trajectory?
When you’re new to town you give yourself a lot of grace and patience for not doing everything just right. After all, you’re new.
Not being new anymore is a lot to handle. So some people move and start the cycle over. But at some point you have to stay and answer the harder questions.
Limited Resources
Having limited resources forces a new creative solution that wouldn’t have come about if you would have just thrown money at the problem.
And often those newly discovered solutions (born of limitations) are better and more inspiring and build stronger character.
If you don’t have the money and resources to do it the normal way or the way you hoped or the easy way…how are you still going to get it done?
A Bit About Bands
As I’ve said before…bands breakup because they never got to play arenas…or because they got to play arenas.
And yet neither band is above being depressed or unworthy of fulfillment.
The truth is most bands have enough problems to break up at any moment and enough hunger to hold on one more day.
Momentary Attention
It’s easy to get some momentary attention. Say a certain thing in front of a certain group of people and you’re sure to grab some attention and get the emotional pop.
But the truth is no one is being fooled, including ourselves.
Deep down we know this isn’t the type of attention that makes a long term difference.
What we really long for is connection. And real connection isn’t cheap or fast.
Music Access
It used to be we knew how many people had the music (vinyl or cd sales) but had no idea how many people were listening or showing their friends. But sales were often (falsley) equated to listens.
Now we know how many people have (access to) the music (everyone) and we have a pretty good idea of how many people are listening and when and where and for how long.
There aren’t too many artists going around saying, ‘a hundred million people have my music’…because even though it’s true it’s not helpful or unique.
Everyone has your music…a modern miracle.
Do enough people want to listen to it again for you to be able to keep your train going?