Comments on: Sustainability and the Not-So-Starving Artist

By: Business Plans for Musicians – Guest Post by Cory Huff

Business Plans for Musicians – Guest Post by Cory Huff — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:43:51 +0000

[...] “met” Cory after we both wrote articles about the myth of the starving artist (mine: here; Cory’s: here). I found him to be a kindred spirit and really admire his desire to help other [...]

By: Cory Huff

Cory Huff — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:42:20 +0000

I love this post Jason. I love hearing about artists who really seem to get it. There’s tons of work out there for us – we just have to have the drive to get past our myopia and see that we must develop skills to manage our careers.

For some reason, most artists seem to not get the message that they are entrepreneurs. Rarely is anyone going to hand us a 9 – 5 job with health insurance. We must develop those skills!

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:27:19 +0000

I’m glad you found me, Kai! I love reading DD Jackson’s thoughts. He used to write a column for Downbeat…not sure if he does anymore. He’s a creative cat all around.

And thanks so much for your support of the music. I’m always happy and gratified to meet the true music lovers in the world.

You can download a couple of my tracks for free at http://jasonparkerquartet.bandcamp.com. That should tide you over for a little while.

By: Kai Weber

Kai Weber — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:27:47 +0000

Just like Rich Whiteley, I found this blog two or three days ago, and it’s subscribed to in my feed-reader now. I’d like to become a customer as well, but my budget is a bit planned already, so I can’t say yet, when I’ll really transfer you my first little financial contribution for your music. We’ll just wait and see, ok?
Anyway, what I wanted to say: I’m not a musician, but certainly interested in all the matters concerning how artists can survive in nowadays world. I guess like many music lovers I have a past in illegal filesharing activities, but ethical (and I think also logical) considerations have led me back to actually buying music. It is so wonderful that nowadays it is so easy to directly communicate with artists via the internet, follow their thoughts on their blogs, and directly buy things from them, knowing that the labels and distribution systems wouldn’t eat up most of the money.
Actually, the topic of what nowadays’ artists can do to make a living was first coming to my full attention in the podcasts of pianist D.D. Jackson (unfortunately he quit doing these wonderful podcasts sometime in 2007 – but they’re still available from his website). Your blog is another wonderful piece on my road of perception. Thanks for that. Anyway, what I wanted to say is just: The surviving of artists is not only a matter of interest for the artists themselves, but also for the consumers of their art.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:33:46 +0000

Thanks to all for stopping by! Glad you found me, and I welcome any and all comments. I’m trying to build a community of like-minded musicians here, so it’s great to have you all aboard.

By: Rich Whiteley

Rich Whiteley — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:30:21 +0000

Great post, glad I found your blog through Lefsetz. I’ll be following what you have to say. Cheers!

By: Shawn Daley

Shawn Daley — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:23:34 +0000

Fantastic insight into building a sustainable / lasting career in this business. Whether or not “trying to convince those who don’t get what you’re doing” is rightful or a waste of time, it should never stop anyone from trying (assuming you have the time to do so). Anyone with their own brand, whether it be musician session work, a band, a recording facility or other service, should be happy to explain to anyone why they’re right for the job, and if you’re 150% behind what you do, and truly believe in your brand, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Getting them to listen shouldn’t be hard, but getting them to agree certainly can be. Thanks for a great post.

By: Andrew Durkin

Andrew Durkin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:18:09 +0000

Thanks for this write-up, and for pointing to these other great posts, Jason. I really need to come back to this conversation when I have more time, but for the time being, the first thing occurred to me is to remark on the question of scale — if you’re in charge of your own career, nurturing all aspects of it, then you need not cast your audience net so wide as, say, the Beatles, or Miles Davis, or any of the other “big name” musical heroes most of us had growing up. That is, if you’re not paying fifty other people to manage your career, you can make this work with, as Kevin Kelly put it, “1000 true fans.” That’s the flip side of the frustration Moss cites.