So I've heard that in order to be successful one must project an image of success at all times.... Well, I am going throw that rule out the window and let everyone in a little secret: I am very unsuccessful as a recording artist! I hate to sound greedy but I measure success in terms of album, and merchandise sales / not compliments because at the end of the day it's not the later that pays the bills...
What is it about me and my music that is so forgettable? Is it the name? Is it the lack of advertising? Is it my music videos? I know I don't suck because I get many compliments about my stuff on a regular basis... Some of those compliments have come from industry professionals who hold elite positions in the biz! And that's another funny thing, how am friends with some of those insiders but yet I still live like a bum, just stuggling to get by... I guess I need to watch the secret again for the 100th time....
So what is stopping me from selling records? I have the sweetest deal with amazon.com right now where they basically do all the work for me (as far as manufacturing, order processing, and shipping of CDs). I have an awesome website which makes buying CDs and merchandise a breeze! And I have millions of mp3 samples and music videos crawling across 80 or more websites (and counting)! Some of those sites have also made me their front page featured artist...
I don't know, maybe I'm being too impatient.... Even though I've been making music on my own for over ten years, it's only been in the last couple of years that I've made an effort to try to promote myself.. I'd like to think that I've been covering a lot of ground with the amount of Music / Video / and Social Network sites that I've hit up so far....
I'm going to stop right here and ask you not to get the wrong idea about me, I don't usually complain (or do my laundry) in public like this.... I am just so frustrated and confused. It's really been a bad year as fas as jobs in this area, and things don't look like they're getting better, and my music seems to be that last remaining thing that could save me from this hell...
Here's the deal, I have decided not to make any new music so that I can devote ALL of my time promoting myself accross the web. I was in the middle of working on one of my best albums when I decided not to finish it until the other five albums start selling. That LP will remain unfinished and on the shelf until I can start making a living at being a musician. And if it sits on the shelf forever? That would be an absolute tragedy don't you think?
Well, let's hope my next blog will be a little more upbeat... See you next time. -Brady Arnold (vutdevuk)
