In it for the right reasons?

There comes a time in every musician's life when he/she asks his/herself, "Why the hell am I doing this? I'm broke, I'm starving, and I'm nowhere near where I want to be or should be..."It's definitely a valid question. As artists, we constantly struggle and sacrifice. We constantly experience rejection. We constantly need to validate ourselves and our art. We're no picnic, and neither is this business for that matter. Ultimately, you have to decide for yourself where it is you want to go, how far you're willing to go for it, and above all, if you're in it for the right reasons...

Having a dream is truly a beautiful thing (and by all means, follow it!), but the reality of this business is, you could have all the talent and drive in the world, and you may never be able to make the connections you need, or sustain a confortable living doing what you truly love to do. If you think that becoming a rich, famous rock star is going to be the answer to all your problems; emotional, financial, what have you, then you're sadly mistaken. Your personal success should not be determined by how much you can make or how famous you can get, but by how you feel inside. If you know in your heart that you won't be happy doing anything else, and there is no other path for you, then you're free, and there's no need to read any further.

Also know that what you do is not who you are. Never in any way, shape or form should you attach your career pitfalls or plateaus to your person. I still struggle with that to this day to be truthful, but I'm learning to accept the fact that having a "bad show," not landing a certain opportunity or not being at a certain level (playing or career wise) is not a reflection of me. I know that I'm a good person, I know I'm doing the best that I can, and I know I do what I do because I love it. Not because I expect anything from it. If you expect nothing, it's always a lovely surprise when the universe actually throws some candy your way.

The only thing you really can do is what you're doing. If, however, what you're doing isn't working, fix it. A major reason why the industry is crumbling right now is because the powers that be are operating the machine with an old manual. You're an artist. Be creative. There are ways to get yourself noticed so long as you put forth the time and effort to find out what those ways are. Don't give up. Just keep on trudging on and remember why you're doing what you're doing.

The key is having patience. Some people spend ten years playing dives and getting shafted before they achieve any kind of success. If you were to experience success instantly and without having to work for it, you wouldn't appreciate it nearly as much as if you had truly bled for it anyway. While you're "waiting," be productive with your time. Get involved in a project you can believe in, write, practice, find out as much as you can about the business.I'm telling you from personal experience that the only way you will be happy and successful in this industry is if you know in your heart that no matter what the outcome, you will always have your music...and yourself. Don't let other people define "success" for you, and certainly don't ever "quit" because it's not paying the bills or it hasn't yet earned you a plaque on the wall. When you picked up that guitar as a little kid, were you really thinking, "Oh man, this thing is gonna make me some bread!" or, were you thinking, "I love this instrument, and I just wanna play"? Maybe your luck will change, maybe it won't. One thing that should always remain constant is your love for what you're doing, and if it means eating Ramen noodles and peanut butter and jelly for a while, so be it. Just play with heart and you'll see that the stars will align for you, promise.

Wishing you much success!

Always,

Alexx Calise