urbansnake.comRecently, I came across a sickening post in Craigslist's musicians
section for New York City. A person claiming to be A&R (or a talent
scout) for record labels was inviting all musicians in search of a
record deal to come meet him at a play he'd be attending in Manhattan
that week. The catch, normally left unsaid, was clearly printed in the
ad. You had to purchase tickets to the show in order to meet him
there. Furthermore, not he, but his associate would accept your
submission to this modern-day Oz, who promised, of course, to
thoroughly examine your promotional package. Obviously, the real
objective was to get people to buy tickets to his loser play.
It didn't surprise me that scamming snot-buckets like this alleged
A&R figure still exist and are still trying to lure prospective
showgirls who read too many magazines. I was surprised that his
operation might achieve legs in New York City. We New Yorkers used to
smell the fire before the match. We were street smart, cynical,
assuming the worst from everyone until they'd convinced us otherwise.
I don't just blame American Idol, but all these contest-based reality
shows pushing the idea that you're one casting call away from "Dancing
with the Stars" or binding yourself in unholy matrimony to Bret
Michaels' bandanna-harnessed Barbie wig. This is lottery mentality, not
a plan for success.
But what else should we expects from a society that seeks fitness in a
pill, not a gym? The guy who posted that aforementioned Craigslist ad
understands and preys on this mentality.
I've had some success and have known people who've achieved very
significant success in the entertainment industry. Those who weren't
related to or tight with some celebrity or major industry figure worked
extremely hard to get what they got, and much of that work was
thankless. They weren't buoyed by some A&R guy hiding in some
theater like the Phantom of the Opera -- and, by the way, if you care,
it's worth your while to research how many of your favorite celebrities
are the convenient kin of some big cheese. Often the "self-made" people
we credit with pulling themselves up from their bootstraps actually
started off with bootstraps. Why else would Brooke Hogan have a record
deal?
But the real purpose of this rant is to beg my fellow independent
artists to use discretion when approached by anyone asking you --
directly or indirectly -- for money in exchange for promotion. I don't
trust the intentions of anyone who can't lose by investing in me, and I
don't believe in a "lottery" approach to success.
Peace, love, metal,
Vin
