He just turned forty-four, but people think he's younger if they don't know any better and think him older after one of his long weekends playing payless shows to small crowds and wearing himself out trying to gleen a living from what he sees now to be a hopeless scene.
His drive has given way to jadedness. His positive words to negative. His face forward to a vision of the ground, as depression and anxiety become his rulers. From days spent working tirelessly, he has moved to days spent drinking, ignoring the obvious, trying to gain back lost sleep, not answering calls.
As reality set in through various small adventures away from Chicago, this jaded old artist stood back and with a tired smile, gave a mental "a-ha." Ten years ago, he made five times what he does now and possessed half the skills and recognition. Five years ago, he could hardly visit an open mic or someone else's show, and in many cases, any bar, without someone knowing him. He was given respect, asked for advice. His students admired him, other musicians knew him well and spoke about his commitment to the Chicago music scene.
Then recently, he found his students still seemed to think highly of him, but saw him as a bit nuts, kinda flakey. Venues had come to still appreciate his work, but always questioned his draw and even his quality of performance. And yet, here he is, more skilled than ever in his art...and to what end? Crowds have dwindled, the economy has decimated his roster of students, and he has been spending his days in self pity leading to outright anger. All means have come into question when considering the ends.
But, a series of small runs to towns outside Chicago and people that don't know him from Adam run to his shows, buy merchandise, ask for autographs. Places he has yet to get to, now play his music on their radio stations, both on the airwaves and online. Even still, the economics of it are troubling. Accounting for time and energy, cash spent, quality of the product, etc. sheds yet another dark light on things. With all the attention, augmented by nothing but positive reviews...where's the money?
Did he get into this for the money? A quick anecdote that he shares in lessons will answer that:
"Plenty of people get into work because they're good at it, even if they hate it. Nobody gets into music for any reason other than their love of it. Hell, who makes a hobby of accounting?"
But a man needs to eat, and basic economic theory implies that the commodity having become more valuable, it should cost more, right? Or not? Well, this is unfortunately, correct. The commodity called music has, in Chicago, become so widely available it's as if a working musician were trying to convince people that the price of air should go up. Does a Muslim make money in Mecca simply for being there? Does a musician, no matter his level of skill, reputation, or respect from the locals, demand more money in Chicago? The answer is no.
The answer is leave.
This does not rule out Chicago as a great music town, excepting the fact that the general population is aware that there is free live music seven nights a week, usually within walking distance of one's home. But, for a new musical act, or any aspiring young musician, there may be no place more suitable to cutting your teeth. You'll find a scene where the competition is between the artists and venues, not the artists alone. You'll find a place where community is the primary quality.
"Hey man, great set, ya wanna do a show together?"
"Say, I really like your material, have you played (insert venue here), they'd really dig you."
Common words from local musicians.
In fact, Chicago-based acts that present as competitive, or put themselves forth as better than others, or give open and loud complaint of another band or musician, are considered arrogant or self-serving. They are then typically shunned by the scene, not out of insecurity, but for the general consensus that "we are all in this together."
For an established Chicagoan, however?
It comes time to leave before people begin to question their own skills and art whenone of the old veterans is getting very little for his efforts. And for him, well, who wants to begin to look and feel a joke?
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Megan Corse
Way2 Black
Thomas Rogers
bob skye
Progressive Liberal
thefuddler
Salon.com
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