The problem of big talkers

So I thought about grouping this post with the previous one, but really I think it deserves its own heading. It's on another subject that's been bothering me lately.

Hey, if you want posts on happy topics, go talk to someone living in a room that isn't 6' X 10'.

Now, I'm sure to many who know me, the title will inevitably lead to accusations of potcallingkettleblackitis. And they would be absolutely true and well-founded. However, I'm in no position to really affect anyone's livelihood, so frankly I can talk all I want. I hope that, some day, when I'm more successful, that I remember this time in my life and choose my words carefully when discussing things that affect livelihoods, and to never make promises that I have no intention of keeping.

That last point is essential. When I was first getting into rock music, I took everyone at their word. If they said they were going to hire me again, I was filled with hope that they would actually do so, and that more gigs would be coming my way soon. The sad reality, however, is that almost nobody does this. Not even many musicians. Musicians, of course, are not nearly as guilty of this as industry types, but they do it all the same.

I once did a BIG gig for a guy. I mean big as in 6 rehearsals or so over the span of a month, and then a 5 day mini tour. I should have been paid double what I was given, but I agreed to do it in exchange for this certain well-placed individual's promise to pass some work in my direction. This was a necessary stipulation of our agreement, since the expense of staying in NYC for that extra month was about double what the gig paid, so I figured it was a fair deal. So I did the gig (and quite well, I may add - the bass player still occasionally calls me to this day, so clearly I performed up to and I'd say beyond all expectations; it was a HARD gig). The group I was working with assured me that this person would keep his end of the bargain when he returned in the fall. And so the months went by, and eventually I did hear from him again, once, for a wedding gig. It was a $200 gig, and so I was pleased to get it, but it was far from what we had agreed upon. I sent him a few more e-mails after that. He said he may have another gig for me, but after that I never heard from him again - he wouldn't even respond to my constant inquiries on whether or not I even still had the gig he said I should be possibly ready for.

This experience taught me a very valuable lesson: never take anything for granted, not even when every indication points to the honesty of the person. To this day I am still upset with the person in question. I feel he used me to get out of a commitment, and then when I demanded fair value for my service he very much failed to live up to his end of the bargain.

I suppose this was the worst example of people making promises they were unwilling to keep. In all the myriad other cases, it was producers, engineers, recording artists saying they would love to have me back, in some cases saying they already had a project lined up for me. They, however, didn't explicitly owe me anything. They were just talking.

Now, part of this has to do with the inherent uncertainties in the industry. I remember once, about a year ago, Emanuel and the Fear was offered an opening slot for a band called the New Pornographers, a very famous indie band, for a college show in Nebraska. Of course, we were all excited about this and made sure we kept the date open. However, as it drew closer and closer, things kept going wrong. First the New Pornographers dropped out, and were replaced by the Decemberists. They dropped out, and were apparently replaced by Spoon, who then also decided against this concert, and so the whole thing was scrapped. Frankly, I don't know any details about why or how all of this happened, and I'm not sharing this incident to point to flakiness on anyone's part, only to point out that such things are in fact common in the rock business.

That said, literally every time I'm in a recording studio, SOMEone says that they have more work for me, or will soon. And NO ONE ever calls again. Oh, there are rare exceptions, but they usually involve the same project. For instance I once laid down some string tracks for a pop album, and the album's writer had me back in the next week to lay down a few more backing tracks, but he said he'd definitely be calling me back for other projects and a show in the fall with the artist I was recording for, but no dice.

At first it bothered me. Now, it still bothers me, but I take it for granted. And I always hand out my business card and pretend to be enthusiastic and friendly, but really I know that their words are just empty talk, until proven otherwise.