I think I’m finally beginning to understand what ‘stages of career’ mean.  As an up and coming artist, we’re always so keen to do anything and everything we can to get one step closer to our goal…. Which is what really?  Full-time musician?  National star?  Celebrity?  International star?  We get so involved in the process of marketing and pushing things as far as we can, we sometimes forget about thinking what is the right thing for the ‘stage’ of our career.

I think the stage you are at speaks to everything.  Yes, as artists, we love to have creative control, and be open to express our artistic freedom, but depending what stage we’re in, we should really be reflecting upon what is the right thing to do.  Maybe making stickers this month isn’t the right plan.  Maybe spending $2000 to attend a festival with so many other bands you are not sure you have enough clout to get recognized isn’t the smart thing to do.  Perhaps playing every show you can get your hands on in your local city isn’t where the focus should be, because it’s all about the quality of the show, not the quantity.

I think the stage of a career ultimately determines what your pictures should look like, how your set lists should sound, what you should be saying on stage, and really, what your songs should be written about.  If you want to be obtaining your goals, I think you sometimes need to question whatever the left-brain is trying to tell you.  It is about being the devil’s advocate, and making sure you are stepping in the right direction.  Just because it might have worked for someone else, doesn’t mean it will for you.  Am I giving in to the money gods, and forgetting about an artistic identity?  I don’t think so.. At least I hope you don’t think I am.  I am simply saying that I think more thought needs to go into some of the decisions we make based upon where our target is.

So as I’m getting ready for my SXSW showcase coming up in a couple weeks, I’m looking for inspiration, and therefore am always looking for cool new music.  I think watching other artists is such great inspiration to improve what you do.  Not to exactly replicate what another artist does, but to question what you do, and as a result get better from it.  However,  let’s face it…  We all copy from one another.  It’s the perfect form of flattery when someone copies you right?  Well, either way, I guess I believe that each new trend is just a reinvention of a copied look from before…  No person can do one thing the exact same way.  That being said, there is nothing like raw creativity, which is why I love getting inspired by random you tube videos..  I am a music fan of all genres, and used to play a lot of fingerstyle guitar.  This is one of my favourite videos from way back – Mr. Andy McKee.  Enjoy!