Here's the Secret...

Last week's reference to the movie -- The Secret -- caused several folks to reach out. A few successful business people urged me to continue on the artistic front with a renewed attitude. Paraphrasing -- they said -- One has to smell it, touch it, breath it, and live it completely at all times to realize it -- that's how we made it in business and how you can make it in writing.

In almost all endeavors I would agree, but when it comes to visualizing making art and substantial amounts of cash, the idea is flawed. Some will say that's exactly the reason why I'm not successful in money terms.

Maybe they're right.

But I've been in the trenches for nine years. I've seem immensely talented people struggle to put food on the table. I've seen hacks driving Ferraris. The top thirty or so Nashville songwriters walk the line between artistic integrity and crass commercialism; many songs that rise to number one look simplistic -- that's deceptive. Most successful Nashville writers are extremely talented, highly motivated, and very ambitious.
Those songs are not easy to write.

I spent a year considering Nashville, but I realized that I couldn't taste it, breathe it, or live something that I didn't like. If I wanted money, it made more sense to take a music executive job paying 200 grand, rather than a staff publishing position that paid 20. Oddly enough, I probably wouldn't have gotten the staff job -- thousands beg for those jobs daily (seriously).

American Idol is paying 100 grand for a single song. Why not take a shot, some friends have asked. I won't be submitting anything because I'd be wasting my time. I don't love that type of music; it's not what I do, or what motivated me to return to playing music and writing fiction. I couldn't win that competition, because I don't breathe it.

There are lots of lazy artists out there that don't take on quality feedback, they refuse to rewrite or learn craft. They won't assume responsibility for the business side either. You often hear them diss the industry and make bold declarations about not selling out. They believe there's a conspiracy to keep their art from reaching the world.

That's not me.

I'm not averse to making lots of money from my art, but it's not part of my vision because to factor that into the equation, would force me to alter what I create, and that compromise will cause me to fail.

Fame and glory might not be in my future, but with my business background, I still have a shot at making a decent living at this. Granted, it hasn't been the case so far, but it's still early days. I've been at this less than ten years. I'm just a late bloomer; well, okay, very late…and you know what they say...better very late than never...