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29 Jan 09 - 03:46 AM (#2551716) Subject: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: Banjiman I've seen one or two postings on other threads saying "I could 'ave been a contender" if only people would listen to me (or similar), sometimes with real bitterness. I'm just as good as Kate Rusby, The Spinners, Martin Carthy (or whoever)! So what is it that makes someone commercially (I guess) succesful? Luck? Talent? Good Management & PR?..........something else? Thought it might be an interesting debate. Paul |
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29 Jan 09 - 03:53 AM (#2551718) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: Megan L Charisma you can have all the talent in the world but if you cant hold an audiance then you are useless |
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29 Jan 09 - 03:57 AM (#2551723) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: Will Fly Success is all down to playing the tenor banjo. I wouldn't have got where I am today - the 5-bedroom mansion, the Alvis Drophead Coupe and the Roller in the garage, the young wife, the mistress in Bexleyheath - if I hadn't discovered that Windsor 1904 tenor in a pawnshop in Surbiton just after the 2nd World War... But I jest. It's all the things you mentioned - talent, luck, good PR, having the right connections, hard work, having a good agent - any and all of those can be the ingredients in the mix. If we knew what it was, we'd all be there - perhaps. But why be bitter - being "up there" isn't the be-all and end-all of life. Staying true to the music you love - whatever it is - and playing it to the best of your ability - is what's important IMHO. Making a living at it can be the icing on the cake - but it can sometimes kill the passion. |
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29 Jan 09 - 07:14 AM (#2551809) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: GUEST Focus and determination too. Being prepared to make sacrifices in the other areas of your life. Being ready to follow every opportunity no matter the consequences. Drive. Single bloody mindedness. Charisma and talent help, too. But there's plenty people who have that, but also have a satisfying day job and/or a family and/or a mortgage and can't or won't take the risks involved in going for it. That's why some of us are happy to compromise and, like Will said, we go the 'being "up there" isn't the be-all' route. Cos it's not. ...it seems to me. |
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29 Jan 09 - 07:17 AM (#2551812) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: Hamish Oops! That was me. My cookie fell off. |
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29 Jan 09 - 07:36 AM (#2551830) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: G-Force If it's you, it's talent. If it's someone else, it's luck. |
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29 Jan 09 - 08:00 AM (#2551840) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: Leadfingers A lot of 'Commercial Success' is simply down to being in the right place at the right time ! As well as having talent and determination ! If you're a young lady , good looks dont do any harm either ! |
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29 Jan 09 - 07:08 PM (#2552398) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Thousands of variously talented folk singers tried their luck in the period beginning with the Kingston Trio's great early success in 1957. Most never got beyond local or regional popularity. Some never made it out of their original coffee house. A very few were seen, during a good performance, by someone in a position to make a difference. Frank Werber first heard the Kingston Trio in a joint in Palo Alto or San Jose, I can't recall which. He liked what he heard, signed them, made some suggestions (at the time, they also had another guy and gal with them - later dropped)and got them working with a noted vocal coach in the Bay Area. Many don't realize that they rehearsed for months before releasing their first album. Most of the "overnight successes" I'm aware of were around for a long while before they were: 1. Talented enough for prime time 2. Ready to be discovered 3. In a position to be discovered 4. Lucky enough to catch the right ear 5. Willing to really make the commitment You really do need the passion to sustain yourself, and it must be shared. Otherwise, you'll never get through all the crap that extended travel can bring. Most "artistic differences" are really about people being too close for too long with only the music in common. You can go bananas and get very testy. It is very different now in that you can "self-produce" CD's and get yourself heard more widely than we ever could. But, the rules still apply. |
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29 Jan 09 - 07:19 PM (#2552404) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: Acorn4 I suppose it's the X factor -aaaarrrrrrghhhhh!!! |
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29 Jan 09 - 07:30 PM (#2552411) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: Amos Thing is you have to be good at managing a singer's life, not just good as a singer. That means sweat and fearless promotional actions, good presence, the willingness to network, and an energy for hard work, including perfecting your skills and finding new forms and avenues in music. I suspect that most of those who declaim they are "as good as_____" are referring to what they hear inside their own heads. A |
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29 Jan 09 - 07:42 PM (#2552420) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: Donuel At first blush if we are talking about music, success follows any detailed command that rings of simple perfection be it folk to classical. A new fusion of styles of genres can often offer a short lived flash in the pan success. If you have a command of ideas and words that almost everyone is thinking to themselves but have not uttered aloud for various reasons, your insightful words, ideas or lyrics will ring a succesful bell. For the most part, people are always thinking internally about food/drugs and sex, so that venue is always pretty well covered and full of competition. Best to use a combination of a suggestion of sex appeal and some other undercurrent of society. An alluring smile can almost always fill in the gaps between luck, talent and something else. |
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29 Jan 09 - 07:42 PM (#2552421) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: Donuel "if it sounds good, it is good" quote by ... |
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29 Jan 09 - 07:55 PM (#2552439) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: kendall Louis Armstrong? |
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29 Jan 09 - 08:47 PM (#2552469) Subject: RE: Success: Luck, talent or something else? From: kendall If I had to categorize them they would probably be: Talent. without that you go no where. Ever watch American Idol? Pathetic. luck. being in the right place at the right time. Work. Nothing happens by itself. |