My voice… not my voice but my VOICE

Would you like to know the difference between a journeyman songwriter and a real live songwriter? A real songwriter has a voice. Not the voice they sing with, but a stylistic signature that clearly identifies the song as the work of the author. This transcends musical style, and even the performers voice. While Dylan’s singing voice is quite distinct, when the Grateful dead cover his songs they still sound like Dylan songs.

A great example of a Second Life artist with a distinct voice as a songwriter would be (wait for it) POL Arida. For a while he was “The Hammer guitar guy”. But now he’s playing more “Strummy” song. The amazing thing is how the songs are still quite powerful, dramatic, and stank to high heaven of POL’s personal style.

Another great Second life example is… well me. My songs run the gambit in style, technique, time signature, and even tuning. Yet they all have the stamp of my style indelibly etched into them.

Having your own voice is the primary goal of the songwriter as an artist. There are people that write songs for profit, and their job is to make songs that have no visible signature on them. These people are not artist, they are craftsmen. Some prize the craft of songwriting above all else. These people usually view music as “Product”, and I hate those people.

Let me tell you a story.

A While back I got a recording deal offer from a woman for a band project I was in. The band was an art rock/pop project. The deal had a profanity clause in it, so that queered the deal.

About a month later, the same woman contacted me concerning a record deal for the band I was in previously. She was unaware I was the same person in the art rock/pop project she had contacted a month prior. The band she was interested in at the moment was a Jam/Jam grass band. A very different style, but the voice apparently connected with her.

Songwriting becomes art when it bears the signature of an artist.

Music Management reconsidered

A while back I made what seems to be a comment based on a uniformed opinion. I basically implied that the “Music Management types” were nothing more then girlfriend promoting their snuggle bunny’s so-called music career.

I’ve come to learn; while the people hawking the group memberships may well be females they are not always personally involved with the performer. I’ve learned this because I seem to have some kind of management deal with Moody, and she send women I don’t even know to basically pimp my group, my website, and emote frantically.

While this seems a bit… undignified to me, it seems to be exactly how things work in Second life. The biggest performers even do it, or more to the point have somebody do it for them.

Of course at this point, I’m not sure it’s working. Yes, things are growing, but they were growing before, and it may well take a while for this to bear fruit. It’s really kind of hard to divide the sound business practice from the magical ritual at this point.

I feel I should mention I’ve always thought “Music not Politics” is a pretty lame name for a management company, I must say Moody has recently shown me she does practice what she preaches. I had a bit of a personal issue with a close friend of Moody’s and she made it quite clear that she would not allow the rift between her friend and I to affect my (snicker) career.

This is commendably mature, and quite professional. I’m rather impressed. Second Life music seems to run on a social engine, and for her to put my music before her social network makes me think maybe I’m with the right person.

All I am in Second Life is a singer/songwriter. People that expect more will be disappointed. The music is what matters to me, and if you are hanging around because of some other reason I won’t shed a tear when you stop coming around.

Random thoughts

Some times it hard to update the blog because I try to figure out a topic that needs a good write up. Today I’m just going to let my mind wonder and perhaps I’ll stumble across something interesting.

Yesterday I played my first official MEGA set in a while. It was not as well attended as I hoped, but new events take a while to break. The show was scheduled for 2 hours and I managed to play one hour and forty-nine minuets. Next show will be an hour and a half in length.

I really feel the MEGA set format give me a chance to showcase more of my songs, and because of this I sold a few more MP3 collections yesterday then I have at one hour shows.

I’m quite an oddity in Second life, not only do I play all originals, but I have enough good material for a two hour set. I do get a bit tired, but I don’t run out of songs.

I’m thinking back to my Jam-band days when we would do three-hour sets. Man I’m getting old and weak.

I got my bulk set of guitar strings in the mail today. 25 sets of strings for 99.99 $. Quite a bargain when you consider a set of strings for an acoustic guitar go for about 9 $ a pop. I do try and change strings once a week on two guitars. It can get prohibitively expensive at 9$ a shot. Fresh steel makes for good sound, and not going broke keeping fresh steel on my gee-tars is a bonus.

I also received a notecard from a supporter of the music the other day that really touched my heart. She explained she was not a stalker (snicker, I didn’t think she was), and how much my music meant to her and her autistic son. She mentioned she plays my song around her house all day, and has burned the MP3 collections she has purchased to CD to play in her vehicles. This is fantastic, and this is what I’m shooting for. I want my music to be part of people’s lives. A single notecard can really make your week.

Once again, I see the numbers improving. This months unique visitors to the web site have gone up once again, and MP3 downloads keep pushing to a higher number. While I didn’t play as many shows this month as last month, the earning from show played has increased.

I’m really wonder how far I will go until I hit one of those dreaded flat spots you hear so much about? Only time will tell.

Curious numbers

There was a theory going about back in the nascent days of I-tunes that the proliferation of MP3 sales would turn the industry from an album market back into a singles market.

A break out single was going to become the currency of music again.

Of course about two days after the nascent days, they figured out a hit single was only a hot item to be bootlegged.

About four days after the nascent days, the “INDUSTRY” hired someone to track the general traffic of bootleg mp3 and they learned artist that had a strong single got ripped off in a ratio of 96/4. However artist with a strong catalog got ripped off at a much lower ratio of 20/80. While people where still probably ripping off the single they were paying for the collection of good songs.

That being said lets look at the download numbers for the last five days. You might wonder why choose the last five days? Well that is the period of time that has elapsed since the release of “Songs in the key of Green”.

215 MP3 downloaded. And not one of those downloads is from the sale of my “Single of the moment” program. Every MP3 is part of a collection. For those of you interested in the specifics, here they are.

White and Black: 9 copies downloaded
Songs in the key of Green: 6 copies downloaded
200th show song collection: 3 copies downloaded
Black and White: 1 copy downloaded.

For those of you that might think the numbers are kind of small, let me assure you, they would be impressive for a months worth of tracking or even possibly a quarter’s activity.

Once again, the numbers are less important then the tale they tell. People don’t seem to be responding to the “Single of the moment”. It’s a good price and I feel the songs are pretty strong. But it seems I have a strong catalog and people are making a pretty significant investment in owning a part of it. The sale leader for the 5 day period, “White and Black” goes for 1000L$ a pop. Hardly an impulse buy.

The amount earned by the sales of “White and Black” and “Songs in the key of Green” for the period are 13,200 L$. This is the equivalent of 4.4 fee paying show.

I feel at this point I should remind you I don’t do music for the money. But the money are a quantifiable measure of success. I’m here to get my music out to the people that enjoy it, and there is nothing wrong making a few dollars along the way. It seems the number are telling me I’m doing a pretty good job and making some in roads in to selling music via Second Life.

Warning: Opinions below

Yeah, I’m going to cause myself no end of grief by saying what I really think. This really should not be an issue. But it always seems to end up being one. However, I’m tired of biting my tongue.

I was supposed to play a show at “Trax” today, but I’ve decided to pass. Anybody that knows me would realize I don’t cancel shows at the drop of a hat. I have real issues with this place. Now keep in mind, I’m not accusing them of being evil, or having bad intentions. I do not know the secret contents of people hearts. But the services they provide are… well, worthless.

For “X” amount of lindens, you get a booth that will play three songs, feature a graphic and give interested parties a note card with you bio/fee info. I would imagine it works, but it seems to be an “In-world” version of a MySpace page. Even if the booth only cost 1L$ per year… it would still be less cost effective then a MySpace page. You can also host more songs on MySpace, post more graphics and add friends and stuff.

Personally, I have both a MySpace page and my own website. I find my website offers me far more options then anything Trax might offer. Of course, some might point out they have to go out of world to get my information, but what is important? Maintaining the in world experience or getting the information? If the venue owner prizes the sparse Trax booth information over the more complete representation of my website, they probably aren’t the kind of venue operator I want to be working for.

A music management type assures me that Trax is the wave of the future. But I think she is wrong, at least in my case. She claims, “Everybody is going to be doing it (meaning Trax)”, and about that she may be right. But I have never seen myself as part of “Everybody”. What I is do is singular and unique. I’m the only person doing what I do. I don’t need to be in a booth next to some lounge singer. Lounge singers need to compete, but I have no competition. You either want Zorch or you want anybody else.

Trax also offers a SLCD (Second life compact disk) service. Once again, what is the point? They seem quite impressed if you own a plot of land you can play the music from some sort of device. But I don’t own land, and I don’t see being able to stream music to you own property as a big deal. If you don’t own property, and a lot of people don’t. it downloads the files to your computer, where you can listen to them or burn them to a CD and all kinds of nifty crap. But you can do that with regular MP3 files anyway. I host MP3 downloads from my website, and I have a vendor in world that sells them. What do I need a SLCD for?

I see Trax fascination with doing things “In world” as nothing more then a gimmick. A well-groomed MySpace page is far more effective as far as promotion goes, and selling you own MP3 via any other avenue seems more cost effective.

I should in all fairness mention there is a veritable forest of booths will all kinds of musical acts featured already in place. Yes, it seems everybody is doing it. Everybody but me. I still think it’s stupid, worthless and the fact that so many are already involved just show that people don’t really think things through.

Why did I cancel the show? Standing in a place rife with iniquity makes me ill. Somebody is profiting off the stupidity or laziness of some so-called musicians. I don’t want to seem involved in anyway.

If anybody is pissed off about these comments, I warned you at the outset there were opinions.

Embracing the chaos

Second Life is a handful of unanswered questions. Seems the more I observe and learn, the more questions pop up.

Just today I got notification a venue I was booked to play a show at was closing down. In the middle of the month. This is odd because most closing happen when tier fees for the next month come looming large, and the venue operator grabs the eject handles and pulls.

Yes, it seems running a venue is a money pit. Everybody is losing large amounts of Lindens and I can understand why people would want out. But while this is not in my best interest, I have trouble understanding why people stay.

Perhaps they love music, but it seems like there are plenty of other places you can go to hear music, why would you take your personal money, invest hours of your free time, and then flush more of your money?

Of course lots of people have hobbies that cost a fortune. Perhaps the most obvious answer is the correct one. They do it for love of doing it. They get to be an active part of the music scene without learning to play an instrument.

I’m very glad they do it of course, and I do what I can to educate the public as to how tipping the venue supports live music in Second Life.

Another things I’ve learned, is the talent pool is a bit deeper then I had originally thought. There is an unofficial hierarchy I was unaware of at the start. When you are playing “Tips only open mic” events you are going to be listening to a lot of questionable talent. Once you start playing venues that pay fees, the talent gets a lot more professional. Of course that being said, I’m still freaking amazing and better then the majority of big money talent. And I’m humble too.

However, I do see some remarkable talent playing to tiny audiences while wank-masters pack venues.

The only reason I can find for people to run venues and blow a lot of their money and time is they are willing to embrace the chaos. They believe in the vision.

They are akin to the bands I’ve been in during my sorted past that got behind me to play my music. Investing hours in practice, thousands in equipment, and playing show that often didn’t pay a dime. Why did we do it? Did we really think we would break big and it would all pay off? Of course we did. But after a while of spinning our wheels, all bands end in breaking up. Even successful ones.

People live out all kinds of dreams in Second Life. We all blow a lot of time plotting, planning and executing our five-year plans for world domination. As long as we enjoy it, who cares how much money is spent, how my time invested.

It’s been said, “money can’t buy happiness”. But what else is money for? Should money just be for making ends meet, or turning a profit? Why not take a few of those hard eared green backs and invest in dreaming. While the more cynical might say it’s wasteful, I would be inclined to disagree. Second life is a place where people can have a big house, live on there own Personal Island, and be a mover and shaker in the music biz for a few pennies on the dollar. While some might contend it’s all “make believe”, isn’t that the most perfect expression of a dream?

Going green, the view from here

Feeling pretty good today. Tried as hell, but pretty damn good. Today was the release of “Songs in the key of Green”, and all went better then I expected. The release party at the Jester Inn was amazing. Seems like everybody I know from Second Life, with the exception of POL was there. POL actually did send me an IM to explain that “Real life” had prevented him from attending but he wished me luck. What a great guy he is.

I’m always tickled that Harrie lets my have my events at the Jester, but she really went all out today. Check out the Image, she imposed my green image on the back wall and festooned the place with green balloons.

Nya also made up some wicked cool emotes that spewed out shamrocks all over the place. It seemed quite popular with the revelers assembled. Thematically the show was a smashing success.

Musically, I consider the show a success as well. As tradition dictates, I did run a little over the expected 1-hour show… by about 30 minuets. But there were so many friends and supporters there, I felt it only right to play some fan favorites.

I had two more shows to play today, and while each went well enough, I must admit it’s hard to beat such a personal, and supportive start. Speaking of supportive, The Guys from “Dark Castle Park”, Rubber LeShell from “Club Rub” and former owner of “The Stringer” Poseidon Footman showed up at the later shows. Nice to see venue owners showing up at other peoples venues to see your show.

As expected, I did mange to sell a few copies of “Songs in the key of Green”, but oddly enough, I only sold one “Single of the moment”. The one up for sale today was “Running in circles/Real love”. I’m still convinced this method of moving music will work; it’s just possible those are not the songs people are most interested in.

Attendance was pretty solid all day, averaging about 30 avatars per show. This is rather impressive due to the number of shows played.

Monetarily things went quite well. While not providing any hard numbers, this weekend proved to be 30% more profitable then my previous best weekend.

Did I turn a corner? Perhaps, but more likely I generated a bit of momentum but causing an event to happen. My supporters were in my corner and hoping I would do well, and I did. I thank them all very much. But keeping things in motion is the real trick.

Of coure, I’m in no mood to barrow trouble right now. Things look great from here. Time to press on and see what comes next. Getting ever so close to that 200-member mark in my group. Could happen soon.

Today it’s good to be me.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop

Things have been going peachy in the wacky world of Second Life. Been playing shows to pretty good crowds, picking up a few group members and I’m just about done with “Songs in the key of Green”.

So of course I’m bracing for disaster.

Seems every time I turn a corner, I seem to turn another corner and end up in Loserville. I guess perhaps I expect too much. In my so-called real life there have been moments when all the hard work paid off in a moment. In my so-called Second Life, I have had a bunch of these moments, but they don’t seem to stick.

I still remember playing to a packed venue that emptied out before my first song was done. I have played a few more shows at the venue where that happened, and have done a bit better, but I don’t think I’ll be surprised in the least when that happens again and I’m sure it will.

The problem is there are too many variables to calculate. Number of shows you are playing against, and who is performing at those shows. Wonky Second life technical problems affect things. Who’s online? Will notices go out? Will the venue list the show in Live music events? So many variables.

You can’t get all your shit in one sock when you don’t really control the sock. Seems to me there will never be a defining moment. No big break. The odds are against you and there is nothing you can do to change that. This is going to be a long campaign of attrition.

But that is cool. I’m down with working hard to get where I need to go. Just keep playing, ignore the ego bruising moments and carry on. Things are good at the moment, but when disaster comes I should have the mind set to roll with it.

It’s taken me six months to attain “Newcomer” status, so full fledge Second Life Rock Star status might take a bit longer.

Success? (Notice the question mark)

I’m not a successful person in the eyes of the world. This was always one of the sticking point between my father and I. However, whatever I’ve set my mind to do, in time I’ve done. I’ve been told a few dozen times what I intended to do would never work, then achieved it.

Financially I’m threading water, and the meager monies I earn in Second Life have a profound effect on my lifestyle. They really do supplement my grocery budget, and without the extra cash flow I’m not sure how I would make ends meet. While the money does make a difference it’s not why I do this wacky Second Life music thing.

I want to talk about success and what I would consider success in my eyes. I’ve been spending a good deal of time chatting with a Second Life music veteran and she is quite emphatic about just how I should go about achieving success. She suggests I install myself in the music scene, and make myself known. Glad hand everybody, support somewhat suspect talent, and basically follow the formula for success Second Life style. In her scenario, my only hope for success is to play the game by the rules. But what success would it reap me?

I imagine, it would get me better spots on better gigs and probably more monies in fees. It would mean packed venues. It would mean large group membership. But this is not what I hope to attain. This is not what I’m working towards.

Actually, gauging my success by my ability to integrate myself into a community of musical posers would probably be the biggest personal failure I could aspire to. Humility be damned, I’m an artist. When I do my set, it falls between great and transcendent. My voice is unique, and my craft well honed. I’m sure 95% of the duffers I’ve seen promoted as “A BIG DEAL” in the Second Life scene, are not even aware of the fact music is a transcendent art form.

Or to put a sharper point on it, we are not on the same page because we are reading very different books.

While I view my music as unique, I also view people that really get it as unique. I see a small community that follows the vision, and this gives me hope. If I play two shows a day there are a hand full of people that show up at both shows. While the show has homogenized lately, they realize every performance is a chance to witness something amazing. They feel the desolation and rage of “The Passion of me”. The bitter melancholy of “Underground”. The sense of betrayal in “Twisted love song”. It’s not just cool songs, it’s life reflected and celebrated, or perhaps mourned.

In my case, it really is about the music. The fact Harrie dives to work listening to my songs means more to me then a packed venue. When somebody tells me how the song “The conversation wasn’t over” touched them, it means more to me then a big fee. When Susu puts in her profile picks she tries to see at least one of my shows a day, that means more to me then some tenuous membership is some imaginary community. The support of my friends means so very much to me.

My job, and in essence my success is basically getting my music in front of people. Letting them listen and decide how they will react to it. I cannot affect how they will react so positive or negative reactions mean nothing to me. My music is what it is, and you’ll either love it or don’t love it.

Unto the people that choose to love my music, my job is to slice off a bit of my soul and create new music for them to enjoy.

I’m currently working on a new release, “Songs in the key of Green”, and I’m quite pleased with the way it’s progressing. I’ve posted a preview page on the web site and so far 20 people have checked it out. While the word might not be impressed with the numbers, the fact that anybody bothered to check it out pleases me. The fact that 20 people chose to react to the information the page and the music it contains exist is a win in my opinion.

In the end I will prevail, and do so because I insist on defining my own success. Big crowds are nice. Big fees are nifty. But in the end integrity matters. If it’s not about the music it just a bunch of shit

Making tracks

Its times like this I realize what an unusual relationship of have with my listeners. Recently I’ve posted some previews of songs form the upcoming release, “Songs in the key of Green”, and while it’s not odd to try and drum up some interest in any release, it’s the nature of the previews that is quite different.

Permit me to explain.

Most previews are fished tacks designated as singles. But the preview tracks are far from finished. The recording process is broken in to three stages, Tracking, Mixing, and Mastering. The preview songs are tracked, and just mixed enough to make sense of what you are hearing. Basically you are getting a very good idea of the kind of performances that are recorded and while I’m pleased with them, presenting is somewhat like seeing a supermodel with out their makeup on.

On might consider this a bold marketing move. But after considering it for a while, I see it more of an outgrowth of my relationship with my listeners. In the past, when recording, I would often have a small circle of confidants that I would share the roughs with. In effect, the good people of The Zorch Nation have become my no so small circle of confidants. Yet I still hope you buy the finished product.

I’m really enjoying working on this project and I’m quite please with how it’s progressing. It seems to have a sound all its own and that is what I’m shooting for. It doesn’t sound like a diverse collection of songs and aesthetically it has a unique voice, and I feel this is apparent even at this most rudimentary stage of recording.

I intend to post samples on the Imeem player as soon as I have something new for you to listen to. I’m shooting to have this project done by the 15th of November.

OOOOOOOBAMA!!!!!!

I’m feeling quite good today. So much so I’m noticing what an odd sensation it is. I no longer feel it’s a nifty trick to maintain a sense of hope.

Barack Obama is president elect of the United States of America.

While that is a commendable thing for Mr. President elect, to me it’s a bigger victory for the People of the United States. Perhaps we have seen beyond the petty bullshit that has dragged this Nation to the brink of hopelessness.

This is a bold statement. A commitment to real change. Not just the lesser of two evils, but a new optimistic step forward.

In a moment the world is changed.

Yes we can?

Yes we can.

YES WE CAN !!!!

Yes we can, yes we did and yes… we will continue. Who knows what development may happen in the strange days the lay before us?

Zorchland… a memory

It’s the end of an era. My lovely Island in the middle of nowhere is no more. Gone. I can almost relate to the plight of so many Americans losing their homes. Notice I say “Almost”. I do feel quite disenfranchised.

A dear friend has given me a place to log into for the moment. But there is a part of me that want a place of my own again. I’ll admit, I don’t do much more then answer IMs at the house, but for me it’s still an issue. I’m currently doing the Second Life version of Sleeping on a friend couch.

Why did I lose my island? Because Linden Labs decided they needed to up the tier fee 50%, and the landlord could not cover the cost. It’s rather obvious that Linden Labs seems only interested if figuring out what the market will bear when it comes to pricing. There has been no 50% increase in overhead. In a world where this mattered it would be considered price gouging.

It’s become quite clear the residents of Second Life have no real voice in this matter. Oddly for a world created by the residents it seems Linden Labs is quite uninterested in their opinions on this issue. There is no dialog, just a bill. “Here, pay this now”

Please don’t think I’m just bitching and whining about this. I’m not suggesting some bullshit theatrical gesture, or expecting any kind of change. Some things suck, and I’ve lived long enough to figure that out, but it doesn’t mean I have to be happy or even stoic about it.

Good-bye Zorchland. You were my home and I’m going to miss you.