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Post by suzanneflower on Apr 7, 2011 14:23:12 GMT -8
While sitting with my son in a food court the man at the table next to us began talking very loudly about religious denomination, etc and berating people with a musical (God given) gift who won't freely share it, etc.
This is so confusing to me! I get that people always want things for free. Yet what about those people who are gifted with numbers and become accountants. If employed by a church, are they expected to provide their services free because they have a gift and *should* share it with others??
What is it about a 'gift for music' that is conducive to poverty and the illusion that it manifests out of magic? Granted, some just are born with it and have it; as for me it is only a given potential that I have to actively work. As a finite being I have only so much to give, and I must provide shelter and food. My quality of 'gift' is in direct correlation to the amount of time I spend working it, which as a means of earning my living is at a maximum. Yet, never any shortage of people wanting me to provide services without compensation. It is not as if I never do things without pay, however I am selective and don't generally draw attention to the fact that I am not getting paid for it.
Thank you for the space to rant.
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thump
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Post by thump on Apr 8, 2011 9:20:01 GMT -8
It is a bit puzzeling; allow me to share some thoughts.
First, my understanding of christian "sharing" is within the context of the respective church. One can "share" their gift in the church service (presumably as part of one's tithe) without having to subscribe to the pseudo socialism espoused by some evangelical denominations. In fact, as you alluded to, I doubt this person shares their gift (whatever it might be) for free outside of the confines of their church. If that were universally true, there would be a lot more poverty stricken christians and, by extension very few organized churches since the parishioners would have no financial means of support.
Couple other thoughts:
Lot didn't share his salt, he supplied it for a fee in a time when salt was considered a "free right".
There are denominations out there that feel the only "sanctioned" form of music is the voice...
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Post by suzanneflower on Apr 8, 2011 9:52:46 GMT -8
Thank you Thump - that is very interesting. Another thought I had on the matter is I don't know anyone who thinks that it is wrong for an artist to charge for their work. Is it because they have something tangible to show for it??  |
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Post by cameron on Apr 8, 2011 11:37:30 GMT -8
I would surmise people without the "gift" have no concept of the both the huge amounts of time and money that go into honing musicianship. It's easy to see an artist and dismiss their dedication as a god given "gift". No other industry makes you pay and pay to give it away for free. The songs are a product of years of study and it pains me when people fail to realize how many nights a musician spends wrestling their instrument to gain some kind of mastery to be told it is a gift. Usually, come Christmas morning, I see very little people working for their gifts. A gift is given, a reward is earned.
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thump
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Post by thump on Apr 11, 2011 10:02:42 GMT -8
Excellent point, Cameron. There are precious few truely "gifted" people; nearly all of us have to put in a lot of time (10,000 hours as I recall from "Outliers") to become "gifted". I think it was Thomas Edison who said something appropriate: "The harder I work, the luckier I get..."
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Post by jlev on Apr 11, 2011 14:01:40 GMT -8
Even immensely talented people need to educate themselves, which is why talent alone is not a predictor of success. What I have seen in 45 years of this pursuit is that talent is not that rare a commodity, it's the combination of talent, desire, the right environment and character that makes it happen.
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Post by jlev on Apr 12, 2011 10:01:02 GMT -8
This thread is too true. I was offered beer and food to do a 2 hour gig in May. The guy was surprised that I didn't think it was a good deal. I told him last year at the same event I made $200, so he upped the ante, he will pay my $25 membership in a local music society.
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mattm
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Post by mattm on Apr 13, 2011 16:15:01 GMT -8
One of the things that has been pointed out to me in more than one sales training course is that you should never give things away. People don't value something they get for free nearly as much as when they pay. Even when I give someone a catalog I ask something in return, just a committment to meet again or whatever. But people value things they pay for more than things they get for free so charging for playing music actually makes it worth more to the audience or the people throwing the party or the clubowner, and they'll take part in making the party or gig more fun for the people there if they're invested.
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Post by davebaldwin on Apr 16, 2011 18:35:45 GMT -8
I think it's because 'gifts' are free... Just tell'm you're weren't gifted, you just had to work. Kinda like I'm havin to work to spell all this correctly. My fingers weren't gifted with the right letters.
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Post by suzanneflower on Oct 6, 2011 9:56:25 GMT -8
Recent perspective on 'the gift:' Haven't we all seen people who put in all kinds of $ for top notch gear and hours and hours and lessons and lessons, yet - no one wants to hear them? Thus 'the gift' is that extra bit of talent/mental illness that gives you the drive to express yourself through music and it spills forth in a way that can resonate and is pleasing to others (should you choose to share it)...
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Post by jlev on Oct 11, 2011 8:25:58 GMT -8
"Mental illness" indeed. I think the real "gift" is the love of the art and the desire to do it for it's own sake. That goes furthur than "talent".
Comes down to how bad do you want it?
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Post by davebaldwin on Oct 25, 2011 11:43:51 GMT -8
You know, it would be nice if someone tried to give me something I actually wanted... whether it's music or any other 'gifts'.
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tug
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Post by tug on Jan 28, 2012 13:57:57 GMT -8
i actually get a bit offended when some one says, "it must be nice to be talented". like i didnt work and study for every chop i use. oh well.when some one asks me if they could play i ask. how bad do you want it?
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Post by coolsongz on Feb 3, 2012 12:22:47 GMT -8
It's true, calling it a gift or talent implies that it comes effortlessly to you. It doesn't help matters that we don't hide the rediculous joy we get in providing it. If my plumber finished up a job with the kind of giddiness and smiles that we sometimes exhibit after playing sweet set, I might be inclined to ask him, "hey if you enjoy it so much, how about replacing that toilet for free?" Each time somebody remarks "what a gift" about my voice, I respond "No, definitely not a gift, you should of heard me as a child, my family LOVED me to put up with that, because I hear old recordings and it sounds like someone is torturing a cat" It is closer to an addiction than a gift, because my soul would starve without it.
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tug
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Post by tug on May 2, 2012 10:02:03 GMT -8
talent? i think they mean hrs of practice, and desire to make music. years of let downs and highs. rejection,disappointment and at times approval. and now and then a free beer. but i continue to learn and meet wonderful hard working musicians.
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