Simon Cowell's letter to himself

How many of you can identify with this? I mean, this might be a letter you write to yourself, with the names, dates, places, companies, and industry somewhat different, but the circumstances, feelings, reactions of others, and self-doubt are entirely your own. Ignore the Simon factor, and read what he's writing. You'll be surprised.

Needless to say, I have written a similar letter to myself recently. No-one knows, and no-one's seen it, not even Melissa my dearest companion & wife. In fact, I think I deleted mine. Anyway, perhaps there's hope. Perhaps there is direction. Perhaps God is still prepping me/ us for something way beyond our wildest dreams. Perhaps He isn't. But my journey has surely been one of the roughest ones out there. My own mother would often remark about her wonder at how I survive my (often self-made) trials and tribulations. They say there's nothing gained without risk and failure. Did you see that motivational video flying around facebook & youtube recently? Well, I need thirty-three more hands with ten fingers each to count the number of 'failures' I've experienced - projects that have fallen flat, ideas dismissed and laughed at, being made fun of in school, presentations at work that were ridiculed, and worryingly egocentric decision makers who consistently maintained their faux dignity by quashing every idea, move, project, report, application, business plan, marketing plan, and attempt to better one's life. I'm tired of trying to please everyone else, coz it's can't be done.

And, of course, going bankrupt thanks to being taken advantage of by a particularly clever intimidating self-centered real-life 'actor'. Humilitating in every respect.

But things are turning around. Melissa and I didn't have to pound the pavement, although things got pretty intense. We have each other, we have a wonderful home, and we have our faith (and all that goes with it. Like... people). Maybe I won't be the next Herbert Von Karajan. Maybe I will. Maybe there's no future in classical music. Maybe I'll get a record contract! Only one person knows, and He will only reveal everything in His own good time (and little impatient me gets frustrated sometimes!).

So, read this letter. Ignore 'Simon' and draw the inspiration it contains. I assume that's why it was published. Wow... I used to be an utter optimist, and there's a little glimpse of it again! Yippee!

The Quotable Stephen P Brown

Whatever you think of Karl Marx, he was interesting:

“Sell a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man how to fish, you ruin a wonderful business opportunity.”

trying to "bully" British songwriters

I've been devoid of interesting topics to blog about, except plenty of whining [In case you don't know, Bliss 9 - an arts festival on Apr 3 is cancelled].

The BBC have been reporting on a hot topic and this latest post inspired/ angered me to share something: I still really do hate British music unions and professional associations. One reason I left the UK was to rid myself of their imperialism. (I'm a royalist, but these unions go WAY too far). For example, the Performing Rights Society is accusing Youtube/Google of holding songwriters hostage. This article is a perfect demonstration of how the British sabotage a successful image, thing, product, service, by over-pricing it. Why do orchestras need public support? No-one would be able to afford the tickets prices. My answer: reduce the number of orchestras. In London, for example, fill concert halls with two or three major professional groups instead of the 12 that are struggling now.

The current debate isn't even classical - it's mainstream. We Brits are good at charging $10 for an item and when a salesman comes along and sells 500 times the number we were expecting, we now want to charge $75 for the same item. Please. Get a life. Increase the musicians'/ songwriters' income REALISTICALLY, not exponentially. Make more money by selling more products. Increase the price too much, and no-one will buy, which is EXACTLY what's happening right now: Youtube doesn't want to buy and broadcast mainstream music videos because the PRS is asking too much money - I wouldn't want to buy, either! AND, inconceivably, this is NOTHING NEW! Wake up, fellow Brits. Smell the pollution you're creating!

Good luck. I don't get royalty checks anymore, and in this instance, I support Google. In fact, as my own music video production gets underway, perhaps I'll pursue my own agreement with Youtube/ Google and bypass the unessentials...

If only...

There are lots of "if only..." moments in my life. Like, 'if only I'd stayed in Africa and bought that hotel.' Or, 'if only I'd been patient and played percussion professionally a bit longer.'

There are very few regrets in my life. In fact, I have two potential candidates for that category.

And yet there are a myriad... no. That's not big enough... an immeasurable number of 'argh!' moments. Some are even 'ARGH!' moments.

Like, the frustration experienced when one witnesses the perfect opportune moment slip away.
Or when the really annoying unthinking selfish manager commits frequent fundamental grammatical errors ("Their waiting for you to feedback.")
Or when you have a perfect idea but no means to implement it.

It is this last perspective that often finds it's way into my consciousness. And now its even worse when I did once, twice, several times have the actual resources that, if used differently or if were not impacted quite so fatally by circumstance, would have enabled the most profound, excellent, sparkling, lucrative, enjoyable, impactful projects to serve a great many needs. Like... Chicken! [LOL]

Idea 1: For an initial investment of $500k, I can setup a professional full symphony orchestra in Eastern Europe to be self-financing within two years. And I could still live & work in the USA.

Idea 2: For an investment of $100k, I could make the most lucrative sustenance service for students.

Idea 3: For an investment of $50k, I can create a stunning service tool for local young people to explore their social development skills in a focused musical/ performing environment.

Idea 4: For an investment of $1.5m I could ensure 150,000 children a YEAR in SIX countries have access to regular musical tuition and instruments as well as ensembles, for 10 years.

Idea... In fact, I've created over 40 very workable business plans that are now stored in a filing cabinet. And because of Providence ('Fate' for some people), history and lack of familiarity, they are extremely unlikely to see the light of day again. Consider them bad compositions in preparation for the big hit (Rapidly sliding towards 40, I sure hope the big hit comes soon!).

If only I hadn't done this, or if only I had done that. Would I be where I am now?
No.

So, there is no 'if only'.

"Nothing matters. Nothing, only love."
(Kings of Hearts, MTHS 1987)

The arts will survive. Again

I couldn't resist. This topic has hit me several times in the past two decades and yet again, artists in the 'arts' are panicking. And rightly so. This article is totally biased (like most of them) but the very valid reader comments are most enlightening.

So yes, the arts are a victim of the economic crisis. They have been before. And they've survived because artists continue to do their thing DESPITE autocracy! And they'll survive this crisis, too. What I actually like is the fact that many artists will NOT retain their full-time, mediocre, publicly ego stroking efforts to be 'someone'. Like me. I'm now earning my living and doing really fun and exciting art (music) on the side. Boy do I WISH it were full-time, and I constantly pray for some benefactor to dump their excessive musical dollars on my doorstep, but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon. So, I 'earn a living' in corporate and utilize my music in the world.

Everyone should yell and scream and moan and groan and perhaps some lucky artists will actually see some sustenance through the latest ludicrous bailout/stimulus, but don't worry. The arts are going nowhere.

Perspective

Our entire life is one big fat glob of perspective, right?

Without perspective we have no vision, common sense (Pah!), purpose, feeling, desire, or reason.

Without perspective no-one would argue, call each other pathetic, 'persuade' others (the path to war), or vote.

Without perspective how would we learn, grow, serve, earn, or laugh?

The sudden passing of someone at age 60 because of a heart attack is nothing out of the ordinary - past or present - however sad. So why is it that we mourn the death of one person over another? Perspective. Indeed it is extremely sad to see classy British conductor Richard Hickox deprived of breath during the pinnacle of his career (in much the same way as comedian Tommy Cooper - wait for the musical joke at the end), but that's just my perspective. As well as that of a few hundred thousand others (read one of Tommy Pearson's many claims to fame here).

Perspectives develop with age, wisdom, that fantastic recurring anathema Common Sense, and circumstance. Religion vs. faith is all about perspective. Self vs. non-self is all about perspective (for self, refer to Western Civilization. For non-self, refer to Wikipedia). Jog vs. eat is a completely MAD perspective. To me, anyway.

On Saturday I was invited to chat with an esteemed mentor-ish type of person who, if circumstances were different, would be far more well-known, impacting and exciting that Hickox, Karajan, and even Lenny Bernstein. At least from my perspective. OK, 21 years ago George Marriner Maull was an inspiring teacher I got to 'experience' once a week while he imparted his PERSPECTIVE on listening vs. hearing, particularly in traditional 'classical' concert music. It affected me profoundly then, as it does now. In fact, George makes a living at it now. GOOD FOR HIM. I wish I had the resources to help explode The Discovery Orchestra into the global stratosphere of fundamental humanness.

Anyway, on Sat. George was characteristically generous with his time, knowledge, and perspective: 'Unvarnished' was his term. As always, I have a lot to learn, and much ego to dissolve (But that's just my perspective. NOT). And yet almost a week later I am still encouraged and looking forward to the rest of my life. (Of course, somewhat reducing the bad cholesterol levels will probably help). God bless you, George! May the State of NJ realize their funding is woefully misdirected. (Again, common sense: NJSO direclty reaches approx. 120,000 people per year. TDO's endeavors have reached approx. 37 million individuals. Duh.)

GO DISCOVERY ORCHESTRA !
(formerly the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey).