You can’t control what people like, or how good others are at doing the thing people like.
It’s less “controlling what people like” (which, I’d argue, billions in marketing suggests you absolutely can do) and more “controlling who gets paid for the work” (which, I’d argue, labor unions and labor laws suggest you can also absolutely do).
People like things that are exceptional
People like things that are accessible and mass media allows large numbers of people to access a handful of cartelized venues. But go and watch the various American Idol knock-offs, and you’ll find plenty of untalented people on the stage. Half the show is about the heels and how far they can get by schmoozing and scheming before they’re knocked out by more mainstream talent. But its as much about the spectacle as it is about any actual talent.
Meanwhile, local musicians can and do command large audiences and full venues, particularly in cities known for cultivating talent. The trick is in having these venues to perform at and running them efficiently. When small venues get starved for revenue during downturns or crises (COVID, the '08 crash, Hurricane Katrina, etc), that’s what kills a community scene. When rents skyrocket and drive community venues out of business, that’s what costs a town its local venues. It isn’t locals suddenly all forgetting how to perform year to year.
I guess I just don’t see it that way. Ive been to some “sellout” 100 person venues that do a fine business (for the business, the band doesn’t get a huge payday) and I’ve never thought to myself “wow, most people would pay money for this”. They were decent entertainment while I drink a beer.
Most people are just not that talented, or they are decently talented but disillusioned about their probability of success. My ex BIL went to school and did a four year degree for timpani. Not to teach it, to play it. Do you know how many pro timpani positions there are in the country? For good orchestras, it’s fewer than his graduating class in college. Accessible or not, there is just not wide appeal for “pretty good”. I’d be more likely to pay people to stop singing or playing guitar while I’m eating dinner than to buy an album. I’ve also got a friend who is, IMO an extremely good and qualified actor who has been trying 10 years to make it in NYC. He sells real estate. EVERYONE there is an extremely good and qualified actor.
Not everyone, and not even most, can make it in B.A. professions. It just isn’t a good choice of career or study unless you are exceptional and by definition, most people are not. A B.A. degree is like going out for the NFL: basically nobody makes it.
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It’s less “controlling what people like” (which, I’d argue, billions in marketing suggests you absolutely can do) and more “controlling who gets paid for the work” (which, I’d argue, labor unions and labor laws suggest you can also absolutely do).
People like things that are accessible and mass media allows large numbers of people to access a handful of cartelized venues. But go and watch the various American Idol knock-offs, and you’ll find plenty of untalented people on the stage. Half the show is about the heels and how far they can get by schmoozing and scheming before they’re knocked out by more mainstream talent. But its as much about the spectacle as it is about any actual talent.
Meanwhile, local musicians can and do command large audiences and full venues, particularly in cities known for cultivating talent. The trick is in having these venues to perform at and running them efficiently. When small venues get starved for revenue during downturns or crises (COVID, the '08 crash, Hurricane Katrina, etc), that’s what kills a community scene. When rents skyrocket and drive community venues out of business, that’s what costs a town its local venues. It isn’t locals suddenly all forgetting how to perform year to year.
I guess I just don’t see it that way. Ive been to some “sellout” 100 person venues that do a fine business (for the business, the band doesn’t get a huge payday) and I’ve never thought to myself “wow, most people would pay money for this”. They were decent entertainment while I drink a beer.
Most people are just not that talented, or they are decently talented but disillusioned about their probability of success. My ex BIL went to school and did a four year degree for timpani. Not to teach it, to play it. Do you know how many pro timpani positions there are in the country? For good orchestras, it’s fewer than his graduating class in college. Accessible or not, there is just not wide appeal for “pretty good”. I’d be more likely to pay people to stop singing or playing guitar while I’m eating dinner than to buy an album. I’ve also got a friend who is, IMO an extremely good and qualified actor who has been trying 10 years to make it in NYC. He sells real estate. EVERYONE there is an extremely good and qualified actor.
Not everyone, and not even most, can make it in B.A. professions. It just isn’t a good choice of career or study unless you are exceptional and by definition, most people are not. A B.A. degree is like going out for the NFL: basically nobody makes it.