Here is Mr. Micheal "Dork" Dinkins latest blog enetry:
When I was first approached about contributing to this blog, I was asked to think of something that could be useful to music students that either want to pursue music as a career or at the very least as a serious hobby. Barring any unforeseen anomalies in the universe, I am one of the latter. I play in two different local bands because it is simply something that I enjoy doing... not because I am well compensated. Nothing compares to the feeling of creating something that you think is exciting, and especially if you have the chance to share it with other people who find it exciting too and are willing to share the experience. There's that... and then there is the escape from reality. For a few hours a week, I can refocus my attention on something over which I and my fellow bandmates have control. I get to be in the company of friends and have a hand in shaping a small segment of the 'art' being produced in town. And ultimately, there is the human desire to have something to leave behind, however few people may carry it along with them into the future.
So, here are some of the things that I have experienced and learned as the weeks turned into years... as I have played for more and more people and gotten to know 'the system' of it all. The short of it -- be a jack of all trades and learn how to deal with people, even if that is one of your weaknesses. Much of what I say will apply to working in a band setting as that is simply all I have done.
First and foremost, learn your craft. If you're a guitar player, know all that you can about the guitar from the notes on the fretboard to how the electronics are wired and work. If you're writing music, be highly critical of what you write. Be critical of your execution. I've been in situations before at a gig where one person had to tune another's instrument because that person didn't know how and wouldn't commit to even learning this most fundamental aspect of playing. Be highly critical of yourself and push to improve and try new things as often as possible. I've played with guitarists who thought they were a gift to music but in reality could barely fret a chord properly. Be willing to listen to advice other people give you especially when you know you could benefit from it.
If you're in a band and can't necessarily learn everyone else's craft, at least know what they should be doing. If you don't know what the final 'product' should sound like from all angles, it is only to your detriment. Be willing to be the person to stand up and tell your bandmates that they're not doing something correctly if they aren't. I'm not talking about artistic differences. If you're bass player and drummer can't sync up and your band is not Meshuggah, chances are you sound less than desirable. Be willing to push those around you and encourage them. Take the time to work out the simple things if they need working out. In short, never try to find excuses to suck. Practice, and practice the right thing. Ask questions if necessary.
Try your hardest to be original. Try your hardest to make your music memorable. Give people something to latch onto. Try to rise above the lowest common denominator. You won't always succeed, but with every new song or piece of music comes a new chance to create something special. Learn to balance what people expect to hear and then try to give them things they aren't expecting to hear, and it's ok to occasionally completely give them something that will challenge themselves as an audience. A lot of people, especially certain cliques, will talk a good game about liking crazy, unique music but when presented with something that doesn't fit their preconceived notions, they put up a wall. I overheard one kid talking about my band at a show we did a while back-- "I don't really like that band. They don't play enough breakdowns." Art and originality must go out the window for some. But as the ever-illuminous John Berret once told me, "All it takes is for one person to step up and be a leader and once enough people show interest, a lot of others will follow.... if you're good haha."
Pick and surround yourself with the right people. Realize that all people have their own ideas, but if you have a band, each of those people need to see the common theme. If you're doing the serious hobby thing, you may have to deal with more of life getting in the way. In one of my bands, there are 3 guys who are married. Two guys have children. Most of us have full-time jobs. If you're thinking of music as a full-time career and are very serious about this, finding people who are equally as serious as you can not be an item of compromise, however, but it is imperative no matter what your goals are to work with people who will encourage you and build you up rather than try to drag you down. Bands tend to have a fair amount of drama associated with it. Personalities are going to clash and heads will butt, but if you ever find yourself with someone who is obviously a train wreck waiting to happen, it's best to get cut ties as soon as possible. Music can't be any fun if the people you play with aren't any fun to be around.
Be aware of what is going on around you. In the music world, there will be people looking to cut your metaphorical throat. In the last two years alone, I've known of bands that have paid to play bigger shows, cutting others probably more deserving out of a spot... bands that have weaseled and whined their way onto shows, only to show up and be complete jerks and run people out of the venue... bands that have tried to have others kicked off shows...bands that have lied about how many people they can draw to a show when trying to set up gig swaps... bands that demand a bunch of money even though they have no fan base in an area... and bands that are willing to break an agreement made in good faith because they think there is a greener pasture... and that's before personalities get involved. There will people who will admire you, who genuinely like you and want to support you, and there will be people who will dislike you, and even people who wish you would get hit by a bus. I've found that it's best not to engage in any negativity back and forth with people trying to spread rumors and talk trash... especially on the Internet. Nothing makes someone look more foolish than an Internet flame war. And even in the real world, most times people will dig their own holes if you just disengage.
Be genuinely friendly to everyone that you can. If you're not a people person, do your best to become a people person. You can take the cynical view that anything nice done by someone else is all done for their personal gain, but that will ultimately lead you to apathy. Take interest in what other people are doing. Go out to see other people perform and support them even if you're not on the bill. In turn, they are much more likely to support you. Talk to people about your project.
Be confident and competent but modest. Never boast that you are the best band in town, even if you objectively know this to be true, and especially if you're not even close. I've literally seen a brand new band come out and proclaim themselves the best before ever playing a gig. Most people are put off by rock-star attitudes. I was once introduced to a guy in a visiting band, who turned and walked away once he realized that I was just a guy in a local band rather than someone who would stroke his ego. Likewise, I've also seen people around here look down their nose at myself and others because they knew the 'right' people and had the 'cool' friends. However, you can't be everyone's buddy. There just isn't enough time in the day and not enough days in a month to be everywhere and support everyone at all times... and eventually, if your band is good and works hard enough, people may begin to see you in a different light after some time passes. One of my friends has often remarked, when his band was at their peak, that people would seem to get offended that he didn't give them enough attention... and because of that, he must now feel superior.
When you put yourself in the public's eye... no matter how big or how small that eye may be, there will always be some negative things associated with it. BUT... and a big but... a lot of that is diminished if you are good at your craft and you treat people with respect and can show that you are genuinely out to have fun.
