Performance vs. Music

[Mudfuzz]

Since a lot of you are in bands, and some of you aren't, I wonder what your ideas on performances are. Do you get off on the rush of the crowd the energy of the performance, or do you prefer the quiet exploration of music away from the glare of people. Personally I hate being around people. Music helps me forget about being around people. It is an end unto itself. A friend of mine in a fairly popular local band loves to perform. His goals are about being heard by other people.

What say you?

I like performing, it's one of the only things where I feel truly comfortable in public, I hate stores, I really don't like parties, I don't even like the time before and after performing... The stage for me is a little like a barrier...

[The4455]

Since a lot of you are in bands, and some of you aren't, I wonder what your ideas on performances are. Do you get off on the rush of the crowd the energy of the performance, or do you prefer the quiet exploration of music away from the glare of people. Personally I hate being around people. Music helps me forget about being around people. It is an end unto itself. A friend of mine in a fairly popular local band loves to perform. His goals are about being heard by other people.

What say you?

I like performing, it's one of the only things where I feel truly comfortable in public, I hate stores, I really don't like parties, I don't even like the time before and after performing... The stage for me is a little like a barrier...

But all the world is a stage, and we are merely players.

I just read as you like it.

[Gearmond]

the very nature of music/art is that it requires a creator and an audience. for all intents and purposes, one cannot be the other.

if you argue "fuck the critics, i make music for myself" that is a logically fallacious argument with the above premise, seeing as it is regarded as true for pretty much any philosopher on the matter, and has been for quite some time, and has yet to come to any significant opposition. a painting no one has seen but the creator is a painting, but it is not art. likewise with music.

I make music that I like to make, but I'd like to have enough people who enjoy it to feel like it matters.

[MEC]

the very nature of music/art is that it requires a creator and an audience. for all intents and purposes, one cannot be the other.

if you argue "fuck the critics, i make music for myself" that is a logically fallacious argument with the above premise, seeing as it is regarded as true for pretty much any philosopher on the matter, and has been for quite some time, and has yet to come to any significant opposition. a painting no one has seen but the creator is a painting, but it is not art. likewise with music.

I make music that I like to make, but I'd like to have enough people who enjoy it to feel like it matters.

From what I can tell your post is attempting to define who is and who is not an artist based on whether or not they present their work to an audience. I think that is irrelevant in this thread.

It is quite possible to perform music for yourself in front of others.

Saying " "fuck the critics, i make music for myself" doesn't mean "I'm going to write and perform music that I like and everyone else will dislike". I think just by chance, if you perform music that you wrote by yourself and for yourself in front of and audience, a percentage of that audience will appreciate it. Where the "fuck the critics, i make music for myself" part comes in is whether or not you care about the percentage of the audience that didn't enjoy it and if you change your music accordingly. Maybe a better way to say it is " It's OK if not everyone likes my music, I made it for myself with like minded people in mind".

Also, I don't think every one plays music or paints for the satisfaction of others. A lot of art forms are used for relaxation among other things.

[bigchiefbc]

the very nature of music/art is that it requires a creator and an audience. for all intents and purposes, one cannot be the other.

if you argue "fuck the critics, i make music for myself" that is a logically fallacious argument with the above premise, seeing as it is regarded as true for pretty much any philosopher on the matter, and has been for quite some time, and has yet to come to any significant opposition. a painting no one has seen but the creator is a painting, but it is not art. likewise with music.

I make music that I like to make, but I'd like to have enough people who enjoy it to feel like it matters.

From what I can tell your post is attempting to define who is and who is not an artist based on whether or not they present their work to an audience. I think that is irrelevant in this thread.

It is quite possible to perform music for yourself in front of others.

Saying " "fuck the critics, i make music for myself" doesn't mean "I'm going to write and perform music that I like and everyone else will dislike". I think just by chance, if you perform music that you wrote by yourself and for yourself in front of and audience, a percentage of that audience will appreciate it. Where the "fuck the critics, i make music for myself" part comes in is whether or not you care about the percentage of the audience that didn't enjoy it and if you change your music accordingly. Maybe a better way to say it is " It's OK if not everyone likes my music, I made it for myself with like minded people in mind".

Also, I don't think every one plays music or paints for the satisfaction of others. A lot of art forms are used for relaxation among other things.

Well, I agree and yet I disagree. If you never intend anyone else to see a piece of visual art, why even display it anywhere other than in your living room? Why take a picture of it and post it somewhere? If it's just for you, it's right there in your home. The only reason to put it on display somewhere is so someone else can see it. Any if you're making music solely for yourself, then why perform it anywhere other than in your basement? Why bother to perform it in front of other people? The only explanation I can think of is that you DO want people other than yourself to hear it.

[smile_man]

I like playing music and I like playing in front of people but I don't really care if those people like me playing music or not.

[mathias]

I'm not an artist

[MEC]

Well, I agree and yet I disagree. If you never intend anyone else to see a piece of visual art, why even display it anywhere other than in your living room? Why take a picture of it and post it somewhere? If it's just for you, it's right there in your home. The only reason to put it on display somewhere is so someone else can see it. Any if you're making music solely for yourself, then why perform it anywhere other than in your basement? Why bother to perform it in front of other people? The only explanation I can think of is that you DO want people other than yourself to hear it.

I guess my point is when I write a song I don't write it for the purpose of other people liking it. I write it because I like it. If other people like it, that's cool too. If other people don't like it that's OK it doesn't make me like or perform it any less.

I have been in bands that tried to write songs that for the approval of others and it wasn't fulfilling to me in the same way playing in a cover band is not fufilling to me.

Maybe a better way of putting it is, I don't seek approval from others for my music and don't conform my music to others taste (bandmates excluded).

[Haki]

I like playing music and I like playing in front of people but I don't really care if those people like me playing music or not.

Also where's the group(ie) sex option?

[kaboom]

i don't understand how you can't write music for yourself and still share it with whoever may be interested. if you want to hear the crap i make for my own amusement, go for it.
that said, i want to vote for all three options.

[bigchiefbc]

I guess my point is when I write a song I don't write it for the purpose of other people liking it. I write it because I like it. If other people like it, that's cool too. If other people don't like it that's OK it doesn't make me like or perform it any less.

I have been in bands that tried to write songs that for the approval of others and it wasn't fulfilling to me in the same way playing in a cover band is not fufilling to me.

Maybe a better way of putting it is, I don't seek approval from others for my music and don't conform my music to others taste (bandmates excluded).

OK, but if you don't care if people like it or not, then why bother performing it live in front of people, or releasing it on a CD or on the internet. The only reason to do those things is that you want an audience to hear it.

[StudioShutIn]

When it comes to playing with other musicians, I'm all for it
But in situations where I'm just sitting in my room with the acoustic guitar, I get really self-conscious and weird about my own playing
Maybe because just playing by yourself leaves you sort of musically "naked"?

Incidentally, in regards to the idea that music without an audience isn't as important..who's to say you can't be your own audience?
Music can be very therapeutic...it's one of the main reasons I still play after all these years of no band prospects.

[theavondon]

I hardly ever play music alone, primarily due to not being able to play at the volume I so desire in my current home. Some of my bands have actually not practiced in months, yet play shows regularly. And, I used to really give a huge shit about the audience. But, that sucked. It made me feel like SHIT. So, I stopped. Straight up stopped giving a shit about the audience's thoughts on my music and played live simply so I could be loud once again. Loud as I want, loud as I crave. Now, it seems the audiences I play for are a lot more interested and generally larger. I really love the people I play for, but I'm always confused when people say they like it. I'm always shocked or surprised, because I've just assumed that I suck for SO LONG and just stopped caring. So, I play for me, but I LOVE PLAYING LIVE. I love creating new friends, breaking my equipment, and covering myself in my own blood FOR ME.

But, I did vote that I'm here to fuck a musician. So, if there's any ladies that play bass, hey, what's up?

[MEC]

I guess my point is when I write a song I don't write it for the purpose of other people liking it. I write it because I like it. If other people like it, that's cool too. If other people don't like it that's OK it doesn't make me like or perform it any less.

I have been in bands that tried to write songs that for the approval of others and it wasn't fulfilling to me in the same way playing in a cover band is not fufilling to me.

Maybe a better way of putting it is, I don't seek approval from others for my music and don't conform my music to others taste (bandmates excluded).

OK, but if you don't care if people like it or not, then why bother performing it live in front of people, or releasing it on a CD or on the internet. The only reason to do those things is that you want an audience to hear it.

Your right, I love gracing an audience with my supreme talent and their approval and adoration is my salvation.
It took your persistence to make me realize that and I thank you.

[bigchiefbc]

OK, but if you don't care if people like it or not, then why bother performing it live in front of people, or releasing it on a CD or on the internet. The only reason to do those things is that you want an audience to hear it.

Your right, I love gracing an audience with my supreme talent and their approval and adoration is my salvation.
It took your persistence to make me realize that and I thank you.

Oh come on, I'm not trying to be a dick here. I'm just trying to parse this out logically.