What is your value?

Hey Heroes,

So, here's a little something that's becoming quite an issue for me. The issue of personal worth and value.

Musicians, in particular, seem to be really bad about valuing their product. Is it because no one ever told us that our Art has merit? Is it because we've all been told that we can't make a living by making music? Is it because the competition for opportunities is so stiff that we're willing to cut off our own noses to get the chance?

Do we, as musicians, not understand that if we don't place "Value" on our product, we are undervaluing Indie music in general?

Let me ask you this. How many hours did you spend recording your song? 8? 10? More?

Say you ended up with 8 hours invested in writing, arranging and recording your new track. What is that song worth?

You know, I've actually seen my fellow Indies license a fully produced song for $25.

$25 dollars. That's $3.13 an hour. I hate to break this to you, but you could make more working backline at McDonalds.

There are those that say, "Hey it weeds out the chaff so that the experienced musicians can have more opportunity". There are those who say that "you'll make up for it in exposure". There are those who say that "it's just a hobby anyway, I don't expect to make any money".

Let's take a look at each of these, one by one.

- It weeds out the inexperienced and makes more opportunity for others.

That would be awesome, except that it also trains the potential licensee to think that if one person can do it for so little then we all can. I've also actually seen licensees state that "it's only going to be an hour long, you can do it for under $50". I mean, anyone with any experience knows how much time goes into creating 1 hour of finished audio, and I would hope my time is worth more than that.

- You'll make up for it in Exposure.

What does that mean? How many commercials or TV shows (MTV and VH1 excepted)do you see songwriting credits on, I mean unless you want to count the quick rolling, micro print credits at the end of a TV show, that have just gotten shorter over the years. How exactly does that give you "Exposure"? I've actually seen people say "you could promote it on your website". Yep. You give the show/commercial free advertisement and still only reach your mailing list.

- It's just a hobby, I don't expect to make money anyway.

The problem with this attitude is that it's harmful to other Indies. In fact this is the most harmful attitude. It's a case of the bitterness of a few being employed to bring down the rest. If you only consider yourself as a hobbyist, why are you dabbling in areas where people are trying to make their livings? To make a little side money? See the McDonalds reference above.

This brings us back to the mindset of feeling that what we do doesn't have value. If music didn't have value companies wouldn't be searching for it for their adds. If music didn't have value, that kid at the guitar store wouldn't shell out $15 for a Nirvana Tab Book. If music didn't have value, you wouldn't drop $7 to sit in a smokey club and have your eardrums battered every Friday and Saturday night.

It is possible to make a living at music, but we have to value what we do.

What is your time worth?

What is your soul worth?

Later,