Re: [Harp-L] Mitch Kashmar Live CD..................

[michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

I disagree with Anthony.

Music is not a competition.  I liken music to a game of hacky sack. No
teams, no points.  No need to apologize if you drop the ball, no one
is going to the hospital because a bean sack hit the ground.

However, I do agree with Anthony that the music business is a
competition.  I also think that competitive feelings are my number one
big green monster and every time I worry about competition it gets me
nothing but pain.

I also think humans experience competitive feelings concerning the
artistic side of music.  I believe these feelings arise when believing
the story of the illusion of artistic competition.  This mostly brings
pain but also brings the positive element of awareness that art can be
improved both on technical and feeling levels and can cause a player
to practice these techniques and improve.

Alright, Iceman, I will quote you from the Augusta days: TNT, talent, not turf.

I find that the more I enjoy my friendly neighborhood harmonica
players and teachers and trust that my money goals will be met, the
more that I have great talented friends who I get to play music with
at harmonica events and I can take a lesson from them if they are more
advanced than I am at a certain element of harp.  They invite me to
parties and we share meals and friendship at SPAH type events and at
home.  The money seems to flow in naturally and every year I
consistently find myself making my money goals.

So, the competition is there if you want it.  Enjoy the pain.
However, to not experience competitive feelings is easier said than
done.  I feel them often.
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com


On 7/16/09, Anthony Smith <anthony@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I agree with much of what you said except for, " Music is not a competition,
> and never should be."  Everything in life is competition and music is no
> exception.  Each and every musician is competing against every other
> musician for the consumers time and money.  Everything has an "opportunity
> cost" associated with it.  By choosing a PB sandwich, you forgo eating a
> roast beef sandwich.  By choosing "this", you forgo choosing "that" and that
> is the point here.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of hashbb@xxxxxxx
> Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 11:23 AM
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Mitch Kashmar Live CD..................
>
>
>  I will say Kim Wilson is without a doubt my favorite modern old style
> player. I would rather listen to him too. I will say I think the whole point
> of music and harp playing is being missed here. You need to enjoy a player
> for what he does, not because he or she doesn't measure up to another
> player. Music is not a competition, and never should be. If you enjoy the
> music, great; if not move on to the next thing to for your listening
> pleasure. I have known Mitch for many years. He is a great vocalist and harp
> player, and I doubt he ever thought of trying to sound or be what Kim Wilson
> is. That is not his musical vision. I have the live CD and I like alot of
> the playing on it. I also liked Nickels and Dimes.
> Crazy Mixed up World I thought the band and arrangements we're weak. THat's
> my opinion, but it doesn't make any of this music less great for someone
> else.
> HB
>
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>
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