I don't like venting - I tend not to feel any better and I'm no very good at it to begin with. Instead I think I'll try a segue from one topic to another
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I think there is definitely a story there, the hard part is telling it in a way that's uniquely meaningful and actually gets the point across without getting bogged down in too much history. i.e. it can be a HUGE topic. I think what you might need is a whole whack load of research, that you can read about then try and synthesize a thesis (so to speak) out of the info. I'll see what I can do in terms of research. I'll bring that Noam Chomsky book back to work and see if I can find some good examples for you (he had a bunch).
Your definition of "lying" may be overly broad. A lot of what you're talking about seems to boil down to perspective. Or abstraction and illustration. Storytelling didn't start out as lying. More along the lines of "Ug saw bear! Kill bear! Get meat!"
I don't think there was ever a Garden of Eden of truth, when men were incapable of lies. When I was a kid, I remember learning how to lie. Even indirectly, when I'd tell someone something that I thought to be true, and it worked out favourably for me. Then when I found out that what I said wasn't true at all, I realized that whether it was actually true or not wasn't important. I'd be rewarded if people thought it was true. And I remember feeling a little more powerful for having realized that
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I have a long reply and I don't know how to begin, so let's use the tried-and-true method of quote-and-reply...
"I have only myself to blame, as my resume didn't pop the way it needed to. 600 people applied for 1 spot."Jon, Jon, Jon. Listen to yourself, man! SIX-HUNDRED PEOPLE applied for one job, and you're beating yourself up over not getting it? No matter how qualified or perfect-for-the-job you are, the truth is there just has to be 599 people who cannot have that job. You're not alone in not landing the job, it's not because you didn't sell yourself or stand out. With 600 people there, the only way anyone can really stand out is to wear a clown suit. And honestly, if 600 people showed up to apply for one job I was offering, I'd probably cut a bunch of people arbitrarily in the first round, simply because I don't have to (or want to) take the time to interview 600 people
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"My band, Kingston Fog, played a show last month that had people dancing, cheering and jumping around - we've gotten better. And while I'm happy about success anywhere, our lead singer/lyric writer and his wife, our violinist, are part of another band. That band is making very big headlines in very little time. They are, by some accounts, the toast of the town. Our sound has evolved enough that I think we can go out there and make a splash - but it hasn't happened and I don't know how we do it. I don't know how they did it and I'm scared (even if it isn't all that likely) that we might lose them to this new project. I can't be mad though, I love the music of this new band. I just wish we could do more, write more, make a name for ourselves."It's really unfortunate that some of your band members are being distracted by another band, although I gotta say, maybe they should consider the fact that spreading themselves between two bands is going to affect to their other bandmates. Hopefully they won't leave K-Fog, because you guys have a
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c) Gimmicks - Being weird for the sake of weird. Have a strange-sounding vocalist, or write joke songs like Weird Al does, or use funny sound effects or unusual instruments. The result is that their image is either hyper-goofy, hyper-hip in an ironic way that you are "with it" if you enjoy (but not too much), or hyper-intellectual/arrogant. Sadly, as much as I used to like The Tea Party, this can apply to them. Same with that whole Franz Ferdinand/The Hives/The Bravery thing that went on for a while, where all the bands wore suits or actually combed their hair. Also, I will now shed a tear for the Mars Volta, whom just the other night I have not only discovered are somewhat popular now (when did this happen?! they got played at my local bar, for crying out loud), but I have been told by my friend Holly that they just use nonsensical lyrics and long compositions to be fake intellectuals! *shakes head* Why, Mars Volta, WHY?!!! I am so disillusioned. Oh well, at least I still have Dream Theater, right? ...Right?!! d) Just be
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Anyway, this is not to say that you get popular by being bad, nor am I saying that this other band is a bad band. I'm sure they're just dandy, but their success is not a sign of your failing. The important thing is to remember that you are making good, enjoyable music that gets a reaction from people -- music that you are proud of, and want to keep making, and want to keep furthering artistically. There will always be people who are "better" than you, no matter how good you are. But, you make enjoyable music now, you've played a lot of venues, and you have a quality CD made already, which is more than most up-and-coming bands can say. Anyway, if you feel like you need to keep working on it more, then that's always a good thing, and I hope you contunue to persue it.
"I don't know how to do it - the same way I don't really know how to apply for a big job, write a book, take care of my house, take care of my fiancee, take care of a wedding, really apply myself in my classes."Dude, you know how many things you are trying to work on
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My dear, you are WAYYYYYYYYYY too hard on yourself. You are one of the most supportive people I know and even though you may not be able to provide tangible support (example: a drive here, etc.), I know you are emotionally supportive and THEY know that.
In terms of your creativity issues, I think you may be too results focused as opposed to enjoying the process (if you get what I mean). For example, you're talking about becoming the splash of the town and finding success with a band. Is it the end of the world if you don't get radio play? Do you mentally already have your book advance cashed? (I'm not trying to sound harsh hear, but I know when I used to write, I used to always think about having it published and so I never ended up finishing projects)
You are no different than anyone else our age in terms of wondering about your place in the world :) *hugs*
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I don't think there was ever a Garden of Eden of truth, when men were incapable of lies. When I was a kid, I remember learning how to lie. Even indirectly, when I'd tell someone something that I thought to be true, and it worked out favourably for me. Then when I found out that what I said wasn't true at all, I realized that whether it was actually true or not wasn't important. I'd be rewarded if people thought it was true. And I remember feeling a little more powerful for having realized that ( ... )
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"I have only myself to blame, as my resume didn't pop the way it needed to. 600 people applied for 1 spot."Jon, Jon, Jon. Listen to yourself, man! SIX-HUNDRED PEOPLE applied for one job, and you're beating yourself up over not getting it? No matter how qualified or perfect-for-the-job you are, the truth is there just has to be 599 people who cannot have that job. You're not alone in not landing the job, it's not because you didn't sell yourself or stand out. With 600 people there, the only way anyone can really stand out is to wear a clown suit. And honestly, if 600 people showed up to apply for one job I was offering, I'd probably cut a bunch of people arbitrarily in the first round, simply because I don't have to (or want to) take the time to interview 600 people ( ... )
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d) Just be ( ... )
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"I don't know how to do it - the same way I don't really know how to apply for a big job, write a book, take care of my house, take care of my fiancee, take care of a wedding, really apply myself in my classes."Dude, you know how many things you are trying to work on ( ... )
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In terms of your creativity issues, I think you may be too results focused as opposed to enjoying the process (if you get what I mean). For example, you're talking about becoming the splash of the town and finding success with a band. Is it the end of the world if you don't get radio play? Do you mentally already have your book advance cashed? (I'm not trying to sound harsh hear, but I know when I used to write, I used to always think about having it published and so I never ended up finishing projects)
You are no different than anyone else our age in terms of wondering about your place in the world :) *hugs*
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