Take chances within reasonable limits. Prepare for nothing to happen 99% of the time. Small, consistent changes everyday lead to a body of work that you can lean on. Put your work in public and support your friends in their endeavors. Have each other's back. Try to have fun because nothing is gained when nothing is ventured!
I like this "no expectations" take, Nikhil. I write the stuff that's banging hardest on the inside of my brain that week - but there's just no correlation between time spent and results, and I'm coming to accept that. It *is* fun!
Yeah, no one really knows what will stick and what won't. I've read so many times that people are stunned by which parts of their output people respond most to ("that song took me 20 minutes to write and they love it, this one took days and no one cares!").
Also, there are probably lessons in the story of TSR about artists and business and how it's tough to get the two perfectly aligned. Apple did it because of Jobs AND Woz at the outset. Woz alone might have shown a cool prototype to the Homebrew Computer Club... and then what?
You picked out the part, Stephanie, I was drawn to.....the risk notion as relates to the record biz! In fact, it's the little-known and little-heard which propels much of my writing on FR&B, as I continue to have trouble knowing when NOT to shamelessly self-promote, like on another's comment section!!🤔But, hey, I rolled those dice.......well said, Stephanie!
I love those moments when I find an under-appreciated gem, though the enigma of *why* it never caught on and some other song did is really interesting, too!
....Which is exactly the dynamic we dig into with our "Audio Autopsy" series, Stephanie! Feel free to drop by and peruse a couple on Front Row & Backstage. You might find a new indispensable tune, and the reasons why it never caught on!🎼🎵😁
Like a couple of your readers, Mark, I didn't imbibe in the bones-rolling games mentioned in your well-written piece! In fact, I was on the other side....as a youth minister in the '80s, my challenge was always answering questions about the spiritual ramifications (if any) of what I originally thought was more of a clumsy crustacean thing....Dungeness Draggin's. But, as usual, I digress (and daydream about seafood).
A similar experience with Magic and Pokemon, too, when I was a teacher in the '90s and early oughts. But, with those, it was more dealing with the kiddies and their relentless obsessions with those, and trying to vie with their wee attention spans to do homework and staying somewhat alert in class.
I enjoyed Stephanie's mention of the similar dynamic in the record biz where a huge amount of time might yield nothing, whereas a song written on a napkin in 5 minutes turns out to sell millions!
By the way, I finally discovered, thanks to you, the origin of "Level Up"! When the Houston Astros belched that forth earlier this year as their team motto for '22, I had no idea what it meant, to the point where I wrote as much (if you don't mind me dropping a link...I don't mind exposing my ignorance): https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/level-up-houston-astros-unveil-new
In short, I guess I missed the boat on those amazingly simply-constructed, but maxed-out money-makers, at least as a participant! Well done, Mark, and thanks!
Well, thanks, Mark! It's amazing, though, the different poles of attraction an article can evoke: Readers who are longtime players and can relate, and someone like me, who, to varying degrees, represents those "on the other side"! In short, I learned something!😉👍
Hey Mark, great article! Specifically as it relates to D&D, I'm curious why you and your friends enjoyed it? At least in this case, what ultimately brought the game into your consciousness?
Great question. I found out about it through an old friend who had gotten a D&D set when we were both in high school, he was a big SF and comic books fan and always on the look for something new. For me, escape from reality was a big part of the allure, plus it was a chance to "level up" and become more powerful over time.
Take chances within reasonable limits. Prepare for nothing to happen 99% of the time. Small, consistent changes everyday lead to a body of work that you can lean on. Put your work in public and support your friends in their endeavors. Have each other's back. Try to have fun because nothing is gained when nothing is ventured!
I like this "no expectations" take, Nikhil. I write the stuff that's banging hardest on the inside of my brain that week - but there's just no correlation between time spent and results, and I'm coming to accept that. It *is* fun!
"Prepare for nothing to happen 99% of the time" - wisdom here.
Yeah, no one really knows what will stick and what won't. I've read so many times that people are stunned by which parts of their output people respond most to ("that song took me 20 minutes to write and they love it, this one took days and no one cares!").
Also, there are probably lessons in the story of TSR about artists and business and how it's tough to get the two perfectly aligned. Apple did it because of Jobs AND Woz at the outset. Woz alone might have shown a cool prototype to the Homebrew Computer Club... and then what?
You picked out the part, Stephanie, I was drawn to.....the risk notion as relates to the record biz! In fact, it's the little-known and little-heard which propels much of my writing on FR&B, as I continue to have trouble knowing when NOT to shamelessly self-promote, like on another's comment section!!🤔But, hey, I rolled those dice.......well said, Stephanie!
I love those moments when I find an under-appreciated gem, though the enigma of *why* it never caught on and some other song did is really interesting, too!
Well spoken.
....Which is exactly the dynamic we dig into with our "Audio Autopsy" series, Stephanie! Feel free to drop by and peruse a couple on Front Row & Backstage. You might find a new indispensable tune, and the reasons why it never caught on!🎼🎵😁
Always great posts - definitely check out 'Audio Autopsy'!
Thanks, Bryan! I appreciate the vote of confidence! Stay tuned!🎼🎵😊👍
I will, Brad! Will look for "Audio Autopsy" :-)
Great post, Mark! I’m taking this part with me today: ‘...you lose 100% of the dice rolls you never throw.’ Wise words!
I LOVED D&D - spent far too many hours exploring dungeons and kingdoms and cool places that should exist but didn't. Great post as always!
Like a couple of your readers, Mark, I didn't imbibe in the bones-rolling games mentioned in your well-written piece! In fact, I was on the other side....as a youth minister in the '80s, my challenge was always answering questions about the spiritual ramifications (if any) of what I originally thought was more of a clumsy crustacean thing....Dungeness Draggin's. But, as usual, I digress (and daydream about seafood).
A similar experience with Magic and Pokemon, too, when I was a teacher in the '90s and early oughts. But, with those, it was more dealing with the kiddies and their relentless obsessions with those, and trying to vie with their wee attention spans to do homework and staying somewhat alert in class.
I enjoyed Stephanie's mention of the similar dynamic in the record biz where a huge amount of time might yield nothing, whereas a song written on a napkin in 5 minutes turns out to sell millions!
By the way, I finally discovered, thanks to you, the origin of "Level Up"! When the Houston Astros belched that forth earlier this year as their team motto for '22, I had no idea what it meant, to the point where I wrote as much (if you don't mind me dropping a link...I don't mind exposing my ignorance): https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/level-up-houston-astros-unveil-new
In short, I guess I missed the boat on those amazingly simply-constructed, but maxed-out money-makers, at least as a participant! Well done, Mark, and thanks!
Thanks Brad. Trust me, you probably still have a few hundreds dollars in your pocket that some of us don't thanks to your choices!
Well, thanks, Mark! It's amazing, though, the different poles of attraction an article can evoke: Readers who are longtime players and can relate, and someone like me, who, to varying degrees, represents those "on the other side"! In short, I learned something!😉👍
Hey Mark, great article! Specifically as it relates to D&D, I'm curious why you and your friends enjoyed it? At least in this case, what ultimately brought the game into your consciousness?
Great question. I found out about it through an old friend who had gotten a D&D set when we were both in high school, he was a big SF and comic books fan and always on the look for something new. For me, escape from reality was a big part of the allure, plus it was a chance to "level up" and become more powerful over time.
Yup, there's some magic there.