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Hi there, (Fair warning, "old guy" rant about to ensue) It's just an opinion (my opinion) Chris . . . however, I have to say you seem to have it precisely backwards. Being an "entertainer" is about "ego" (fashion, style, false show-biz ethics, hey look at me, I'm a star, worship me, validate me, love me, don't I look good?, watch this next move, I'm so friggin' cool, etc.). And being an "artist" (no matter who is in the audience, or even if there is no audience) is about "reaching the unreachable" - almost an ego-less internal spiritual quest (if it is permissible to use that much overused word). I find it preferable, and perhaps a little easier to play for other musicians and/or "artists" (at least they have a hope of understanding what I am trying to do (and NOT trying to do) and might be motivated to suss out the difference). Playing for the normal "bar crowd" is too often like playing for people with really, really low and very superficial expectations (they just wanna party, get drunk, get laid, or simply be distracted from reality for a while). Nothing particularly wrong with that . . . but that's no more "art" than the paintings of Thomas Kinkade. It's disposable, meaningless fluff . . . it's entertainment. Playing for people who have a little more understanding (going in) whoever they are - be they painters, poets, players, or reference librarians - is an encouragement to do more, do better, to transcend one's self, to be "in the moment" to and create whatever that's in you trying to get out. Now, if they're an audience of pro or semi-pro "entertainers" that would indeed be hard. They are looking strictly to be "impressed" by the form, finesse and appearance . . . and could'nt give a rat's patootie for meaning, content, innovation or other significance. That's what's so sickening about "American Idol" - that's exactly what that show is. It's a bunch of pandering egos looking to slap themselves on their own backsides, or otherwise be stroked and petted and fawned over. It's so blatant it's nearly obscene. It's stuff like that which makes television nearly unwatchable any more . . . and radio nearly unlistenable. It's like our civilization is choking on it's own vomit and still trying to cram down more. Oh well . . . just keep a smile on. Somebody cue up some classic rock and set up another round of beers - rave on! Cheers, Ted On May 17, 2008, at 7:35 AM, Chris Sewell wrote: > I couldn't disagree more. Playing for musicians is about feeding ones > ego. Reaching the unreachable is far more gratifying. > On May 16, 2008, at 11:54 AM, Stefan Tiedje wrote: > >> Chris Sewell schrieb: >>> It's friggin show business. Our job is to entertain. Not impress >>> other musicians. >> >> To impress an audience might be entertaining, but its not the job of >> an artist to entertain. (Those are called entertainers...) >> The job of an artist is more about impressing the audience with your >> personal expression, something the don't know yet. If its an audience >> of musicians its a bit harder but also more rewarding... >> >> Stefan tEd ® kiLLiAn Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain http://www.pfmentum.com/PFMCD007.html http://www.CDbaby.com/cd/tedkillian http://www.guitar9.com/fluxaeterna.html http://www.indiejazz.com/ProductDetailsView.aspx?ProductID=193 http://guitarplayer.com/article/y2k6-international-live/Jun-07/27768 Ted Killian's "Flux Aeterna" is also available at Apple iTunes