Sellout or integrity

[casualmadness]

We're all musicians. At some point we've probably all fantasized about playing sold out arenas to thousands of screaming fans. So if given the choice to play music that is, in your opinion, not even good enough to be sub-par, to thousands of adoring fans for enough money and fame to catapult you into superstardom...or...play music that moves you, that excites you, that you feel in your heart and soul, to hundreds of fans and only make enough money to barely survive...which do you choose?

 

[Vorago]

Sellout long enough to never have to work again, quit that band and then start doing your own thing

 

[casualmadness]

Sellout long enough to never have to work again, quit that band and then start doing your own thing

Ahh but if your own thing is music, you have to contend with how serious peopole will take you. Think Vanilla Ice.

 

[Bryan316]

I'd rather stay as brutally METAL as I am, and sell drugs to the Gallagher brothers from Oasis to pay the bills.

 

[Phalex]

Sellout in a heart beat and never look back.

 

[morf]

Bang the hot singer from the sellout band and keep making good music?

 

[PSPookie]

Sellout -- I've done less pleasant things than play crappy music for a lot less money.

Artistic integrity does not feed my kid or keep a roof over our heads.

Once you have the money then you can go back to making the music you want to make. And since you are already rich, who cares if the indusrty/public at large takes you seriously? You can just play small venues for the few people who do take you seriously. It would be just like your "starving artist" option -- only without the starving.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

Are we talking about U2?

 

[Atoz]

I'm more than willing to play lame-ass Green Day crap for a couple of years to amass a fortune. Anyone who doesn't like it can pump my gas.

 

[nbw]

Sell out, Get paid, keep enough of the money to never have to work again and live a comfortable life for me and my family and chuck the rest of to miscellaneous charities. Then make the music I want to make and go from there.

 

[Vandelay]

So if given the choice to play music that is, in your opinion, not even good enough to be sub-par, to thousands of adoring fans for enough money and fame to catapult you into superstardom...

If thousands of adoring fans are buying your music and really enjoying it, then I'd say your music IS good enough.

 

[morf]

If thousands of adoring fans are buying your music and really enjoying it, then I'd say your music IS good enough.

Really

 

[casualmadness]

If thousands of adoring fans are buying your music and really enjoying it, then I'd say your music IS good enough.

So...because something is popular it is good?

 

[Vandelay]

So...because something is popular it is good?

I said "good enough", not "good". Anyway, good music is subjective. To the thousands of adoring fans, it's certainly good.

 

[morf]

I said "good enough", not "good". Anyway, good music is subjective. To the thousands of adoring fans, it's certainly good.

Or its popular. And they buy into it.

 

[A9X]

Sellout long enough to never have to work again, quit that band and then start doing your own thing

+1

Think Vanilla Ice.

I try not too.

So...because something is popular it is good?

Britney?

 

[The Golden Boy]

I'll play mindless trash that I'll profess to be brilliant and rag on everyone else for being a poseur.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Selling out isn't just for 14 year olds anymore!!

 

[casualmadness]

I said "good enough", not "good". Anyway, good music is subjective. To the thousands of adoring fans, it's certainly good.

My point was your feelings about the music you are playing. If something is good to me it might be crap to you. My OP was asking would you play music that is crap to you but gold to thouands/millions/etc.

 

[Vandelay]

Or its popular. And they buy into it.

Possibly, but that's why I said that if they are "buying your music AND really enjoying it...." If someone buys a record, listens to it and actually LIKES it -- that is, it really does "speak" to them -- then who the hell are you to tell them that they're wrong?