Why are so many musicians flaky?

[Killed_by_Death]

I used to enjoy working with Engineers, because they were usually well disciplined.
As a matter of fact, the jobs/fields they choose are often called their "Discipline".

Musicians on the other hand, well I think we all know the recurring theme of flakiness from the Band Management sub-forum.

I think it's a general thing with folks who use that side of the brain more, artists, etc.


Addendum:

Please don't put words in my mouth. I did not say ALL or even the majority of musicians.

 

[Awesome Sauce]

Yes, it is. And if you think musicians are bad, try being around tattoo artists. Flake doesn't even begin to scratch the surface.

 

[alembicguy]

I work side by side with dozens of engineers for going on 22 years and have never heard one refer to their chosen field as their "discipline ". I will give you the flaky part about musicians though.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I don't think musicians are any more flaky than anybody else. I think it just gets put under a magnifying glass because we're so dependent upon each other. I don't consider myself flaky at all, and I know lots if musicians I feel the same about. I also know a lot of flaky people who are not musicians.

 

[Awesome Sauce]

It's not so much being a musician as being right brained, or right brain dominant. I'm definitely left brain dominant, but have my bouts of flakiness.

 

[pacojas]

all of my musician friends are hella flakey!!!!!! BUT, i go in knowing that and it hardly bothers me because i bring everything to every gig in my truck. i have the rehearsal space in my name, i own every instrument (except horns), i book most of the gigs and collect the purse, i bring extra miscellaneous gear, etc.
if i play in your band, then i just might be the flake unless i like your band,.. then i take over your band if you mess up as the leader. come to one of my shows late or unprepared,...
LAWD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL!!!!

btw,.. i'm not a musician. i'm a businessman!!!

 

[charlie monroe]

I used to enjoy working with Engineers, because they were usually well disciplined.
As a matter of fact, the jobs/fields they choose are often called their "Discipline".

Musicians on the other hand, well I think we all know the recurring theme of flakiness from the Band Management sub-forum.

I think it's a general thing with folks who use that side of the brain more, artists, etc.

You do realize that you have just given your "loyal following" an entire ammo dump full of "You ain't in a band" and "hearsay" et al.

 

[brianrost]

Musicians don't have a lock on flakiness. I'm am engineer BTW and I've met plenty of flakes in this business.

 

[Murdoc_420]

It's not so much being a musician as being right brained, or right brain dominant. I'm definitely left brain dominant, but have my bouts of flakiness.
View attachment 807658

I wouldn't say that's true at all. I am into music, art, creativity, all that. But if I say I'm going to be somewhere I am there or I let people know I won't.

I know many flaky people who aren't creative at all.

Just another stereo type that has no actual basis in reality.

 

[jerry]

I'm not crazy about people period, I'll take dogs anyday!

 

[Awesome Sauce]

I wouldn't say that's true at all. I am into music, art, creativity, all that. But if I say I'm going to be somewhere I am there or I let people know I won't.

I know many flaky people who aren't creative at all.

Just another stereo type that has no actual basis in reality.

Nowhere did I, nor the illustration, say that every single right brained person is artistically creative, or anything else described. My wife is one of the most stoic, organized, and dutiful people I've ever met. She's also one of the best artists I've ever seen. Having no formal training at any point in her life, she can take a photo and make a pencil sketch that you would swear is a black and white photo. I have also had many friends in the engineering and sciences fields who, to the average person, show no signs of creativity whatsoever. However, the ability to solve problems by seeing solutions no one else sees marks them as being extremely creative. And by the way- all stereotypes are based in reality. That's what a stereotype is: an overgeneralized, simplified, and/or exaggerated trait that is used to denigrate a group of people.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I work side by side with dozens of engineers for going on 22 years and have never heard one refer to their chosen field as their "discipline ".

I'm guessing you've only worked in the USA then. It's quite common elsewhere.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I don't think musicians are any more flaky than anybody else.

Have you worked in an office environment that requires discipline?
I think maybe you just have become accustomed the flakiness.

I also know a lot of flaky people who are not musicians.

Yes, but are they the type that use the right side of their brain?, artists...

You do realize that you have just given your "loyal following" an entire ammo dump full of "You ain't in a band" and "hearsay" et al.

I've been around musicians enough to know flakiness when I see it.

I'm am engineer BTW and I've met plenty of flakes in this business.

I guess I was lucky in the industry I worked in. Flakiness meant getting fired, so it rarely happened.

 

[Michael B]

Temperamental might be more prevalent and annoying.

 

[alembicguy]

I'm guessing you've only worked in the USA then. It's quite common elsewhere.

View attachment 807674

Yes I have worked outside the USA. It's also quite common to refer to the toilet in different terms all over the world.


Toilet Names - ToiletInspector.com -

 

[Murdoc_420]

Your entire first sentence says exactly that 'it's not musicians it's RIGHT BRAINED PEOPLE'. The first line of the chart also says that: Creativity, followed by Imagination.

Then you say you are left brained but even you can be flaky (implying that right brained people are typically the flaky ones).

And yet you say you are left brained (ironically the chart says logic is a trait).
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So your entire post was about what you just denied saying but you throw in the 'every single one line' to justify it. Then you quote me as if I'm bullshitting?

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IMO it's easy to try and make stereo types and they usually exist because someone will just agree to the point of ad nuaseum, 'oh yeah you're right, musicians ARE flaky'. When it has more to do with ignoring the opposite side of the spectrum which is many people of all types are flaky. But that's hard to categorize.
It's like saying women are bad drivers, or asians are: More likely it's just biased BS that people latch onto.

Probably musicians think musicians are flaky because they deal with a lot of musicians. Do the same people deal with a lot of athletes? If they did they'd probably be considered just as flaky.
On the other end of the scale do you think PROFESSIONAL musicians are flaky? I doubt someone in an orchestra would be professional if they were flaky.

Most likely people in garage bands are just more relaxed and are flaky in all parts of life.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Yes I have worked outside the USA.

I'm surprised you never heard the term "discipline" used to refer to one's chosen field of work.
It was one of the first things I noticed when I started working with Aussies & folks from the UK.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I've been hanging around software developers for the past year or so, and sometimes I long for the company of the flaky photographers and artists I used to hang with.

 

[Laklandfan]

Perception is reality. One flaky member of a band has an impact on the other 4, but the whole band would be viewed as flaky by outsiders. I would assume that's one reason why DJ's started replacing bands in live music venue, it's easier to hire one guy who has his act together than hire a band who is probably a mixed bag of reliability.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Do the same people deal with a lot of athletes? If they did they'd probably be considered just as flaky.

Actually, I think athletes are probably least likely flaky, because it requires a good bit of discipline to be in that field.