Aside from all the playing, all the practicing, all of the soaking in licks and grooves and going to concerts, we as musicians have to deal with people. Rarely is music a 1 man operation. Usually it is a team sport. If you play in a band, play at church, play in an orchestra, tour, do studio work, or any other given genre, you have to deal with people.
My perspective in music of course is from a Nashville studio and touring one. I was not brought up with very good people skills. I learned usually by screwing up, and figuring out, oops, don’t do that dummy. After having Nashville knock the rough edges off me bit by bit, I figured out that to make it here you need 2 things. Playing ability is only one. Of course you have to ‘bring it.’ When the red light goes on you have to have the goods.
The other thing is attitude. I put this at an even 50%, along with playing ability. I’ve seen amazing players that were wizzes at their instrument, fade into obscurity because of poor people skills and bad attitudes. On tour, they get fired. In the studio world it’s even easier, they just suddenly don’t get asked to the next session.
In the touring world, you may be a rock star, but you still have to work with people. This is where I’ve been fortunate. Over the past 10 years, I’ve gotten the privilege of sitting back and watching Reba deal with people. And she is first rate. In 10 years of touring I have never seen her disparage one person….not a single one. She treats the security guard equally as a fellow celebrity. I’ve learned that if you are a rock star and an (insert expletive of your choice) it’s your decision. Most that I’ve met have been really nice, to their credit. Some have this idiot “no eye contact’ type personality and if you ask me, life is too short to be that way. I choose not to.
One more little tidbit I’ve learned, and if you don’t get anything else from this, take this nugget with you. You have no idea that people that you may take for granted today, may someday be a super producer, run a record label, be a big star, etc. 10 years in the future. Never, ever, ever treat people like a ‘no one.” This one has bitten me in the butt on numerous occasions. I heard that Ryan Tedder, lead singer of One Republic, was a tape dupe guy at one point. These are the guys that people sneer at. Uh, uh…don’t do it!!
Have a positive attitude and you will breath life into people. Enjoy!!!
