F**K THE NAYSAYERS!The first gig I played in England while getting my footing in the door of the UK live music scene, I had no idea what to expect. I was just a SoCal kid with an axe, rig, a couple of bros in a pseudo band with a love for playing music. We would alternate practice between Fire Station truck stalls at the local fire house and an abandon building that still had power running to it. Let me tell you though, it didn't matter how short the practice was or how much we 'tried' to keep it down, there was always someone telling us we were shit. In the minds of the guys and I, we're thinking, how in the hell are we supposed to get good if we aren't out here shredding away? Thats just it, people who might have once had aspirations to explore their talent then gave up or people who never dared to put it all out there won't understand what it means to chase after something. So chances are they might have lost their passion for the thing they once loved or just didn't bother to step outside of their comfort zone to try something that always interested them.  Theodore Roosevelt better known as Teddy, has spoke about being the man in the arena. Here is an excerpt from the the speech Citizenship In A Republic: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. It can be hard to ignore the negativity that keeps getting thrown in your face. Especially from people that are supposed to be your friends and loved ones. Their opinions are the ones that often mean the most to you because you love and value their input. Frequently those closest to you won't understand you and think they have your best interest in mind. Most musicians can probably attest that there is always someone in the background saying something to turn you off like, "It's not worth it, it's not like you'll really make it big", "What makes you think you're special?", and "You're good but not that good." Simply because you and the band still play small clubs, bars, and basements.
It's easy for me to sit here writing and say don't get discouraged and you can do it, but the truth is you probably will get discouraged and you will continue to question whether or not its worth it to keep chasing something that feels like its going nowhere. Well that sentiment and those questions you keep asking yourself will add the salt in your story and the spice to your music. It gives it purpose and the feeling people can relate to in the struggle of their own endeavors. So follow your compass towards your true north. You should only heed the words and useful criticisms of those in the fight with you and perhaps lean on President Roosevelts powerful words, " The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena..." All you have to do is keep showing up and putting in work, but let's chew on that some other time. The guys and I went on to take the second place prize in a massive battle of the bands three shows later. Had we thrown in the towel and said 'ah they are probably right' we would have not received that prize or continued to have the time of our lives playing shows and meeting a whole world of other musicians that felt the same way we did. Just trying to make it and do the thing we love to do.
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