(Untitled)

[gothikduck]

One of the things I've come to realize, recently, is that I'm still not a very trusting person. Part of me would love to blame this on some catastrophic event or series thereof in my past. I certainly have plenty I could attribute it to; probably more than most people who lean on their past as some sort of excuse-making for their own faults. The

Comments

[duskofhallows98]

In the library profession, everyone rants about Slam poetry like it's the end-all-be-all, but as a Young Adult Librarian, I refuse to do it. This usually stuns the PC'brarians into gaping silence.
The terrible thing about the demise of the Dethrawk "revival" was that it took such a short time to decay into a sycophantic, fashionista mush. The same people who squawked about the commercialism of the Goth scene led Dethrawk down that same merry path in a fraction of the time! For example, on deathrock.com you can predict how most people will treat someone based on WHO likes/dislikes them. Incredible.
The Steampunk scene has already outlasted the defrokkers. This past year was the fifth annual Eccentrik festival, and it remains as friendly and close-knit as ever. The promoters have deliberately kept it small and underground. I was amazed at how I well I was treated when all I've really done is give them moral support: I've bought no ads in fancy magazine or $150 tickets. Five years into the deathrock revival and it was already starting to stink.
One of my former webmasters tried to convince me to accept paid advertising with Midnight Calling, but that's not what it's about. But for a lot of people, that's ALL it's about.

[gothikduck]

It's kind of sad that your fellow librarians would have such a love for "slam" poetry... my experience with it, and I have years of it, has always been that it is intellectually repetitive, persona based, and grammatically inept. The only reason it seems to procreate its embracing of self-expression through character creation, which is to say it's more like a bad comedy night than true self-expression. (I should mention, I've had a hand in facilitating a good comedy series as well... but "slam" was not on the menu!)

It bears saying that money ruins everything; not because of who holds it, but who it attracts. There are far too many bottom-feeders living on the scraps of the unwilling, and it's only a matter of time before some of them have enough to eat that their accompists exhault them for getting fat off of others' hard work. This is why I still do not take pay for my primary night, and the one night I do get paid for immediately gets its pittance thrown into more music.

To some extent I know that you and I are part of a fairly unseen group that stays behind the scenes for a reason; contributing what we can, when we see a time that is appropriate. Perhaps old age has bittered us into lethargy, but there are far worse fates. I have never desired fame or fortune in anything I have done; the world is perpetually aflame with rotting pyres of wanna-be superheroes and superstars. I prefer peace, and happiness, in my time, and am always skeptical of those who seek otherwise - the flames are never far behind.

[duskofhallows98]

That's true. I, too, do not particularly like to be in the limelight. I have always preferred to be in supporting role. That's why I was never entirely comfortable DJ'ing in the Goth scene, too much egotism and sychophants. I loved my stint as a Reggae DJ back in the day, though, when it was simply about spinning the music.
A friend of mine made a very relevant comment on my recent Myspace rant New Model Army says, I "named the names...). She said that if somebody needs money, they need to get a JOB like everyone else, not try to scam people in the music scene. And what really disgusts me is when people like this are fawned over like they are the "makers" of the scene!
My ezine has always been free, because it allows me to give my honest opinions and reviews. I have no wish to make money off of people because that would make me seem beholden to them, even if only in their minds. It's about the music, not cash. And certainly not about 'status' and 'reputation', (mine is living proof, because it has plummeted about as far as it can get in certain quarters, which amuses me to no end. When so-called "top" Dj's, promoters, and authors in this 'scene' disavow you, I consider it a back-handed compliment!
One of my former webmasters badgered me endlessly about accepting paid advertisements, and I told what I told him in the beginning" if you're not here for love of the music, you don't need to be here. I have spent far more than the value of anything I have received, which is all well and good. I have no problem with buying CD's that I review. I know that many small bands literally make their gas money from their merch and CD sales. (I do deeply appreciate it when someone sends me something, though.)
Even during our night Nocturna, Ft. Laud. (*gasp* Will I face legal repercussions for mere mention of the name?), which was quite successful, what I made didn't even cover the cost of equipment and gas. But that's OK, that's what my j.o.b. is for.
Sadly, the cyber-world seems to have magnified the effects of the bottom-feeders and their minions, which is why I no longer participate in many forums and events. People are too addicted to their own egos to realize that there are always other events and other bands who genuinely appreciate your support.