Your Music is Original, But Are You?

Yesterday on the official Instagram account for my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast I posted a quote from a past episode.  It was said by nationally known comedian Jim Florentine, who also happens to have his own podcast, which I listen to fairly regularly.  Admittedly, this week’s blog might be influenced to some extent by him and the fact that he is always referring to people who act like sheep, meaning, just following the pack.

I see it, though.  He’s not alone.  And social media is almost one-stop shopping for anyone wishing to gather data to support this.

What puzzles me the most about it is, music people are creatives.  Songwriters are coming up with original lyrics and melodies.  Yet, there are so many folks just falling in step with everyone else.  And, in defense of the music world, this isn’t limited to entertainers.

Heck, I was out for dinner Friday night and someone nearby was overheard using the slang word, “stimmy,” which apparently is what people have decided to say instead of “stimulus check,” an annoying abbreviation that I first heard on Jim Florentine’s “Everybody is Awful (Except You)” podcast, by the way.

I have also been seeing sports writers – ad nauseum – using the tired expression, “getting the band back together” with regards to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signing almost all of their free agents so that next season they can keep the same team that they had last month when they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl.

I mention the team that they defeated because the Chiefs are said to be the organization that came up with the expression, “run it back,” in terms of trying to repeat after they won the Super Bowl in February 2020.  The same sports writers who keep using “getting the band back together” have also been saying that the Bucs are trying to “run it back.”  And guess what?  The Bucs haven’t used that expression.  They’ve kept it simple and said, “Going for two,” meaning that they have their sights on back-to-back Super Bowl championships.

Are you seeing the “sheep” pattern here?  Following what everyone else is doing rather than being original and taking the lead won’t make you stand out; well, not for the right reasons.

Let's All Just Go to Texas!

It seems as though some performers are packing up their gear and heading to Texas to perform, since that state is pretty much wide open for business now.  I understand the need to make money and that it’s a case of traveling away from states where some venues might still be closed.  But (a) if everyone flocks to perform there, soon the refrain will be that there are no gigs to be had in the Lone Star State, and (b) the gigs back home that are available will get missed.

It’s as if a report is published once a month saying, “Here’s what we’re all going to say and do this month,” and then everyone falls in step.

Be a leader, don’t be a follower.  You want people to know you for your original music and for the brand that you’ve been working so hard at developing.  Be yourself and focus on that, rather than what others around you are doing or saying so that you can shift to be more like them.  Your audience will appreciate your authenticity.

And by the way, if you want an example of an artist who’s being tremendously original, make a note to listen to Episode 373 of NHTE when it comes out on Wednesday.  Wow.  This guest is not only a singer/songwriter but has launched a record label that is about as far removed from a traditional record label as I’ve heard.  It’s SO refreshing to not see a copycat approach!

What word or phrase is annoying you that everyone seems to be using these days?  Blow off some steam and tweet it to me via @NHT_tweets.  Or, put it in a post on Facebook or LinkedIn.  Alternatively, write to me via email instead.  And if you are stuck in your music career (or even want help with podcasting), let’s have a private, one-on-one video consultation together to get you moving forward.