I Enjoy Being a Filker

[billroper]

I thought about titling this post as "The Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations", but figured that everyone would think it was another damned political post, so I gave up on being clever for the occasion.

The nice thing about being a filker and the (I hope, moderately) talented amateur that I am is that I can make music for the fun of it. I'm here to satisfy myself and my friends and -- with a bit of luck -- the rest of the folks who are listening to me play and sing. I don't have to spend a lot of time worrying about whether or not one of my songs suits the target market for my demographic, or whether I dare to do something a bit different than I've done before, or a wide number of similar things.

Joshua Kadison had a fine debut album, Painted Desert Serenade, which I enjoyed quite a bit. But for his second album, Delilah Blue, he decided to do something different with a large amount of Gospel influence. It stopped his career cold. He's still around, but his most recent album, Vanishing America, wasn't even released in the U.S., although it's pretty similar to his first album in concept and construction.

But I'm a filker. And I do this because I love it.

And I'm glad I don't have to try to make a living at it, because I'd probably love it less.

Comments

[poltr1]

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Bill. Filking is just a goshdarned hobby for me as well. I don't make a living from music, nor would I expect to do so. And for those that do, the music industry chews them up, grinds them to a pulp, and spits them out. Especially now, where image is paramount, and bands and performers try to sound the same.

If you happen to have a copy of Billy Joel's album "Streetlife Serenade" handy, listen to "The Entertainer". I don't know how much of that is autobiographical, but it is a jaded and cynical view of the music biz.

Another advantage about filking is that I get to hang around some incredibly funny, smart, creative, and talented people.

[katyhh.livejournal.com]

Kadison was mostly a one hit wonder over here, with "Jesse" (although it made me buy the Painted Desert Serenade album ;-)).

And SO agreed on what you said about being a filker :)

[musicmutt.livejournal.com]

Y'know, I find that, too. Having made a fair chunk of my living as a musician, I have found it really is easy to get burnt out with it. I am glad I have the filk thing to turn to. For all the high-end performing I have done, it is great to be able to re-connect with doing music for the shear joy of it. The filking really is very refreshing that way. The pressure is off and I can just enjoy playing and every bit as much enjoy seeing my friends gain a lot of satisfaction from doing music themselves.

Yay, filk!