Does It Really Matter?

A great music environment is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within.

Artificial Intelligence is only an excuse.

Since September 2020, I have been photographing, displaying, preserving, and telling the local Austin music scene. An amazing adventure covering amazing people is how I have consistently declared my time to be. I now question my next steps. Is it worth my time anymore?

Is covering the local Austin music scene, to the extent that I have been doing so, worth it? All things for which time, effort, and money are expended must have some benefit. This is the energy that drives one forward and, during dark times, gives them a glimmer of hope. Whatever it is that motivates the person(s) forward must be refreshed or they become motionless and in doing so begin to exert their energy on a task far more draining and less rewarding. They begin to battle themselves.

It was fun and thrilling, photographing musicians. To capture “that shot” in the most difficult scenarios was a prize worth pursuing three plus nights a week, every week. To capture “new to me” artists was a goal that I knew would keep me running for years. My passion was high. I enjoyed loading my photos up and finding those that were “unique.”

Today, I struggle to make a decision. The only passion I have is to take the photographs that I have and make them the best but I desire to take no more, at least of the subject I started this adventure on, local Austin music. Why?  

I watched this scene revive itself from the COVID lockdown. I saw these amazing people shake off the cobwebs and take back that which had been taken away from them. I documented this resurgence that became the excellence that I was so proud to shout about. Now, I can only see stagnation. What happened?

Because I am a photographer, I see things differently, and this has always been the foundation of the arguments, used by those countering the “issues” I have pointed out. But those who sought to clarify my statements are of a mindset that failed to see, understand, or just didn’t care, that I was also a fan of music. They failed to realize that the camera was not always on my eye and that I had two ears. They failed to understand that I had seen and heard more local musicians in a short time frame than they ever had. They simply identified their points from their narrow perspective of the current environment with memories of a glorious past.

From a photographer’s viewpoint, I can say that the music scene has not changed. Poor lighting, poor stage presence dominates. There are few who understand the requirements and make efforts to do so. These musicians have always understood, and they are the few. But over all the music scene of Austin is not worth photographing.

From a fan perspective, I say this supported just recently by another fan whose opinion was unsolicited, the scene is boring. The same songs are sung over and over. “I rarely get out anymore” was her statement. This same person, I actively saw out and about in the early days. Residencies stagnate a musical presence making the decision to see based upon personal convenience rather than a need.

I have consistently stated throughout the past couple of years that an “experience” needs to be created. Lighting, stage presence, and yes sound are all crucial elements to making a memorable experience. I see efforts only put towards sound. Driving from Buda, Texas to Round Rock, Texas is simply not worth the 45 minutes – 1.5 hours of fighting traffic. I can listen to good music anywhere. I exert so little to hear quality sound. Sometimes, I can see on my smartphone the musicians playing but this is never the same as being there. Rarely do I ever come back home elated from where I had just been. Yet, even when I do, my sharing of such an event is met with an uncaring mindset because they were not part of the event. There is little to no joy in the accomplishment of others unless there is a connection to them. If there is, then God help the person who offers criticism.

Enough, I have spoken nothing new, yet I feel comfortable speaking again because it is as if I have never spoken. Since September 2020, what has changed? Me! I no longer have the passion to capture, display, preserve, and tell the story of amazing people who provide a service that is so crucial. Why? Because I seem to be the only one who cares for the entirety of the local music environment. Organizations are present but who is out there attempting to market the entirety of the local music scene? Who is present, multiple times a week, photographing and posting musicians? No entity has come close to matching the efforts I have made over these years. I have asked for nothing. But I did and still had expectations. Expectations that my efforts would not just be noticed but shared.

Every time I am out, I am thanked for what I am doing for the music scene. These are heartfelt and I know genuine. I have never understood its meaning because I have never seen the “doing” for the entirety of the music scene. If a post of a musician ever got more than 20 likes, I was shocked. If one ever got more than one share, I was shocked. Note, for these two things alone to happen are rare. I deduced that the popularity of a posting I did of a musician depended upon the group of people they belonged to.  Group A cares only for its flock. The same for Group B. Four years and I have rarely, if ever seen a musician from Group C liked or shared by any other group than its own. Austin is “cliquish.” This is why all the struggle and efforts to bring back to life an industry that was almost dead has resulted in stagnation. There is no “overall” energy focused on the environment.

Something like HAAM day needs to happen to local musicians on a quarterly basis. An effort that I was about to champion, only to be reminded of the “B.S.” that must be stepped in to accomplish anything in this town. “B.S.” that I am so tired of. I saw more energy retaliating against a stupid comment than I have ever seen promoting the entire music environment of Austin. In fact, I only see musicians promoting their own events. It is only if one is part of their group, will the effort to promote it be seen. But I never seen anyone, other than myself promote, without prompting, the entire music scene of Austin. Other than myself, I have never witnessed efforts put for promoting the entire local music environment. This is the reason I am backing away. I have neither the time nor the money, nor do I have passion.

In my third book, “Excellence: The Austin Live Music Experience” I wrote that A.I. would make local live music performances “novelty” acts paid for by the financial “elite.” This will occur not due to a lack of passion for their craft but a lack of passion for the music environment. If Group A cannot support Group B, then the environment simply becomes the “survival of the fittest.” We, the fans, will never know of those who could have been. It is we who are cheated. It is we who will never see a gallery of new musical experiences. We will only see the rehash of what was. Newness will be defined by simple tweaks to the recipe.

I would like to believe that there is still hope. The problem is that I am too weary to search for it. When one sees more energy spent on trashing the political and religious beliefs of a group of people, they, in turn, are asking for support, then discouragement is the result. When one sees the inability of others to simply ignore a stupid comment and launch over the top retaliatory remarks, then the question of whether great music is possible to be written anymore must be asked. Facebook is sucking the creativity that once went into music.

So, I step back. I am certain, unnoticed. Honestly, this is okay. It was never about me. It was about trying to display the creativity of others. But that cannot happen. So, I wish you all the best. I am not abandoning but will make my footsteps into this world few. I will be alert but silent. It is only when I see the energy and passion that I saw from 2020 – 2022 again that I will come back. Thank you all!!!