Pat Metheny on YouTube's impact on performers

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 27 Jan 2013 11:16 am

http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/players/ ... utube.html

Is Pat saying jam sessions are now too risky for established players to participate?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 27 Jan 2013 11:40 am

Yes, and I agree with him. The statement about comedians is so true, too.

As long as people are recording videos, there's always going to be an element of "reality show" there, where it becomes reality with an asterisk. These are very strange times we live in, and not a good time to be a professional musician IMO.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 27 Jan 2013 12:09 pm

I agree too. It's a problem for performers. About 15 years ago Jeff Newman refused to play at steel shows where video recording (by audience members) was allowed. I can understand his concern. While it IS a public performance, the performer loses control of his work when audience members record it and post it on youtube. I've had a few less than stellar performances that I wouldn't want to see resurrected! I also agree with Pat M. that the problem occurs with other types of performers. How many politicians in recent memory have been destroyed by video recordings of their 'off the record' comments? Pat is right. Big Brother is here. iPhones and other small recorders are everywhere today. Celebrities have to be on their guard every moment.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 27 Jan 2013 1:13 pm

Good point about politicians, Doug.

My thoughts a few months ago were that, with the advent of the internet and social networking, imagine how much it would suck to be a rock star in today's world, especially when your every encounter or rendezvous is so easily broadcasted over Facebook, etc. They had it made in the past!

Jason Schofield · Post by **Jason Schofield** » 27 Jan 2013 3:15 pm

I love how Pat says that big brother is here and that it's "us".. wow!

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 27 Jan 2013 5:07 pm

...imagine how much it would suck to be a rock star in today's world...

Though, I don't see too many of them hanging up their spurs and going back to flipping burgers at Bob's Beanery. I would have to have a serious, deep and lengthy experience as a filthy-rich rock star in order to make dead-certain it's as distasteful as it's been reported.

But regarding the lack of oversight and release of less-than stellar performances - I kind of like watching somebody having an off night, and how they deal with it. I don't think any less of them, and though they wish to be at their best, their path through adversity is fascinating to me.

However, on a few of these threads "we" have advanced the idea that because the musicians aren't getting the big bucks, "somebody" must be getting filthy rich. But... where is it? Who is it? Well - "WE" are getting all this free music... I find it hard to shake the feeling that "WE" are the big beneficiaries, and it skates perilously close to "receiving stolen property." In a moral direction, if not strictly a legal one.

"But mommy! Everybody else was stealing it too!"

Do you like making money?
Do you like free music?

A reckoning may be coming.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 28 Jan 2013 5:19 am

When there's no place for artists to safely fail before they get it right or it's a constant struggle to be fairly paid for their work it may eventually be not be worth the effort to be a professional artist. We'll be right back in 1850 when people just painted or played music at home for fun.