From: Bob Davis (earthjuice_at_prodigy.net)
Date: 2004-07-17 06:45:10
I wrote this in bits and pieces a few years ago, as I re read it, the words jumped right out
at me.
That's becauce contained withing these words are the reasons why we even bother with something
like the Soul-Patrol East Coast Convention. As we get ready to embark on our 3rd annual
Soul-Patrol East Coast Convention, on July 30-31 in Willingboro NJ it seems like this is a
good time to look back at these words...
--------------------------------------------
"There is NO great music being made today..."
That is a quote that I hear often. It is simply not true
It's just that many of us are "looking for great music in the wrong places"
The great music today is found in the "underground"
· It's NOT on "commercial radio"
· It's NOT on "TV"
· It's on the internet
· It's in clubs
· It's being produced by artists who's names we are familiar with
· It's being produced by artists whose names we aren't familiar with
To me this is an exciting time to be a fan of "Soul Music" (however you want to define it for
yourself)
I have seen the kind of "convergence" happening, which creates GREAT MUSIC.
· It's happening all across the country.
· It's happening all across the world.
TECHNOLOGY
In the past the "distributor" held the keys to the technology and they used those "keys" to
make sure that the fans/artists COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.
That no longer has to be the case.
For example, we have:
· "Classic Soul artists", contributing to Soul-Patrol
· "Promoters" (presumably HONEST), contributing to Soul-Patrol
· "Activist Music Fans", contributing to Soul-Patrol
To me that is a nice mix to get things started with!
Imagine if all of these individuals could have a direct conversation with each other?
(well they can if they choose to)
We would like to get these people to all work together towards a common goal and to become
truly supportive of one another. That is the ONLY way to take advantage of the OPPURTUNITY
that these 3 groups have is to develop the synergies that exist in a much more formal sense.
In a sense, the three groups I mentioned above can form a kind of "contract" with each other
to do certain things.
To take certain actions…
The beauty of this is that because we are all here on the internet, we have the ability to
form these type of relationships in a real time and interactive fashion.
· I have been on the Internet since 1993 and its power still never ceases to amaze me.
· It's a tremendous communications vehicle that itself contains a "convergence" of many
different forms of common technologies, which allow us to form various levels of "contracts"
with each other.
That's what Mike and I would like to do.
Our objective is to use the particular Internet platform that we have created to permit the
individuals in each one of the three groups to form these "contracts" with each other in a
coherent and formal manner. The key of course is for EACH one of us who is here, to raise our
level of ACTIVISM. In other words, ALL of us here must have some "skin in the game".
"Skin In The Game" goes a large way towards establishing TRUST between the 3 groups....
And WITHOUT TRUST, the three groups will NEVER be able to "CONVERGE" to take "ACTION".
Some ideas for your consideration...
· "THE MYTH"
· "THE OPPURTUNITY"
· "THE CHALLENGE"
· "THE CONVERGENCE"
· "THE TECHNOLOGY"
· "SKIN IN THE GAME"
· "GREAT MUSIC"
· "PRESENCE"
· "ACTIVISM"
· "THE GAME PLAN"
Hopefully those of you here who are among those who want to take some further action will want
to discuss some of these ideas with me both here on the mailing list and/or in private.
earthjuice_at_prodigy.net
Please feel free to do so.
There are an enormous number of changes that are happening across the spectrum.
Some are happening as we speak. They are all quite exciting to me and I plan on becoming a
participant. We plan on being a part of these changes and NOT standing still.
What a "long and strange trip" it has been....
It's about to get "longer and stranger" as we proceed.
And I am ready to take that journey
CONVERGENCE
As we sit here in the year 2002 we find ourselves at what appears to be unique moment in our
history. The world as we knew it just a short time ago, seems to be changing and doing so at
an alarming rate of speed!
We are living in a time of a "convergence of uncertainty":
· Political uncertainty
· Military uncertainty
· Economic uncertainty
· Social uncertainty
However, the reality is that despite all of this "convergence of uncertainty", we also seeing
a "convergence of human potential":
· Humanity
· Ideas
· Culture
· Creativity
· Understanding
One of the reasons why I continue to be an optimist is because from my perspective, the first
set of "convergence" is FAR LESS IMPORTANT than the second set of "convergence".
In my opinion, it is the SECOND SET OF CONVERGENCE that is going to define us going forward.
The first sets of “convergence” are things that people who are external to ourselves, usually
try to define for us.
The second sets of “convergence” are things that we can define for ourselves as individuals.
The first sets of “convergence” are things that are forced on us, but only exist for a limited
timeframe before they change.
The second sets of “convergence” are things that we can pass along to our children and will
ultimately define the legacies that we leave here on this earth.
· Here in this forum we are mostly talking about the set of things contained within the
second set of "convergence".
· We talk about these things because we know that these are the things shaped no so much by
events, but are shaped by morality.
Music is a key factor in how we shape the morality of the legacy we want to leave.
I see music as a thread, which connects HUMANITY, IDEAS, CULTURE, CREATIVITY and
UNDERSTANDING.
Of course music is fun, relaxing and more, within the context of events. However it is also
the key element in how we express our HUMANITY, IDEAS, CULTURE, CREATIVITY and UNDERSTANDING.
In my opinion the BEST music gets produced during times of:
· Political uncertainty
· Military uncertainty
· Economic uncertainty
· Social uncertainty
That is because we have a heightened sense of our own...
· Humanity
· Ideas
· Culture
· Creativity
· Understanding
In other words...
GREAT MUSIC IS PRODUCED DURING TIMES WHEN WE ARE AFRAID
Do you doubt me?
Take a look at the music produced during the years of the:
· "Nuclear/Military Industrial Complex Buildup" (1953 - 1960)
· "Vietnam/Civil Rights Era" (1965 - 1973)
Most of the music that we discuss here on Soul-Patrol was produced in those two eras.
There is a reason for that!
We continue to talk about that music because......
It was music so GOOD we can't get it out of our minds :)
In my opinion, we are currently in an era that when we look back on it 20 years from now is
going to be thought of as an era that produced some GREAT MUSIC.
ACTIVISM
Everyone here is an "activist".
That is the ONLY reason why you are reading this message right now.
YOU took some action!!!!!
You took the action of signing up for Soul-Patrol!
As I have stated earlier, the year 2003 has been all about evolving the "operating model" of
Soul-Patrol to become much more focused on "activism" as opposed to just "documentation".
And that is what we are transitioning to. The need for "documentation" isn't as great anymore.
Most artists now have their own web sites and are far more capable of telling their own story
than I am. And they can tell that story in their own words, unfiltered by anyone else.
We are going to become more activist in our focus as we move forward. Our intent is to do
that in a way that respects the accomplishments of the past and helps to propose a direction
for the future.
Our children need us to do this.
PRESENCE
Does anyone here remember the book?
"Invisible Man" - Ralph Ellison?
Soul Music fans are perceived in many ways by the mass media as being similar to the metaphor
that Ralph Ellison used in the book "Invisible Man".
They want our music, but they don't want us.
You hear Soul Music constantly in the media.
· In fact it's a major weapon used in TV commercials to get all of us to buy things.
· You can't watch TV for more than an hour without hearing some "good old soul music".
· You can't watch a movie without hearing some "good old soul music".
· The people who make these kinds of decisions treat "soul music" as a commodity.
· They know that by removing it from it's original context that it can be used to
successfully sell products that have little to do with the music itself.
Right now Soul Music fans have little or no presence in the way that the music is presented.
We are in effect "invisible".
In my opinion we need to develop a presence". Because it is our LACK OF PRESENCE that makes it
possible for the music to become "co-opted".
OPPURTUNITY
OPPURTUNITY #1:
To change the balance of power between the fan, the artist and the distributor/promoter, and
to do so with integrity
OPPURTUNITY #2:
To bridge the gap between older Soul Music fans and younger Soul Music fans, via education,
exposure and active learning
OPPURTUNITY #3:
To create PERMENANT INSTITUTIONS that bring together the past, present and future legacies of
Soul Music that will enable our children to PERMENANTLY PERPETUATE THAT CULTURE.
OPPURTUNITY #4:
To build networks of likeminded individuals, all employing different tactics to achieve these
goals
SKIN IN THE GAME
I talk with artists, promoters/distributors and of course fans every day.
And each day they all complain about the other two entities lack of having any...
"skin in the game"
Here are some examples....
ARTIST #1:
· "Bob all promoters are crooks, I have invested my whole life in my music, and
promoters/media steal it from me..."
· "Bob the fans are two faced, I have invested my whole life in my music, and my old fans
won't even listen to it because I won't pay the payola.
FAN #1:
· "Bob, I can't go to that show that you are talking about, that artist I never heard of
can't possibly be any good, tell them to put their video on BET, then I can be assured that
it's real, and oh by the way, tell those old fart artists that you keep telling me have new
music that I would like to get their stuff played on the radio, and then I will believe that
it exists and probably buy it..."
· "Bob, I won't ever go to a show at the kind of places you are talking about, they aren't in
the suburbs and it's too much of a hassle for me to use public transportation
PROMOTER #1:
· "Bob, tell alll of your "old skool artist friends" that they had better get real and
recognize that they ain't exactly stars anymore and that nobody is gonna pay to see them sit
in their rocking chairs on stage. And while you are at it, tell all of those unknown artists
that are your friends that they should be prepared to work either for free or better yet to
pay me in order for me to even take a second look at them..."
· Bob, tell all of the so called "fans" that you keep telling me are out there, that they had
better get their butts down to my club and when they get there, not to complain about the
high prices, bad service, watered down drinks, etc. Instead of whining what they should do is
worship the ground I walk on because without me, there would be no show..."
Some of those comments are exaggerated
(But not by much....lol)
Each entity perceives the other two as somehow wanting to rip them off.
There has been an utter and complete lack of trust built up by these entities.
And that is no accident.
That lack of trust has been developed over a long period of time.
And it's been developed on purpose.
It's developed because the people who control the music/radio/media industry stand to LOSE A
LOT OF MONEY IF TRUST COULD BE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THESE ENTITIES.
And since they don't want that to happen, they make certain that the trust required to change
the system, never evolves.
They do this by convincing each one of the parties that the ONLY way to get what they want is
to NEVER BE INDEPENDENT OF THE SYSTEM.
Becoming independent of the system requires individuals who are willing to put "skin in the
game".
That is the PRICE OF FREEDOM.
Ultimately, that price is a small one to pay.
However it is one that must be paid, in order to have independence.
Do you have any "skin in the game"?
THE CHALLENGE BEFORE US
To engage the "activist music fan" and the "activist artist" to move closer together,
facilitated by activist (presumably honest) "activist promoters".
· In today's society, we are told that people don't want to be challenged.
· In today's society, we are told that people wish to be left alone.
· In today's society, we are told that people are selfish.
· etc.
I would like everyone here to ask himself or herself one simple question....
JUST WHO ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TELLING US THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO THINK ABOUT OURSELVES IN
THIS MANNER?
(And what do they have to gain by making certain we behave in the manner in which they
prescribe?)
MYTHS
· Classic Soul (however you would like to define that term) is DEAD.
· Fans of Classic Soul (however you would like to define that term) WILL NOT SUPPORT THEIR
MUSIC.
· There is NO GOOD MUSIC being produced today.
I have been hearing these kind of statements from artists, promoters and yes even some fans
for years now...
Folks, I can tell you from my own personal experience that these "MYTHS" are simply NOT TRUE.
And I have HARD DATA (not anecdotes or war stories) to prove this point
For example, the Soul-Patrol Internet Platform gets over TWO MILLION HITS each month.
And it has grown steadily over the past six years that it has been in existence.
THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T COMING HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE SOMEBODY'S DAMN MYTH.
Personally I think that we have the opportunity here to make a change in perceptions.
· "Perceptions" are the foundation of the "MYTHS".
· "MYTHS" can become facts when people allow their "Perceptions" to be
UCONTROLLED/UNCHALLENGED.
Here is the worst "MYTH" of all...
BLACK PEOPLE DON'T GIVE A SH*T ABOUT THEIR OWN CULTURE
(and that is the "perception" that I am out to change most of all)
And I am willing to put a little "skin in the game" to do my share to help move that change
along at as fast a pace as I can...
Perhaps I will fail?
But it won't be because I haven't tried.
And armed with that knowledge, I will be able to look at my daughter and know that I tried to
do something to change some of the "MYTHS" that she will be confronted with...
THE GAMEPLAN
Yes indeed we do have one and it's time for us to start talking about it...
What we have here on Soul-Patrol is an unprecedented convergence of people.
We have 3 types of people...
· Activist Music Fans: Individuals who are willing to purchase music and attend live shows.
· Activist Promoters (presumably HONEST): Individuals who are have tools available to them,
to distribute music in a live venue, via public airways, in print, online or offline
· Activist Artists: Individuals who have the talent to create music
That is an amazing convergence of likeminded individuals that I am glad to be a part of.
The timing for such a convergence couldn’t be better, because the OLD system is crumbling as
we speak. The music fans and the artists being kept as far away from each other such that the
ECONOMICS are totally controlled by the people who are the distributors of the music define
the OLD system.
The bad news is "that is how it has always worked"
The good news is "that there is no need for it to work that way anymore"
(and all of that is what the Soul-Patrol East Coast Convention and ultimatly Soul-Patrol is
all about)
_________
Bob Davis
earthjuice_at_prodigy.net
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