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| Are you an ''Innie'' or an ''Outie''? |
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 by WWghost
Do you spend more time perfecting your scales or choosing what shirt you will wear on stage for the next show? Do you find looking good is higher on your priority list than sounding good? Your answers to these questions will help determine if you're and "Innie" or and "Outie".
The following is my opinion and analyzation of style versus substance in the music industry. I encourage you to express your opinion in the comments section below this article. Please click "Read More".
edited by Mitch
Motivations
Every band is made up of unique individuals that determine the direction of a band and it's music. The overall chemistry of the members will determine whether a band is inner-directed or outer-directed (i.e. whether you are driven to play and perform music by something inside, like a belief or a mission, or by the need for something outside, like money or recognition.).
Innies (internally motivated musicians)
Creating music, or any art, can be a spiritual and enlightening experience. Like spirituality, musical creativity begins and ends as an internal experience; from the seed of an intangible idea to the emotional impression of the listener. "Innies", or internally motivated musicians, feel the most important outcome of their music is the communicated "message" and the emotional response of the listener. Artistic substance is more important than popular style or recognition to an "Innie".
Although the messages and emotions created by a piece of music are intangible, the actual music and the musicians are not. Music is the organization of sound vibration; it can be felt by the senses and, perhaps, more importantly, experienced socially (within a group). Musicians are quite visible, of course, (e.g. on stage, in videos, etc...), which can work against them in visually-dependent mediums.
Outies (externally motivated musicians)
In the last thirty years, image has become the most important thing in the music industry; "Video killed the radio star" if you will. If you're not built like a gymnast or have a face like a supermodel, your image is "managed", twisted into something that may have never been intended but is more easily marketed to mass audiences; hair styles are changed, tummys are tucked, photos touched-up. All this is done not to enhance the listening experience of the consumer, but to sell a lifestyle and satisfy the strongest external motivations of all: money and fame.
But these motivations have, unfortunately, created generations of musicians who are more than willing to bend their ideas or sound to satisfy an industry dependent on image. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of amateur bands in any given city's metro area grasping for that holy grail (i.e. a major recording contract), willing to do anything to attain the wealth and fame they imagine will somehow fulfill them. It is my opinion that such exterior motivations have created inferior music by corrupting the creative process.
Conclusions
"Innies" (interior-motivated musicians) reach inside to find the source of the music, that feeling that drives the creative process and communicates emotions and messages to the listener. "Outies" (exterior-motivated musicians) search outside of themselves for what the music should be, and what image they should portray to get the biggest reward.
Inner-direction and outer-direction, spiritual stimulus and visual stimulus, creating music versus manufacturing music. Stop looking at your belly button, start realizing the meaning and power behind the music you are creating, or the shallowness of the image you're portraying.
This is only my humble opinion. Please, share yours as well.
wwghost
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Re: Are you an ''Innie'' or an ''Outie''? (Score: 1)
by wiki on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 @ 21:47:43 MST
(User Info | Send a Message | Journal) http://www.myspace.com/old27 | I'm a Innie !!!!
THE MUSIC ALWAYS COMES FIRST FOR ME, BUT IF YOU CAN FIND A COUPLE OF MUSICIANS THAT LIKE THE SAME KIND OF MUSIC THAT YOU DO AND YOU CAN AGREE ON SOME SORT OF LOOK FOR THE BAND, THEN YOU ARE DOING REALLY GOOD BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT , THE CROWD ALWAYS LIKES TO SEE THE WHOLE DEAL.
MORE GLAM, MORE SLAM!!!! |
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Re: Are you an ''Innie'' or an ''Outie''? (Score: 1)
by tksgroupie on Thursday, January 16, 2003 @ 09:04:10 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.thekingsnakesfans.homestead.com | if you LOVE the music you are making, if you are TRULY into what you do...you become BEAUTIFUL to watch...regardless of physical looks...in my opinion...i could be wrong...
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Re: Are you an ''Innie'' or an ''Outie''? (Score: 1)
by ibmonkey on Thursday, January 16, 2003 @ 10:08:43 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.justmoody.com | Gotta agree wholeheartidly with tksgroupie. If you love what you do, it will just flood everyone around you. Kind of goes back to that "it's not what's outside, but what's inside that counts." Our guitarist is a big man, but when he's on, all eyes are on him, and to be quite honest, it's pretty awe inspiring.
But at the same time, like Paul Stanley has been quoted as saying "you don't want to go to a concert and see people dressed like your neighbors onstage." Just don't dress like you got out of bed (unless that's your thing), because you are performers when you are onstage and you're obliged to give the people that paid to see you a show. That might be a bit of my old "Themepark Band" upbringing, but hey, it IS called the Entertainment Industry, is it not? |
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Re: Are you an ''Innie'' or an ''Outie''? (Score: 1)
by tksgroupie on Thursday, January 16, 2003 @ 11:55:09 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.thekingsnakesfans.homestead.com | i have to agree with ya there IB...i do like to see something onstage along with great music...one of my pet peeves...and this may annoy some people, but it's just a personal taste thing...i dont like guys wearing shorts on stage....but hey, if that guy wearing shorts is jumping around, being energetic & totally getting into his music...then i forget he's wearing shorts! LOL! but i can see "Kiss" logic totally!! i do like a cool outfit on a great musician....
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Re: Are you an ''Innie'' or an ''Outie''? (Score: 1)
by Broadzilla on Thursday, January 16, 2003 @ 11:11:54 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.detroitmusic.com/broadzilla | I've got the music IN me!
Music motivated by the dreams of fame and fortune is not really music in my opinion. Seems to me the best music comes from the people who share their most personal stories and have the most passionate delivery.
Imagery has grown to become a very important part of the music industry. But the music must come first. I mean, sure an image can help sell a band, but it's the music that will keep the consumer interested over time.
So I say, if you're not making music that comes from the heart and soul, then you are in it for the wrong reasons.
Viva la rock! |
Re: Are you an ''Innie'' or an ''Outie''? (Score: 1)
by ibmonkey on Thursday, January 16, 2003 @ 13:45:33 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.justmoody.com | Very well said, BZ. Check out all the bands that were originally put together for the sole purpose of money, and as soon as they say "our next album is our most personal," they wind up on VH1's Where Are They Now because they never had it to begin with.
We do music because 1. that's what we're good at, and 2. we can't live without it.
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Re: Are you an ''Innie'' or an ''Outie''? (Score: 1)
by Spidey on Thursday, January 16, 2003 @ 22:49:41 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) | | It seems real easy for all of us to come one here and say that we agree with the original post. What I don't see is the application of that belief. Even though the band or artist may believe in that philosophy, they seem to surround or be surrounded by people that dont take it to heart. And worse than that, the band's dont seem to be doing anything to educate their followers to the contrary. It's as much our responibility to make sure the audience puts the music first as it is for us to put the music first. Just as MTV and all that has created a certain type of musician, it's also created a certain type of audience that no longer knows how to listen to music by way of seperating it from the image. Even the "Indie kids" are falling victim to the imaging of that particular style. We have to educate the audience by challenging them with what we do instead of playing down to them. It may polarize listeners, which is no way to become a successful business. However, it may help us becoem better artists, and help them become better listeners. |
Re: Are you an ''Innie'' or an ''Outie''? (Score: 1)
by WWghost on Friday, January 17, 2003 @ 06:08:17 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) | This is exactly why I wrote this. I am so pleased to see so many of you reading and responding to this story. Spidey, you couldn't be more right, the beginning of change is within us, the musicians. While image is something that is existant in every one of us, whether it is our chosen image that truthfully portrays our personality or a conformed image, that creates a false representation of you and the music you create. I was looking to make the point that image should reflect reality, not conformity. What a revolutionary idea, be yourself. I'm glad so many of you got this message. Now, putting it into action is the hard part.....
"You shall listen to all sides and filter them from your self." |
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Re: Are you an ''Innie'' or an ''Outie''? (Score: 1)
by SrLdrummer on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 @ 10:01:02 MST
(User Info | Send a Message | Journal) http://www.purevolume.com/surreal | | Wow i completely agree with what you say. Fortuanlly for the band im in we can decide really easliy on what to wear. to be honest what we wear is not important at all.we tend to spend as much time on the music as possible. ("got milk?) -dave |
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Re: Are you an ''Innie'' or an ''Outie''? (Score: 1)
by SrLdrummer on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 @ 10:01:05 MST
(User Info | Send a Message | Journal) http://www.purevolume.com/surreal | | Wow i completely agree with what you say. Fortuanlly for the band im in we can decide really easliy on what to wear. to be honest what we wear is not important at all.we tend to spend as much time on the music as possible. ("got milk?) -dave |
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Average Score: 4.66
Votes: 6
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