tag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:/blogs/enter-the-sonic-cinema?p=2Enter the Sonic Cinema2017-02-05T02:52:09-05:00Michael J. Johnsonfalsetag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/40053162016-01-24T21:10:39-05:002016-01-24T21:11:17-05:00Frequencies Episode 11: It's 2016!<p>It’s 2016, and most of the people I know are currently watching a sports event that I don’t really care about, so I decided to record a podcast episode. </p>
<p><strong>Things I’m geeking out about: </strong></p>
<ul> <li>Colony </li> <li>Agent Carter </li> <li>DC’s Legends of Tomorrow </li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Star Wars The Force Awakens </strong></p>
<ul> <li>Saw it 3 times and read the book </li> <li>Erased the stench of the prequels </li> <li>Start of a new trilogy with new characters </li> <li>It’s broken nearly all the box-office records at this point, so there’s not much more I can say about it </li> <li>I will say, though, that the biggest critique I have heard is that it has the same basic story points as “A New Hope.” This may be true, but I think it makes sense, given the fact that JJ Abrams needed to make a movie to bring in a new generation of Star Wars fans. My guess is that the next film in the new trilogy will go into new territory.</li>
</ul>
<p><br><strong>David Bowie </strong></p>
<ul> <li>My “Ashes To Ashes” cover: <a contents="https://soundcloud.com/michaeljjohnson/ashes-to-ashes-a-tribute-to-david-bowie&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/michaeljjohnson/ashes-to-ashes-a-tribute-to-david-bowie" target="_blank">https://soundcloud.com/michaeljjohnson/ashes-to-ashes-a-tribute-to-david-bowie </a>
</li> <li>1st Bowie tune I ever heard: Fame </li> <li>Scary Monsters era </li> <li>Bowie was the type of artist you rarely see anymore. He was constantly changing, and never stuck with the same sound or style for more than a few records. </li> <li>He didn’t really become a superstar until “Let’s Dance,” and that was just another phase of his career. </li> <li>At the height of his fame, he released a record with a band called Tin Machine, without giving himself star billing. </li> <li>Work with Trent Reznor </li> <li>Bowie/9 Inch Nails Tour </li> <li>“Afraid of Americans” </li> <li>Final album “Blackstar” was basically about his death. It was musically adventurous, yet it reached back into his past as well, incorporating styles from some of his earlier periods. </li> <li>He was an uncompromising artist until the day he died. </li>
</ul>
<p><strong>X-Files </strong></p>
<ul> <li>New 6-episode miniseries tonight </li> <li>I’ve been a fan since the beginning </li> <li>The show basically created the template for the modern genre series, with an over-arching mythology that ran from beginning to end. Each season was a mix of mythology-heavy episodes and “Monster of the Week” episodes. </li> <li>Some people don’t necessarily like the mythology episodes, but I always did. </li> <li>At the same time, I had developed an interest in conspiracy theories, and it was fascinating to see them depicted in the show. </li> <li>This was the first show that got me interested in the showrunner as auteur</li> <li>Some great writers came out of this room, including Vince Gilligan and Frank Spotnitz</li> <li>Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny </li> <li>AD Skinner, The Cigarette Smoking Man, Alex Krychek, Max, the alien abductee from NICAP, the Lone Gunmen</li> <li>X-Files nights at Miami </li> <li>In the last couple of seasons, since they had tied up so much of the mythology, I think they started running out of ideas. But I am a fan of Agents Doggett and Reyes, especially since I think both actors were far superior to Duchovny. </li>
</ul>
<p><strong>My top 10 X-Files episodes, in chronological order: </strong></p>
<ol> <li>S1, episode 2: "Deep Throat"</li> <li>S1, ep 17: "EBE"</li> <li>S2, ep 25: “Anasazi” </li> <li>S3, ep 2: “Paper Clip” </li> <li>S3, ep 20: “Jose Chung’s From Outer Space.” </li> <li>S4 ep7: “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” </li> <li>S5 ep 3: “Unusual Suspects” </li> <li>S5 ep 12: “Bad Blood” - </li> <li>S6, ep 4&5, “Dreamland, parts 1 and 2” </li> <li>S6, ep 14: “Monday”</li>
</ol>Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/39646792015-12-15T12:40:38-05:002015-12-15T12:40:38-05:00Frequencies Episode 9: Listen To This You Must!<p>In episode 9 of “Frequencies,” Michael J. Johnson briefly talks about the new season of the podcast “Serial,” followed by a rumination on his Star Wars fandom, the merits of the original trilogy, and the corresponding lack of merit in the prequels. how notes are available at http://michaeljjohnsonmusic.com/blog.</p>Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/39593352015-12-10T16:25:05-05:002015-12-10T16:25:05-05:00Frequencies Episode 8: FailbookIn episode 8 of “Frequencies,” Michael J. Johnson explains the details of his brief exile from Facebook. Then, he briefly talks about his frustration with delays in the last two issues of Marvel’s “Secret Wars.” Finally, in what he is currently “geeking out” about, he discusses “The Man in the High Castle” and the trailers for “Captain America: Civil War” and “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Show notes are available at http://michaeljjohnsonmusic.com/blog.Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/39396162015-11-29T00:03:35-05:002015-11-29T00:03:35-05:00Frequencies Episode 7: Black FridayEpisode 7 of “Frequencies” was recorded on Black Friday, the day Michael J. Johnson abstained from making any purchases whatsoever! In this episode, he discusses the just-released Documentary “Jaco,” David Bowie’s new single “Blackstar,” and the new Netflix series “Marvel’s Jessica Jones.” He begins with a spoiler-free review and concludes with a few minutes of spoilers with an advance warning. Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/39064212015-10-31T13:11:45-04:002015-10-31T13:11:45-04:00Frequencies Episode 6: Creature FeatureIn episode 6 of “Frequencies,” Michael J. Johnson talks about what he is currently “geeking out” about. He then finishes up by talking about Halloween, and horror films and television.Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/38629832015-09-22T02:17:20-04:002015-09-22T02:17:20-04:00Frequencies Episode 5: DreamsIn episode 5 of “Frequencies,” Michael J. Johnson talks about the new slate of fall TV shows, and Marc Maron’s interview with Keith Richards on the “WTF” podcast. He also gives a bit of a pep talk about following your dreams. Show notes are available at http://michaeljjohnsonmusic.com/blog.<br><br><strong>Returning Fall TV Shows I'm looking forward to:</strong><br>Dr. Who<br>Flash<br>Arrow<br>Agents of Shield<br>The Walking Dead<br>Sleepy Hollow<br>iZombie<br>The Blacklist<br><br>New TV Shows:<br>Supergirl<br>Heroes Reborn<br>Dr. Ken<br>The Muppets<br>Scream Queens<br>Limitless<br>Blind Spot<br>Minority Report<br>Quantico<br><br>Be sure to check out "WTF with Marc Maron episode 639: Keith Richards"Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/38326522015-08-25T19:11:44-04:002015-08-25T19:23:49-04:00Frequencies Episode 4: Straight Outta BostonIn episode 4 of “Frequencies,” Michael J. Johnson ruminates on our current golden age of science fiction on television, and talks a bit more about some of the shows he is watching. He then does a spoiler-free review of the film “Straight Outta Compton.” Finally, he embarks on the first of what is to be many rants about creators rights.<br><br><a contents="SoundCloud link to the podcast" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/michaeljjohnson/frequencies-episode-4-straight-outta-boston" target="_blank">SoundCloud link to the podcast</a> episode<br><br><a contents="ITunes link to the podcast" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/frequencies/id1027191714?mt=2">ITunes link to the podcast</a>
<hr>Here are links for the items I discussed:<br><br><a contents="Mr. Robot" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.usanetwork.com/mrrobot" target="_blank">Mr. Robot</a><br><br><a contents="The Whispers" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://abc.go.com/shows/the-whispers" target="_blank">The Whispers</a><br><br><a contents="Fear The Walking Dead" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amc.com/shows/fear-the-walking-dead" target="_blank">Fear The Walking Dead</a><br><br><a contents="Straight Outta Compton" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.straightouttacompton.com/#/" target="_blank">Straight Outta Compton</a><br><br>The latest kerfuffle on creator's rights is the subject of my rant at the end. Here are some sources for you:<br><br><a contents="The original NYT piece" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/23/magazine/the-creative-apocalypse-that-wasnt.html?_r=1" target="_blank">The original NYT piece</a><br><br><a contents="Salon's awesome rebuttal" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.salon.com/2015/08/24/the_new_york_times_sells_out_artists_shallow_data_paints_a_too_rosy_picture_of_thriving_creative_class_in_the_digital_age/" target="_blank">Salon's awesome rebuttal</a><br><br><a contents="The article I referenced on the musical 99%" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2013/07/05/onepct/" target="_blank">The article I referenced on the musical 99%</a><br><br><a contents="Another excellent rebutta" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://illusionofmore.com/steven-johnson-thesis-isnt/" target="_blank">Another excellent rebutta</a>l<br><br><a contents="And here's another!" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://musictechpolicy.wordpress.com/2015/08/23/why-is-the-new-york-times-coverage-on-artist-rights-so-oddly-inconsistent/" target="_blank">And here's another!</a><br><br>Bonus: <a contents='"Sleeping Through A Revolution"' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://medium.com/aspen-ideas/sleeping-through-a-revolution-8c4b147463e5" target="_blank">"Sleeping Through A Revolution"</a> - Something of a critique on digital utopianism<br><br><br><br><br> Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/38246712015-08-19T02:57:51-04:002015-08-19T02:57:51-04:00Frequencies Episode 3: DoldrumsIn episode 3 of “Frequencies,” Michael J. Johnson takes a break from grading, figures out why late August is the doldrums, and shares part of a new track he’s working on. Show notes are available at http://michaeljjohnsonmusic.com/blog.<ol> <li>Intro</li> <li>The end of August is always a bit slow for podcasts</li> <li>The latest episode of "Mr. Robot" is a game-changer!</li> <li>"Dark Matter" is pretty good too.</li> <li>"Under The Dome" and "Falling Skies," however, are not.</li> <li>You should check out "Can't Stand Losing You" </li> <li>I'm basically boycotting "Fantastic Four"</li> <li>Preview of my new song "Long Way Around"</li>
</ol>Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/38129082015-08-09T20:55:43-04:002015-08-09T20:55:43-04:00Frequencies Episode 2: I'm With The Band!<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">In this episode of "Frequencies," Michael J. Johnson will talk about what it's like to be in a band, why bands break up, and his six "Rules For Being A Good Band-Mate." He will also share some of his many band experiences. Show notes are available at michaeljjohnsonmusic.com/blog.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;"><b>First, some housekeeping:</b></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">We’re on iTunes now! </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">Website: michaeljjohnsonmusic.com, I will post the show notes in my blog, and you can leave a comment if you want.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">Twitter: mikejjohnson</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">soundcloud.com/michaeljjohnson</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">Intro music: Soul Magnets</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">Thank you to all of you who listened to the first episode. Please spread the word.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">I’ve already gotten some responses from possible guests for future episodes, so stay tuned. While I’m not famous, I’m somewhat famous-adjacent, so I might be able to score some decent guests once the word gets out. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">I will also be joined sometimes by my wife, the fabulous Ani Johnson. She has voiceover experience, and a very pleasant speaking voice!</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">I’ve been in quite a few bands over the years, both as a frontman and a sideman. So I want to talk about several issues related to being in a band, and the types of challenges as well as rewards that go with it.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">Band dynamics are very complex. A band is like a family, and it’s not unusual to develop the same type of love/hate relationship with your bandmates that siblings often have. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;"><b>My early band experiences were marred by:</b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square"> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">ADHD</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">Alcoholism</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">I hated rehearsing</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;"><b>Typical reasons a band breaks up:</b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square"> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">Ego clashes/personality clashes</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">Outside influences, either a girlfriend/boyfriend, management, etc.</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">Drugs & alcohol</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">Jealousy</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">Unreasonable expectations or impatience</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">No clear power structure</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;"><b>Michael J. Johnson’s rules for being a good bandmate</b></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">1. Communicate</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">2. Be on time</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">3. Remember the band is not all about you</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">4. There’s a difference between rehearsal and practice</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">5. Be professional at the gig</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica;">6. Be fully committed</p>Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/38043572015-08-05T09:40:05-04:002015-08-06T01:28:24-04:00Frequencies Episode 1: "Ants!" Show NotesThis is the first episode of my new podcast. I've been thinking about doing a podcast for several years, and I finally decided to just do it! Following are some of my notes I worked from. First, the blurb:<p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">In this first episode of the “Frequencies” podcast, host Michael J. Johnson will discuss: Podcast intro; Must-see summer TV; Marvel “Secret Wars” event; Twitter; “Freedom” by Refused and “Compton: A Soundtrack” by Dr. Dre; “Love and Mercy” biopic about Brian Wilson; Spoilerific review of Marvel’s “Ant-Man.” Warning: Spoilers.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"><br>Here is the RSS feed link, for your podcast app or "pod catcher:" <a contents="http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:138994/sounds.rss" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:138994/sounds.rss" target="_blank">http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:138994/sounds.rss</a><br><br>If you would rather just hear it on SoundCloud: <a contents="https://soundcloud.com/michaeljjohnson/1-ants" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/michaeljjohnson/1-ants" target="_blank">https://soundcloud.com/michaeljjohnson/1-ants</a><br> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"><b>Why a podcast?</b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square"> <li style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">Late to the game; </li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">Thinking about doing a podcast for a while, </li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">dabbled in radio a bit, did some blogging for a few years.</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">I’ve been listening to podcasts almost since the time they first came into existence</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"><b>Topics I will talk about in the podcast: </b></p>
<ul> <li style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">Pop culture news and opinions</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">TV, Film, comics, podcasts</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">Music, music industry, pro audio</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">Tech</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">Occasional guests and interviews</li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">NO SPORTS</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">(Note: All bumper music composed and recorded by Michael J. Johnson. That's me, btw!)<br><br>Hope you enjoy it! If you have ideas of topics you would like me to discuss, leave it in the comments. Thanks.</div>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"> </p>Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/33441012014-11-30T18:36:57-05:002014-11-30T18:39:37-05:00Why I Am Concerned About the State of the Music IndustrySome people have asked me why I post so much about artist rights, copyright, the loss of income from recorded music caused by piracy, streaming, etc, and all the issues surrounding it. Here is a breakdown of my motivations:<ol> <li>Since piracy sites are ad-supported, this means someone is making money from it. So, the sites themselves are making bank, and, of course, Google. If nobody was making money at all, that would be a different story.</li> <li>Streaming is happening - the clock can't be turned back on that. However, we still have time to figure out a way artists can get an equitable slice of the pie, so I feel like we need to keep talking about it.</li> <li>It costs money to make music. Musicians still need to buy and maintain their instruments, and even if you do all your recordings at home, you still need to buy the gear, plus there are still other costs, such as publicity material, etc. Which brings me to:</li> <li>This has affected the entire eco-system, including studios, music retailers, live music venues, support industries such as band photographers, the music press, etc. Which brings me to:</li> <li>An entire segment of our population is being squeezed out of existence economically: musicians. Yet, people still want to listen to music. So, in effect, in our capitalist society, musicians are being asked to work for free. (In my mind, I have begun to call this "Musical Socialism.") Yet, musicians still have to pay their bills, rent, food, gas and upkeep for the tour bus, internet access, phone service to book gigs, student loans, etc.</li>
</ol>I could go on, but I won't. I certainly hear plenty of "digital utopians" out there advocating for the other side, and they seem to get the lion's share of the press, so we the faithful need to keep the conversation going. I would like to also point out that this greed for free content is continuing to spread out to other industries and media as well. How long before it affects your business, and thus your way of life?Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/22961522013-12-27T17:07:03-05:002013-12-27T17:07:03-05:00On the Virtues of VersatilityUp until the end of the 20th Century, university music students were generally expected to settle on one instrument, major/emphasis, and musical genre, and work almost exclusively on that. The idea was to choose your career path and stick to it, trying to be the absolute best in your area. There were enough job opportunities for specialists, as long as you were really good at it. The climate has changed, however, as paying gigs have become more and more scarce. In fact, it almost seems like this trend has reversed itself, and the specialists are sitting at home, while those who can wear many hats are the ones making a living.I entered college while this transition was beginning. I can’t honestly say I was savvy enough to see the writing on the wall. However, since I was naturally inclined to be interested in a number of things, it turned out to be the perfect environment for me. It took the colleges and universities a while to catch up to this phenomenon, though. So, I learned what I could in college, and completed my education “in the streets.”<br>There is still a place for the specialists, but symphonies, opera companies, and similar institutions are struggling, and each time one goes bankrupt, there is more and more competition for fewer jobs. The versatile musician is ultimately more employable in the modern economy.<br>I use myself as an example. Over the years, I have made a living as a vocalist, guitarist and bassist, and I have even played keyboards on gigs. I have played or sung classical, jazz, rock, R&B, and hip-hop. I’ve made money as a live sound engineer, a composer, and arranger. I’ve directed choirs, orchestras, and vocal and instrumental jazz ensembles. I’ve produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered numerous recordings. And, of course, my degrees have allowed me to make a living teaching music as well.<br>My case may be a bit extreme, as not everyone has my style of ADD, coupled with a willingness/desire to learn new skills. However, I have many friends and colleagues who are making their living in a similar way. It’s not enough to just be excellent at your main instrument anymore. You must continue to practice your instrument and keep getting better, but you also have to accept the fact that there are thousands of people who are better at it than you. Having a diverse set of skills will often give you an edge that they don’t have.<br>When I received my undergraduate degree, I had one main goal: to be able to make a living in music without ever having to deliver pizzas again. Within a few years, I had achieved this goal, but it was only due to my versatility.<br>Still, there are a few downsides, which every aspiring musician should be aware of. If you are playing live gigs, you may have to learn songs that you would never listen to. Sometimes, it will seem like everyone in the room is your boss, which can be difficult if you have problems with authority. Sleep can often be only a luxury, and you will put quite a few miles on your car.<br>As for me, I have always been motivated by an overwhelming love of music, and the desire to communicate with the world through music. While these issues have bothered me from time to time, I’m ultimately happy to be doing what I love most, and to be getting paid for it. And that makes me very fortunate indeed! Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/22920412013-12-26T19:26:28-05:002013-12-26T19:26:28-05:00Be Kind To Your Cover BandI have made a living as a musician for many years, and I've spent a fair amount of time playing in cover bands. While playing in these bands can sometimes be lucrative (unless you live in Boston,) they can also lead to some frustrating moments. Many of these frustrations boil down to a difference in what the audience thinks as opposed to what the musician thinks. Here are a few, in no particular order:<ul>
<li>At the end of a four-hour night, anywhere from one or two people to the entire crowd is pressuring you to stay and play some more. <strong><em>What the audience thinks</em>:</strong> "Playing music is fun, and they should be flattered that we want to hear more." <strong><em>What the musician thinks</em>: </strong>"I've been playing for four hours. I am getting paid for four hours. The club will not pay me extra to play any more. Would you work extra time at your job for free?"</li> <li>The persistent song request, and the anger that follows when you don't know the song they are requesting. <strong><em>What the audience thinks</em>:</strong> "This is my favorite song, and in my opinion the best song ever written. Why don't they know it?" <strong><em>What the musician thinks</em>:</strong> "There are so many songs out there to learn. Every time my band learns a new song, it takes hours of practice. Every person in this audience has a different song that they believe is the greatest song ever. There is never enough time to learn every song that exists."</li> <li>"My friend is a drummer. Can he come up and sit in with you?" <strong><em>What the audience thinks</em>:</strong> "My friend is the best drummer who has ever lived. They should feel lucky to have him come up and play a song with them." <strong><em>What the musician thinks</em>:</strong> "We don't know this drummer, and we have never played with him before. We have spent many hours practicing with our regular drummer, and if things don't sound right, it will make us look bad." (<strong><em>What the drummer thinks</em>:</strong> "I don't want someone else playing my drum set. What if he breaks it?")</li> <li>The drunken audience member who runs up on stage while the band is on break to talk, rap or sing into the lead singer's microphone. <strong><em>What the audience thinks</em>:</strong> "There's a microphone. I'm gonna go up and act like a rock star!" <em>What the lead singer thinks</em>: "Gross. That drunk person is slobbering all over my microphone, and I didn't bring any disinfectant with me."</li> <li>"You guys are too darn loud. Can you turn it down an octave or so?" <strong><em>What the audience thinks</em>:</strong> "This band needs to turn down. I don't know much about music, but I know the word 'octave' means lower or something, so I'm going to use it to sound like I know what I'm saying." <strong><em>What the musician thinks</em>:</strong> "This venue hired a band. Bands consist of a combination of amplified instruments, which can sometimes be turned down, and acoustic instruments like drums, which are harder to control in terms of volume. There is often a limit to how much a band can turn down the volume, and it is also affected by the room itself, which may not really be built for amplified music. If you don't like how loud bands are, either invest in a pair of earplugs or go to a bar that doesn't have a band. Oh, and you don't know what the word 'octave' means!"</li>
</ul>There are many more, but those are some of the biggies. So, next time you go out to a club or event that has a live band, remember to be kind to the musicians. They are doing a job for money, just like you, and they deserve to be treated with the same amount of respect and consideration you would expect at your job!<br> Michael J. Johnsontag:michaeljjohnsonmusic.com,2005:Post/13821312013-08-12T00:53:49-04:002013-08-12T00:59:22-04:00Stepping Out"Sonic Cinema" was, for many years, the band name I was going to use for my pop/rock music. Because that's the way they do things in the music biz, right? A few months ago, it dawned on me that I have spent most of my professional life being just a member of a band. Sometimes, it was a band in which I was one of the contributing songwriters and vocalists. Other times, I was just the guitarist or the bassist, or even the keyboardist. I have never stepped out and fronted my own band.<br><br>So, that's what I'm doing now, for the first time in my life. And it just makes sense that, rather than hiding behind some fake band name, I need to put myself out there. Since I always liked the phrase Sonic Cinema, I decided to use it as the title of this blog. And who knows, I might someday write a song under that title.<br><br>I am currently releasing only singles, but I won't completely rule out the occasional EP. However, in my opinion, the "album" is a relic of the past, and it doesn't really fit an artist like me who has musical ADD!<br><br>In the production of my singles, I have been aided by the drumming talents of my longtime friend and brother-in-arms Jason Furman. Jason lives in New York, so our collaboration consists mostly of sending files back and forth, and he records the drum parts in his own studio. My album artwork has been masterfully produced by the amazing Amberlee Chaussee. Ani Johnson is handling my marketing, and she will also be contributing backing vocals on my live gigs. I am doing the rest of the tracking, mixing and mastering, and I am making my own videos as well.<br><br>I have put together a Boston-based band made up of three of Berklee College's finest: Dave Howard on guitar, Jeff Perry on bass, and Jazz Robertson on drums.<br><br>So, welcome aboard, and I hope you enjoy the ride. I'll try to keep it interesting!Michael J. Johnson