Music Communities: My Journey from Hope to Reality

In the journey of a musician, joining a community can feel like a beacon of hope. It's a place where like-minded individuals come together to share their passion, collaborate, and offer support. But as I venture deeper into different music communities, I find myself grappling with some harsh realities and confronting an often disheartening truth: my expectations are rarely matched.

I've learned that, more often than not, people are quick to consider their own needs without contemplating the collective. I strive to support others unconditionally, often without asking for anything in return. Yet, what I receive back is often minimal, or, at times, simply what is expected as a courtesy of following the rules. Today, I want to share my reflections on this experience, what I've learned about the illusion and reality of being part of a music community.

The Initial High Hopes about music communities

When I first joined a music community, my expectations were sky-high. I envisioned a space where artists uplift one another, where collaboration flourished, communication and support always at the top and where my art would be met with enthusiasm and appreciation. I was excited to contribute, share my work, and build meaningful connections with others who shared my journey.

This excitement was fueled by stories of successful collaborations and the joy of discovering new artists. I dove headfirst into everything I was asked to do to give my contribution. The idea was that we were all in it together, right?

However, as I immersed myself deeper, the reality became abundantly clear. While some musicians genuinely sought to support each other, many seemed primarily focused on their own gain. I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me as I realized that the give-and-take I had anticipated was instead a one-sided arrangement more often than not.

The Balancing Act of Contribution

I love supporting my peers. Whether it’s sharing their music, giving big shut out on social media, or providing feedback on their new tracks, I have always believed in the importance of lifting each other up. However, it sometimes feels as though my efforts go unrecognized or are simply taken for granted.

In considering the pros and cons of my experiences, I've had to confront the tipping point of what it means to be a part of a community. The more I've been told that "you have to be active" in the community the more I notice that no one was interested in interacting unless it was something beneficial to someone else. I was feeling more drained than inspired, carrying the weight of unreciprocated enthusiasm. This led me to ponder whether my contributions truly mattered and if my expectations were simply unrealistic.

I’ve found that offering support, even when the return is minimal, can still provide a sense of fulfillment. After all I believe in karma and sooner or later the good you spread around will come back, but I don't offer my support thinking I'll gain something: that's just the way I am!There is something wonderfully rewarding about creating connections, fostering creativity, and contributing to an environment where artists can thrive, even when it feels futile at times.

Real time witness...

Naturally, my experiences have ranged dramatically from group to group. In my case, the difficulty is that probably my genre of music is not the main stream one let's say and it's more niche so it can be challenging to find someone that really like my music: they can appreciate the artistry but it's not one thing they'd listen constantly. I get that!

In those spaces, artists come together to share resources, collaborate, and genuinely celebrate each other's successes and of course I'm always excited to see this enthusiasm. But of course every coin has two sides: every group have their favorites, that's a fact, and often times you can see that the people that are celebrated are the " usual known " with some random appearance of some outsider.

My skepticism come from some conversations I had inside these groups and I give couple fo example just for the sake of the conversation...

I asked simple questions like " if everybody complain about Spotify why we have to keep feeding it? " and as answer I had " because people pay bills with streaming" or " how come so my music is not streamed and other musicians have multiple songs " and the answer is " well they do lot of work for the community"...

These answers got me thinking and asking myself some questions:

• we all know that having million of followers that don't stream your music doesn't help you, so how is possible that people that have 900 monthly listeners can pay bills and yours truly with an average of 3k monthly listeners cannot?

• Why lots of people ask you to join your playlist promising to stream and then they do nothing waiting other people to carry the water?

• Why in general people contact you sharing the amazing idea to support each other and once they collect their like or follow they disappear in thin air?

Of course all these question belong mostly to the realm of humanity not only musicians and probably it is affected by the world we are living nowadays: if you mix a good amount of self entitlement, selfishness, and hypocrisy the result can be devastating or reality.

But I always try to look at the bright side and try to make the best out of a not ideal situation so instead of getting bitter about my experiences, I find myself becoming more discerning. I recognize that I have the power to choose where to invest my time and energy, seeking out those who share a similar vision of collaboration and appreciation and despite several attempts I end up flying solo and build my own path. Personally the more I always wanted to collaborate the more I found myself relying on one single person: ME.

What are the choices?

Most of the times there are rules to follow to be part of the community and unfortunately criticism are not seen as constructive ones but as an attack to the establishment so to speak. I always try to bring my experience in the field ora good dose of common sense but often times, and I find it ironical, the people that want to " fight the system" are the one that embrace it in full.

Saying this, there are some options, that are valid in any field: if you don't like the place leave it and find the one that fit your needs without the need to bitch about the experience, after all life is a learning curve and keep complaining about something you don't like is useless and keep you stuck in the past.

We always have to move forward so the choices that need to be made are at the end very few:

• comply with the rules and accept them but without complaining because there is no obligation to remain in a community that doesn't align with my values or expectations so you are not forced to stay. Keep complaining doesn't help anyone especially your mental health.

• leave wishing well to the people that instead found their own space and maybe build your own tribe, but careful to not make the same mistakes that you were previously complaining about. Power is a beast!

In this journey, I still hold on to hope. I keep working and striving to find those who deeply appreciate my craft, and am willing to champion my art as I do theirs. This process helps me turn disappointment into motivation, shifting my focus towards building relationships with those who genuinely resonate with my work.

As I continue to encounter the realities of community life as a musician, I’m consciously seeking out a tribe that values mutual support and reciprocal enthusiasm. I’ve learned that a smaller circle can often lead to more meaningful connections, whether through collaboration, feedback, or simply sharing the joy of creating.

This is the reason why I'm trying to cultivate a fanbase that really and genuinely support each other and I invite you to join me especially if you enjoy reading my shared experiences.

Of course I'd really appreciate if you share this post with your friends that might be interested

Count me in!

Embracing the Journey

Despite the ups and downs of community life, I’ve found that the journey itself is what matters most. Every experience, whether positive or discouraging, contributes to my growth as an artist. I take comfort in knowing that I am actively participating in this vibrant world and nurturing my own creativity.

I want to encourage fellow musicians and music lovers to keep hope alive. There may be times when the environment may feel discouraging, but the beauty of this community lies in the shared passion we all carry for music.

Remember, your art has value. Keep creating, keep hoping, and keep supporting others. You never know who you may inspire or where your next connection may lead. Every small action can lead to wonderful opportunities, even if it takes some time to find those who truly appreciate it.

The reality may sometimes be daunting, but I choose to focus on the power of connection, the joy of support, and the unwavering hope of finding my true audience.

Let’s continue to cultivate an environment where art is celebrated, where support is mutual, and where musicians can thrive. Together, we can bridge the gap between illusion and reality, creating a vibrant tapestry that uplifts everyone involved. After all, music is meant to be a shared experience, and I’m excited to see where this journey leads next!

Ps: see you next week for another post!

An inspiring music studio filled with various instruments awaiting creativity.