Something in Common

      The Beatles had been playing regularly in Liverpool for a couple of years when an enterprising promoter booked them for an extended time in Hamburg in 1960. The next two years would see them in and out of various nightclubs in the city and it matured them as performers.

1960

    This was an apprenticeship. They expanded their song list, began writing and most of all learned how to entertain an audience. Unlike the teen clubs in Liverpool, these were rough venues in bad parts of town, frequented by all manner of shady characters and fringe types and the young lads also got a number of life lessons along the way. They emerged as seasoned performers who were prepared for the success they would soon get when they returned to England. 

TS  at 15

   

    Similarly, Taylor Swift began her career at a young age. Her family moved to Nashville when she was still a teenager and she paid her dues rising through the ranks of the many aspiring musicians who gravitate to Music City. In Nashville the road to recognition is through playing showcases and songwriter nights in hopes of attracting attention from record labels. After several years of this Taylor was chosen as an opening act for a touring band, and this led to more touring and a recording contract in 2005. 

   

    In my own way, I had something of the same experience. Way back when a band I formed was hired to be the house band at a little bar and we ended up working 9PM-2AM four nights a week for almost a year. It was a pretty rough place with a rowdy crowd and frequent bar fights. One day we showed up and another band was setting up...that's how we learned we were replaced. Looking back, I still am amazed we lasted so long. I believe one reason we did was that we were constantly learning new songs and keeping up with the hits on the radio. Though I didn't understand it at the time, I was learning my craft and now that I'm performing again I sometimes get flashbacks from those days.

    It's an axiom that someone must to "pay their dues" in order to be successful. What it means is immersing oneself in the game, to commit fully 100% to becoming proficient at what you aspire to achieve. There really is no substitute for these kinds of experiences. It also means starting at the bottom, and building a strong foundation of the fundamentals.

    There are a number of TV shows and online talent contests that promise aspiring performers overnight success if they win the competition. It often doesn't pan out for the contestants and one of the reasons is that despite winning, the performer isn't actually ready for wider exposure. One exception was the country singer Carrie Underwood, who won "American Idol" in 2004 at age 21. While being extremely talented, she also had been performing professionally and earning a college degree before the show. She actually had gotten some interest from a record label when she was 15, but it fell through and she has been quoted as saying it was actually fortunate because she wasn't ready.

    Not everyone can be a Beatle or this generation's "Beatles", Taylor, but it is possible to become as good as you can be, if you just put in the time and effort. It can be arduous, painful, and heartbreaking at times, but it can also be rewarding beyond one's expectations.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA

Singer/Songwriter Rick Millward lived and worked on the West Coast until moving to Nashville in 2000. He was part of the Music City songwriter community, collaborating with other artists and producing projects in his boutique studio, including two EMMY nominated soundtracks. Now in Southern Oregon, Rick has discovered a vibrant local music scene centered around the many tasting rooms. 

His records: "Limited Edition", "Home for Good", and “Loveland” are available on Spotify and other streaming platforms. His new recordings, "Astronomy", will be released later this year.

LOVELAND ON SPOTIFY