isaacs news

[isaacs]

Great to see all the spirited aesthetic discussion here in the last few days.

Just to flip into the other use of the place - promotion, including self-promotion - I have some stuff going down over the next few months.

This follows an eight-month deep stasis in my career, which included 6-months without playing in public, all coming on the heels of having gone deeply into debt to undertake a major recording in the USA.

I know I'm far from alone in this kind of experience; riding these kind of troughs is an ongoing challenge for any artist, especially those who don't mix their work with regular academic/teaching or commercial music activities. The impact on self-esteem and finances can be extremely debilitating - even clinical. It's something artists are reluctant to talk about publicly, as in our upbeat culture that might just add to the problem. However I hope that here at least could be a supportive place for those who feel they have lost their way and their hope as I did for a while.

However things have come together at last and if you want to read my summation of what's coming up the posting at my blog is members.optusnet.com.au/markisaacs/2007/04/resurgence-cd-release-and-other-news

And if anyone wants to talk about those kinds of issues related to sustaining personal creative and career direction - which for an artist can be just about all of life's direction - please do so in this thread.

[ladylex]

It makes one's art that more worthwhile I guess Mark. That sense of satisfaction is heightened more so. You cant value art in a monetary sense - how can monetary worth be defined by the heart and soul and depths of despair? *shrugs It cant. Which makes this baby all the more worthwhile. I have a copy of the unmastered version.. now Ill wait for the fully tweaked version to reach me yaaay!

I know its hard to be on a hiatus for periods at a time - but I never doubted it would happen for you.. hence my constant encouragment and support. It does get difficult to have faith and believe.. and this is where a musician/artist's true friends is most needed i guess..

Congratulations! Sounds like June 14 will just HAVE to see me in Sydney. *fingers crossed

Many congratulations all the same.

xXx

[ironguts]

Hey Mark, that link didn't work for me, a whole lot of jargon I got. I'd be keen to read your blog.

Yeah, creative/career direction, that's a biggy. I must admit the need to teach to subsidize the art gets larger as the will to do so abates. I'd be happy not to teach at all except maybe for the occasional keen one at home. Same with playing commercial music or even music other than that which is really what I want to do.

In a way I have resolved myself to the fact that the undertakings I make artistically will never support me and my family financially, they certainly do spiritually, for me anyhow, and in turn my family.

It's interesting that in music there is money is to be made in composition, at least in regards to film/tv/theater. I personally am enjoying playing improvised music so much I have very little, if no, interest in composing but find myself in a position where this may be an opportunity to make some money. I guess the bottom line is that if you have bills to pay and have children to support then you must use the skills you have to do so in what ever way best suits.

I guess all that really is another obstacle for the Artist, doing something to live and still finding time to pursue the Artistic creative ideas that need to be explored.

I know for sure I'd rather be a financial poor Artist than a creatively poor one.

At least we still have the opportunity in this country to be in this position, though I'm sure if Johnny had his way,,,,

[isaacs]

ironguts said:

Hey Mark, that link didn't work for me, a whole lot of jargon I got. I'd be keen to read your blog.

Perhaps I was updating it at that second. It should work, if not just go to www.markisaacs.com and hit "News" for the blog.

Re composing, doing it for film/tv/theatre as you refer to is the most financially rewarding but for me the most artistically and personally problematic due to directors who want to give musical direction, rather than the dramatic direction they absolutely should give. I managed to evict myself from that scene which I was active in 15-20 years ago by spitting the dummy too many times. Also if I thought the film was crap I said so, which didn't endear me to people. I once told the then-unknown director of a film who had asked me to score it that his film did "nothing for me, so I can do nothing for it". His name was Yahoo Serious and the film was Young Einstein which some might remember went on to be a major hit.

However, I am happy to remain in the world of composing concert music for classical players. While the commissions are sporadic and modestly paid compared to the other stuff, it has kept me away from teaching just for the $ and there is no question of the sort of artistically meddlesome stuff that goes on in film/tv/theatre music occuring. And composing is really important to me, I've always done it and it's part of the reason why quite a few of my bands have been standards bands as I get my composing jollies from the classical side (however my new band and CD are all about composing and - no less- arranging).

I really appreciate what classical players can offer a composer's vision, and I find there are things I can do through composing - certain kinds of counterpoint, certain ways to approach form, and certain instrumental colours and textures - that I can't get happening in jazz/improv. So the two will always be side-by-side for me.

I have a major commission for a festival next year that will blend improvisors with a large classical chamber ensemble. That will pose some curly questions!

[ladylex]

Do you know Sean OBoyle Mark?

[captain]

We always have to keep in mind the unfortunate geographical problems we have, because a) its really expensive to travel in our own country to find audiences (imagine if we lived in Holland, which has a simliar population but everything is much closer. You coul easily tour every capital city.)
b) its just unfortunate how far away we live from the rest of the 'western' world (where most 'jazz' and misc. improvisers will find audiences) - which means travel oppourtunities that Americans and Europeans take for granted just aren't possible for us.

[captain]

not meaning to sound negative, but it actually cheers me to think that our logistical problems are completely out of our control. Maybe we could speed up continental drift - by all standing in St Kilda and farting.

[vickibonet]

St Kilda is smelly enough wthout extra jazz farts thanks Captain. Speaking of control, we actually have control over nothing. Security is an absurd concept.