The Grim Realities of Cheeping at Cheap Concerts

Gosh, Saskia and Shauna, have you twats ever check FARCEBOOK and see what REAL musicians are doing?

They're sadly telling the world about their pathetic gigs at schools, radio stations, and tiny venues...

Here's a folkie who put out several albums without Kickstarter help. She had a partner named Dave. He died around 2002. She has somebody else playing mandolin at her gigs. And she grows her kale, does her gigs, and who knows what her day job is. She sure ain't makin' a living THIS way.

One of the better songs she and the dead guy did was "Preston Miller," which is similar to the British story ballads (about highwaymen, faithless lovers, etc.) that influenced them. It sounds like a traditional ballad. But it's an original. Not a COVER.

When, Saskia and Shauna, will YOU echo Robin Williams' line, "Reality...what a concept"??

TEN years ago, she performed "Preston Miller" at some obscure folkie club. 2007 (on Goo Tube, in a hapless attempt to inspire people to see her perform it live). This 2007 version has the new guy on mandolin, because the guy who wrote the song died 5 years earlier, probably thinking he had a future because she and he had a label deal. A small label, but at least, a label.

Er, no, Shauna, it isn't the PROFILE that has kept this lady from making more than some fiverrrrs or a stipend or whatever she gets. It's that whatever style of music, folk, jazz or even rap, there's too much supply and not enough demand. People want FREEEEEE and they also don't like to leave home and pay anything.

Imagine, TEN years after this concert in a venue that probably had less than 50 people, and she's STILL out there, playing schools.

IF I'M BEING HONEST, her style of music hasn't been THAT popular since 1963. Only a Joan or Joni or Emmylou has made a steady living with it. So she does it for the love of it, and the humility of being part of the folk tradition she loves.

As for some Bristol twit, or some Dublin ditsy dozy dip doing cover versions of Taylor Swift, forget it. PLEASE.

The truth these days is you do it as a "hobby" not a vocation, and know that you're not likely to be known outside a small circle of friends and relatives. And if you're content with that, all power to you. If you need to Twitter-Twatter about wanting Paypal tips and Kickstarter money, FUCK and OFF.