JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Microphone and Vocalist Forum yell/scream

Hi Vikki. I agree with your theory that everyone should try and be all they can be. That is a no brainer. You cite examples that do not really prove much. Michael Caine has made obscene amounts of money as an actor albeit as a mediocre very wooden actor by his own definition. (he has been in some real turkeys) SO WHAT. This proves my theory that mediocracy has been encouraged and perpetuated. When there is so much talent out there that could do much better than Mr Caine and they do not get a break I have a problem with this. Perhaps if he had given up when advised a place would have been there for someone with real talent.
The 40 year old must have had a natural talent and only discovered this and allowed it to be nurtured at a late stage. It happens all the time. So what.
Re Richard Margison I am sorry but excuse my ignorance I have never heard of him. Not up on opera and classical styles.
I am not saying that people do not fall through the net. I am saying that the net has holes that are too small. It is not cast out often enough. Some fish should be thrown back and bigger better tasting fish caught in their place.
There are many people in many fields that do not deserve the fame and fortune. If they had been told that they only have a very limited talent and gave up the world might be a better place. I can supply a list of names of some of these individuals if you like.
There have been art exhibitions where so called artists have made huge amounts of money from things like a pile of bricks thrown on the floor, an unmade bed, and recently an electric light being switched on and off. These people (con artists) call this art and will make big bucks and win prizes for this nonesense. Some idiots with more money than sense are duped into mentoring such drivel to be fashionable. Yuck. I saw a pavement artist creating a masterpiece in chalk on the pavement and collecting pennies in a hat. An hour later the rain washed it away. Yuck. There are only a few teachers and tutors and a few chances for truely talented people to make it in this business. These chances should go to the few who have this natural talent and shine. Folk should be told HONESTLY how good or bad they are. To do anything else just lowers standards and encourages mediocracy.
I must admit I speak my mind have strong opinions and perhaps am not as tactful as I could be. But I can take criticism and have no fear of the harsh truth. Too often people are afraid to say that someone sucks as it is not PC. I respect someone more for telling it like it is rather than telling white lies just to be nice.
My blood boiled this weekend as X factor rolled onto our TV with the usual wannabes there. Unfortunately in this series the hopefuls are the saddest bunch ever. Few if any can barely hold a tune. My agent would not look twice at any of them and he is not that fussy yet here they are on the TV getting mega bucks and exposure. Another reason to nip this mediocracy in the bud.
I still think that the advice I gave the girl was for the best alround. I saved her a lot of money on wasted lessons and saved a lot of people having to suffer her awful tuneless singing. I look upon it as a good deed.
If I were a vocal coach and someone with very poor ability came to me I would teach them yes if they insisted but point out that they were wasting both their time and money. I would feel bad dishonest and a fake if I did not. A vocal coach I think should have the qualifications, obligations and right to do this.
Should a university let someone in who failed the entrance exam miserably. I certainly would not? Maybe someone would argue that they should just in case there talents were well hidden.