Well, I don't know if I agree, but I'm a MySpace infant, remember. It was my teenaged daughter who talked me into getting a MySpace "presence." I haven't, as noted above, refused any "friend" requests, but most of them have been from fellow musicians whom I know.

I have noticed a couple of things:

The songs I have posted on MySpace (just three, and only one off the CD) get a lot more "hits" than the ones I have posted on Soundclick. Virtually no feedback, though--and I want feedback to make me a better writer.

First time I posted an announcement of a gig, I started getting announcements from other performers about *their* gigs. And I have been able to tap some of them for advice about what works in dragging people in. I need that, too.

And the networking thing does work, too. When a gig I was going to do with a fellow songwriter got cancelled, I got the notification on MySpace--nowhere else.

Lastly, when I was in Nashville last summer for Pineyfest, I did get to meet one music publisher who acted interested in my material. (Of course, she never heard me perform it.) Did she want a CD? No. She simply asked, "You got a MySpace?" Yes. On the business card. "I'll check it out."

And I post my weekly blog ("The Writer's Blog") there, too, as well as on Blogspot, where I signed up originally. I do figure if it's going to get any attention, it's more likely to get it there.

And yes, I'd feel differently if I'd had a bad experience out of it. Thus far, I have not. Ain't been phished (I do try to be careful, though). And nobody's sent me any dirty videos (dang).

Joe

www.soundclick.com/joewrabek
www.soundclick.com/deathgrass
www.soundclick.com/wrabeksworksinprogress
The Writer's Blog: http://nakedspacehamsters.blogspot.com