I've been "stuck in the middle" of a recording project since March of 2006. I'm recording at Flat Five Studio which is owned and operated by Tom Ohmson. Tom's a great recording technician and a killer mandolin player. He also has a humorous and realistic view of the music business.
Point of fact, anyone with a realistic view of the music business is required to have a sense of humor if they want to remain sane (and relatively sober)! Tom's recorded a lot of folks when their star was on the rise. He often sees them again on their way back down! While we're listening to my tracks, Tom often jokes "Yeah Scott, this one'll take you straight to the middle!" Maybe Tom just thinks I'm a second-rate player, writer and singer; but what I think he means is that as a niche musician playing blues and roots (much of it "original"), "the middle" is about the best I can hope for. Either way, I get a kick out of hearing him say it. It helps keep me grounded and (somewhat) humble!
I love the recording process, which may be why I spend so much time (and money), in the studio when its time to put some new material out there. Putting out a CD is like any creative process, you're making a personal statement; a reflection of who you are and where you’re at creatively and artistically. I'm like most musicians in that I want to have a definitive "sound." In other words, when a song opens with a guitar introduction I want people's ears to register "Hey! That sounds like Scott Perry." I don't think I'm quite there yet, but being stuck in the middle allows me the luxury of taking my time while I keep trying!
When I first started playing out, I had dreams of actually "making it." I wasn't sure what "making it" meant, but I knew I wanted to do it! However, about fifteen years into my so called music career, I came to terms with what "making it" was, at least for an acoustic blues and roots player. I was performing at Charleston, South Carolina's Spolletto Festival at a jazz bar called Henry's. I had a nice crowd and was enjoying a good set. During a break a reporter came up and asked if he could interview me. During the course of the interview he asked me if I harbored any dreams of "making it" in the music business. I'm not sure what caused me to reevaluate what that meant at that moment, but my answer was, "I've already made it!" He gave me a quizzical look. You might be doing the same. Here's the essence of what I told him.
I play blues and roots music for a living. I play only the music I want to play, and people pay me to do it. Many musicians I know spend most of their time playing open mics and wallpaper gigs.
They also often find themselves sleeping on friend’s couches as they rarely can keep up with their rent unless they have a good day job (or trust fund). While not opposed to the occasional open mic or wall paper gig, I have supported or assisted in supporting a family of four for the past seventeen years through my musical endeavors. Not only that, but I have remained happily married through it all and have two great, reasonably well-adjusted kids! Now if that ain't "makin' it" I guess I don't know what is!
