Money or Fame

"Matt, why do you do this, is it for the Money or the Fame??"

I get that question a lot. First off, if you're anywhere close to being in tune with the unsigned artist aka the DIY musician/band, there really isn't a lot of money. You see a lot of money, but you see it go right back out the door for other things. I am currently reading Anthony Kiedis' biography, "Scar Tissue" and in one section he talks about how they decided to give 5% of their income from touring to charity...5% might not sound like a lot, however per Kiedis...it broke down like this:

50% - goes to pay for the tour itself
20% - Management
5% - Booking Agent(s)
5% - Legal fees (aka Attorney's that get you out of jail when you kill people drinking and driving...cue Vince Neil).

So that leaves 20% to be divided by the band...Red Hot Chilli Peppers had 4 members...so that's 5% each...

Obviously if you're talking about 100 million dollars revenue that's not bad (5% of that is 5 Million)...but it's all relative. 5 million to Anthony Kiedis is probably like 500 to me and you...a good chunk of change, but you're not going to write home about it.

So...for Money or for Fame?? That's a good question...you could probably find a broke down rockstar with no money and nothing to their name and ask them...they probably still get recognized, get things for free, sign autographs, make cameo appearances...etc. I know there are probably a gaggle of people with plenty of money and no friends...and vice versa.

So that is a good question. If you were to ask me, I would probably say both!! :)

But honestly, I personally have been blessed as a musician and Snake Skin Prison has been blessed far beyond anything I could've ever imagined. I want my/our music to live forever. Money can't touch that...nothing lives forever (ask Bin Laden), regardless of what you have to protect you. This body is just a vehicle to carry you from birth to death. Music however lives forever. Money and Fame are good, they make life easier and harder at the same time, but nothing last forever. I will always play music. I will always have my guitars and be it for a crowd of 1000 or myself on my back porch, I love to play and sing...always have since I found out I could. That's why I do it, and if it ever starts to be for another reason...I might just pack it up and go back to WV where there ain't much money and sure as hell ain't no fame :) ... well on second thought, there is the Alcohol of Fame....

Come see us @ Stubbs!!


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