So true. A recent survey of 6000 working musicians in the UK found that half earn less than 14k a year from their craft. Google Musicians Union for more info.
yeah, right - i can pay my bills and have a bit of spending money doing something i kind of like. believe me i'd feel more accomplished if i didn't have a bit of spending money but were doing something a love.
She said even her own circle of family and friends in person have told her the same. But the point she makes is that sometimes it takes some people a very long time unlike others who make it big very early in life.
agreed. As TS said in that great track - Haters Gonna Hate. BTW if you can find the "making of's, outtakes" of Shake It Off ? You'll smile for a week. Cheers from NZ
My mother published her first book at age 90 and spent the final year of her life promoting it. I just released my first book at age 65 and had it reviewed in Shindig! magazine. My wife, 58, launched her own RUclips storytelling channel. Sometimes you have to wait until families are raised and your time truly becomes your own. Weirdness is a virtue and a hedge against age. It's not over until they close the lid.
I'm turning 48 this December and can honestly say I'm a late bloomer. I'm truly grateful for the lessons I've learned over that time and for the opportunities I have today. Never give up on life. It's simply too precious ❤
64-year-old weighing in here. I’m in the EARLY stage of my music career - does it bother me? Nope. I am having fun, I am getting better, and I get my share of positive feedback from fans and other musicians. As they say, “Age is just a number.” You, Mary, are an inspiration for those of us who want to make music OUR way. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
As a 75 yo painter, who has been at it for 50 years, I can relate to this advice. The grass always looks greener... Appreciating what you have is so important. I do have fans, students, and patrons but it doesn't add up to much money. If you want to do it you will. Thanks, Mary!
"Appreciate what you have", AKA "Count your blessings" is a major philosophy of mine. I never became famous but at least I have instruments to play and ways to record
I have played the guitar since I was 9, I’m 36, never tried to “make it”. I am a musician, will always be a musician. I’m constantly learning more and more. Being a musician is so valuable to me and my health.
and you most probably don't give a shit to "music industry" but just enjoy the process. Industries are for greedy businessmen not musicians and artists (those are the exploited ones to be precise)
I'm a retired 65 year old trucker. I watch for entertainment and a learning connection. You my dear are very interesting and entertaining. It's so satisfying to hear that you understand your position in life and are also happy to be just as you are. Thank you.
Well said Mary. I learned long ago not to let someone elses opinion become my reality. Another true saying is 'Love many, trust few, and always paddle your own canoe' He's to us paddling into the future 😎😎
Totally agree Mary. I realised in my 20s that "fame and fortune" were not going to happen for me. Music is and will be my means of artistic expression. I spent 3 years playing in bands in Europe. Wrote a song that was released as a single in Germany. It didn't sell, oh well. I played in bands over many genres, went to the Conservatorium and got a degree at 40 and now am happily "retired" from gigging. I write and record my own albums at home and am very happy and fulfilled. I made a bit of money, travelled and met many wonderful fellow musicians along the way. The older I get (65 now) the more satisfied I am with my life in music. No regrets at all with not "making it". Regards Danny, Tasmania, Australia
you think you didn't make it cause you weren't good enough or talented enough? it's not ever gonna happen for many of us, but we can do music as a hobby like so many musicians are doing on You tube. it's fun to pretend we are rock stars
Mary kind of touched on this, but fame really does distort some people especially when fame happens to someone in their youth. Michael Jackson is a well known example. Child actors, especially those who don't get consistent acting work as adults, very often become incredibly warped and can't adjust to adult life well. All this news coverage because that actor from the American sitcom Friends passed away, and the photographers and "news" people are hounding every actor that they can find from the main stars on down. They even tracked down a woman in London who had a bit part in the show, they found her walking her dog and asked for her reaction. She probably hasn't even seen anyone from that show in 20 years as she didn't have a main part and was only in a few episodes, but she had a microphone in her face and had to say something that sounded gracious. I grew up in California, and I've had friends and acquaintances who work as electricians or carpenters in set construction. The entertainment industry is largely populated by sordid characters, and no one who knows of it is surprised by stuff like came out about Harvey Weinstein. It was virtually an open secret how he was. And the ultra-popular musicians often wind up on a path to very destructive behaviors. A 16 or 18 year old making it in any other business doesn't have the short path to millions that sometimes happens when a band catches lightning in a bottle or a movie breaks box office records, and that sort of thing can go to someone's head when that young.
@Anon54387 yeah, I believe the sordid characters bit and the Weinstein observation. You be surprised how many people would be willing to be a hand for the devil as long as they recieve his benefits. You can see this kind of stuff play out in retail even.
@@Anon54387 Really well said. I have read so many biographies of politicians, authors, scientists, and musicians.....Fame and celebrity status sounds like a horrendous noose. Furthermore, young, talented, top, top-level art-producing people tend to be flawed characters from the outset, insecurities, emotionally challenged and/or addiction tending people. Like many comments here, I play and make music at home and enjoy it. Chasing, having and then trying to retain that fame and glory seems like a dreadful lifestyle to me....
You probably haven’t seen any of my previous comments. Short version: you are VERY valuable as a musician and all-around decent human being. Don’t stop.
I too was washed up at 33. I am now 60, and taking names and kicking ass. I'm with Team Mary on setting realistic expectations that do not involve entitlement 😁
67 years old, still loving music, writing songs, and gigging regularly. Now learning Ableton and making beats. I may not be rich but I'm surrounded by creative people and having a ball.
As a musician of 25 + years , the trauma of those early years still stay with me .. people will criticise , they will demean and humiliate , but they will never get past the first obstacle in music .. showing up .
Fortunately my father and music people around me has always been very supportive of any endeavor I put myself into. One thing a teacher of mine once told me was: "If you pay some of your bills with something you love to do, you've made... the purpose of life is not to be rich or famous, is to be loved and to love what you do" You inspire me very much, thank you
I'm over 50 and I restated playing guitar 5 years ago, it's never to late to chase your dreams and inspiration has no age ❤ Dear Mary, your wisdom words are so true.
I'm nearly there myself. Just gotta get over my social media/youtube addiction first. I used to write music religiously in my early 20s. Then came kids/family, and then internet also started getting more and more addictive over the years. Now the kids are grown and I think often about going back to my old passion, wondering if there's any creativity buried down there somewhere
Bonnie Raitt deserved a Grammy for her album "Taking my Time" (1973 when she was 24). She did not achieve huge commercial success until 1989 (when she was 40). You have the right attitude. I am hoping you achieve whatever you want.
As a 58 yr old producer and musician I loved this video. Thanks for sharing. I think if you’re proud of your work and it touches others either small or large then you’ve made it. You’ve made it Mary and I hope one day I can say the same thing. If ever you feel like a holiday come stay with my wife and I and our lovely villa music studio on our paradise island of Koh Samui.
You've made it without a shadow of a doubt and are a true inspiration for your wonderful voice , musicianship and the insightfullness you share on your YT channel. You and Leo Moracchioli and other YT musos are the future of music , not the top 40 crap.
Thank you for addressing this topic. I had singer/songwriter dreams once when I was in my late teens and early 20s, but I soon realized that my temperament did not suit the reality of what I’d need to do to promote my work. Then another avenue for my talents presented itself: music therapy. My “audiences” became individuals and small groups with diverse needs, I wrote hundreds of songs over the years to meet those needs, I worked daytime hours, have been showered with gratitude and appreciation, and obtained all the trappings of a secure middle class lifestyle. At 61, I could choose to retire, but like other musicians who love their jobs, I think I’ll keep doing this gig for a few years yet. All this to say, success in the music industry can take a multitude of forms.
Mary, you have no idea how much I needed to hear your message today. As I've been approaching 30, I've been feeling really down about where I am in my own music career. It really is never "too late" to find your success and "make it" in your own way. Thank you for your inspirational message, looking forward to hearing more music from you soon!
The rule of age in music is, there is no age in music. I'm 63, I'll never "make it," do I care? Not at all. I'll never stop learning something new.. It's not always the destination that satisfies, for me, it's the journey, loving every step. Learning something new, that's success. And btw, thanks, Mary, for being an inspirational part of that.
I'm 81 and love your channel and music. Keep up your good music. Pat Benatar was a waitress in a Friendly Ice Cream Shop in my home town of Worcester, Massachusetts when her first husband was in the military nearby.
I don't know, if some guy in southwest North Dakota, USA can turn to his left and say "Alexa play music by Mary Spender" and your songs start playing, than in my mind, you've made it. Kudos to you! Plus, your music makes my mom smile. She has late stage Alzheimer's disease, so that is an amazing thing to me. Thank you so much for that.
So good! 😭😭😭 I’m a mom of 7 and sometimes feel like I haven’t “made it” in music. But then when I write songs with my teens and perform with them I know I HAVE made an impact that will last generations. And that is my definition of true success. ♥️
When I was 18, my stepdad told me that since I hadn't "made it yet," I never was going to. He worked in a hotel, so not sure what he knew about it, but it hurt. Still, I pressed on. He and my mom gave me shit for the next ten years, and minimum support (they let me use the shed they weren't using as rehearsal space for occasional rent money or electricity payments). During that time, I wrote a gazillion songs, recorded on a crappy cassette recorder, played on people's demos, sat in where I could, tried to help a producer friend build a studio, lost a bunch of money and a friend or two along the way, all along working full time jobs and paying rent in California (yikes). I had a good reputation, everybody told me all the time what a talent I was (even my asshat parents), but there was very little actual help, a lot of competition, and in the nineties there was no RUclips and no streaming, and an artist needed a profound amount of luck to be successful, at least in a mainstream sense. I also found myself in a situation where many of the people who had once encouraged me, turned completely around and started acting like my parents had. At the end of the nineties, with rent prices out of control and beaten down by all the negativity, I sort of floated away from music and did what everybody else wanted me to do and became "normal." At 28, things just sort of ended. I still bought some equipment and pretended I was going to do something with it, but connections faded out, venues dried up, I had no place to play or rehearse or record. Now, that's a sob story, and take it or leave the details. But the thing that really screwed up my mind happened many years later. I had just started playing guitar again after fifteen years of not even touching it, when randomly I looked up the song "Closing Time," which had been a huge hit for Semisonic, ironically around the time things were winding down for me. I found out the songwriter, Dan Wilson, was 37 when that song hit. The dude had been in bands that kinda "made it,", made records that flopped, wrote songs only a few people heard, and never really charted or had significant success until he was 37. The revelation wrecked me. I mean... what did "made it" even mean? He had successes. He had losses. He kept going. Anybody who has bothered to read this far... don't let them wreck you. They're all full of shit. What do they know? Really? Do they even know how to measure success? Anybody tells you you're too old, you tell them to fuck right off.
Absolutely no age limit. Sometimes one needs life experience to call upon to write. Your music is personal to you and hits me hard. You go girl, you’re fabulous as you are!
Heartfelt advice from a 65-year-old therapist/counselor who has weathered several major crises himself and guides others through their crises every working day: NEVER give up on your passion, Mary, because it will keep uplifting your spirit when all else fails. You've already made 'it'. Carry on making more of 'it' (what you love making most). You've successfully transitioned from the intro to the first verse. The best parts of your song are still to come, and all who admire your work are dying to hear them.
You have lots of time Mary - it's also not just about becoming huge - it's about loving what you do and being exceptionally good at it.. and you demonstrate that with every video. Good on you girl...
I have been rockin' on the bass since I was 19, now I am 65, still love to play, if you don't love it you will be full of bitterness, it's been a great journey and not over yet.
Mary, so glad to see the connection with you and Rick Beato. I am a musician, but also a retired teacher. You and Rick are both great teachers and obviously enjoy helping others. Like the last comment, you are already successful. Keep it up, Mary!
Bottom line here Mary...You LOVE what you do and side stepping the frustrating points, Your Career LOVES you back....and especially Your Fans too!!! That rabbit hole in the comment section has a way of ensnaring us ALL into it's verbally typed web. We all have been "captured" in that hole but we find a way to get free....until that next trap is triggered! 🤣 Very much appreciate you sharing what's on your heart with your Spender Pals and just know we got your back! Cheers From Across The Pond In COW-lumbus, Ohio MOO 👋
"If you can be content to make a living, and not a fortune, from your art..." - Exactly Mary! Far too many who've made it super big have spoken about how their fame has become their prison. I've been following you for awhile now. Your skill as a musician has improved greatly, and it's really cool seeing you develop your interviewing skills on trips like your recent one with Rick Beato. 🙂
If you're making a living from music full time, then you've made it. Dont need a hit song or be famous to enjoy a wonderfully satisfying life of playing music. Keep it up Mary, you've already made it! we love you.❤
Working full time on your music, putting out content, recording, and having a HUGE amount of people here on You tube who appreciate you enough to spend time in your world, must be seriously satisfying. Great achievement. From a part time musician (34 years now) who always has a day job.
Right on Mary! Well said! Alan Rickman came to acting later on - something that has stayed with me whenever people say, ‘it’s too late’ or ‘you’ve missed the opportunity’. No, it’s there for those who dare. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your videos. Love the CD!!!
Great video! As a mid 30s musician who’s just started my own RUclips journey, messages like this one act as a kind reminder to not let the pressure and expectations of age be a cause of lingering anxiety. Thanks for making this one :)
Mary is always grounded and always offers sage, mature advice. No artist should ever quit based on someone else's perception of success. Part of being a creative soul is the thrill of the journey, the experience of the creative process. Countless people have had success, whatever that means to them personally, well into the upper years. Even at 80, you can suddenly be "Seen", or better yet, heard. You don't have to buckle to ageism and hurl your guitar into the bin. As long as you are loving the process, just keep producing. Because you like it.
I'm 71 and still hold out some hope that my music might be discovered in this vast desert known as RUclips. It lives in you and never leaves... You are an inspiration for many Mary. Keep on keeping on...Paul Bradford
I love your common sense take on the world. It’s very refreshing to watch videos like this one where you give your opinion in a clear and respectful way. And I LOVE your singing voice and style. You have over 700,000 fans here on RUclips. I’d say you’ve made it and you have done it your own way which is far more important and priceless. Well done ❤❤❤❤
Wow! I love what you’re saying here. When I was 33 someone said the same to me. I’m now 69 and feel my next album will be my best thus far. Thanks for the inspiration.
I started playing violin for the last 5 years and I will be 46 next month. As long as you enjoy what you are doing and continuing towards your goals I won't matter at the end of what people think. The saddest words of tongue and pen are of these words it might have been
This is so good! I’ve noticed that many who “make it” have their moment in their 20s, but it also can cause them so much damage too. This was very encouraging for me in my mid 30s.
Thank you so much for this video. I am an artist/ painter in my late 40's. This past 5 years I've been struck with illness. Im getting better and there is full recovery ahead of me soon. My health issues have been both a curse and a blessing, a punishment and a lesson. I am practising daily... the virtue of patience and gratitude... it certainly is a practise and I don't thing any human being ever masters those skills 100%. Despite not being a success at anything (in the conventional opinion of what constitutes a success), I am definitely far more content with my small wins than ever before. Contentment is what I strive for more than success these days.
Based strictly on the views and likes, this video response has helped and encouraged thousands of people, including myself. It’s only been about 8 hours since you posted it, so I’m sure it will impact thousands more. Thanks for your maturity in approaching this topic. Those sorts of comments weigh heavily on many artists for a long time, and I’ve felt and seen the damage that’s been done, first hand. Respect! 👍🏾✌🏾🤘🏾
Scorpions were formed in 1965. Rudolf Schenker was 17 at the time. They didn't become famous until Lovedrive or Animal Magnetism - so 1980. Schenker was 31-32. And they've reached their pick around 10 years later. They still make new music, and it's actually pretty good. Their last album - Rock Believer - was released in 2022. Schenker was 73.
Please don’t let anyone tell you when you’ve made it. Only you can set the bar for success. If success for you means playing nice shows, doing what you love, still have a good work-life balance and able to pay the bills, you’ve made it. Keep doing what you do, I love your videos! ❤
Wise words from one of my favorite singer/songwriters. Keep on keeping on, Mary. I've been at this since the 60's and only recently actually found a way into the industry. No time limit!
@kevinasky771 I must respectfully disagree. Age brings perspective and hopefully wisdom that only life experience can provide. I believe it's how we let age affect us that is a determining factor in our outlook and attitude, just my opinion. 😊
I made a comment a couple of videos back, “How is this Woman not a Huge Star”. So many reply’s on that comment. You are whatever you want to be. Love your content.
Looks to me like you've already "made it". I've been making music on and off since my teens. I'm in my 40's now and though most people have never heard me play a single note, it still brings me great joy to write a new song. I have no one to impress and no one to disappoint. I have been hesitant to release any of my material online and don't know that I ever will.
A great message! We had to wait until retirement before we could follow our lifelong dreams for making fun and music videos, but we kept our hand in on the creative front while we waited. Now we no longer need to care about income (which is a fortunate place to be) we are free to produce what we enjoy and if some lovely people join us for the ride then so much the better. It is never too late to start doing what you love. I didn't even know how to edit a video until I was 65 😂 and we continue to learn with each upload. Keep doing what you love 🙏👍
Don’t ever take notice of you tube trolls. They get their jollies upsetting people. They haven’t got the talent to do anything real. What are their achievements, zero! You have more talent in your little finger than they have in their whole existence. Your music will touch people and that is something they will never do or experience. You are real and a joy to see and listen to. You are an amazing human being!
Mary don’t fall into the trap of “I’m too old for…” you’re young, almost half my age, I’m still not grown up and I’ll probably never achieve my original dreams but the older I get the more I realise it’s the stuff you’re doing while you’re waiting for success that defines your life, enjoy it.
Good piece, Mary. As a 68-year-old, I can affirm that you're never too old for music. For podcasting, perhaps, but never for music. (Of course, it helps if you don't rely on Bubba's Bar and Grill to make a living, but there are other ways to make money and keep the dream alive. And it helps if you don't place a higher value on money than on living, as you obviously understand.) 🤘
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People have started their acting careers at age 68, never too old. I started auto racing at age 36 (even shifter Karts against 16 year olds), won plenty of races and many podiums, stopped racing around age 50 (2015) because I wanted to move onto other aspects of life.
Others who made it big after 30: Debbie Harry. Bonnie Raitt. Sheryl Crow. Kim Gordon. Christine McVie. Emmylou Harris. I hope we'll see that Troll's gold records soon.
Rou Nouz is a popband that play our own (mostly) happy popsongs and we are now beetween 55-62 years old. We sound much better now than in the 80's when we started. AND I think its more fun now then ever. Im a producer and I feel I have never been better at age 55. Age is really just a number . Mary, you are great! Love your content and music!
Dear Mary, you’re a very talented musician and singer, a very cool personality and a genuine artist : that is why I follow your channel and enjoy your creativity :) As a label manager in a record company, I can tell you very few artists have your lucidity and wisdom to witness the music industry rather than getting lost into it. Your today’s video is remarkable in that sens and I thank you very much for this life changing reminder : happiness is not the more $ the better, but when your income covers your needs in quality of life ! As humans we don’t want to be rich, we want to be happy :) Merci de Paris, wise Mary 😊
Oi Mary, estava com saudade. Toda vez que você aparece, meu coração se alegra demais. Não entendo nada do que você fala, mas, (but..kkkk) só te ver e ouvir já é o bastante para mim. Que Deus te abençoe sempre.
“I would rather be a failure on my own terms than a success on someone else's. That's a difficult statement to live up to, but then I've always believed that the way you affect your audience is more important than how many of them are there.” - Tom Waits
Hi Mary, with 706,000 subscribers on YT … I think you have “made it”. I think a problem for many, musicians, artists, composers, writers, photographers etc. is that the environment is Absolutely flooded with material, there is just so much of it around; some good, some bad and some totally dreadful. I think the real deal is to create something of very high quality and not care too much about the public reception, sing, write and play from the heart because this is where real humanity resides, not in a number on a bank account statement. Cheers.
As a 60 year old video creator and photographer I am doing my best work at this stage of my life. The past is all training (on every single job and task)... and my future as pure potential. 60? Yep! And glad to be here. I'll let you know how it's going in 15 years. Just staying on the game is a win -- for me. Now. Go get em Mary!
Too many of us are so pressured into believing what success should be or should look like according to huge advertising budgets and flashy imaging on social media. Forget that, it's all big BS. Hitting the nail on the head again Mary with a sensible reality check full of common sense, great video and message.
I’m 36 and more in touch with myself musically than ever, creativity grows as you do if you continue putting in the work, just take care of your health so you can always continue to chase your music love. Success is subjective, loving doing It is all that matters.
%100 agree just hit 30, been singing, performing, creating writing for years, but creating quality music takes a hell of a lot of time, resources and strong plan brand ect... Only just getting started doing what I want to do now. :)
I cannot tell you how satisfying and vindicating it is listening to you speak about this (and the various topics covered in your other videos, as well). It is a sheer delight listening to you speak about music and age… you are absolutely right. True artists are in it for the love of their craft and the expressive satisfaction, not commercial success or fame. Keep up the great work, your commentary is not only valid but essential.
I'm 40 and love every moment of musical trial, tribulation, and triumph all while being completely by myself for hours and days on end. The intention to gain skill and musical understanding is always underpinned by the intention to share music, of course, and I will be able to do that through my 80s (most likely). There are so many paths towards becoming successful with music. These paths can be lifelong and without industry-wide acknowledgment. If I am working on an arpeggio on the piano or guitar, or perhaps singing a phrase over and over again to narrow in on a particular feeling, I experience joy through this work. To experience joy is a success, and I am doing it through music!
Hi Mary, came across you from Rick Beato's channel who I enjoy tremendously. You, however, hit the nail on the head for me with your honest and truthful incite to the biz. I am a seasoned musician, I suppose, 'made it' in the sense that you were talking about. Sustained a career from leaving school and travelled all over the world doing what I do. I'm almost 71 and I'm still performing regularly. Don't go abroad as much these days but then again, I don't really need to. I to have a project on the go. Its been almost done for a few years now, but I seem to have lost that drive you need to complete it. I have a small home studio, and it can be challenging at the best of times to be inspired, especially when you are the artist, the player and the producer. I get a lot of ear fatigue to say the least. When I watched your videos, the ones especially about 'making it' it did light a fire in me again, and I might even force myself to complete it. Even though it may well fall on deaf ears. Which would be a great title for the album. Thank you for your insight, it truly strikes a chord (pun intended) with me. I will keep watching your vidz and hopefully see you perform one day. I live near the Brudnell by the way but I didnt know you were playing there till after the fact. bless you. and Thank you.
Okay my dear, YOU ARE BEYOND AWESOME!!! i'm 52 and been working for DECADES toward's breaking in film/movies/writing and in the weirdness I've always felt is that I'd have screwed things up had I made it earlier, and this in combination of the agent Bernie Brillstein's belief that "success will find you when you're ready" is an absolutely TRUE THING!!! Great job, I won't ramble further except I'll be attempting to make a film with (unfortunately with no alternative) with myself as a lead (yeah, it's an Uber driver thing where I'm the driver and it's ALL SHOT IN MY CAR!!).
I've watched your videos for a long time. Never felt like commenting before. I understand what you're feeling. In music, what we WANT is always elusive. I never liked my own playing because I couldn't get the sound of certain player. I put my guitar away for decades. I remember that feeling of being "past" the opportune window. But today, the idea of "making it" has evolved, or mutated. I think of Mary Spender as that really great English girl who made it! For me, if I can sit with my guitar on my lap, anywhere, and if ANYONE wants to sit and listen for a minute, I'm satisfied.
If there's one thing I've learned in my 43 years of life, it's that there's never really a point where you've actually "made it". When you do what you love, you've been "making it" all along.
Mary you have done well IMHO. I'm 63 and have experienced alot, I have had agreat career but when I retire in 2 years I plan on working on my passion, music, whether it be sound or writing. Building a studio is one goal I have. I have been around musicians most of life and have done some of things already. It is never to late to dream. Life can surprise you when you work towards certain goals when it is not about money.
If you can possibly separate your art from making a living, you've succeeded as long as you are able to continue creating your art. The saddest thing is when you have to sacrifice art for staying alive.
Are you paying your bills doing what you love? If so, you've made it.
Exactamundo
So true. A recent survey of 6000 working musicians in the UK found that half earn less than 14k a year from their craft. Google Musicians Union for more info.
yeah, right - i can pay my bills and have a bit of spending money doing something i kind of like. believe me i'd feel more accomplished if i didn't have a bit of spending money but were doing something a love.
Exactly! I would add: are you rich and have a mansion and a plane and you are miserable inside? You didn't make it!
Exactly! I was going to post the same comment.
Ignore social media trolls. Trust me Mary, you've already made it more than most ever will.
She said even her own circle of family and friends in person have told her the same. But the point she makes is that sometimes it takes some people a very long time unlike others who make it big very early in life.
Or continue responding to the trolls with insightful and educational videos like this. 😉
true. but her message is valuable and not heard a lot. and hey, that troll comment got us a good video. 😉
I love your profile picture! It feels very evocative
agreed. As TS said in that great track - Haters Gonna Hate. BTW if you can find the "making of's, outtakes" of Shake It Off ? You'll smile for a week.
Cheers from NZ
My mother published her first book at age 90 and spent the final year of her life promoting it. I just released my first book at age 65 and had it reviewed in Shindig! magazine. My wife, 58, launched her own RUclips storytelling channel. Sometimes you have to wait until families are raised and your time truly becomes your own. Weirdness is a virtue and a hedge against age. It's not over until they close the lid.
Great Post
hi, what's the youtube channel for storytelling?
This is an amazing comment, thank you so much for sharing that!
Thanks for your interest! It's called NEOMA FINN: OPEN TO DOUBT.@@videofandude99
@@CugnoBrasso Thanks so much for taking it to heart.
If you are making a living on your own terms, and are happy with what you do, then you've made it! Keep on being an inspiration, Mary!
Well said...
It's so strange how many people don't think this way.
I'm turning 48 this December and can honestly say I'm a late bloomer. I'm truly grateful for the lessons I've learned over that time and for the opportunities I have today. Never give up on life. It's simply too precious ❤
64-year-old weighing in here. I’m in the EARLY stage of my music career - does it bother me? Nope. I am having fun, I am getting better, and I get my share of positive feedback from fans and other musicians. As they say, “Age is just a number.” You, Mary, are an inspiration for those of us who want to make music OUR way. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Cheers. I'm 47 and am on the best run of my life. My bands are doing well and so on. It's never too late.
You made sure you did not peak too early!
71 here, same deal. Luv ya work.
i'm 50...and i wont give up on music coz i love it
cheers mate!
As a 75 yo painter, who has been at it for 50 years, I can relate to this advice. The grass always looks greener... Appreciating what you have is so important. I do have fans, students, and patrons but it doesn't add up to much money. If you want to do it you will. Thanks, Mary!
"Appreciate what you have", AKA "Count your blessings" is a major philosophy of mine. I never became famous but at least I have instruments to play and ways to record
Never give up your freedom for a 360 deal, no matter how temptingly safe it may seem.
Well spoken Mary. ❤
I have played the guitar since I was 9, I’m 36, never tried to “make it”. I am a musician, will always be a musician. I’m constantly learning more and more. Being a musician is so valuable to me and my health.
and you most probably don't give a shit to "music industry" but just enjoy the process. Industries are for greedy businessmen not musicians and artists (those are the exploited ones to be precise)
I'm 36, and have played the guitar since I was 35. I'm not a musician, and probably never will be. But I'm also constantly learning ...
I'm a retired 65 year old trucker. I watch for entertainment and a learning connection. You my dear are very interesting and entertaining. It's so satisfying to hear that you understand your position in life and are also happy to be just as you are. Thank you.
Well said Mary. I learned long ago not to let someone elses opinion become my reality. Another true saying is 'Love many, trust few, and always paddle your own canoe' He's to us paddling into the future 😎😎
Totally agree Mary. I realised in my 20s that "fame and fortune" were not going to happen for me. Music is and will be my means of artistic expression. I spent 3 years playing in bands in Europe. Wrote a song that was released as a single in Germany. It didn't sell, oh well. I played in bands over many genres, went to the Conservatorium and got a degree at 40 and now am happily "retired" from gigging. I write and record my own albums at home and am very happy and fulfilled. I made a bit of money, travelled and met many wonderful fellow musicians along the way. The older I get (65 now) the more satisfied I am with my life in music. No regrets at all with not "making it". Regards Danny, Tasmania, Australia
you think you didn't make it cause you weren't good enough or talented enough? it's not ever gonna happen for many of us, but we can do music as a hobby like so many musicians are doing on You tube. it's fun to pretend we are rock stars
Mary kind of touched on this, but fame really does distort some people especially when fame happens to someone in their youth. Michael Jackson is a well known example. Child actors, especially those who don't get consistent acting work as adults, very often become incredibly warped and can't adjust to adult life well.
All this news coverage because that actor from the American sitcom Friends passed away, and the photographers and "news" people are hounding every actor that they can find from the main stars on down. They even tracked down a woman in London who had a bit part in the show, they found her walking her dog and asked for her reaction. She probably hasn't even seen anyone from that show in 20 years as she didn't have a main part and was only in a few episodes, but she had a microphone in her face and had to say something that sounded gracious.
I grew up in California, and I've had friends and acquaintances who work as electricians or carpenters in set construction. The entertainment industry is largely populated by sordid characters, and no one who knows of it is surprised by stuff like came out about Harvey Weinstein. It was virtually an open secret how he was.
And the ultra-popular musicians often wind up on a path to very destructive behaviors. A 16 or 18 year old making it in any other business doesn't have the short path to millions that sometimes happens when a band catches lightning in a bottle or a movie breaks box office records, and that sort of thing can go to someone's head when that young.
@Anon54387 yeah, I believe the sordid characters bit and the Weinstein observation. You be surprised how many people would be willing to be a hand for the devil as long as they recieve his benefits. You can see this kind of stuff play out in retail even.
@@Anon54387 Really well said. I have read so many biographies of politicians, authors, scientists, and musicians.....Fame and celebrity status sounds like a horrendous noose.
Furthermore, young, talented, top, top-level art-producing people tend to be flawed characters from the outset, insecurities, emotionally challenged and/or addiction tending people.
Like many comments here, I play and make music at home and enjoy it. Chasing, having and then trying to retain that fame and glory seems like a dreadful lifestyle to me....
You probably haven’t seen any of my previous comments. Short version: you are VERY valuable as a musician and all-around decent human being. Don’t stop.
I too was washed up at 33. I am now 60, and taking names and kicking ass. I'm with Team Mary on setting realistic expectations that do not involve entitlement 😁
You inspire so many people. Isn’t that a whole achievement on itself? We love you!
67 years old, still loving music, writing songs, and gigging regularly. Now learning Ableton and making beats. I may not be rich but I'm surrounded by creative people and having a ball.
welcome welcome! to the Ableton family.
“Good on ya” Ralph as we say here downunder. 63 YO here and feeling the same🤘
As a musician of 25 + years , the trauma of those early years still stay with me .. people will criticise , they will demean and humiliate , but they will never get past the first obstacle in music .. showing up .
Part of being an entertainer, surely?
Fortunately my father and music people around me has always been very supportive of any endeavor I put myself into. One thing a teacher of mine once told me was: "If you pay some of your bills with something you love to do, you've made... the purpose of life is not to be rich or famous, is to be loved and to love what you do"
You inspire me very much, thank you
I'm over 50 and I restated playing guitar 5 years ago, it's never to late to chase your dreams and inspiration has no age ❤
Dear Mary, your wisdom words are so true.
I'm nearly there myself. Just gotta get over my social media/youtube addiction first. I used to write music religiously in my early 20s. Then came kids/family, and then internet also started getting more and more addictive over the years. Now the kids are grown and I think often about going back to my old passion, wondering if there's any creativity buried down there somewhere
Bonnie Raitt deserved a Grammy for her album "Taking my Time" (1973 when she was 24). She did not achieve huge commercial success until 1989 (when she was 40). You have the right attitude. I am hoping you achieve whatever you want.
As a 58 yr old producer and musician I loved this video. Thanks for sharing. I think if you’re proud of your work and it touches others either small or large then you’ve made it. You’ve made it Mary and I hope one day I can say the same thing. If ever you feel like a holiday come stay with my wife and I and our lovely villa music studio on our paradise island of Koh Samui.
Just received the cd of your album last week. It’s excellent! Just thought I would drop a comment to say it’s great.
You've made it without a shadow of a doubt and are a true inspiration for your wonderful voice , musicianship and the insightfullness you share on your YT channel.
You and Leo Moracchioli and other YT musos are the future of music , not the top 40 crap.
Thank you for addressing this topic. I had singer/songwriter dreams once when I was in my late teens and early 20s, but I soon realized that my temperament did not suit the reality of what I’d need to do to promote my work. Then another avenue for my talents presented itself: music therapy. My “audiences” became individuals and small groups with diverse needs, I wrote hundreds of songs over the years to meet those needs, I worked daytime hours, have been showered with gratitude and appreciation, and obtained all the trappings of a secure middle class lifestyle. At 61, I could choose to retire, but like other musicians who love their jobs, I think I’ll keep doing this gig for a few years yet.
All this to say, success in the music industry can take a multitude of forms.
Mary, you have no idea how much I needed to hear your message today. As I've been approaching 30, I've been feeling really down about where I am in my own music career. It really is never "too late" to find your success and "make it" in your own way. Thank you for your inspirational message, looking forward to hearing more music from you soon!
You just keep doing you. That is why we all came here in the first place 🙂
Don’t stop what you’re doing Mary! Stay real & genuine!
Another priceless contribution here, Mary. Thanks for posting this incredibly well-produced content.
The rule of age in music is, there is no age in music. I'm 63, I'll never "make it," do I care? Not at all. I'll never stop learning something new.. It's not always the destination that satisfies, for me, it's the journey, loving every step. Learning something new, that's success. And btw, thanks, Mary, for being an inspirational part of that.
I'm 81 and love your channel and music. Keep up your good music. Pat Benatar was a waitress in a Friendly Ice Cream Shop in my home town of Worcester, Massachusetts when her first husband was in the military nearby.
You’re at your MF’ing prime, Mary! The time is now!
I don't know, if some guy in southwest North Dakota, USA can turn to his left and say "Alexa play music by Mary Spender" and your songs start playing, than in my mind, you've made it. Kudos to you! Plus, your music makes my mom smile. She has late stage Alzheimer's disease, so that is an amazing thing to me. Thank you so much for that.
❤ Great comment. I'm sure you make your Mom smile, too.
So good! 😭😭😭 I’m a mom of 7 and sometimes feel like I haven’t “made it” in music. But then when I write songs with my teens and perform with them I know I HAVE made an impact that will last generations. And that is my definition of true success. ♥️
Love this!
When I was 18, my stepdad told me that since I hadn't "made it yet," I never was going to. He worked in a hotel, so not sure what he knew about it, but it hurt. Still, I pressed on. He and my mom gave me shit for the next ten years, and minimum support (they let me use the shed they weren't using as rehearsal space for occasional rent money or electricity payments). During that time, I wrote a gazillion songs, recorded on a crappy cassette recorder, played on people's demos, sat in where I could, tried to help a producer friend build a studio, lost a bunch of money and a friend or two along the way, all along working full time jobs and paying rent in California (yikes). I had a good reputation, everybody told me all the time what a talent I was (even my asshat parents), but there was very little actual help, a lot of competition, and in the nineties there was no RUclips and no streaming, and an artist needed a profound amount of luck to be successful, at least in a mainstream sense. I also found myself in a situation where many of the people who had once encouraged me, turned completely around and started acting like my parents had. At the end of the nineties, with rent prices out of control and beaten down by all the negativity, I sort of floated away from music and did what everybody else wanted me to do and became "normal." At 28, things just sort of ended. I still bought some equipment and pretended I was going to do something with it, but connections faded out, venues dried up, I had no place to play or rehearse or record.
Now, that's a sob story, and take it or leave the details. But the thing that really screwed up my mind happened many years later. I had just started playing guitar again after fifteen years of not even touching it, when randomly I looked up the song "Closing Time," which had been a huge hit for Semisonic, ironically around the time things were winding down for me. I found out the songwriter, Dan Wilson, was 37 when that song hit. The dude had been in bands that kinda "made it,", made records that flopped, wrote songs only a few people heard, and never really charted or had significant success until he was 37. The revelation wrecked me. I mean... what did "made it" even mean? He had successes. He had losses. He kept going.
Anybody who has bothered to read this far... don't let them wreck you. They're all full of shit. What do they know? Really? Do they even know how to measure success? Anybody tells you you're too old, you tell them to fuck right off.
"At 33 years if it hasn't happened, it never will. Sorry" - me who has never had a girlfriend.
Absolutely no age limit. Sometimes one needs life experience to call upon to write. Your music is personal to you and hits me hard. You go girl, you’re fabulous as you are!
Heartfelt advice from a 65-year-old therapist/counselor who has weathered several major crises himself and guides others through their crises every working day: NEVER give up on your passion, Mary, because it will keep uplifting your spirit when all else fails. You've already made 'it'. Carry on making more of 'it' (what you love making most). You've successfully transitioned from the intro to the first verse. The best parts of your song are still to come, and all who admire your work are dying to hear them.
You have lots of time Mary - it's also not just about becoming huge - it's about loving what you do and being exceptionally good at it.. and you demonstrate that with every video. Good on you girl...
I have been rockin' on the bass since I was 19, now I am 65, still love to play, if you don't love it you will be full of bitterness, it's been a great journey and not over yet.
As a 31 year old this means so much for me to hear. Thank you so much for everything you're doing \m/
Mary, so glad to see the connection with you and Rick Beato. I am a musician, but also a retired teacher. You and Rick are both great teachers and obviously enjoy helping others. Like the last comment, you are already successful. Keep it up, Mary!
Bottom line here Mary...You LOVE what you do and side stepping the frustrating points, Your Career LOVES you back....and especially Your Fans too!!! That rabbit hole in the comment section has a way of ensnaring us ALL into it's verbally typed web. We all have been "captured" in that hole but we find a way to get free....until that next trap is triggered! 🤣 Very much appreciate you sharing what's on your heart with your Spender Pals and just know we got your back! Cheers From Across The Pond In COW-lumbus, Ohio MOO 👋
"If you can be content to make a living, and not a fortune, from your art..." - Exactly Mary! Far too many who've made it super big have spoken about how their fame has become their prison. I've been following you for awhile now. Your skill as a musician has improved greatly, and it's really cool seeing you develop your interviewing skills on trips like your recent one with Rick Beato. 🙂
Thank you for talking about this. 🙏🏻
If you're making a living from music full time, then you've made it. Dont need a hit song or be famous to enjoy a wonderfully satisfying life of playing music. Keep it up Mary, you've already made it! we love you.❤
Working full time on your music, putting out content, recording, and having a HUGE amount of people here on You tube who appreciate you enough to spend time in your world, must be seriously satisfying. Great achievement. From a part time musician (34 years now) who always has a day job.
Right on Mary! Well said! Alan Rickman came to acting later on - something that has stayed with me whenever people say, ‘it’s too late’ or ‘you’ve missed the opportunity’. No, it’s there for those who dare. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your videos. Love the CD!!!
Great video!
As a mid 30s musician who’s just started my own RUclips journey, messages like this one act as a kind reminder to not let the pressure and expectations of age be a cause of lingering anxiety. Thanks for making this one :)
Mary is always grounded and always offers sage, mature advice. No artist should ever quit based on someone else's perception of success. Part of being a creative soul is the thrill of the journey, the experience of the creative process. Countless people have had success, whatever that means to them personally, well into the upper years. Even at 80, you can suddenly be "Seen", or better yet, heard. You don't have to buckle to ageism and hurl your guitar into the bin. As long as you are loving the process, just keep producing. Because you like it.
I'm 71 and still hold out some hope that my music might be discovered in this vast desert known as RUclips. It lives in you and never leaves... You are an inspiration for many Mary. Keep on keeping on...Paul Bradford
There is NOTHING left to say!!!!!! 1.000.000% AGREE!!!! 👏❤
You're making your living through your music. To me that means you made it.
Facts
I love your common sense take on the world. It’s very refreshing to watch videos like this one where you give your opinion in a clear and respectful way. And I LOVE your singing voice and style. You have over 700,000 fans here on RUclips. I’d say you’ve made it and you have done it your own way which is far more important and priceless. Well done ❤❤❤❤
Wow! I love what you’re saying here. When I was 33 someone said the same to me. I’m now 69 and feel my next album will be my best thus far.
Thanks for the inspiration.
I started playing violin for the last 5 years and I will be 46 next month. As long as you enjoy what you are doing and continuing towards your goals I won't matter at the end of what people think. The saddest words of tongue and pen are of these words it might have been
This is so good! I’ve noticed that many who “make it” have their moment in their 20s, but it also can cause them so much damage too. This was very encouraging for me in my mid 30s.
Thank you so much for this video. I am an artist/ painter in my late 40's. This past 5 years I've been struck with illness. Im getting better and there is full recovery ahead of me soon. My health issues have been both a curse and a blessing, a punishment and a lesson. I am practising daily... the virtue of patience and gratitude... it certainly is a practise and I don't thing any human being ever masters those skills 100%. Despite not being a success at anything (in the conventional opinion of what constitutes a success), I am definitely far more content with my small wins than ever before. Contentment is what I strive for more than success these days.
Based strictly on the views and likes, this video response has helped and encouraged thousands of people, including myself. It’s only been about 8 hours since you posted it, so I’m sure it will impact thousands more.
Thanks for your maturity in approaching this topic. Those sorts of comments weigh heavily on many artists for a long time, and I’ve felt and seen the damage that’s been done, first hand.
Respect! 👍🏾✌🏾🤘🏾
Scorpions were formed in 1965. Rudolf Schenker was 17 at the time. They didn't become famous until Lovedrive or Animal Magnetism - so 1980. Schenker was 31-32. And they've reached their pick around 10 years later. They still make new music, and it's actually pretty good. Their last album - Rock Believer - was released in 2022. Schenker was 73.
Please don’t let anyone tell you when you’ve made it. Only you can set the bar for success. If success for you means playing nice shows, doing what you love, still have a good work-life balance and able to pay the bills, you’ve made it.
Keep doing what you do, I love your videos! ❤
Wise words from one of my favorite singer/songwriters. Keep on keeping on, Mary. I've been at this since the 60's and only recently actually found a way into the industry. No time limit!
Age is simply a number, nothing more. Great content, Mary! Very inspiring!
It's only a number, that almost perfectly (negatively) correlates with how much time you have before going into the forever box six feet under.
@kevinasky771
I must respectfully disagree.
Age brings perspective and hopefully wisdom that only life experience can provide. I believe it's how we let age affect us that is a determining factor in our outlook and attitude, just my opinion. 😊
@@kevinnasky771 *_Debbie Downer, you old rascal you!_*
@@kevinnasky771 How do you know how much time you have left ?
At 50, with the progress of the medicine, you might be just at the middle of your life 🤭
@@donaldbutcher1260 Yes, it’s that too. But it also correlates with how long you have left before you die.
It's the wisdom that you share in your videos that keep me coming back to your body of work. More power to you Mary!
I made a comment a couple of videos back, “How is this Woman not a Huge Star”. So many reply’s on that comment. You are whatever you want to be. Love your content.
Keep being you. Im 64, been at it since 12...I'm just getting started! There is no generic measure of success, it's whatever we want it to be.
Looks to me like you've already "made it". I've been making music on and off since my teens. I'm in my 40's now and though most people have never heard me play a single note, it still brings me great joy to write a new song. I have no one to impress and no one to disappoint. I have been hesitant to release any of my material online and don't know that I ever will.
I am guessing it really good. I am older and still learning because, why not?
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Thanks for this, Mary. You're an incredible artist/creator and this is exactly what so many of us need to hear and remind ourselves of.
33 and 1/3 is when you really get up to speed! ;)
Now THAT"S smart. Nicely said.
A great message! We had to wait until retirement before we could follow our lifelong dreams for making fun and music videos, but we kept our hand in on the creative front while we waited. Now we no longer need to care about income (which is a fortunate place to be) we are free to produce what we enjoy and if some lovely people join us for the ride then so much the better. It is never too late to start doing what you love. I didn't even know how to edit a video until I was 65 😂 and we continue to learn with each upload. Keep doing what you love 🙏👍
Don’t ever take notice of you tube trolls. They get their jollies upsetting people. They haven’t got the talent to do anything real. What are their achievements, zero!
You have more talent in your little finger than they have in their whole existence. Your music will touch people and that is something they will never do or experience. You are real and a joy to see and listen to. You are an amazing human being!
Mary don’t fall into the trap of “I’m too old for…” you’re young, almost half my age, I’m still not grown up and I’ll probably never achieve my original dreams but the older I get the more I realise it’s the stuff you’re doing while you’re waiting for success that defines your life, enjoy it.
💯! Well said.
Good piece, Mary. As a 68-year-old, I can affirm that you're never too old for music. For podcasting, perhaps, but never for music. (Of course, it helps if you don't rely on Bubba's Bar and Grill to make a living, but there are other ways to make money and keep the dream alive. And it helps if you don't place a higher value on money than on living, as you obviously understand.) 🤘
At 68 myself, I can certainly relate to this.
Why would one be too old for podcasting?
Too old to podcast…? 🤔 Podcasting is the perfect medium for many age.
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U give a lot of great advice.
You keep going and do not give up ever. You are too good
People have started their acting careers at age 68, never too old. I started auto racing at age 36 (even shifter Karts against 16 year olds), won plenty of races and many podiums, stopped racing around age 50 (2015) because I wanted to move onto other aspects of life.
Making it, is autotune, music actually written somebody else and souless cookie cutter songs...
Your awesome Mary, f*ck em
Others who made it big after 30: Debbie Harry. Bonnie Raitt. Sheryl Crow. Kim Gordon. Christine McVie. Emmylou Harris. I hope we'll see that Troll's gold records soon.
Rou Nouz is a popband that play our own (mostly) happy popsongs and we are now beetween 55-62 years old. We sound much better now than in the 80's when we started. AND I think its more fun now then ever. Im a producer and I feel I have never been better at age 55. Age is really just a number . Mary, you are great! Love your content and music!
I just feel so identify with what you said in 2:34 you get better with time!!! What an awesome video!!
lol 69 and about to start a completely new life 🙃
Dear Mary, you’re a very talented musician and singer, a very
cool personality and a genuine artist : that is why I follow your channel and enjoy your creativity :)
As a label manager in a record company, I can tell you very few artists have your lucidity and wisdom to witness the music industry rather than getting lost into it. Your today’s video is remarkable in that sens and I thank you very much for this life changing reminder : happiness is not the more $ the better, but when your income covers your needs in quality of life ! As humans we don’t want to be rich, we want to be happy :)
Merci de Paris, wise Mary 😊
Oi Mary, estava com saudade. Toda vez que você aparece, meu coração se alegra demais. Não entendo nada do que você fala, mas, (but..kkkk) só te ver e ouvir já é o bastante para mim. Que Deus te abençoe sempre.
“I would rather be a failure on my own terms than a success on someone else's. That's a difficult statement to live up to, but then I've always believed that the way you affect your audience is more important than how many of them are there.” - Tom Waits
You are doing what you love and inspiring others. That is what is truely important.
Jesus was 33 when he made his biggest impact.
Keep it going, Mary!
He was also tortured and crucified.
@@JonFrumTheFirst Yes! But think of all those followers that came in the wake.
He did have a comeback gig though
Well, he did go on an 18 year vacation at age 12😐
@@educationalthoughts6152 guessing you've not been 33 yet then? 😆
Hi Mary, with 706,000 subscribers on YT … I think you have “made it”. I think a problem for many, musicians, artists, composers, writers, photographers etc. is that the environment is Absolutely flooded with material, there is just so much of it around; some good, some bad and some totally dreadful. I think the real deal is to create something of very high quality and not care too much about the public reception, sing, write and play from the heart because this is where real humanity resides, not in a number on a bank account statement. Cheers.
Just don't sell your soul to a music label. Keep making music and do what makes you happy.
As a 60 year old video creator and photographer I am doing my best work at this stage of my life. The past is all training (on every single job and task)... and my future as pure potential. 60? Yep! And glad to be here. I'll let you know how it's going in 15 years. Just staying on the game is a win -- for me.
Now. Go get em Mary!
When you exploit looks to get ahead in the arts, there's a used-by date. Live by the sword, die by it.
I think if you need to release music and you do release music, then you've made it.
Too many of us are so pressured into believing what success should be or should look like according to huge advertising budgets and flashy imaging on social media. Forget that, it's all big BS. Hitting the nail on the head again Mary with a sensible reality check full of common sense, great video and message.
I’m 36 and more in touch with myself musically than ever, creativity grows as you do if you continue putting in the work, just take care of your health so you can always continue to chase your music love. Success is subjective, loving doing It is all that matters.
%100 agree just hit 30, been singing, performing, creating writing for years, but creating quality music takes a hell of a lot of time, resources and strong plan brand ect... Only just getting started doing what I want to do now. :)
I cannot tell you how satisfying and vindicating it is listening to you speak about this (and the various topics covered in your other videos, as well). It is a sheer delight listening to you speak about music and age… you are absolutely right. True artists are in it for the love of their craft and the expressive satisfaction, not commercial success or fame. Keep up the great work, your commentary is not only valid but essential.
I'm 40 and love every moment of musical trial, tribulation, and triumph all while being completely by myself for hours and days on end. The intention to gain skill and musical understanding is always underpinned by the intention to share music, of course, and I will be able to do that through my 80s (most likely). There are so many paths towards becoming successful with music. These paths can be lifelong and without industry-wide acknowledgment. If I am working on an arpeggio on the piano or guitar, or perhaps singing a phrase over and over again to narrow in on a particular feeling, I experience joy through this work. To experience joy is a success, and I am doing it through music!
Hi Mary, came across you from Rick Beato's channel who I enjoy tremendously. You, however, hit the nail on the head for me with your honest and truthful incite to the biz. I am a seasoned musician, I suppose, 'made it' in the sense that you were talking about. Sustained a career from leaving school and travelled all over the world doing what I do. I'm almost 71 and I'm still performing regularly. Don't go abroad as much these days but then again, I don't really need to. I to have a project on the go. Its been almost done for a few years now, but I seem to have lost that drive you need to complete it. I have a small home studio, and it can be challenging at the best of times to be inspired, especially when you are the artist, the player and the producer. I get a lot of ear fatigue to say the least. When I watched your videos, the ones especially about 'making it' it did light a fire in me again, and I might even force myself to complete it. Even though it may well fall on deaf ears. Which would be a great title for the album. Thank you for your insight, it truly strikes a chord (pun intended) with me. I will keep watching your vidz and hopefully see you perform one day. I live near the Brudnell by the way but I didnt know you were playing there till after the fact. bless you. and Thank you.
Okay my dear, YOU ARE BEYOND AWESOME!!! i'm 52 and been working for DECADES toward's breaking in film/movies/writing and in the weirdness I've always felt is that I'd have screwed things up had I made it earlier, and this in combination of the agent Bernie Brillstein's belief that "success will find you when you're ready" is an absolutely TRUE THING!!! Great job, I won't ramble further except I'll be attempting to make a film with (unfortunately with no alternative) with myself as a lead (yeah, it's an Uber driver thing where I'm the driver and it's ALL SHOT IN MY CAR!!).
Success is creating as much value in the world as you possibly can. Seems like you're doing a great job on that front.
I've watched your videos for a long time. Never felt like commenting before. I understand what you're feeling. In music, what we WANT is always elusive. I never liked my own playing because I couldn't get the sound of certain player. I put my guitar away for decades. I remember that feeling of being "past" the opportune window. But today, the idea of "making it" has evolved, or mutated. I think of Mary Spender as that really great English girl who made it! For me, if I can sit with my guitar on my lap, anywhere, and if ANYONE wants to sit and listen for a minute, I'm satisfied.
If there's one thing I've learned in my 43 years of life, it's that there's never really a point where you've actually "made it". When you do what you love, you've been "making it" all along.
5:52 "enjoying the journey is as important as the destination" ♥
You are a VERY wise 33 year old. Thank you so much for being caring enough to share.
Mary you have done well IMHO. I'm 63 and have experienced alot, I have had agreat career but when I retire in 2 years I plan on working on my passion, music, whether it be sound or writing. Building a studio is one goal I have. I have been around musicians most of life and have done some of things already. It is never to late to dream. Life can surprise you when you work towards certain goals when it is not about money.
If you can possibly separate your art from making a living, you've succeeded as long as you are able to continue creating your art. The saddest thing is when you have to sacrifice art for staying alive.