Genesis 3/4. No Use For A Name

2000.AUG.29.

I SEE stickers, T-shirts, neon lights – but not with the name you have now.

I handed the four-player band my first Memo. I was trying to handle things as diplomatically as I could. The band had a name; it just wasn’t the kind of name I thought a band could breakthrough with. Most artists have high self esteem levels and low analytical, positive criticism acceptance. What I mean is I have met very extremely few artists that don’t get upset (and start hating you) if you tell them (honestly and in their interest) that something they do SUCKS and they simply have to change it.

The problem at hand was THE NAME CHANGE.

In this Memo, I wrote that:

• The name is DIFFICULT to remember
• FEW of the songs are catchy
• There is NO music press. The ones that do write about the music scene are not open to promoting non-commercial debut acts
• The current name they go by has TOO MANY syllables and the meaning is too subtle for the people we are playing for.
• You need a good, simple name for people to remember you by, immediately.

In the same Memo I wrote them that I don’t want to work with them because we’re friends, or because we have fun when we drink a pint of beer. I told them they are supposed to be a business for me. Good or Bad, they will be a business for me. Everything depends on THEIR ATTITUDE towards The Business. People are very superficial in the 21^st Century. I want to see them play on large stages, not just in a coffin-like room, to 10 of their closest friends. Right now, everything depends on the name they choose for themselves.

We had two brainstorming sessions together. They did one serious drinking session on their own. Then they laid it on me: The Setting Sun.

“OK”, I said.

What could I say? It wasn’t as IN YOUR FACE as I would have wanted it to be. It was still two words, instead of one – but I could say it and translate it in any language – and it had a meaning we could knit a Story around. It will have to do.

I think we were discussing this problem for three weeks now; I was losing my patience and just wanted to get on with my work.

This would be a quiet Fall. Gigs would be few and far between. The band had to write songs for a full set list. I would need time and security to build up a successful artist from scratch.

…..

I was starting to work on a new project, promoting the local music scene. It was something new, innovative and challenging. I was hoping to convince sponsors to get into this weekly gig project. This project should be my cash cow.

Tags: Attitude, Change, No Use For A Name