Divas, Devos, and the illusions within

Divas, Devos, and the illusions within 

a critical look at personalities in the music industry
by Matt Haze

Man oh man I have to speak up. There's just too much B.S. that goes on with artists in the music industry. The combination of insecurities and inflated egos are the common recipe I notice many artists are carrying. It destroys the fabric of what music is about and the energy that drew us to the craft in the first place. Principles that I hold dear to my heart are at stake and I have to speak out because I want desperately for the professional life of artists and the musicians who support them to be more positive, productive, and powerful. 

Here's the truth-

Many artists (especially more established or "successful" ones) are very insecure, but carry an inflated self image. This is what makes a diva or "devo" (as I'll call the male counterpart). This is the worst combination of traits in a creative environment because the BIG ego keeps the insecurities locked down in a dungeon, never to be addressed. The weaknesses/insecurities become excuses to find problems everywhere outside of themselves rather than looking inward. The self image that the artist carries is threatened by the possibility of any weakness. The mind creates this illusion to hide it's weaknesses in effort to convince one's self of their validation. It's not authentic. People end up lying to themselves, and it affects everyone who has to work with them. It's unfair to the sidemen and sound guys who have to put up with it. It's disrespectful, selfish, and it's an abuse of power. 

A recent encounter

I will try to be vague as to not affect a particular person's public image, but… I recently experienced working for an artist who is established, and very talented…who looks for problems everywhere, and ends up creating even more problems than actually exist. This is an individual who is focused completely on the negative with non stop banter about the sound, the room, the musicians, the arrangements. They would occasionally say  in between rants in a quieter tone "this is hard work". Yes it was VERY hard work, but the only thing that made it hard was the person saying it was hard. They thought "hard work" and that's exactly what it became for a large group of people trying to put together a great show. 

I have experienced divas and devos in the past, but this was the creme de la creme. I've seen different versions and levels of these traits, but this one was madness! I can see where it comes from, and that it doesn't need to be that way. It's a matter of attitude.The focus on what's "wrong" just attracts and even creates more "wrong". They get so fixated on trying to fix what's wrong, that it's impossible for what's "right" to shine through. 

Furthermore, something that really rubbed me the wrong way- this person's image is that of romance and love. Almost every song title has the word love in it. On stage and in public, it's all about LOVE. But behind the curtain what I experienced was anything but. I try to distance myself from taking things personally, but it's still no excuse for a person to act that way. It's so frustrating to see artists putting on a smile and expressing one thing in a show, but everyone behind the scenes sees what's really underneath. It's a facade.

So WHAT is there to get from this??!!! For a minute there you thought I was just going to rant and complain, but NO, I want to find solutions. And I'm open to hearing yours. 

#1 reflect and work on yourself musically, but also personally. Admit and address your weaknesses and insecurities. Reflect on how you are with yourself and with other people. Let go of your ego and ask for criticism. Dig into your past, make peace with anything that troubles you. Read books, go to seminars like landmark forum (www.landmarkforum.com), PSI (www.psiseminars.com) or other similar intensive workshops where you get really deep into knowing your self. You may think you don't have blocks or insecurities, but WE ALL DO. It makes us stronger to be become aware of them, admit them, work through them. It doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. As humans we always have room to grow. We choose how far and in what direction. 

#2: don't let yourself fall into the trap of "just being a singer". Learn your SH** - I mean learn what quarter notes, 8th notes, and whole steps and half steps are. Learn the difference between major, minor, augmented and diminished scales are. Hang around instrumentalists and ASK QUESTIONS!! You may never intellectually understand as much as a jazz pianist, but develop enough language so that when you're rehearsing for your grammy performance you won't waste your limited rehearsal time and YOUR MONEY trying to explain what you want from the musicians. Time is money, and both are limited when it comes to show preparation. The musicians will respect you more, and all of your lives will be far more powerful, positive, and productive. 

#3: own up to your mistakes. It doesn't make you weak!! It makes you strong to be able to admit your mistakes, and others will respect you for it. Also don't forget to give credit where it is deserved. 

#4: Positive reinforcement is ten fold more powerful than negative reinforcement. It's a waste of time and energy to tell people what you don't want them to do. It's much more efficient and inspiring to tell them what you do like that they're doing. A magical thing begins to happen- they will do more of that!! it's an amazing phenomenon. I've just started exploring this strategy lately thanks to my good friend April Malina, and it works wonders. 

This all being said, I have to tip my hat to some wonderful and gracious band leaders and artists I have worked with lately. Whether you got all your Sh*& together or not, it's about whether you are honest, and strive to achieve what you want through positivity. Jacob Luttrell, Celeste Prince, Nikhil Korula, Andree Belle, Katia Moraes, Mario Costa. You guys rock, I appreciate you very much!! There are many others I've worked with over the years but I'm just naming a few I've worked with lately. 

Although divas and devos in the music biz are the focus of this blog, this goes way beyond artists. So much of what goes wrong in the world stems from unresolved complexes in people's minds. So many wars were born from the seed of perceptions, egos and insecurities. We have been swimming in that ocean for so long. It's what we know until we learn to float and rise above…until we are enabled to see we have the power to rise above at will. Open your mind to the possibility that there are things about yourself that you don't know that you don't know. That will open the door to new realms and possibility of what you can be. It will make you better, and if you are better, the world will be better…trust me ;)

If You Wanna Make The World

A Better Place

Take A Look At Yourself, And

Then Make A Change

-Michael Jackson