Well, how about when the publicity you had was negative?
I’ve just pulled my Youtube video showreel from my website, and will shortly go and pull it from Youtube (or perhaps make it private if I can work out how). This follows upon it managing to lose me a gig which I was previously lined up to do, much to my annoyance and £150 to my financial detriment.
I wouldn’t generally advise anyone to market themselves as a musician or musical act without video. It’s expected for function / wedding and cruise work, and indeed often not just of acts as a whole but of potential deps by those acts; arguably more essential than audio-only recordings now.
But, I can’t afford to get another one made, and I think I need to be rid of this one – that it has in fact become an albatross around my neck.
It might also seem a waste of one of my first investments in professional music as such, and (sophist-)arguably my single biggest expenditure on music. (My viola cost less, but the total purchase with bow and case was more)
However, the video is now over a year old. It dates from when I had not yet really plunged myself into paying music – and I now both realise how much higher standards of perfectionism and professionalism are required, especially in marketing given how much more crowded with sellers than buyers the marketplace is; and more straightforwardly have had thirteen months or so of very intense playing (compared to pretty much any other period of my life), which has inevitably helped at least repolish some of my performing, even if a lot of it has been focused on things other than technique and detail of delivery.
And if people are thinking ‘OK, get him’ and then changing their minds on the basis of the video, then it clearly has to go. But it is unfortunate that I really can’t afford a replacement – a replacement which would be likely to require an even bigger budget, to secure higher production values, more space for retakes and sound editing, etc., as well as more dedication on my part. It’s also something of a shame that I can’t readily afford some more audio recordings by a conventional route, seeing as the ones I have are themselves 9 months old, were recorded in a freezing cold church in December on borrowed instruments, and basically could almost certainly be improved on. But that I might be able to address through friends and favour exchanges. For the moment video has, to rewrite the Buggles, pushed me back into having to be a radio star.
Martin, I have always thought that you are very intelligent and an excellent musician as well as a decent guy. I know I’m not the best violinist in the world, but when I first met you, even though I could see you played well, I could still see some room for improvement in you’re playing (maybe it’s the teacher in me – or the time I spent with Omar Puente, I don’t know)… but, without wishing to sound like a patronising obnoxious git, (and with the small print that I’m not talking from any pulpit), I would say your violin playing has definitely improved with all the playing that you’ve done in the last year. Well that’s hardly surprisingly given that as you said it’s more playing then you’ve done “compared to pretty much any other period of your life”. Well done and keep up the good work! I only wish I did more practice today. You inspire me and motivate me with your dedication to the cause. I will happily help you make your video and recording… Let’s find the time… see you at the gig on Thursday 🙂 looking forward to it!