Egotistical Rockstars

[kiranlightpaw]

So I was watching this special on the Foo Fighters last night on VH1. If you're a Foo Fighters fan, you should definitely not miss this. Although, the "you're getting old" bug in my ear reminds me that I just watched a special on one of my favorite bands ... on VH1.

Anyways, they were interviewing Dave Grohl (as well as the other members) in various parts of the documentary. Now, I have tons of respect for Dave as a musician (how can you not when he was in two of the biggest bands of the last 20 years - Nirvana and the Foo Fighters). But, in some of the segments, he came across to me as the stereotypical egotistical rockstar.

But then I got to thinking about it while I was mowing the lawn today. He's talking about his job. His career. His business. What he does for a living. While we like to think of it as "just music" and an artistic pursuit (which it is), when you do it full time you also have to look at it as a business, career and a source of income. Is it any surprise he might have strongly-held opinions about what he does every day?

I know that, if you ask me about software engineering, I have tons of very strong opinions about my career. I have come to these conclusions through experience, and I have reached where I am through hard work. I bet that I would probably come across to someone not in my industry as extremely egotistical, when the reality is that I'm only slightly egotistical. :P

I think I can cut Dave a little slack for coming off that way when talking about the music business. After all, to him, that's what he deals with every day.

Comments

[pent.livejournal.com]

When I've mentioned to people that I am confident in my abilities in singing and acting, I have received some surprise at my straightforwardness when I say, "Yes, I'm good."

But you have to be able to say that, to yourself and others, or you can't succeed.

I can see where to anyone outside of any career in which a person is relatively talented, such an attitude may come across as pompous or arrogant. But that kind of unashamed confidence is the only thing that carries you through and gets you out of the tough times, which for an artist are many and often.

[camstone.livejournal.com]

*nods* Being egotistical and being confident are often confused by those standing on the outside.

I've had to go up against some very knowledgeable researchers, and both held my ground and conceded it. Sometimes, it's good to hold the high ground, and at others - realize that you're just on a pile of sand that can be swept away with a gentle breeze. But I've also known people who are total a-holes, who want to climb over anyone else in order to get where they want to be. One even told me that it was perfectly good to cheat on their wife in order to get ahead. I quickly distanced myself from him, and am glad I did.