Why Artists Do What We Do.

Musicians are probably some of the most misunderstood people on the planet. We do not consciously decide to be laughed at and discouraged when we talk about our aspirations to make a living at making music. Nor do we expect to have to explain why we should be paid for doing what we do as professionals, Doctors and lawyers don't have to justify why they are to be paid. We don't look forward to strangers looking at us like aliens or crossing to the other side when they see us perform on the street. We don't plan on having to take on meaningless side jobs because we can't get paid for the work we do or in some cases forgo our dreams all together to get a "real job". 
Far too often, many artists did not and do not learn the business and when opportunities arise, they are unprepared and uneducated and often get caught up in bad business deals and get taken financially. In addition, appearance and age in America are more portrayed on television as being more important than the art. As a result, many talented and deserving artists go unrecognized and unrewarded.
I don't believe that artists are made, we are chosen by the Most High to view and communicate our views to the world through tapestry eyes; seeing a blank canvas and being able to see a multi colored tapestry. Everyone has special gifts, ours is to communicate our views of the world through sound. Most artists that I know are driven to create their music whether they want to or not. Its an innate obsession that dictates where we live, who we marry, when we eat, when we sleep and who our friends are.
For many artists the desire to create supersedes the need to understand and even engage in the business of music, so we sacrifice the monetary benefits for the spiritual benefits which can never be assessed in dollars; the smiles we bring to a child's face who is seeing herself in us; the fan who comes up to us after a show to tell us how they loved that song because it was about them; the warm fuzzy feeling that people get when the stars align and everything is right in the world while they are lost in the vibe of the song; the power of music to motivate people to move, change and grow.
There is no way to quantify why we do what we do. It is what is. So we try to coexist in a world where we are often ridiculed, misunderstood, targeted, mistreated and alienated. We seek out others who are like us and gain hope from the ones who get it and love us because of it. Love, Peace and Hairgrease! Shadow