I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what I do, what I want to do, and how I should do it.
I recently launched that other website to expand my writing a bit (and make a super tiny bit of money along the way) and that’s been great, although I still think that has a lot of growing pains to go through. I need to update that site a lot more, along with this site. New posts have been scant for a bit now, and I apologize for that, family stuff and some extended travel have really put a crimp in my writing schedule as of late.
Additionally, the shocking death of Ryan Davis really got to me in a way that I did not expect. That man (and all of the Giant Bomb crew) has been a massive influence in what I do for the past few years now, and losing him has been pretty brutal on me.
And, not to fall into the most horrible of all cliches, it kind of made me think. I got to get going on my goals, you never know when your time is going to be up.
Journalism has been on the skids for a while now. Shit, the demand for writing as a whole has been on a pretty steady decline for years now. I’ve been trying not to accept it, but it’s pretty hard to deny. Like a silent film star faced with talkies, I have to look at the future head on and realize that for the most part, people aren’t interested in reading one man’s views about random movies, video games and music anymore.
That’s not to say that I want to quit doing that. People might not be interested in what I have to say about new wave bands and acid house acts, but that doesn’t mean I’m no longer interested in writing about them. If my sites both peak out at a few hundred readers a day, then whatever, I’ll live with that. Writing has always been an outlet for me, and it will continue to be.
But pride, and my unending desire to create something that people actually fucking care about, have made to to decide the time is right to try something new. Maybe it’s time I sit down in front of a camera.
So stay tuned…I guess? I got some ideas.
If my timetable with Mostly-Retro was any indication though, expect something around late 2015.
Meat Beat Manifesto
Dog Star Man
Still Falling
Dog Star
Dv8
Transmission (Stately Pleasure Dub)
Transmission (Burning Fire Mix)
Mad Bomber/The Woods
Semi-serious mission statement about my own personal future follwed by tracks by a band whose name is a disgusting masturbation reference.
The Internet is stupid.
had that dogstar 12″ at one time, good stuff – thanks for digitizing!
(I appreciate what you’ve been doing the past number of years)
Drew
Been a fan of this blog for quite awhile, enjoying both your taste in music and for your writing style. You have a good talent for being able to alternative between writing about the weird and silly, and writing about serious topics that pertain to the music industry. You’ve done some great work writing about the loudness war, and on problems with limited editions, and etc. I am kind of surprised you haven’t put out a book by now. Also enjoyed the series of posts on your trip to Japan.
Thanks for what you’ve done so far, and am looking forward to see what else you come up with.
I’ve seen MBM live twice: once opening for 808 State on the Gorgeous tour, and once a couple years ago. Both shows were excellent, although the more recent show was a little depressing how sparse the audience was. I stood directly under Mr. Dangers the whole show, with plenty of elbow room.
i concur with what the first two posters said. when i first discovered your blog using elbo.ws back in ’06 for a Cyndi Lauper single you posted, little did i know that what i suspected to be a one-off visit would end up becoming a most frequented site over the next 7 years. i’m pretty much of the opinion that when it comes to Lost Turntable, it’s come for the music stay for the witty, thoughtful and excellent writing you do. some of my favorite entries you’ve done have come with no music at all; most particular your series of what not to do at a show.
so thank you for all the time that you’ve put into this blog over the years. definitely looking forward to what other great ideas you come up with.
“Journalism has been on the skids for a while now. Shit, the demand for writing as a whole has been on a pretty steady decline for years now.”
May I gently add my two cents here? I am sensing something….between the lines stuff…and if I am wrong, please do not hesitate in correcting me. I will start off my saying that the supply of ‘writers’ has greatly risen in the age of the internet. I agree with you that the demand for writing as a whole has decreased as a result. Pretty simple shit right there. Don’t need graphs or curves to figure that out.
However, the demand of good writers has never been higher. We wade through the crap looking, seeking, needing someone of your output to renew our faith in journalism. You write well, without the shackles of a corporate image or a cyborg editor. Please continue to do so.
Now….I understand about paying the bills and having a few nice things lying around. This takes time and effort and should not require you to live in your parents basement. I gotta think there are untapped/unexplored revenue streams that have not come to light.
I will leave you with three words that have always comforted me when I tried to rise above the mediocrity (and get paid for doing it). It has given me a modicum of success in my profession and I have no problem sharing it.
Do. Something. Different.
You are more than halfway there….you have great ideas…now you have to take that creativity and apply it to the financial part of what you do.