Giving Thanks0

It’s Thanksgiving.  Today’s the day where we watch football, eat turkey, and hopefully remember to give thanks for whatever it is we’re actually thankful for.  Most people accomplish 2 out of 3, but this year I’m going for the hat trick.  Specifically, this year I’m thankful for Fran Lebowitz.

While that may sound like a great title for a Judy Blume novel, here’s why:

Last night, when I should’ve been sleeping, I caught a documentary on Fran called “Public Speaking.”  A few minutes in, she says this:

“I think it’s very important that writers write in a real voice — in their own voice.  But only if they’re really good writers.  And I have noticed …that too many people are writing books period.  There are too many books, the books are terrible, and this is because you have been taught to have self esteem.  And apparently you have so much self esteem that you think ‘you know what – I shouldn’t keep these thoughts to myself, I should share them with the world.’ “

Lots of musicians, hundreds probably, have come to me and requested help getting famous/rich/both.  Quite often, you really want to say “I’m sorry, but your music sucks.”  Unfortunately, I have some sense of (professional) tact and can’t do that.  Instead you come up with a lot of suggestions and encourage them to come back at a later time when they’ve achieved some level of success (even a small one…) on their own.

But for any artist who thinks that success has eluded them solely because of their lack of marketing, you’re probably wrong.  While your mommy and inner voice tell you how great you are, I’m thankful for Fran Lebowitz.