Bill Abel on work and job

Now i ask Bill Abel, bluesman extraordinaire from Belzoni (now living in Duncan), Mississippi. He's known for his unique crafts with drift wood, his artifacts and his great hill-country groove-boogie. Follow the man here: https://www.facebook.com/bill.abel.73/timeline?lst=725886359%3A1447455172%3A1583175723 Bill himself: "I have been fortunate to have been making a living from just playing music and making and selling art work for the past 20 years but i have to say that cd online sales completely dissappeared several years ago and (never sold many before either, mostly sold at gigs) cd sales fell off at gigs also but i still sell a few at gigs. Its dissappointing to know that music has been hijacked and stolen. now music is basically free online. I guess i beleive a professional musician is one who primarily makes his income from music. i dont think you have to be a professional musician to get attention today because of the internet. ill keep doing what i do because its what i have to do. Art and music has been de valued in our society. most schools dont teach art and music anymore. Our politicians are corrupt and have been bought by corporations therefore are doing nothing to change the internet in our country to allow mucicians to get paid. at local music venues all across our country the people complain about having to pay a 5 dollar cover charge. A 5 dollar cover charge was the charge in the 1970's." Here's Bill's pottery and painting art: https://business.facebook.com/billabelpotteryandpainting/

New short interviews project

This time is revolving around how capitalism mess with your creative works. I'm asking very talented people with varied background and outcomes. Mainly musicians!

Let's begin with Josh Moss, thinking head of The Modern folk of America https://themodernfolk.bandcamp.com/?fbclid=IwAR1X5IHefQnluaH40WJprESQMbCuVeWcFcy8BtqbfO8eefzo234bTHHuwJo
and the man own manifesto on the subject here:
http://www.themodernfolk.net/2019/09/listen-to-modern-folk.html

-If you have found difficult to sell your art (albums, gig tickets, etc) does it discourage you from going on? yes...almost no one buys my stuff. It’s a bummer but I can’t say it is “discouraging” because I have not slowed down -Do you consider your creative works as a job? no, doing creative stuff is not a job it is just life -If you have another job, does it stop you from playing, creating? my real job does take up time but it allows my creative pursuits to be free from anyone’s expectations -Have you found reluctance to your creative outcomes within your circle of friends/relatives? I make so much stuff, I don’t even expect my friends or family or anyone to care at this point -If you had all your needs covered, would you still pursue a job different from your music? - no haha


- What do you consider a professional musician? does it appeal to you?
I guess a professional musician is someone who makes a financial living from music. The part of that that would involve constantly working on music w other great musicians is appealing...but the idea that my livelihood would depend on my music, meaning I’d have to seriously consider other people’s reactions to it, is a bummer. I think for me it will remain a thing I mostly do for myself and if others like it that’s incidental

- Do you think it's needed to become professional to get good gigs and attention from the public?
Not sure if there is a formula for getting attention to your music, or shows or opportunities, but in my experience the most important thing is just being close friends with people who already have that stuff: what people call networking