How to get famous

[scarbo87]

I'm pretty sure that when you read this topic it came
off as somewhat if not very egotistical .

However, I think that, considering the fact that there
are so many young, aspiring pianists like myself on this board, it is a topic that should not be ignored. Deep down, everyone possess a desire (particularly pianists, considering how much they work) to receive recognition for their sacrafices and hours of pracitce-therefore that desire is
not egotistical or arrogant, it is common to human nature.

So this brings me to my question "What makes certain pianists
famous" (In this particular thread, by the way, I'm not
taking about gifted or musical, I'm talking about famous)
What is it that makes a Pollini or Lang or Kissin stand
out from any other contestant in the Van Cliburn or any other
young Julliard student?? I know for a fact I have heard much
less renowned musicians play just as well, if not better than
those above. Is it luck? fate? Do those particular ppl have,
beside thier talent, a dark gift for self-promotion? what is
it?!

[thracozaag]

I'm pretty sure that when you read this topic it came
off as somewhat if not very egotistical .

However, I think that, considering the fact that there
are so many young, aspiring pianists like myself on this board, it is a topic that should not be ignored. Deep down, everyone possess a desire (particularly pianists, considering how much they work) to receive recognition for their sacrafices and hours of pracitce-therefore that desire is
not egotistical or arrogant, it is common to human nature.

So this brings me to my question "What makes certain pianists
famous" (In this particular thread, by the way, I'm not
taking about gifted or musical, I'm talking about famous)
What is it that makes a Pollini or Lang or Kissin stand
out from any other contestant in the Van Cliburn or any other
young Julliard student?? I know for a fact I have heard much
less renowned musicians play just as well, if not better than
those above. Is it luck? fate? Do those particular ppl have,
beside thier talent, a dark gift for self-promotion? what is
it?!

 Luck/connections/marketing/guillibility of the public
I've gone over this before, but I can name twenty pianist right off the bat whom I'd pay money to hear over someone like Lang-Lang, who don't have a thousandth of his career.

koji

[Balakirev]

I don't know how to become Famous but I know how to become Infamous. I won't tell you though because becoming infamous is the only for me to become famous

[jr11]

 Luck/connections/marketing/guillibility of the public

Don't forget about hard work, sacrifice, and money behind you (private or sponsored).

[thracozaag]

Don't forget about hard work, sacrifice, and money behind you (private or sponsored).

 Unfortunately, the first two items on your list are overshadowed by the third one.

koji

[Balakirev]

Don't forget about hard work, sacrifice, and money behind you (private or sponsored).

It' should not be a sacrifice.

[allchopin]

So this brings me to my question "What makes certain pianists
famous" (In this particular thread, by the way, I'm not
taking about gifted or musical, I'm talking about famous)
What is it that makes a Pollini or Lang or Kissin stand
out from any other contestant in the Van Cliburn or any other
young Julliard student??

An excellent question, one that I have pondered myself.  Actually there has been a previous post like this, but I don't remember the name of it.
I would have to say it is a combination of knowing the 'right people' as well as being in the right place at the right time.  You have to be out in the public a lot so that you have a lot of exposure - basically build your audience.  Then hope someone out there cares enough about you to 'market' you... I don't see any of those guys as being purely lucky.  By the way, attending Juilliard is a great way to make those needed connections.

[thracozaag]

An excellent question, one that I have pondered myself.  Actually there has been a previous post like this, but I don't remember the name of it.
I would have to say it is a combination of knowing the 'right people' as well as being in the right place at the right time.  You have to be out in the public a lot so that you have a lot of exposure - basically build your audience.  Then hope someone out there cares enough about you to 'market' you... I don't see any of those guys as being purely lucky.  By the way, attending Juilliard is a great way to make those needed connections.

 really?

koji

[bernhard]

Here is something someone sent me the other day that may explain it all:

The secret of success

What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%



and


K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

And,

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.

A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Bullshit and Ass kissing that will put you over the top.



Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[Antnee]

HAHA.. I love it....  

-Tony-

[Fastzuernst]

Charisma, Charisma, Charisma,

Check out the carrer of Ignaz Paderewski

[allchopin]

 really?

koji

No.

[cellodude]

Here is something someone sent me the other day that may explain it all:

...
So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Bullshit and Ass kissing that will put you over the top.



Best wishes,
Bernhard.

Bernhard,

I don't know how much exposure or experience you have in the cutthroat business world since you are a piano teacher giving private lessons but what you have posted is so true it is not funny. We think it is a funny little joke (I have seen this before) that we pass around for people to laugh at but it is so true.

I work in a multinational company with offices in all over the world and I see this played out over and over again.
Especially when there is a change of management, the a**k***ers will be out fawning over their new masters. Pretty disgusting but I guess that's the way things are. Sigh!

But back to the topic at hand, I think timing (some may like to call it luck or fate) is very important but above all you must have hard work and consistency. I.e. You must have the goods to deliver when opportunity strikes. You may have the best luck in the world but if you are not able to deliver when the crunch comes you are not going to be famous. So take note of the Boy Scout's motto 'Be prepared'.

Just my 0.02,

dennis lee

[steinwaymodeld]

Quite sadly,

Popularity often has very little to do with talent/knowledge.

This is world of capitalism, it's all about money and marketing my friends.

[Derek]

It seems to me that anyone with a desire to be famous or publicly praised must be receiving very little internal reward by their own playing of the piano at home. I can't imagine anything more gratifying than playing the piano. Its nice when someone pops in and says "thats lovely" but this is by no means the reason I play the piano.

[Motrax]

Well, internal rewards nonwithstanding, you've got to make money somehow. And as a pianist, you won't be making very much unless you are well-known.

I'd think that if you didn't get a great deal out of music, you would go to a much easier profession.

[Bob]

luck

lots of performing (talent is a given if they're going to become famous)

ability to withstand touring  (no one is going to travel far to see an unknown perfomer)

ability to withstand criticism -- That goes along with the talent though.  If they're going to be famous, they'll certainly be able to justify every aspect of their playing.

an agent

charisma -- making the audience members feel engaged, like that perfomer is playing just for them.  An audience likes a perfomer who has a nice personality beyond the music.

from what I've seen -- total dedication.  A person who can support themselves by performing alone and being famous is not going to do much else besides perform and focus on their career.  But, to be that good, they've probably been doing that their whole life anyway.

[Max]

Brendel is a good example of a pianist who got to where he is by hard work and good playing - he wasnt a prodigy as such, and only became well known later in life (Beethoven of course)

[faulty_damper]

You guys are forgetting the one thing that makes Britney Spears so popular:  Large breats with a somewhat attractive face means we'll still be looking at her breasts.  They just get bigger over time.

Physical attractiveness is much more important than any talent he may or may not have.  This is the reason why Koji isn't as well-known or famous.

Yundi Li is now sponsored by Nike.  Is he talented?  Do the people at Nike really care?  I mean, what can Nike offer Li other than $$$?  And what does Nike even manufacture that is related to piano or even music?  Sweatbands?  The main reason Li was approached by Nike is because he is young and rather attractive with some kind of talent that is generally considered "sophisticated".  This sophistication is how the marketing department at Nike want to portray themselves to appeal to the more sophisticated market.

When Nike starts selling their own line of pianos made in China, let me know.  We already know who they've chosen as their cover boy.

Sorry, Koji

[Bob]

yeah, I've heard attractiveness helps too, part of charisma I guess.

I read that audiences are frequently made up of rich, older ladies who want to hear music played by a man.

[Motrax]

Ugh, I hate the stereotypical rich old ladies. Always saying "what a nice young man you are! I once had a cousin who played the piano when she was a little kid! If you ever want to come to my house and play on my neglected out-of-tune-instrument-which-I-use-for-furniture, I'd be delighted! Have a candy!"

Of the few recordings I've heard of Yundi Li, I was rather pleased. Technically wonderful blah blah blah, but he does have a very good grasp on the music itself.

[dgemilio]

If you want to become famous, you must stand out from the crowd.  Becoming famous on pure performance means you have to play as well as Kissin or Horowitz, etc.  Most of the famous ones were child prodigies, but Arcadi Volodos is an example of someone who became famous later in life.  Volodos became famous, not just because of his superb technique, but because of his transcriptions.  So, if you want to become famous, compose, compose, compose.

Good Luck,
Daniel G. Emilio