The RPM Challenge

Are we done?

(Thursday, 25 September 2008) Written by Babys First Ride

Not that I'm trying to be the buzz kill, but could it be that the buzz already dead? Or are we on hold, catching our breath for a new RPM year? Honestly, I feel I have one more left in the tank, but only one. After that, I may be able to make my peace with not ending up a rock star and call it a day. Oh, I may pick an axe here or there, but my need to create is eroding. I just don't have that much to say anymore. It is, however, a reflection of where my life is at the moment - on an even plane. At this age, I am actually OK with that.

I've noticed the traffic on the site has all but come to a grinding halt. We've all gotten so busy doing the life thing that we just drop by to grab a coffee and danish and we're gone. So what happens when we're out of coffee? Obviously, there is nothing sinister at work here, but I think the 'shiny' has worn off and the Challenge is just another toy in the toy box. I mean, how many folks are really coming back next year? I was expecting a monster event this year, but it played out that I think it was a smaller event turn out than last year. For this event to survive, there needs to be a bumper crop of new blood. If for no other reason, so all us old timers can sit back and read the blogs and go, "Damn. I remember doing that"

Comments (13)

1 Written by Colin Garvey, on 09-25-2008 22:48
Well, yes, traffic has dried up here, but RPM 08 was seven months ago. RPM 09 is 4 months away (if it even happens; presumably it will), so most of us haven't really thought that far ahead. It's no real surprise nothing much is going on here at the moment. We're just getting our coffee elsewhere.

OK, so this year 793 finished compared to 870 last year. As I often tell my wife, size isn't everything. This was my first year and I had an absolute blast. Everybody I've met here has been fantastic. I'll certainly be back next year, and I'm sure that anyone still here to read this will be as well.

In 3 1/2 months' time this site will be buzzing again.

2 yer not paying attention
Written by angie fights crime, on 09-26-2008 01:22
i'm all over this JOINT!

3 Slow, but still here
Written by Jay Durfey, on 09-26-2008 08:55
I seem to remember last year about the same time when posts and visits slowed to a crawl. I for one, will definitely be doing the challenge again this year...whether it is through RPM or not. I'll do it on my own if Feb if I have to.

I can respect what oyu are saying, that you, as an artist may need fell the "need" to do it again, or maybe watch from the sidelines. That I think is the beauty of RPM, it's all about setting goals and smashing down previous creative walls. It is different for everybody. Kudos to you if you have quenched that inner creative demon and been able to quell the muse for now ;)

I have now done the '07 and '08 challenges, and can easily say that they have been some of the best musical experiences I have ever had. I have successfully broken down barriers for myself 2 years in a row, and plan on doing it again.

4 Written by Michelangelo, on 09-26-2008 14:16
Maybe you are, but all eights disks are in various state of work one way or another. I've just been heads down quiet BUT today it's time to start contacting people to get music OR ELSE.....

5 *sigh*
Written by Sister Savage, on 09-26-2008 15:33
I know what you mean...but I seem to remember exactly the same thing happened last year - some people hung about all the way through (I finished around March because I'd been very quiet on the forums and knew nobody), but by November things started to pick up again.

You were here last year, weren't you?

6 In fact.....
Written by Michelangelo, on 09-26-2008 17:14
Shit no. I'm just getting started

7 Written by IronAngel Forge, on 09-26-2008 19:40
BFR, how about collaborating with someone? Sometimes you may not have anything to say, but your voice makes someone else's work sing that much more, and you even find something new to say. Never know, but just a thought for ya!

I for one am looking to 09 but I'm trying to grow as a player and engineer before I even think about writing concepts for this next one. Heck, last year I bought a keyboard figuring to use it for some string fills, before my hardware failed me epically.

Heck, you might try picking up a new instrument and see if that opens up new ideas for you. Dunno, might be fun to try it just to see what happens.

8 Written by Honeycomb, on 09-27-2008 03:35
RPM 08 was my first and I definitely plan on doing RPM 09. I'm not particularly happy with my last offering on both a technical and songwriting level. I didn't know what I was letting myself in for and it was a miracle I managed to cross the finishing line at all - and that was achieved by putting any old rubbish "to tape" at the end.

This year I have some songs already in the pipeline to give me a head start, I've upgraded from GarageBand to Logic Studio, I've added and M-Audio FireWire Solo to my input chain rather than using the ultra-noisy line-in on my MacBook and I'm planning on getting hold of EZ-Drummer before February to make the drums sound less like a machine. I know now what to prepare for and feel that I am ready.

I know I've got more to offer than what came out on my 08 disc, and I'm determined to prove it. If anything RPM 08 has shown me what I need to do to move from the amateur tinkerer to something approaching a more professional musician.

9 Aw c'mon
Written by Kavin.s Acoustic Church, on 09-27-2008 13:58
BFR, you don't strike me as someone who "don't have that much to say anymore", creatively or other wise. I hope you'll be back next year, and the next, if RPMC still continues.

As for myself, I've told every musician I know (many) about the RPMC and some are looking forward to signing on next year.

By the way Angie, rock on!

10 My Own Private Psychosis
Written by Babys First Ride, on 09-27-2008 19:57
I have spent years trying to find someone else who shares my vision of musical possibilities. Its like speaking a language no one else understands. RPM introduced me to you guys and gals - musician / producer / engineer types. That's been cool. In the last 2 years, my technical skills have greatly improved, but the overall creative vision has seen better days. But I have been doing the one-man-band thing for nearly 2 decades.

11 Written by Damage_ Damage- Control, on 10-01-2008 15:17
I know that I myself haven't come by here as often as I did around February. Other things I have to do mostly. I think it's kind of natural that you get a drop-off of activity when it's not around February, since February is when this thing is scheduled for. A planning issue I suppose. I seem to recall the same thing happening last year.

12 ..
Written by Alternate Modes of Underwater, on 10-02-2008 14:18
RPM Challenge board is always this way right now, since we're nowhere near the RPM Challenge.

Same thing happened last year..

Everyone will come wandering back in circa January or so.

One suggestion I'd make - see if you can get your local music shop to help sponsor the next RPM Challenge. I'm tempted to do that with mine this year.

(I'm sick of being the lone person in Worcester, MA to participate in this. There are a ton of musicians out this way.)

13 Written by Jonathan Hall, on 10-13-2008 09:08
I haven't logged on here in a few months - I would try and remind myself but it took listening to my RPM album from 08 to make it stick.

Baby's First Ride - I know how you feel. Diminishing returns have been the norm for me and I haven't written a single song since, well, since 11:59 PM on 2/29. Ha ha. Thank god for the extra leap year day. Anyway, yes it's tough to go through a dry spell - maybe due largely in part to your concept of yourself. If you identify yourself strongly as a musician and somebody creative, it takes a little time for brain and your heart to be in sync.

That's the good thing about doing music just for fun. If you're not feeling it you can absolutely take a break to recharge your batteries. Do it on your own terms. That's a luxury a working musician doesn't really have. Unless you're really lucky and can afford to work when you want.

Anyway, it's all about doing what's right for you now. Not what was right for you 5 years ago.

So listening to One Trick Pony, my RPMC 08 submission, I decided that if I was going to take part again I would try and write in advance as much as possible. Getting the songs recorded was enough of a project for the month!

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