Almost Famous Archives - Haulix Daily

I often hear about kids my age that are just as passionate as me about music. I am constantly asked about how I’m an editor for three music websites as well as a writing contributor to four, on top of the insanely stressful junior and senior years. Quite honestly, I’m falling apart. Don’t get me wrong, writing is my salvation. It distracts me from the bullshit of high school and is starting me off on an incredible foot for my future, but I’d be lying if I said that I don’t want to rip my hair out from time to time dealing with it all.

Much of this article is a response to my UTG editor James Shotwell’s article on the fabricated plot of Almost Famous. From someone who is living just as William Miller’s life would be on realistic terms, I completely agree with Shotwell’s stand. I can’t even tell you how many people have told me to watch Almost Famous when I’d explain my journalism career to them, and I finally sat down and watched it when my mom bought me the DVD. Already being a teenager in the journalism field, I knew the movie’s premise scenario was extremely dramatized for the sake of Hollywood. However, in the eyes of kids who have yet to step into the real world of music journalism, Miller’s adventure can radically enhance their daydreams, leading to utter disappointment if they actually pursue this career. If being an adult journalist is hard enough, imagine being a teenage girl navigating her way around shows and festivals, desperately trying to look professional and mature underneath the awkward judgement from older band members and uptight tour managers.

That’s me.

Of course, as time has passed and I mastered the art of makeup, my attempts at fitting in with the crowd have gotten better, but my inevitable lack of life experience at this age can be difficult to fake. (NEVER lie about your age – especially if you are a teenage girl – but don’t bring it up if no one asks. It’s a tricky game.)

It’s quite a ride to start music journalism at the age of 14, and it is one that isn’t nearly over yet. Things have gone horribly, horribly wrong and incredibly right at the same time. I’m just 16, but I’ve already experienced so much. With all the work I pile up, I’ve forgotten what it means to have a social life, but I make up for that with extremely valuable networking and interesting interviews with some of my favorite musicians. I’ve had the crappy editors that toss work to the side and the fantastic ones who have given me the confidence I have today. I’ve dealt with heartbreaking rejection and disappointments, but I’ve also been pleasantly surprised by people I’ve met or opportunities that have been sprung upon me in the music industry. At 14 years old, I walked up to the box office at Mayhem Festival and handed the man my high school freshman photo ID to obtain my first ever press pass and he laughed at me with his friend; if only that guy knew the things I was doing now (with that same photo ID). With all the ups and downs of my experience that only began two years ago, I feel like I have grown twenty years.

It’s rough out there for young women trying to make it in the music industry. It seems like almost every adult around you assumes you’re unprofessional unless you prove your maturity. This is why I’ve learned to maintain my discretion. You can imagine how my 14 year old self first entered the world of music journalism: bright eyed and passionate, yet still strutting the most cringeworthy fangirl persona that belonged nowhere backstage. I went through a rapid phase of mental maturation and professionalism once I was thrown into this lifestyle, giving me comforting hope for my future in the industry. However the growth of my confidence and skills didn’t sprout from just anywhere; some of the worst disappointments in my career taught me how to cope and grow, lessons which I am now thankful for learning at such a young age. Being denied interviews at my very first Warped Tour last minute, after a month of prepping, tore my teenage heart out and ripped it to shreds. My hard work was completely ignored due to the fact that my editor couldn’t see past my young age, fearing that I would act unprofessionally. However, I wouldn’t have acted unprofessionally because my experience was there, but sometimes people in the industry just can’t see any type of seriousness in a young music enthusiast. In the end, my determined mindset got me a press pass with another site I write for, one that saw my skills over my age, and Warped Tour press really wasn’t as life changing as I imagined.

I’ve been unfortunately hit with two disadvantages in my music industry career: I am a teenager AND a woman. It’s no secret that the females of the industry need to work ten times harder to earn respect among their peers; in fact, like William Miller, maybe I’d be treated more equally by band members and industry professionals if I was a MALE teenager. For decades in the music industry, females are immediately put in the fan girl or groupie category if they are seen backstage at a show, and considered a bitch if they ever take charge running the actual show. Times certainly have changed, and women are being taken more seriously in the industry, but we have a long way to go; I for one am excited to be so young in this industry, giving me the time to see the growth and change for the influential women of music. I may be a young teenage girl, but I think like a boss. The ignorance of some people sometimes gets in the way of this, but when the right people take you seriously, you are golden. Regardless, if you are a young journalist, write for the people who see your passion and character over fixed attributes; that’s when the best will be brought out of you.

When loyal editors trust your professionalism and skills, they will offer you incredible opportunities without question. This is how I got started interviewing some of my favorite musicians, certainly providing me with memorable moments with these artists. As Shotwell mentioned in his Almost Famous article, most interviews you have with bands are in and out. You shake hands, ask your questions, then get escorted off by a hurried tour manager, especially if they can tell that you’re a teenage girl. Regardless, I am lucky enough to have some really fond experiences with band members that I never would’ve expected to click with, and this is because of the savvy, mature way I have learned to present myself. Even after the lead singer of Capture The Crown learned I was 16 years old, the professionalism I proved since the moment I walked into the green room led to an hour long conversation about The Walking Dead and the best places to go in New York City. I was able to talk to and connect with three extremely talented sisters in the band Joseph in Soho as we sipped coffee in a quaint bookstore cafe, resulting in an interview recording 45 minutes long. And every time my age comes up to these interesting, unique individuals, the shocking discovery doesn’t turn them off, but makes them intrigued about my life and appreciate what I do. These interviews are the ones for the books, and shape the way I take on my career.

Another valuable skill I learned through my experiences is patience. Keep your head down and work hard, then things will start to go your way. That highly anticipated day in the Warped Tour press room ended in disaster, as none of my planned interviews panned out . Though in the moment I felt useless and inferior, the questions that I prepped for Issues were soon asked of the lead singer, Tyler Carter, only a few months later in their green room at Irving Plaza in NYC. That patience that got me to that interview did not stand alone, though; what I’ve learned through presentation and networking is to never take no for an answer – in the most polite way possible.

I am obnoxiously persistent. Its a blessing and curse honestly. More often than not, I get what I want. But I’m the email that PR might be sick of seeing or I’m the argument that my parents can’t escape. However, even though it has yet to happen, I will get that interview with my favorite band or that acceptance letter I’ve been dreaming of. I can feel it in my bones, with any goal or dream I strive for. Being a young women in this male dominated industry, I’m prepared for the rejection and judgement that I’ve mentioned thanks to this persistence that has grown on me over the years. What I am so grateful to be doing now will prepare me for the best and the worst as I dive deeper into this tough industry.

So the main idea is, if you are a music kid who wants to make a career out of it, only go for it if you are serious about it. It’s been the most intense commitment I’ve dedicated my time to, and honestly, my hectic and stressful life would be horribly boring without it. The lessons I’ve learned and the characteristics that I’m building this quickly will make me unstoppable when the time comes – and that’s what makes the headache worth it.

Emma G .Guido is a freelance music writer who currently contributes to both Under The Gun Review and Mind Equals Blown, as well as multiple other internationally recognized media outlets. You can also find her on Twitter.

Hello, everyone! Welcome to the first full week of 2015. We have a lot of great content planned for the days ahead, and we’ve decided to kick things off with a healthy dose of reality. We promise things won’t be this heavy all year long, but sometimes it’s good to be reminded that there is a lot more to music writing than simply having fun.

This site exists to promote the future of the entertainment industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your entertainment-loving friends. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

In the fall of 2000, a film was released into theaters that offered a new vision of life in the music industry that has since inspired hundreds, if not thousands of young people to dream of one day becoming a professional music writer. That film is called Almost Famous, and I’m here to tell you that it’s a complete work of fiction. You should already know that because it’s not the kind of film that opens with the words ‘Based On a True Story,’ but fifteen years after its initial release this movie still makes people believe rock journalism is a wild and crazy place. It is, but not at all in the way depicted in this film.

Let me be as clear as possible: The idea that a fifteen-year-old boy could not only launch a career in writing in the days before the internet based on nothing more than passion, let alone stumble onto a story so big it allows him to embark on a life-changing road trip with his favorite band (all on Rolling Stone magazine’s dime) is total bullshit. There are elements to the story that could be recreated today, but before your young mind goes dreaming of your favorite Hopeless Records artist bringing you on their bus for nothing more than laughs and a solid editorial you need to realize this movie is nothing more than a piece of make believe crafted for the sole purpose of entertainment. Nothing more, nothing less. Also, your favorite band probably doesn’t have the money for a bus, and if they do you can bet having a so-called music writer with next to no experience join them is not high on their band bucket list.

The truth about getting started in music journalism is that, just like in any other career path, all beginners more or less start at the bottom and work their way up. Where that upwards trajectory leads may very greatly from person to person, but most successful writers follow this path on their rise to notoriety. To climb even a single rung on the ladder of success takes long hours, hard work, dedication to your craft, and an unyielding drive to be the best. There are no short cuts, or at least none that provide long term benefits, and there are absolutely are no bands on the verge of super stardom waiting on pins and needles for an unknown teen to show up at their green room door. To be perfectly honest, those artists probably won’t even know your name until your reciting it with your sweaty hand extended for a handshake. Their manager may tell them about you and your publication beforehand, but do they really have a reason to commit that information to memory? After your fifteen minutes are up you will both move on, and more often than not that artist will have another anxious writers waiting to ask them questions that are eerily similar to whatever you just asked.

Almost Famous also makes it seem like one story can change your entire life, and while there may have been a time decades ago when that would be true for young journalists, the age of blogging and social media has made it so one hit wonders are celebrated and forgotten within a week’s time, if not less. Today’s successful writer must be constantly thinking about their next article, and they also need to be consistently sharing new content with whatever readership they can gather. It’s not about writing one great story, but as many as possible, and the trick is finding a way to accomplish that task without sacrificing timeliness or quality. I can’t tell you how to do that, but over time we can provide you with plenty of tips and advice on how you can condition yourself create content in this manner. It’s not easy, and it likely cannot be done while simultaneously riding around the country with a band who more or may not make it, but for those truly driven to work in this field it’s a commitment worth making.

The one redeeming quality of Almost Famous, though it may seem somewhat pessimistic to some, is the advice given by Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character, Lester Bangs. His role in the film is to serve as a mentor for our protagonist, but as time carries on the lead follows his advice less and less, which slowing our young hero into a lot of trouble with his editor. His most infamous bit of advice is this:

“You CANNOT make friends with the rock stars. That’s what’s important. If you’re a rock journalist – first, you will never get paid much. But you will get free records from the record company. And they’ll buy you drinks, you’ll meet girls, they’ll try to fly you places for free, offer you drugs… I know. It sounds great. But they are not your friends. These are people who want you to write sanctimonious stories about the genius of the rock stars, and they will ruin rock and roll and strangle everything we love about it.”

While I do not feel the above paragraph is entirely true, I do believe writers need to keep a certain amount of separation between themselves and the people and things they are attempting to write about. Also, it’s true that no one in this game makes a lot of money, and that it’s incredibly easy to get all the free music you could ever ask for without feeling the need to pirate or otherwise steal a thing. You will meet girls (or guys), you will be offered alcohol, and yes, sometimes drugs come up as well. You’ll be invited on busses, asked to hang out back stage, and may even be invited to cover a video or photo shoot, which almost always ends in an after party. Yes, all of this will one day happen to you…IF you reach a point in your career where people want you present for such things. You must first prove yourself to be more than a fan disguised as a bad writer, which is really what most of us are when we begin pursuing this career. Once you get away from that mindset you can begin to explore the many strange and awesome opportunities writing about music can provide, but if you begin to fall victim to being more of a fan than a critical thinker everything will disappear once more.

The saying people always associate with Spider-Man is “With great power comes great responsibility.” Writing is the similar, but I would change the phrasing to “With great opportunities to do really cool things that others only dream about comes the need to act like a professional and keep your cool.” The original is catchier, but I think mine is more fitting for this particular discussion. Almost Famous showcases a life no amateur writer could ever life, but everything that happens to the main character COULD occur to a season professional who knows how to handle themselves in even the most absurd scenarios.

If you’re young and just starting out in this industry, please do not get dismayed when your life does not reflect your favorite moments from Almost Famous. The wild side of rock and roll is not dead or all that elusive, but it does take time and hard work to reach a point where that side of the business is accessible to you. For now, just keep your head down and write until your fingers bleed. Once the scabs appear, keep writing. Write until you cannot write anymore and then go see a concert. If you’re broke, stream a new album online. Submerge yourself in the music and activities available to you, create the best content you can based on your experiences, and over time you will see new doors open. Continue pushing yourself and more opportunities will present themselves from there. Just keep writing.

OH, and one final piece of advice from our pal Lester:

“Music, you now, true music – not just rock n roll – it chooses you. It live in your car, or alone listening to your headphones, you know, with the cast scenic bridges and angelic choirs in your brain. It’s a place apart from the vast, benign lap of America.”

James Shotwell is the blog editor and social media coordinator for Haulix. He’s also the founder of Under The Gun Review and the host of the Inside Music podcast. His work has appeared on numerous websites and in several major publications, including Alternative Press, AbsolutePunk, and Rolling Stone. He tweets a lot, and would love it if you followed him on Twitter.