----- Original Message -----
[snip]
> Sooo...looping is one of the many tools in
your toolbox for creating sound (just like the guitar or the ring modulator),
and if it is one of the more important elements, you should mention it, just
like somebody might mention that he is a guitarist.
Agreed that it is one of many tools. I'm just
still grappling with whether it necessary to mention the tool. I am a
guitarist, first and foremost. I use a lot of tools: max/msp, Reaktor, many
patches, a volume pedal, etc, etc. I don't call myself a Live Reaktor Artists
or a Volume Pedal Artist. My loop patch is just one of many things I use. Now,
granted, I use the tool a lot (about 80% of the time), but such is also the
case with max/msp (100% of the time)...it is on at all times and at least one
max patch is running at all times. So, I agree with all of our original
discussions where we said that you can indeed treat a piece of software, VST
effect, etc as an instrument. That was a great discussion and very insightful.
But for me, those instruments are still "second string", next to the guitar,
which is my primary instrument feeding all of this work. For me, my line of
thinking for the time being (it can always change), is that perhaps a
different critieria, other than an effect or hardware device is being used as
an instrument, is required to incorporate the descriptor of that gear in my
artist title. It's a little similar the controversy in biology
around the definition of life. Not remembering the complicated descriptions
(as it has been over 10 years since I was a biology major), I do recall
something about the entity (cell, structure, etc), having to be
self-sufficient or be able to surive on its own in principle as an adult. In
that mode of thought, when I play, my looping and effect tools are not
self-sufficient. They require me to play the guitar to get them to work.
I don't show up for a gig with only my looping tools and effects, but either
my guitar or my voice.
> Is the industry recognizing us for our accomplishments? Let me play
devil's advocate and ask: what are (from the industry's pov) are exactly our
accomplishments?
For staters, many looping festivals around the
world; countless looping CDs, a lot of promo, articles in magazines, many
videos, blogs, etc. That's a hell of a lot. It's quite amazing,
actually.
Kris
