Totally related to Tony here, and wanted to start a new thread about it.tone-def wrote:
thanks for your kind words, i've been in need of a little ego boost!
It's tough keeping faith in your abilities when a) there is so much great music by prolific artists and b) there is much more dross surrounding it. Both create a "why I am bothering" feeling. As an additional consequence, our audience (DJs, labels, punters) is also as saturated with house and techno as we are, so I really don't blame them for not spending time checking out new music from artists they don't know.
Just look at the Member's Tracks area here, numerous unanswered threads, and threads with one line replies. Even house and techno producers who've been around a while seem to struggle to find somewhere/someone to bounce their latest ideas off, if they aren't involved with a label or it's social circle. In turn producers can end up with a unfairly critical view of themselves, potentially robbing the "scene" of fresh new ideas.
Compare that with some similar production forums, like those for dnb, dubstep and breakbeat for example, which I visit regularly. You've got "big names" cruising regularly for new talent and new tracks, giving feedback, emailing encouragement etc. That in turn inspires a tone of general feedback and support across the entire forums, which can only help to keep that scene fresh and vibrant.
In house and techno, especially, things are alot more insular and private, despite being by far the more popular and populist forms of electronic music. I guess that's part and parcel of the music we make. Many people consider what they're doing to be more important and more "artistic" than merely making people dance. That's absolutely fine, and correct, but it helps breed a scene of very private, isolated individuals, protective of their techniques and tools, and in some cases some downright neurosis and insecurity.
This isn't directed personally at anyone here or elsewhere, but in general when people separate, scatter, and disappear up their own backsides, things get pretty fucked.