Honesty Pays

Well, the temptation is there, all the time. You really want that music job, but they want more than you can offer. They want more experience, more stage time, more studio credits, more copywritten material, and more connections that can help them. People at work want you to admit that there is something more going on between you and an act you opened for once, or someone you met that gave you a good reference. Sure, you could concoct all sorts of fictional accounts of what happened, even write them down so you have them all straight, and play the part of someone you are not. Hey, it's been done before. Here are a few thoughts of why you shouldn't, and why it's best to just be you, and an honest you at that.

IT'S JUST A WHITE LIE

Okay, say you want to say you started out really early as a musician. You could say you took music in school, learned several instruments, and were in child talent contests. You can even tell them specific dates, name of the school, and who your teacher was. Problem is, if you do go somewhere, there are professionals out there who do fact checking, and they will check your story-all of it. If you are really just another kid who started out making noise with your buddies in college and found out you had a knack for the bass, and can't read a note, that may also be discovered, and you will be discredited. Why not just admit you caught on really fast, and found you had a talent, and offer to have people hear your demo? If you really are good, act mature and have no problems jamming with anyone, you may well win out over some bookish type who not only can't get along with anyone, but is unable to improvise or write, and has to have all his music written out for him note-for-note. If all you have won is a local contest, make sure you point this out firmly, and be proud of it, not apologize for it not being some major one, or say you did win a major prize (which again, can be checked). If all you are is a checkout person, but happened to be lucky enough to ring up a major celebrity, say that you did, but don't try to say he asked you out, because trust me, that will cause even worse trouble when it is discovered he was at a major do that night in public and you were nowhere to be seen. Trust me, it will come back and bite you-why not just tell the truth?

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