This pic. was taken from Voices for Choice picture page
Interview
I recently interviewed Paddy Kilrain, a local folksinger (acoustic guitar player, singer/songwriter) for this report. I told her she could answer the questions anyway she interpreted them and in any way they applied to her. I asked Paddy the following questions:
Q. What do you think some personal characteristics a musician would need?
A. Her answer was very focused on the need to like people. She says if the performer doesn't like people, or communicate to the audience it feels like you (the audience) are being "belittled". Being positive is very important, Paddy says. Also, writing with a purpose, to change something. "Writing about yourself is definitely ok, I do it always", she says.
Q. Did you ever take any training such as workshops, seminars, or lessons?
A. Paddy answered: "lots of folk festivals, ‘Old Songs' and others." She has attended the song writing workshops that go on within these festivals, but never a real class; she likes to write where she is, about what she wants, not within guidelines. She has also never taken guitar lessons, which makes it difficult to play with others who are more advanced.
Q.What is the nature of the work?
A. Paddy thinks being a songwriter is working yourself through situations. She says,"To me, work is the best way to figure out who I am, and how to be myself."
Q.What is the working environment?
A. Paddy's environment used to be "coffee and cigarettes in my parent's garage, writing songs." But now she says shes "trying to create a more positive environment for creating." She says she used to work in noisy places, but lately she prefers quiet and validation.
Q.What are the earnings and hours?
A. Paddy gets anywhere from $250-500 for two hours playing at colleges, about $200 per night at a bar, and around $160 in tips at cafes, plus the sales of her CDS and tapes. The hours not only include playing the gigs, but practicing, driving, and taking notes. Paddy says she is constantly working by taking notes, "you can learn from everything", she says, "I take notes watching [the tv show] ‘the Simpson's'!"
Q. Advantages?
A.Paddy says some of the advantages are being constantly available for crises, and her job is convenient for long distance relationships because "(laugh) I can take four days off of, well, nothing!" But she says the "real" advantages are being able to live outside of society's construct, and outside of the typical "men do this, women do that roles" that are prominent in today's world. She says this makes it easier to be a feminist and herself. Also, it makes it easier to point out the things that are wrong in society through her music.
Q.Disadvantages?
A. "People don't always take you seriously", Paddy says, "people laughed at the fact that I am a musician, self-employed." Also the fact that she doesn't receive a standard paycheck, or medical insurance, "what if I want to get my teeth cleaned?!", she says half-jokingly. But Paddy seems to think the advantages out way the disadvantages. "I don't think its so bad", she says.
