You Need a Gimmick.

But do you really?

What do we value most - greatness and quality or bloated attention-grabbing stuff?

Take, for example, local bands. When a great band comes into existence, they have to work hard to get the coveted spots in the best bars and music hot-spots. They have to be experienced musicians, ready to roll with every punch, letting the high notes shine and the last notes ring, and they have to make it all look effortless. This is not a gimmick, this is talent and dedication.
And yet sometimes it is still not enough.

When you see YouTube stars and fading one-hit-wonders (William Hung, Tila Tequila...) you have to wonder whether we are fascinated by the quick rise of someone who is bound to eventually fall and fall hard, or those that find the mountains, climb them, and STICK at the top.

I'd like to say proudly that we encourage the latter. But the stubborn persistance of reality tv (ok, I love Top Model like anyone else, but The Cougar??) and Ripley's-style breaking news brings doubts. The poor recipient of America's first face transplant doesn't know she's a victim of the car-crash syndrome. I bet 90% of working-class citizens walking out their door yesterday morning did a perfectly executed pivot turn to stare at her before-and-afters.

Which is more gratifying? Five seconds of online fame or five years of respect? And what about the people that don't ask for their five seconds and are forever remembered for them?

The bar has officially been lowered.