Let’s get it straight – without talent, no one gets anywhere. We won’t get into the cliché examples like the Spice Girls and the such. Seriously, how many of them had a long and prestigious career anyway? Let our points of reference be bands of the rock era where media-fabricated phenomena and ‘boy bands’ are of no consequence. Even if, admittedly, occasionally a talent-less personality does make it, why should we base ourselves on the worst? Sure, this gives hope to those struggling musicians who, watching these ‘prodigies’ on TV, bang their instruments against the wall thinking ‘Why them & not me?!’. One would hope however that the objective of striving musicians isn’t just their ’20 minutes of fame’ but to offer their audiences something different, special, refreshing. Fame is already manufactured by American Idol and Big Brother. I think we can all agree that in order to rise above the rest, one needs, above all something different, something more, something that for all intents and purposes, we can call talent. Having established this, let’s go one step further. Talent in itself isn’t always enough. Opportunities are also crucial - opportunities, contacts and attitude equal a world of possibilities. Let us, for once, focus on this aspect of the business. For example: Yesterday I was in Boston at the first semi-final show at the legendary Paradise Rock. The venue was packed, the bands very interesting, several quite outstanding in fact. Only one however, could make the cut. The band which came in second position could have easily moved on. In fact, after the show the Emergenza officials were in the dressing rooms discussing amongst themselves what other options and opportunities they could present to the band in question. An appearance in the B.E.S.T. Tour, a special European showcase perhaps…. The guys in the band were great, very friendly and had a good relationship with the Emergenza staff, making everything proceed smoothly. All of a sudden, the band’s manager – a disgruntled and agitated individual of about 50 years, starved for attention and looking to lay the blame anywhere but upon himself – stormed into the backstage area, screaming out how horrible and unjust all this was and that ‘his’ band should have won, and assaulting – in every way but physically – the able officials of the festival. Following this little episode, the chances of the band taking part in any of the showcase opportunities the festival offers were nil. Great manager, uh? Obviously really concerned with what’s best for the band. Two weeks ago I was in London. A band threatened for well over two hours to refuse to play unless TWO sets of drums were set up for them on the stage. According to them, it was a requirement of the stage set. The band had ONE drummer, who switched between the two identical drum sets, set up in exactly the same way, with all the same elements. It’s understandable that each band tries to do something unique to add character to their performance. However a total lack of desire and willingness to understand and collaborate with the organizers of the festival is hardly sensible. After hours of slanderous comments (this is a shitty organization, I DEMAND two drum sets NOW!!!) the band played – with just one drum kit. The effect? An incredible show. A representative of a large UK record label approached one of the Emergenza managers inquiring about the band. Having learned about the ‘show’ that took place behind the scenes prior to the concert, the rep vanished from the venue in the blink of an eye. Last year in Ottawa I witnessed a similar situation. A very talented band, for whom a European Tour was already ‘in the bag’. At the finals however, the band did not make it (which in no way impeded their forthcoming tour). Sadly, the band took this opportunity to send Emergenza an email, filled with insults, and other comments - malicious to the core. The projected tour of Europe – of w