If I May? :)

[Jak Angelescu]

Hey everyone,
This is a LITTLE hard for me to say. But after my own post about ‘beginner’s mental block’ and the comments that followed, I’ve been inclined to kind of take my own advice and get something off my chest.
Annelene, a VERY dear friend of mine here on the school, randomly wrote me today and said “Hey, are you ok?” I honestly didn’t know how to respond to it. She said, “I just notice how much you help people out. And I was wondering if you were ok yourself.” Because honestly, I kind of was but then I kind of wasn’t.
Some things have been hard for me. I have to admit. Although I try my hardest to push everyone and encourage everyone, nothing came crashing down on me harder than the last two weeks. For the last year nearly, I had been having loads of people on my Instagram writing me and some commenting saying “You should do your own stuff!” Some others would say, “I can’t wait to hear your originals!”
And then I go to announce our studio time, and it really seems like no one in my family, immediate social circle, or social media cares except a few. I got so excited. I really did. I go so excited to show the world my 14 year-long dream coming to fruition. Lord knows that when I post up anything A7X related, it gets HUNDREDS of views, HUNDREDS of likes, and dozens of message responses and comments. Yet I go to post my own stuff up? Crickets. Except a few times there were a couple of comments.
This hurts really badly. To give so much out to so many others and to see practically crickets on your own hard work? It hurts. It really, really does. I had another student write me and say “For everything you’ve done for me, it’s the least I can do is support you back.”
It’s so hard for me to write this post because it can easily come off like I’m being selfish, whiny, entitled, not getting enough attention, etc. But it’s really not that at all.
It just hurts to invest literally over 300 hours into everyone else to help them with the online lessons, writing them back, making personalized videos to help them, pushing them HARDER AND HARDER to take it more seriously here, waking up and the first thing I do is respond to questions, only to get nothing in response. I so often have people writing me things like “Hey watch my video. Come follow me.” But hardly ever do those people say, “Congratulations on your album endeavors!”
A person can only handle so much of that. So with this being said, one thing I’d like to say and one thing I’d like to ask. And this isn’t geared at anyone, just me coming into myself.
1. I feel so disgusted with the obsessive A7X following I get, that I don’t know if I will really post A7X related covers anymore except on here. Things like wishing the boys a happy birthday is fine. But I really want to be my own person. And I got a message from someone saying, “You know if you made a YouTube channel where it was nothing but A7X solos, you’d actually get more interest.” I have NO clue how I was suppose to handle that. All I know, is that it came off like a big red flag to me. I love Syn SO much, but I just can’t walk in his shadow if I’m going to go my own way.
2. Would you guys mind if I posted our little journey videos here? Everyone really cares about EVERYTHING people do here. From newborn children, to getting married, to stresses at school. I was hoping I could post our little album work videos here. Things like our practice discussions, or the awesome announcement of finally choosing a drummer. You all are seriously the pyramid my dreams are being built on, and it would mean a lot if I could.
I hope this didn’t come off strange. But I had to get my thoughts off my chest. I love you all, VERY VERY much. For those of you here who have been my legs, my backbone, my voice, my support, I love you all. But I just have to change where I place my attention now.
Goodnight,
Jak

 

[Ed Seith]

Your frustration reminds me of my gigging days in the 90s in Manhattan and the NY Metro area. Hundreds of nights of playing original music for the other bands on the bill and their bored girlfriends, while a bunch of guys playing half-assed covers of easy, cliched songs packed em in, night after night. Family and friends were rarely present. It is what it is. Most of them think it works like in the movies – you have “it,” someone “right” magically hears the first song you write, and six months later, you’re in rehab after going triple platinum and guesting on TRL.
TL,DR: People suck balls, but it’s not really their fault.
I’ll take your journey videos any day. Especially as long as they’re not Journey videos. I don’t need Wheel in the Sky, no thank you. Bring it.
Nothin but love,
Ed

 

[Ed Seith]

PS: Do you, and let the chips fall where they may. Wherever you wind up, “like Frankie said, ‘I did it My Way.'”

 

[Alan Celis]

those ppl have followed you for your amazing indepth tutorials of them a7x solos so its normal for them to only want that kind of stuff, but once you get your music out there they are gonna realize how awesome it is and youll start to gain your own following(for your songs), you just gotta show em you can do this!!!
i come here everyone in a while and see that you are always helping others improve and get better and that is amazing, and i hope u get to finish the album and share the singles with us hahaha
doing and album has been a dream of mine too lol but i just havnt gotten myself to record yet :/

 

[Steven Huth]

That’s the way the music business has always been, Jak. It comes down to what your goals are and how you want to achieve them. You’re obviously not happy where you’re at so moving on is the best bet. And I wouldn’t think of moving on as abandoning the school. I’m sure Brian and Brian Jr’s goal for the school was to inspire us to take our playing to the next level and keep going as far as we want that level to go. It sounds like you are at or at least getting to that point. Nobody is going to dog you for that. And if you need any of us, we will all be here as this is a happy place for any and all.
Ed said do you and I think that’s the best advice you can get.

 

[Syn Gates]

HAHAHAHOHO-HOLY SHIT JAK! This is priceless! This is why you will never ever ever fail at life! My god this is bold, beautiful, and frighteningly honest. I know you know that no one here means you ill will, but the constant sacrifice of your most priceless commodity – YOUR TIME – with little to no reciprocation is what every influencer or artist feels throughout their existence – Only 25 people came to watch Ed put on a fucking CLINIC he spent so many hours researching that will change the course of sonic and sound engineering history. More honestly, he was demoing MY cabs and only 25 people came to watch(Not saying my cabs are the game changer, Fractal is(Not saying you’re not a superstar Ed but my bands more popular lol(no offense Ed))). And finally, this school is free and you may think that 50k subscribers is a lot, but 10 MILLION people have BOUGHT and PAID for A7X records.
All I want to do is to create a perfect circle of harmony where everyone helps each other over and over again. This place is the closest I’ve ever gotten to that feeling but we have a long ways to go.
In closing, I’d greatly appreciate it if you answer TWO questions for every ONE question you ask. Answer a question that feels comfortable to you. Don’t just phone it in. Don’t worry about sounding like the smartest person in the room either. Often the simplest response coming from the heart resonates the best. Try to speak from experience but if you’re new and have little experience, just be supportive.
In Closing! Part Deux. GO HELP JAK! Has she not done enough for everyone?!! If the 50k people here all pitched in just 5 cents each, she’d have enough to record 5 songs. I’d LOVE to hear those songs, wouldn’t you? Link here mother fuckers- https://www.gofundme.com/help-fund-our-band039s-album
Much love,
SG

 

[Dominik Gräber]

You know Jak, most of the time it starts with you WANTING to help people. Then others come around and also want something from you because they see that you are willing to help others. Also, this is still about online plattforms, so we have to bear in mind that we don’t have to have contact with each other every time. Everybody has their own life so it is no surprise that people talking to you like once a week are not thinking about your problems too much. But I can assure you, the people in the SGS, especially me, would. So you should not be afraid to come here and ask in a topic or private if there is something you want to get off your chest. You’ve done TONS of stuff for the school, it’s members, me, so you have our back.
With the content situation you’re in it is kinda the same. People know A7X. You making a tutorial for a song gives them something usefull or interesting. But you starting to record an album is something really personal, something about you. Because nobody has heard of you there will only be a few people who care. That is sadly how “online society” works. But you can count on THOSE who care.
Which brings me to my last point and answering your question. HELL YES I would love to see your journey videos here!

 

[Ed Seith]

This is why I’m here. To get put down by the Keymaster.
I fuckin love it. No joke.
Jak, I’m going to give back a little. I know you’re going into the studio soon, and don’t really know much about how things work there. I’m going to sit down and walk through basic DAW setup and recording a quick multitrack recording to give you and others an idea how it works. I’m sure a lot of friends here are watching the breakdown videos (which fuckin rule, @syn, I hope you know that – thank you) and wondering how things get to the point where what they see on the screen gets there, and how you can play isolated bits from it.
I will try to get to it way sooner than later. Maybe Monday.
Like all my stuff, it will be only semi-organized and I’ll rattle on incessantly, but I pretend that’s part of my charm. I’ll fix it in post.

 

[Andrew Saunders]

I’ll look at the things you post all the time because I’m almost guaranteed to learn something. And honestly, separate the SGS from A7X. Yes most people here are fans of A7X because it is run by syn, but syn and papa gates don’t go teaching how to play avenged songs in their lessons, so anything you put out should not be burdened because it doesn’t have anything to do with A7X. You know better than anyone what this community is like, you’re one of the biggest role models here, whatever you want to post won’t receive any hate. And it will surely have 100% support from myself and many many other people.
P.S love the honesty and transparency in this post.

 

[idssdi]

That sucks! That must be really frustrating to only be looked upon as the girl who does great A7x tutorials and not so much your own work. This is also the reason I tried to stay away from making song tutorials and just try to help people when they have problems with things. In the end I think people just gravitate more to things they already know and are a little scared of something new.
As for your own record. I’m kinda torn between I want to donate really bad because you deserve it and can I afford to actually do it I’m very eager to hear your own songs recorded so please share your journey videos here!

 

[idssdi]

So, I just found out I have like €10 on my PayPal which I forgot so I wanted to donate that. Unfortunately you need a credit card to donate and I don’t have one

 

[Jak Angelescu]

I woke up today seeing all of these wonderful comments and it’s the best thing someone can wake up to!
@Ed You couldn’t be more right. And it’s the reason why I refuse to support tribute bands. I remember back in Los Angeles, there were literally like 20 ACDC tribute bands in LA ALONE. And while they paid their rent mimicking someone else’s hard-earned legacy, there were countless of really well-deserving bands that were original, yet no one gave them the time of day. It’s unfortunate that the vast majority of the human race are lemmings that only gravitate towards what’s familiar. Which is in part a reason why albums like The Stage and Hail To The King got such a bad rap. Also, I would ADORE you to do something like this. Even if I just learned how to do my own scratch rhythm tracks on my Sonar program, it would still save me HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of dollars in the studio and future studio endeavors. Also, thank you for the support.
@alan thank you so much for the wonderful, kind words. I truly believe that the A7X tutorials will still go on here as my time sees fit. I kind of forgot to emphasize a little more on my post, that I want to focus my attention more to the students here than the vast majority that don’t care on my social media. Because here, for example, Dominik Graber responded to something on my post that helped SO MUCH. I mean, like, wow. And he had been desperately wanting to learn the Buried Alive intro for so long. So here, when I DO do things like tutorials, pep talks, Milking the Lessons things, people care. They love it, AND they help me in return. So that’s why I want to bring all of my excitement from social media to the school. I love you guys so much! And I hope you DO record one day. Your playing is WONDERFUL!
@steven I keep reading your response and, correct me if I’m wrong, it seems to me that you may be thinking I’m moving on from the school? I hope that’s not the case because I would NEVER EVER “move on” away from here Quite the contrary! I just want to bring more attention from my lackluster social media pages to here, where there’s real support and I’m not just known as “Syster Syn.” I can’t wait to show everyone the videos we’ve been taking! Thank you for your comment, and your support, my dear friend!
@syn You already know everything I could say to you right now. I just want to thank you for believing in me. Your last two comments on my last two posts have truly been life-changing. I already left you a message here that goes into further detail, so I’ll spare the redundancy
@dominik I couldn’t have said your words any better. Your entire comment really sums up why I’m investing more time into this actual school because like I already told Alan, I get what I give out. Sometimes it comes off like people on my social media pages are more desperate for attention than anything else and it’s weighing on me. I actually LOSE followers every time I post something up about my original work! How hurtful is that?! I have had messages from people saying, “So about those other tutorials.” And I will respond, “I don’t have the time because I have to work two extra shifts now to help pay for the album because I’m struggling with donations. But if you’d be willing to donate $5 I’d be happy to send you the three I have.” And literally this is what I get in response, “Oh. I thought they were going to be free. Nevermind. I’ll just go somewhere else.” My tutorials get SO much praise, yet apparently to social media, three full-length tutorials with rhythm work AND solo work aren’t worth $5 collectively although they took a total of 200 hours to learn, teach, record and edit. But here? I would NEVER get that kind of response. First of off, I would NEVER ask for money from anyone here BECAUSE they help me so much, and it’s Syn and PG’s school, not mine. So of course. A student here wants to learn the HTTK intro? You better believe my ass is going to get up, paint my ugly-ass nails black so they don’t look terrible in the camera, throw some decent pj pants on and record it the best I can. You want to learn the Buried Alive intro? You got it. That’s why I love this school. Thank you for your words, Dominik, and your wonderful donation
@andrew Thank you SO much for the advice about separating the SGS from A7X. It gets hard at times because of how influential they are, but it does help in the long run. You know how great it felt for me to get the same amount of feedback on my original solo AND my Nightmare solo? It was great! Here I feel like it’s a lot easier to give myself my own voice. I can’t wait to show the videos of our work. And once again, thank you dearly for the support!
@Ids I agree 1000000%. The reason I kept doing things like tutorials and making them social network public is I thought that it would garner enough attention and respect for me that people WOULD care about my own work. Especially after being told for nearly a year that I should do it. But it just didn’t work. And that’s ok. I know now where to put more of my attention to. Also I would never want anyone to choose between eating or paying a bill and my album. BUT, Dominik donated through PayPal because I do have one of those. So if you ever feel inclined to do so, you can do so that way I look forward to your live stream today, my friend! I Have one question all packed up ready for you!!

 

[Jak Angelescu]

There is one thing though that I Would like to add. I definitely have to agree with Syn. We really do need to see a lot more interaction on the school other than from the same 10 people. I can’t believe that there are over 50,000 students on the school and we are getting videos and responses from the same 10 to 15 people. There is quite an endless wealth of information on the school now and I’m sure some of those students know things that we all don’t know. I understand that everybody has lives and things that they have to tend to. And like Syn said, for every one question you get answered, answer two in return. I’m really glad that he came right out and said this because There are so many students that have wealth and loads of information and they just don’t talk about it. I’m not saying everybody should feel obligated to do it. We are a community and not just a school. And this isn’t a competition, it’s about expanding the knowledge for everyone. I will never forget that some of the biggest things I learned were from the people who thought that they couldn’t teach me anything. Nothing feels better than the reprocity of caring and Help. I don’t think Syn could have said it any better.
And I don’t want to Anyone to think that this is about me. But when I look on the school’s riff page and I will see 10 people liking my video of an Avenged Sevenfold cover but then I only see one person liking another student’s cover of something else. I would like to see people supporting everybody equally. And I know the comments for the riff page are still disabled, but if I can take one minute out of my day to even leave a “good job” on somebody’s Vimeo or YouTube riff, or even write them a personal message, I would like to believe that everybody could do it. I would like to believe that we are all friends and family here. And the biggest priority of the school is to encourage and motivate. And nothing can be more down heartening then when you work so hard to post something up and nobody cares. I don’t want anybody to feel squandered in their efforts. We all need to make sure we voice our care and consideration for everybody. I know some people may not think that it’s a big deal. But there is one student in particular who has posted at least 10 videos and between all the 10 videos they only have about 20 likes on them in total. I haven’t seen that student posting in several months now. The biggest goal of this community like I said was to support each other. And This isn’t directed at anybody, just collectively speaking.

 

[Kim Vandenrijn]

I just tried to donate 10 dollars with my prepaid mastercard from Belgium. But it don’t accept my card..
But I just saw they have enough for a part. So girls.. Make a cool song!!

 

[Jak Angelescu]

Thank you so much Kim! A lot of people from foreign countries for some reason can’t donate. They are having issues with being able to do it. But one other student donated through pay pal. I don’t know if you can do that or if that something that you’d be into. But if that something that you want to try your more than welcome to. I can send you my email address. If not I appreciate the support nontheless! We still need about a $140 for the drummer but the best part is that we can get the studio paid for!

 

[Kim Vandenrijn]

Yes, I can try that. But I will do it later this week. Because the credit card linked to my paypal is blocked. It’s the third time my bank does that when they think there is fraude… but it was me trying to order some cheap stuff on aliexpress X)

 

[Jak Angelescu]

Aren’t banks a pain in the ass? I understand entirely! Mine does that all the time and it’s annoying.

 

[Steven Huth]

It’s been a busy semester when it comes to school. With finals this week, I’m looking to be more active and hopefully can get some original videos on here as well in the next couple of weeks.
Keep up your head up Jak and everyone else who this post applies to. We are all on this together, no matter what the skill level. There are not many communities where someone who just picked up a guitar and wants to start learning is valued as much as someone who has been playing their entire life. That’s one of my favorite parts about this place.

 

[AGA]

I would love to see your journey videos!

 

[Calvin Phillips]

Let me know on Thursday if you still need the other half jak.
I love the enthusiasm you bring here. Helped me in lots of different ways too. Yourr constructive criticism is tops. Im always down to hear a demo of yours.. infact if you gave me a sneak peak id be probably blown away. Id have to say my stuff is 11 years now in the making. Im in the same boat as you. Debating constantly on showing the world my stuff. I mean its there just no one really sees or knows its there. Its scary to think what theyd say. Is it really as good as you feel yourself when you listen to it. Have those moments a lot. Then i hit play…
And it blows me away. Cause theres a reason you make it sound that way. Its meant to be like that. Whether they get it.. does it really matter as long as you get it. Legit have been waiting so patiently for your stuff. And feel free to post journey videos here. Id love to see what you two have in store. Honestly? Fuck the covers.. like anyone could post an a7x cover.. but honestly i skip a lot of those videos to see the improvs or origional ones. I love seeing the solos but to see someone write something of their own.. big or small. My improv videos started what.. 30 45 seconds? Now i feel like i could play all afternoon. Which i usually do. My camera is terrible and the first 2 usually fail Soundwise cause of it.
In closing. I personally think of you as a friend first.. fellow synner 2nd. I think youd be surprised to see im probably not the only one who feels that way here.