What happens when you go viral

No, this is not another post on my computer breaking down.

I've had a lot of people say, "So what happens?" now that the Corey Vidal/moosebutter video of 'Star Wars' got 1.6 million views in 2 weeks.

Well, Corey and Tim are fielding phone calls from all over--from news outlets like the one in Atlanta that I linked to earlier and CNN, and from media outlets like NBC and MTV, and from lots of private companies, schools, choral conductors, radio shows, and other people who want to cash in on what they see as emerging potential popularity. Everyone wants to cash in on the next big thing, whatever it might be, and they move fast to guess and get it before the 'next big thing' is 'oh, that again?'.

These things seem more exciting than they really are. Tim and I have been navigating this business for almost ten years now, and that was long enough to learn that most things don't come through. Even if you get so far as arriving in MTV's studios at their expense, if they do bother to film you, you most likely end up in a 5-10 second spot (if that) over the credits of some obscure show that plays at dawn on MTV2 (or whatever their alternative channel is called now). And that's IF they show the video at all, which they usually don't.

Shows are never guaranteed until they start. Contracts with companies to produce songs are never set until they're signed and dated, and then there is still only a 50/50 chance they'll use the product you produce. Radio/internet appearances are only sure when they play on the air--and then it's usually shorter than you thought it would be, and reaches fewer people because there just happened to be a fire in the Library of Congress right at that moment and the viewing public is watching our nation's heritage go up in smoke. Just because a choral conductor buys enough sheet music to use it for a choir doesn't mean it will be sung in the concert.

So, yes, it's exciting. I honestly never thought I'd say we were waiting for a call from MTV to nail down details, but we are. But it's more exciting in the flattery of it all than in the surety of a future from this.

I know--people make millions and launch careers from YouTube hits. But many billions more people DON'T--even after a million and a half strangers see their stuff. I guess that's a little cynical, but it sure is easier than the artificial ups and downs that come from believing that every good thing you see is coming your way right now--and that they are all really good (I mean...can you really see four thirty-something Mormon men doing a talent showcase on MTV? Seems incongruous to me...).

So we're excited. And right now Tim is being forced to work for moosebutter more than full-time just answering phone calls and emails, sending cd orders out, updating websites we'd intended to be archival, and getting songs posted for download (sheet music, mostly) that are ready but have never been readily available. There is talk of more videos (one might get made this week!). There are negotiations going on for concerts/school appearances across the nation, contracts to produce songs/videos for companies, interviews, etc. Stuff is happening. It's fun and new. A lot of it is not stuff I can go public with until the companies do, just to be on the safe side.

It might get the rent paid for next month and hold us over until some of the other jobs Tim has been promised start paying. Or it might not. Or it might take off and we'll be forced to never look back, like Toxic Audio did for a few months.

Whatever happens, we've learned to enjoy the ride and take it for what it is, without getting too excited about all the possibilities.

I mean, really--most of you probably don't even remember five years ago when moosebutter was contracted to perform this very song for the official dvd release party of the remastered original "Star Wars". That call came from LucasFilm--and so did the call that canceled the gig two days later.