Keep The Beat Keep The Respect: Music Scene Rhythm Meets Real Life Truth!

 Waking up this morning, I felt that quiet rush of gratitude humming through me — another sunrise, another shot to do what I love. I cracked open the inbox, and there they were: four assignments lined up like a blessing disguised as hustle. Instead of shaking my head, I nodded. Thankful to have the work, thankful to still be part of the noise and the narrative.

I skim down the AP wire, slide through the UPI feed, then wander into Facebook land like stepping into a familiar neon-lit alley. The day looks solid, steady, full of possibility. And yeah, there’s always a “but” lurking somewhere — but today I’m meeting it with gratitude instead of grit. It’s time to speak my peace!

There’s a virus going around that’s called Disrespect, and you can feel it creeping around in our local Las Vegas music community if you listen close enough. Out here, where amps buzz, voices shine, and dreams get tested under the neon heat, respect is the one thing that keeps people standing tall. 

The world’s changed, Vegas has changed, and the scene I’m proud to be part of has shifted right along with it! But the need to treat people right never goes out of style. As someone who cares and as a journalist who actually pays attention, I feel it’s my responsibility to say it straight: Respect is the baseline, the beat we all need to stay in time with!

The fix is actually pretty simple. 

"Treat others how you want to be treated"

For those of you that Respect your Creator, it's called the Golden Rule.

Gary England

The Purists Slash Haters Are Mad At The Wrong Machine: You’ve Been Using AI for Years Congrats!

 Man, there are a whole lot of unhappy folks out there. Half of them act like time marching forward is some kind of personal insult. Technology keeps dragging the world ahead whether anyone likes it or not — the real mystery is where it’s taking us.

I’ve been doing pop art since that Dee Snider piece blew up back in 2019 — that’s the first one I can officially document. (Went viral overnight)

Before that, I was pitching pop‑art concepts to the NFL. They politely told me the world wasn’t ready for my pigskin flavor. Funny thing: the very next year they rolled out artwork that looked suspiciously familiar. Coincidence? Sure… if you believe in fairy tales.

Now I’m catching flak because my style leans into AI. I keep telling people I’m just a Photoshop lifer. I was out here doing my thing long before the AI‑haters even existed. And honestly — if you haters knew you’ve been using artificial intelligence way before “AI” became a headline, maybe you’d be a happier camper!

 Everyday AI people used long before they realized it.

Spellcheck — Every time Word or Gmail fixed your typo, that was early AI quietly cleaning up your mess.

Autocomplete — Your phone finishing your sentence wasn’t magic; it was predictive language modeling.

Search engines — Google’s ranking, suggestions, and “Did you mean…?” have used machine learning for decades.

Photo filters — Face smoothing, red‑eye removal, auto‑contrast — all powered by early computer vision.

GPS navigation — Rerouting, traffic prediction, ETA calculation — that’s AI crunching real‑time data.

Fraud detection — Banks flagging suspicious charges? Machine learning.

Streaming recommendations — Netflix, Spotify, YouTube — all AI deciding what you “might like next.”

Voice assistants — Siri and Alexa didn’t just wake up one day; they’re built on decades of speech recognition AI.

Digital cameras — Autofocus, face detection, scene optimization — all early AI baked into your pocket.

So yeah — people have been swimming in AI for years without even noticing. Meanwhile, I was grinding in Photoshop before half you critics even knew what a layer mask was.

What’s a photo dude supposed to do — stop evolving just to make you Haters feel safe?

And haters — the “purists” — if you need something to be mad at, go hate on electric cars or cars without drivers. I might even join you on that! But hating on me for using tools I've used for years? That’s just ridiculous!

Gary England

The Scene That Eats Its Own: Where Losers Come To Be Found And Winners Come And Get Lost!

Yesterday an old friend — one of the ink‑stained lifers I came up with in the newspaper trenches — dropped a surprise in my inbox. He said that I needed to see this! A clip from one of my first big assignments after I rolled into Las Vegas back in ’99. I was still ghosting back then, hiding behind other people’s bylines, so I can only legally spill a sliver of what that article said. But man… what a memory.

I got thrown straight into the fire the minute my boots hit the neon. No warm‑up act, no easing into the Vegas madness. One of the biggest names in showbiz — can’t say who because, well, ghost‑writer rules — sat across from me and kicked off the interview by saying he’d read my sports and entertainment stuff. Said my style would shake things up. Then he leaned back, gave me that showbiz half‑smirk, and dropped a line that’s been rattling around my skull for almost three decades:

“Vegas is where losers come to be found, and winners come and get lost.”

I didn’t know it then, but that quote would hit me harder 27 years later than it did that afternoon.

From ’99 to around 2020, my journalistic life felt pretty normal — or at least as normal as a writer’s life in Sin City can be. But the deeper I got into the scene, the more the ground started shifting under my feet. By last year (2025), it felt like I’d stepped straight into the Twilight Zone. Not what I signed up for, not by a long shot.

The higher‑up talent doesn’t need to hear this, and the folks still clawing their way up the food chain toward the spotlights sure as hell don’t want to hear it. But I’ve spent decades building up Las Vegas with my words — painting it as this friendly, electric, all‑for‑one carnival of neon dreams. A place where everyone was pulling the same rope, sweating for the same spotlight.

What the hell was I thinking?

The world’s gone sideways, and of course Vegas would too. This city doesn’t dodge the crazy — it amplifies it, turns it up to eleven, and blasts it through a busted speaker at 3 a.m. on Fremont.

For years I tried to convince myself — and everyone reading me — that Vegas was a warm, glitter‑dusted community. That the scene was a brotherhood, a sisterhood, a neon‑lit family. But the higher‑ups already know better, and the up‑and‑comers don’t want the truth messing with their climb.

Vegas isn’t a team sport. Vegas is a survival gig!

Gary England

Why Toxic Know Nothing Armchair Critics Attack Talented Musicians And Performers On Social Media

WARNING: RANT ALERT!

 Research Provided By: 

American Psychological Association / Professional Services & Consulting

I get tired of seeing know-nothing armchair critics post bad things about my very talented musician friends, and my friends who are in the show business world on social media platforms!

Here are my thoughts, and the thoughts from psychology professionals and doctors about this abnormal behavior.

Every musician who’s ever posted a killer clip, a glowing review, or a packed‑house photo knows the pattern: the better the performance, the louder the know‑nothing critics get. These aren’t industry pros, fellow musicians, or even informed fans. They’re armchair commentators who contribute nothing yet feel compelled to tear down people who are actually doing the work really well!

So why do they do it? The answer is a mix of psychology, insecurity, and the strange incentives of social media.

🎭 1. Excellence Exposes Insecurity

Great performers trigger something uncomfortable in people who’ve never taken a risk, never stepped on a stage, and never put their talent on display. When someone sees a musician thriving, it highlights their own lack of achievement. Instead of being inspired, they lash out.

Criticism becomes a shield — a way to pretend they’re above the thing they’re actually afraid to try.

📱 2. Social Media Rewards Negativity

Platforms amplify comments that spark reactions, and negativity spreads faster than praise. Armchair critics know this instinctively. A snarky jab or dismissive comment gets attention, replies, and engagement.

For someone who has no real voice or audience, stirring up conflict becomes their only way to feel relevant.

🪞 3. They Mistake Opinion for Expertise

The internet has blurred the line between having a thought and having knowledge. Many critics genuinely believe their uninformed opinion carries the same weight as years of training, rehearsal, and live performance experience.

They don’t understand the craft — but they’re convinced they do.

🎤 4. They Want the Power Without the Work

Performers earn their spotlight through sweat, discipline, and vulnerability. Critics want the feeling of authority without any of the responsibility. Commenting is easy. Creating is hard.

Tearing down someone else’s work gives them a temporary illusion of superiority.

🧩 5. They Don’t See the Human Being Behind the Art

Distance makes cruelty easier. When a musician is just a face on a screen, critics forget they’re talking to a real person with real effort behind every note. The lack of empathy fuels comments they would never say in person to their face!

⭐ The Truth: Their Comments Say Nothing About the Performer

Toxic know-nothing critics don’t reveal flaws in the artist — they reveal flaws in themselves. Great performers keep growing, keep playing, keep winning crowds. Armchair critics stay exactly where they are: on the sidelines, shouting into the void.

The best musicians know this: the louder the critics get, the more your work is reaching people. And nothing frustrates a toxic know-nothing commenter more than seeing an artist succeed anyway.

{My Take}

In the end, toxic know-nothing armchair critics aren’t a threat to real talent — they’re background noise. Great performers keep creating, keep improving, and keep winning over real fans, while the know‑nothings stay stuck in the comment section, shouting into the void. The smartest artists understand this simple truth: criticism from the unqualified is just proof that your work is reaching people who could never do what you do. Let them talk — you’ve got a stage to own!

Gary England

Vegas Vibes And Venom: Why Are There Haters In The Local Las Vegas Music Scene

 If there's one thing about the local music scene in Las Vegas that gets under my skin, it's the jealousy and the haters that seem to hang around. Just in the last few days, while surfing on Facebook, I read three very discouraging posts about local musicians written by other local musicians. That's a big No-No in my book! It's an everyday occurrence. It's time that this situation should be addressed!

In the heart of Las Vegas, where neon lights meet gritty guitar riffs and club stages pulse with live energy, the local music scene is as vibrant as it is competitive, but beneath the surface of awesome talent and well-targeted ambition lies a surprising undercurrent of hate. Whether it’s jealousy, clashing egos, or the struggle for recognition in a crowded field, many musicians find that the biggest challenge isn’t making it big; it’s surviving the shade thrown from their own backyard.

The Las Vegas local music scene, like many other tight-knit creative communities, can sometimes feel overrun with “haters.” Here are a few reasons why this may be happening.

High Competition, Limited Opportunities

Vegas is oversaturated with talent—musicians, tribute bands, and DJs all vying for the same limited stages, especially on the Strip and in key off-Strip venues. This scarcity can foster resentment among peers.

Ego, Insecurity, and Image Battles

In a city where image and perception are everything, egos can be fragile. Musicians often compare themselves to others, leading to:

Backhanded compliments.

Public (or private) criticism.

Undermining others’ achievements to make themselves feel more relevant.

Clickiness and Local Politics

The Vegas music scene can feel like high school, cliques dominate. Booking agents, bar managers, and band members tend to favor “their people,” creating a divide between the "in crowd" and the outsiders.

Newcomers may feel frozen out.

Veterans may dismiss fresh talent.

Social Media Amplifies Negativity

Las Vegas musicians often promote on Facebook and Instagram, where gossip, vague-posting, and passive-aggressive drama thrive. A single bitter comment can turn into a wildfire of shade and snark.

Jealousy of Success in a Small Pond

When one local act starts pulling big crowds, opening for national tours, or landing casino contracts, it often sparks envy instead of support, because others view that success as something they deserve.

Everyone Knows Everyone

Vegas is a transient, yet weirdly small city. Burn one bridge, and word gets around fast. Sometimes what seems like "hate" is actually the result of:

Past personal drama.

Professional falling outs.

Bruised reputations that never got repaired.

{My Take}

Despite all the conflicts, Vegas is full of passionate, hardworking, and loyal music fans and musicians who do lift each other up. But in a scene this intense, the hate tends to echo louder than the applause, unless you actively choose to support, collaborate, and stay out of the drama. To quote the old saying. United We Stand, Divided We Fall ..

GE

Why Are There So Many Haters In This World Especially In The Music Industry?

 Life of a writer.

The first thing I do each morning is check my Associated Press and United Press International news feeds. Then, I read what's going on with my friends on Facebook. Next, I do my ghostwriting for the two companies that I write for. Last but not least, it's time for me to write my blog.

While looking at Facebook this morning. The 1st post to catch my eye was a post about haters in the music Industry. Even I as a writer have experienced haters.

Haters exist everywhere, but the music industry seems to amplify the haters!

Here are my thoughts about why there are so many haters in the music industry.

Music is deeply personal, and tastes vary wildly. What one person loves, another might despise. This leads to strong opinions, sometimes expressed negatively. In my fifty-five years as a music and entertainment journalist, I've found that bands that perform their own original music seem to be singled out more by haters. I remember when the Beatles hit the American Music Scene. Some people liked them, some people did not. Look at how they changed the music industry!

The music industry is highly competitive, and success can breed resentment. Musicians, critics, or fans who feel overlooked might lash out at those who make it big.

Some people believe in a “right” way to make or enjoy music. If an artist breaks norms or achieves mainstream success, purists might reject them.

Social media gives people an easy way to criticize others without consequences. Trolls enjoy stirring up negativity for attention. There's a lot of this going on!

Music fans often form strong attachments to artists, leading to conflicts with rival fanbases. This happens in all genres, from rock to hip-hop to pop.

When artists change their look or sound, or bands change their members. Some fans feel betrayed and turn into critics. Think of how people reacted when Bob Dylan went electric or Metallica cut their hair.

If an artist or a band is constantly in the spotlight, people can get tired of hearing about them and react with negativity.

{My Take}

To my friends in the music biz.

At the end of the day, haters are only voicing their opinion. 

The best approach? 

Keep making the music you love and enjoy, and let the negativity roll off. 

Life and music goes on!

GE