It’s not Like it Used to be.
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Al Hamilton discusses some differences in the game that he has seen since he played in the NHL in the article “Bigger, Faster, Stronger, and Heavier”
http://www.faceoff.com/story.html?id=2ec313c2-095b-4562-90ad-9b4865a1af7f&p=1
“For Hamilton, staggering NHL salaries are motivating today’s players to train harder and longer. He said his starting salary when he turned pro back in the 1960s was $13,000, which hockey players can now earn in a single shift.
“There is incentive,” he said. “It’s a huge industry now of parents spending thousands and thousands of dollars on training for their kids.
“In our day, we went out in the summer to play baseball.”
I couldn’t find the exact numbers online but according to Wikipedia – salaries have increased from the $1 million range to the $10-11 million dollar range for top performers (1990 – 2010). Gretzky doesn’t even rate in the top 20 paid players.
It is insane how much players can make now – even the ‘just your average’ player can make over a million a year.
Things definitely are not the same.
- Helmets are mandatory – it was originally frowned upon to wear a helmet and players were even considered sissies for doing so -Hell, goalies used to wear nothing on their heads!
- I miss seeing the bench clearing brawls Edmonton Oilers had with the Calgary Flames. You were almost guaranteed one per game.
- Star players were rarely traded and would play a whole career with just one team. Now players sign contracts that last only a few years to be able to negotiate higher wages elsewhere.
- The Canadian dollar used to be at a disadvantage to the U.S. dollar – now they are on par.
- And yes, the Edmonton Oilers used to be a shoe in to make the playoffs, alas not so much these days.
Therefore, what you grew up with no longer applies, what you think to be true is most likely false!
In the music business bands were signing record deals with a million dollar signing bonus (free money!), plus a large advance to record, produce, manufacture and promote the album. Now labels love it when the artist already has finished product ready to go. Anyone remember cassettes? When is the last time you listened to one?
Running a band means looking at what the market is like now – not then, make decisions based on what are the facts now – not when you were growing up. Comparisons made to childhood idols can be the death of any band.
I have heard and argued with many bands on this exact point. When I hear them lamenting on Robert Plant, Bob Dylan, David Bowie,Neil Young, Frank Zappa, …. I ask them to name the modern day equivalent. They can’t. Sure artists may sound similar but the business aspect is different.
So, in short, plan your success around what is going on in today’s market, try to predict what is going to be the next business model and prepare yourself.
