This is personal but it is the last thing herc said to me.
I want to post it so I will never lose it and so others can see what a great guy he was.
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fededesigns (120)
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Dear andrewsfury,
Andrew,
2013 was a hard year for everyone, including me.
I just got back last night from a long emotional week with family. I buried my father last Wednesday.
I've seen your swirls and work. You do really nice work. Carve your own path and don't worry about what everyone else does. Find something you're passionate about that hasn't been done a million times. The whole "Vai" thing has been so overdone that no one even appreciates it anymore...the market for the niche thing is super-saturated.
I've got two kids and a wife to support and the economy is C-R-A-P. I feel your pain and frustration....people just don't have extra money to spend.
I wish I could help more. The one piece of advice I can give you is to follow your gut / intuition, not others'. I followed my own intuition to get where I am. And I'm always learning and discovering new things.
Hang in there....and remember, carve your own path (locally if possible so they can see your work in person).
Best to you and your family,
Herc