We all know or are familiar with an individual that feels a sense of entitlement. In many cases, there is validity to feel entitled. After all, a person works hard, and invests much time, money, and resources to become accomplished. You may feel compelled to expect certain privileges that others are not accustomed to receiving. If the world we lived in was fair and consistent, that a sense of entitlement would be realistic for those that are deserving.
The beginning statement refers to those that “think” they deserve more than others, even when they aren’t better than others. It is interesting to discover where this sense of entitlement comes from? There is a possibility, that they are doing all that they can, and the value of their hard work should be acknowledged in some way.
Here is an example of someone that feels entitled:
Maybe it's that person who tried to cut in front of you at the coffee shop. Perhaps it was someone who demanded to be seated before you at a busy restaurant without a reservation. Simply put, people with a sense of entitlement think the rules don't apply to them. In the industry that we work in, there are quite a few artists that feel that they are entitled, and that the rules for pursuing success doesn’t apply to them. Often, this may lead to high expectations for those they work with, or even from the fans they engage with. I haven’t met one artist, that doesn’t have to play by the same rules as others. Everyone must pull their own weight. Especially those with a limited potential for growth. When all is said and done, certain awards and accolades should only be expected, after you have become successful. While there are certain levels of success, this term is generally used with those that that have exceeded their talent and growth potential.
We brought in Jaron Gulino to answer some questions regarding this topic. He has a wealth of experience and reputation within the music industry. Therefore, he is the right fit for this topic.
New Jersey’s own Jaron Gulino brings the East Coast attitude and energy to the stage and to his music. He began playing bass at the age of 15. Through the early years he cut his teeth playing thrash and death metal, touring the states DIY style. While fronting his own band On Top, and stepping into Philly favorites Mach22, he achieved just about everything possible at the local and regional level before taking the next logical step forward. Touring gigs with Australian rock band Dellacoma would eventually lead to Jaron joining post-grunge rock band Tantric. During his tenure with the band he managed to consistently juggle multiple bands and projects, most notably performing with 80’s rock band Heavens Edge and teaming up with Stone Sour’s Josh Rand in The L.I.F.E. Project. After six years of heavy touring, chart-topping success, and multiple releases with Tantric, Gulino found a home with legendary guitarist George Lynch in Lynch Mob. Jaron is featured on over 25 official releases, including the latest Heavens Edge comeback record “Get It Right”, as well as the highly anticipated Lynch Mob release “Babylon” slated for an October release.
GT: Hi Jaron. Thank you for joining us. This topic is opinion based. So, there are no right or wrong answers. Do they have to prove themselves within a given skill set to take on a feeling or sense of entitlement?
Jaron: I don’t really believe in the idea of entitlement. People work hard to succeed and gain privileges. You either earn it, or you don’t. There can be a lot of grey area on this topic, much of which is based on each individual personality or perspective. I personally like to keep my head down and work. If that results in some sort of reward or special treatment, then great! I don’t like to expect anything, that way I’m never disappointed.
GT: When should an artist start to expect a certain type of treatment that often surpasses their achievements?
Jaron: I don’t think an artist should ever expect anything unless it’s premeditated. If you are a mega-celebrity, you may be used to doing things a certain way because of people constantly holding you to a high regard or standard. People like this may cause a scene while in public due to their popularity. In that sort of case you often see restaurants or businesses sneaking them in the back doors, or giving away free merchandise in exchange for exposure. Some people may get used to that sort of treatment after a while, which is where entitlement may be spawned from or start coming into focus but I don’t think that gives them the right to expect it.
GT: Normally, a sense of entitlement gives an artist an overwhelming view of themselves and expectations from others. Do you think this sets an artist up for failure?
Jaron: That sounds like more of a personal battle within the individual. Everyone’s process is a unique experience and perspective plays a big part in that. I see entitlement and expectations as some sort of mind game. It’s great to have personal goals and expectations, but when you start projecting that into other people’s lives, it may interfere or rub someone the wrong way. Everyone is on their own journey, you can’t expect others to cater to your every need. I imagine that sort of mentality would hinder the creative process or be a distraction for an artist.
GT: There are many artists that I believe should have a sense of entitlement. They truly deserve everything that they have worked for and should expect certain privileges that others are not accustomed to receiving. I believe you are an artist that qualifies. How do you view your level of deservedness?
Jaron: That’s kind of you to say. I don’t see myself that way. I try to stay in my lane and mind my own business. I don’t feel that I necessarily deserve anything special. Hand me a bass and a soda, and I’m in heaven. I love to challenge myself and try new things, but I never expect anything. I’m just happy to play with incredible musicians and leave my mark on the history of some amazing bands.
GT: I appreciate your candid responses to this topic. It isn’t easy to take on a controversial topic. However, it’s these types of questions that differentiate your character from others.
GT: Now, I would like to talk about your accomplishments as an artist. What would you say is your biggest achievement to date and why?
Jaron: I feel my biggest achievement is my lifestyle. I get to travel the world, playing music I love, while getting to see people and visit friends from all over. From every song I ever wrote as a young kid, to every recording and stage I’ve performed on, it all led me here; to a life in the music industry, full of various record releases, tour experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.
GT: Do you believe there is more for you to accomplish in your music career?
Jaron: I have always strived for more. I’ve gotten way further in this industry than I ever imagined, which to me can only mean the sky is the limit. I’m excited to see where the future leads.
GT: Are there other genres of music that inspire you?
Jaron: I’m very open to different genres and styles of music. I’m a rocker at heart but I’ve always been into old school funk and R&B. From a very young age, James Brown was as big of an influence on me as anyone in the rock world.
GT: Who were some of your favorite artists before becoming an artist? Who do you still follow or look up to?
Jaron: I’m just as big of a fan as I was before I started playing. I still try to follow almost everyone that I like. As far as looking up to people, there are a few that stand out. My main guys that have really molded my mindset within my career are George Lynch, Tony Iommi and Glenn Hughes, to name a few. Guys like this have had 50+ year careers. All with extreme ups and downs, but the thing that always clicked with me was their work ethic. It didn’t matter what point of their career they were at, they just kept working straight through. People like this dedicate their lives to their craft. It radiates off of them. Their passion to perform and create is unrivaled. Looking back on the bodies of work that these guys have produced over the years is mind blowing. I hope to one day have a long resume like that.
GT: What are some of your goals an artist, and do you have a timeline for reaching them?
Jaron: When I was first starting out, my main goal was to perform with friends and to release original music. Once I accomplished that, my goals became things like playing the best venues in town, or sharing the stage with some of my favorite bands. After achieving these things, my goals became more focused on wanting to tour professionally. Now, with years on the road under my belt, my goals are based on happiness and fulfillment. Touring is fun and always an adventure, but being able to do it in a positive, healthy environment with people who are happy to be there is the golden ticket for me. Loving the music that I get to perform and feeling the camaraderie within the band every night, always pushing the boundaries and exploring new challenges, has been my happy place recently. I suppose I have reached many of the goals that I’ve always dreamt of, so I’m curious to see what lies ahead.
GT: Do you have other family members that are thriving in the music industry as well?
Jaron: My dad played a bit back in the 70’s with friends, but I am the only one in my family that has pursued music as a career.
GT: What type or guitar brand do you normally perform with, and why?
Jaron: I love playing all sorts of brands and trying new things. My main basses are usually precision style builds. I have quite a few in my collection made by Fender, Nash, Hoxey, Diamond and more. I’ve always enjoyed the old school style basses, as I’ve watched many of my heroes play the same kind. The more beat up, the better!
GT: I know that you have worked with Hoxey Guitars. What was unique about them to you, and why perform with aluminum?
Jaron: Honestly, I was skeptical at first. I had never played anything other than the standard wooden builds before. I ended up going down to their headquarters in Florida after getting an invite from Kam Hoxey. Once I started playing their aluminum neck P Bass model, I simply fell in love with it. Tonally, the bass sounded great as is, unplugged. Once I was able to take it for a spin on my own rig, I was blown away. I love the deepness that their aluminum elements add. I was excited to add something different to my arsenal. I ended up doing a custom build with them as well, featuring my dad’s old P Bass body and miscellaneous parts. Both of my Hoxey basses play and sound fantastic. I highly recommend giving them a try!
GT: What does your stage plot normally consist of, on any given night? Does it change depending upon the venue?
Jaron: My rig doesn’t change depending on the venue, but more so depending on the type of tour or travel situation. My set up starts with a Peterson Strobe Tuner, which runs into an Ampeg SGT-DI and out. Here is where things vary.
For fly dates that provide backline, I usually bring my Orange Bass Terror head as a backup and request the Orange AD200 as my main choice. Often these are hard to get through backline companies and an Ampeg SVT is provided as a comparable default. I run the pedal setup into one of the heads, and out through a Radial Cab Link box to help power two SVT 8x10 cabs.
For bigger tours or events where I can bring my own full setup, I run the same style pedal configuration into a Morley ABY splitter. From there I feed one line into my Orange AD200 and out through an Ampeg AV 8x10. The other line runs into an SVT II PRO and out through another SVT AV 8x10. I love the way the two heads blend together for a massive sound. Over the years I have sometimes added in my old 60’s Fender Bassman head and various SansAmp models for different tones. I also sometimes run a Sennheiser wireless unit when needed.
I send a DI line out of the SGT-DI and mic up the cab that the Orange is running through with a Shure B52 for low end. I prefer a 60/40 blend of mic/DI for my monitors. I’m never picky about vocal microphones, but the last piece of my plot would be having a blower fan up front by the monitors. It’s a necessity, I sweat a lot!
GT: Where can you normally be heard performing? Is there any specific dates or venues that you would like to promote?
Jaron: Between all of the different projects I have going on at any given time, I’m always on the road. This year my main touring gig is with Lynch Mob, with Heavens Edge dates scattered throughout the year. Check out my social media pages for show updates and schedules.
GT: It is awesome to have you interview for Guitar Thrills Magazine. We would like to have you back again soon. How does that sound?
Jaron: Thanks for having me. It’s been an honor discussing these topics with you. I am grateful for Guitar Thrills support and interest in my career. I’d be more than happy to do this again, anytime!
GT: Excellent. We look forward to it.
