Hello dear readers,
I would say Germany is a complex country to live in. On one side you have the most accepting people you will ever meet and on the other side are the ones that are full happiness when you fail at something.
I myself can just talk from experience here.
I want to be a musician, it is my dream and I would do everything for it. Germany has given me a lot of support considering my artistic journey. When I for example go on an open stage and people see I’m scared, they give me the most comforting smile and it gives me a lot of security. Most of the times I have never even met this person but it just gives me so much security just knowing someone gives you the sign everything is ok.
Sometimes after I perform, these same exact people go to me and tell me how great I was on stage and how they were touched by my songs and it touches me to know that I effect someone on an emotional level with my music.
There is also another side. Sometimes you have the most disgusting people who love to see you cry and talk bad about you behind your back. They want to see you fail and will never admit that you are talented because they love to put you down. They try to badmouth your music and always laugh when you mention your dreams. And even though you try to deal with it, it’s annoying and sometimes you aren’t that strong and just are hurt by what they do. In Germany it has become a common thing that people tell you that you have to be “above” other people and that they only are mean to you because they fell insecure. When people say this, it doesn’t really help. Like my feelings are still hurt and I also feel insecure but I don’t put other people down because of that and I don’t think just because I’m insecure about something gives me the permission to put other people down. This is for me a real problem in German society. This mindset to just deal with it and not actively so something about a problem. A problem doesn’t go away just because you ignore it, but sometimes I feel Germans have exactly that mindset.
Also another point that annoys me that people tell you to follow your dreams but then say things like: “Oh, but becoming a musician is hard, you probably are not going to get employed somewhere.” What about this is supposed to motivate me to follow my dreams? It doesn’t make sense. Can’t people just decide if they want to be supportive or not and not change it when it fits them?
Another great thing is when you get discouraged to actually do something to fulfill your dream and then get to hear things like: “But you could embarrass yourself when you do something wrong in front of so many people”. or just straight up tell you don’t have any talent so you don’t even have to try. Like where is that supportive in any way???
Also you barely have any opportunities to really pursue music. We don’t have any cities with a big aspect in music. I know there is Berlin, but it isn’t really like London or Los Angeles.
Sometimes I wish there would be more chances more opportunities to just show yourself in the world and you have no opportunity at your hand and that is just annoying.
As a whole I would actually say that Germany is place where you can really “play it safe” considering music. Because no matter if you have a lot of success or not, you have a security net that will catch you up.
Anastasia Schmidtheisler, born in Hamburg, Germany, is 18 years old and currently lives in Göttingen. Göttingen, as a city known for its university, is also a meeting place for creative people. She is striving to become a musician one day and tell her stories of emotional rollercoasters through her songs. Living in Germany, she faces many struggles and challenges but also all lot successful moments, which all influence her as work as a musician.
"Rheinberger Chamber Music Stage, Severance Hall, Cleveland, OH" by Matt Shiffler Photography is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
