- you are 100% certain that you will make it big tomorrow

- all record companies and music publishers are like black holes for your CDs. They get in but no one ever hears from them again

- there are more people on the stage than in the audience during your shows

- nobody's ever heard of you

- you are the composer, play all instruments, record, mix, master, create the artwork and physically make the CD for your next release

- you are 100% unsolicited

- you always think that music on the radio sucks when compared to yours

- you wear blue jeans and a black shirt and sneakers

- most of your audience at open mics are other open mic performers

- you have quit with your music aspirations a zillion times, and then started over again

- you don't get enough sleep

- you definitely have a real job which pays for your "music career"

- you placed a few songs in some independent student films ... that didn't go anywhere

- when you ask for someone's opinion of your music, they always say "It's great!"

- your friends come to your shows - once

- you intern at a music company

- you are a waiter/waitress

- you live in LA and you have to pay to play

- you dress up like a rock star and go to the Rainbow

- you are working on your next album (you have been for the past four years)

- you have a gig coming up, and you are passing out 4"x5" fliers to everyone

- music companies want nothing to do with you

- people employed at music companies want nothing to do with you

- friends and relatives of people employed at music companies want nothing to do with you

- you give a CD to your hairdresser whose sister's ex-boyfriend's mother-in-law's neighbor works with "something in music" with hopes of making it big

- you have never actually released a CD

- you have a website that you last updated two and a half years ago

- no one understands "your art"

- you are thinking of going country

- when you post the "you know you are an independent musician" list to attract people to your web site

- you have already spent the money that you will make after reaching number one on the charts

- you just plain and simply love music and being a musician

- you are just about to sign a record deal

- you were once "just about to sign a record deal"

- you can't sing really well

- because you are not dependent on anyone

- you made a mistake when recording your CD and you hope that no one notices

- you are begging people to download your music from Kazaa

- you are afraid that someone will steal your music

- your style is out of style

- you're surprised that not everyone has heard of you after you played that pub 2 years ago.

- you started playing music to impress a girl (or guy)

- your first instruments were either violin, accordion, flute or piano ... all results of your parents aspirations

- the mailing list on your web site has seven members

- you've tried out for Idol

- your guitar string just broke