The Compliment That Wasn’t

The Kings Letter

There’s a brutal kind of honesty in the music world. If you’ve been in an orchestra, you know exactly what I mean.

The other day, a conductor I work with turned to the viola section and said, “That was beautifully played.” A rare moment of praise for him. But before anyone could bask in the compliment, he followed up with:

“…not that it matters. There’s barely anything to play anyway.”

Ouch.

It was one of those moments that was half-joke, half-truth. The viola section laughed, but you could tell that somewhere deep down, it stung. Because here’s the thing: in an orchestra, some instruments will always get more attention. More solos. More glory. And that’s just how it is.

But what separates great musicians from average ones is how they respond to that reality.

The Hard Truth:

No one is going to hand you importance. You either create it, or you get left in the background.

What To Do About It:

1. Own your role—but elevate it. If you play the viola, don’t just be “part of the section.” Be the best damn violist in the room. If you run a business, don’t just blend in. Stand out with a brand and website that demand attention. (I build those, by the way: KingsMedia)

2. Turn invisibility into leverage. The best people aren’t the loudest. They’re the ones who make an impact where no one expects it. A great section player changes the energy of an orchestra. A well designed website quietly turns visitors into customers. Power isn’t always obvious, but it’s there.

3. Refuse to be overlooked. You can accept the role you’re given, or you can rewrite it. If you’re a musician, build your presence, record, perform—create something that makes people take notice. If you want to improve, stop searching blindly and get structured practice material—like the sheet music and exercises I publish every week.

Your Challenge:

Where are you currently playing small? Where are you waiting to be noticed instead of making yourself undeniable?

Reply and tell me one thing you’ll do this week to step up.

Because in the end, the people who matter aren’t waiting for permission.

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Take care,

Mislav Brajković

KingsString