Start-ups are like Rock Bands, Orchestras like corporations

"Its very important to realize early in life, whether you are a rock band player or you thrive in an orchestra."

I was recently watching this movie called "Whiplash'. The story is about a guy in a music school who wants to be the best drummer he can be, but is facing a challenge from a demanding and vicious conductor/teacher who feels "good job" are the two most damaging words to an individuals progress.

Anyways, this got me thinking on the level of coordination required in an orchestra vs. a band.

I realized this.

Orchestras like Corporations

• Every person in the orchestra has to be supremely talented to be playing in it, more than most rock artists.
• Each person needs to be supremely coordinated with the other people in it.
• There is a structure, harmony and coordination, every one facing towards the conductor.
• The music largely still remains the compositions of the masters, replayed over and over again, with emphasis on interpretation/movement and excellence of performance than the music itself. 
• New music is created by the composer often the conductor, but follows the rules laid out by the previous masters, and needs to use the entire team.
• Its very hard to become a conductor/composer and takes years of hard work.
• Orchestras don't depend on people, and live beyond a person's life.
• Organized seating, everyone facing the conductor.
• You need to develop taste to appreciate what.
• You will not have personal glory, but a stable life.

Rock Bands like start-ups

• The number of people is very limited when the band is formed.
• The emphasis is always on a new kind of sound or music.
• As the band becomes popular, the artists become rich, and the staff increases multi-fold, but the people playing generally remain same.
• A lot of bands fail.
• When a band succeeds, its because they found a sound that people loved, and they remain a success till they follow people's taste.
• Band players may not be  very talented, or synchronized by rule, but should sound good together. That's the only metric.
• Very people dependent, if the people move out, some can be replaced, but definitely impacts success.
• Universal music, generally doesn't need a lot of education in taste to appreciate the music.
• You can have personal glory, but the chances of that happening are very tough.

The point

Its very important to realize early in life whether you are a rock band player or you thrive in orchestra.

Both are playing music, but have a very different approach to music.

Picture both the scenarios in your head, and find out which picture looks more appealing. Then build the strength required to succeed.

For a Corporation - Warm

Political - Social super intelligence + Political awareness + Idea hunting + Replicate

Neat - Quality over speed. Do it right every time. Neat

Pitch - People feeling work was done = Work was done.

For a Start-up

Execution - Idea + Execution + Common objectives based relationships

Messy - Speed over quality. One can always reiterate. messy.

Measure - Growth & Profitability not achieved = No work was done.