It’s been a long road. You’ve done a lot to promote your music. You’ve smiled and schmoozed with that guy who knows a guy who knows a guy who knows that one record producer, you’ve held shows in dark rooms until the early hours of the morning, you’ve updated your band page every week for two years in order to grow that loyal local fan base. And now, you’ve finally started to make it.

You’re probably feeling on top of the world.

You probably couldn’t imagine anything better.

And then, you bring your significant other to a show.

Just wait, you shout excitedly at him or her, over the blaring music of your opening act, you’ll love it, I know you will.

Fifteen minutes later, you’re two sets in and he or she is two steps out.

And suddenly you realize: your significant other doesn’t like your music. At first, you might think, how could this be? He or she seemed so normal and cool! But then you start to wonder. After years of working hard to rise to the top, after years of asking yourself day in and day out “How on earth can I successfully promote my music?” just where exactly does that leave your relationship?

Don’t ask me, but I guess you’re probably standing at quite the musical crossroads right about now. In the battle between your first love and your current love – well, who wins?

Here’s the thing. If you think your significant other can grin and bear it, sit through those shows, give you snippets of advice, support you all the time, and maybe even help you update that band page of yours, there may be no real battle after all. But if staying with Ms. or Mr. Not-the-best-taste means sacrificing your dedication to promote your music…it might be time to call it quits.

After all, your guitar has always understood you so much better, hasn’t it?