From a recent entry in my “Oldster’s Back in My Day” diary:

“Do any young musicians ever spend years playing clubs and bars, honing the craft, as it were?”

I suspect not.

Most of the press releases I get about an up-and-coming recording star coming through the area all qualify the artist by describing which reality talent show they were on. It’s as though the ONLY way to become a pop or country sensation is to make it fairly far along in “American Idol” or “America’s Got Talent” or “The Voice.”

Here, I’ll make up an example of what I’m talking about, press release-wise:

“Multi-platinum country singer Gabby Barrett, who finished third in the 16th season of ‘American Idol,’ appears Saturday in the Great Cedar Showroom at Foxwoods.”

Wait! That’s a REAL press release. Barrett DID finish third in season 16 of “AI,” and she WILL be at Foxwoods Saturday! So, ah, there.

Gabby Barrett, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Great Cedar Showroom, Foxwoods; $80-$95; foxwoods.com.