General Music Chat

OK, I'm here for a little constructive criticism, but please be gentle. My ego's a little fragile after years of trying to find a band to no avail. I know I'm very country and that doesn't seem to be the going thing right now. But I've posted thousands of ads on hundreds of websites. Created my own website. Went out and took photos of myself, which should be left to the more egotistical folks. Produced many many recordings. What is it about me that turns bands off? I'd like to think I have more talent than the average vocalist.

My husband thinks that band members might be concerned about how their wives/girlfriends would react to having me join the band. But that's really the only thing we can can come up with.

I don't mind doing the bar thing if it pays. But the thought of hanging out at a bar and becoming a psuedo-groupie to try to convince a band to give me a shot just doesn't do much for me. How do I get myself out there?

Yeah, I can see it would be a lil difficult for you, more than for a guy what looks like me...LOL

If I were you, I'd approach some musicians at open mics with your hubby in tow, & offer to pay them for some recording, if you can afford to do it. The reason I'd do this is cuz the karaoke recordings on your profile are bound to put some musos off. (Not that they're all that bad, mind you! It's just the thought of karaoke that does it.)

Do you have any stage experience? Your profile doesn't mention it.

Have you looked at all the options out there, in your search? Probably not. Talk to the following ppl, while keeping your o/l ads active (don't forget to ANSWER those who respond, even if they aren't what you seek, cuz they can sometimes lead to referrals to the ppl you DO seek):

music stores, music teachers, instrument repair shops, music schools, neighborhood theater groups, churches, existing bands also might be interested in using you for back up vocals, sometimes, so keep going to where the music is, & talk to the musicians.

Country may not be the most appreciated style in here, but it is well-represented, to be sure. There are lots of pickers out there, but not that many with the dedication needed to be able to work with them. Frankly, I think everyone's chances are a bit slim, but with some creative searching & persistence, you can find what you seek.

Best of luck, welcome to the forum, & don't feed the good Captain.

You have some really GREAT vocals going on there Merilee. Great tracks and some good playful singing.
Sad thing is you deserve to be in the top ten country female country vocal category. Sad thing is you are right, it is a crowded field.
Only thing I could suggest is find some way to separate yourself from all the rest.
If you want to see exactly what I mean, check out Chaeya, unique.
You really are a good singer, Thanks for putting those tracks. If I was doing country I would want you singing in my band!

Don't feed the Captain.

One more thing - put yourself out there for some studio work. It pays pretty good, & it also gets your name out there. So check around for local recording studios. (It helps if you read music, but it isn't an absolute necessity.)

Sounds good.
Look good.
What more could a band ask ?

Music is no place for a fragile anything let alone ego.
OOPS, got to stop talking to you now.
Wife has her panties in a twist.

The first thing would be get out of Russelville AR!

Just kidding.

If you really want to get out there and have chops then go see successful club bands in your area. Ask if you can sit in. If you do make sure you do a song or two that you know backwards and forwards. Dont overstay your welcome onstage. Have a card with contact info and a cd or some music they can listen to on thier own. If you have good stage presence and good vocal chops live, they will remember it. Members in bands change all the time, they may know other bands that need members.

I feel the problem is there are 100s of people that think they want to get out and play, but all they do is talk about it online and post adds and such. If you really want to do it, you will have to get yoru hands dirty with folks that are doing it. Club work doesnt pay much maybe $100 a man per night, and it ussually 4 45 minute sets. It is what it is.

Sittin home making websites and posting adds is great, but at soem point you will have to get your feet wet.

Good Luck

" Only thing I could suggest is find some way to separate yourself from all the rest."


I agree. "White Strips" country music bands are a dime a dozen now days. I wouldn't think looks should be any problem, really really really hot female singers are a dime a dozen now days. The problem with "White Strips" Country music is that singers and the bands all sound alike. When l used to listen to the radio I had to hear who was doing the song since so many of those artists sound pretty much the same. And that was their intention.

Your vocals are OK but you do sound like all the rest. Country music today is for the most part simply old early rock and roll. Maybe you should just skip the "Whit Strips" music and just go to rock. Or try real country music. Then you could play all the Indian gambling cassino's like George Jones and all the other greats who actually do perform country music as it was before the "suits" banned genuine country music from radio so they could sell "white Strips" to teenage girls..

2 types of bands, male fronted and female fronted.

It's a fact that Country and Western music is very receptive to female fronted bands.

Other than that genre, it can be very tough for female fronted bands.

As I always state these days, OPEN MIC is a great way to meet like-minded musicians and probably your best shot at finding a band or musicians to come along with what you are doing.

Was that pleasant enough, Glen? lol

First, I want to thank you all for your opinions. Whether good or bad, I need to hear it. Second, thanks for all the ideas. I'd love to 'get out of Russellville'. But this is where I live and I'm not dropping everything I have to run to Nashville and try to be a star when realistically, there are thousands of much younger, much better singing ladies out there waiting tables cause they can't catch a break.

I do a lot of demo work for songwriters but haven't yet seen a lot of cash flow for it. And you're right, working the club circuit doesn't bring a ton of cash either.

The casino route is a very good idea as well but again, they're looking for bands and I cannot seem to find one. This is the route I think I would prefer. Casinos are everywhere and pay better than night clubs.

Hey PHIL don't you want to talk to your self?

I had a listen. You're very pretty and you have a great voice for country, but I know several singers that have the same type of voice, it's pretty standard. And that's not a bad thing if you work it right, read on.

I can tell you from my experience, it's hard to get a band. Most bands who are together were either friends for a long time are just plain lucky. I'm with the fellas here that open mics and jams are the way to go. I mean, I have to deal with these drips down here who want me to pay them like they're working for Beyonce and they've never worked with anyone well known before in their life. $75-$100 a man a night is standard for most clubs.

As far as money, forget it for now, you won't make any. I can't tell you how many demo projects and such I did for songwriters and producers for free. However, you never know where that will lead. When I went to London, a producer I'd worked for in the States just happened to be there and I got a boatload of paid work and was able to support myself.

Now, here's something you might want to think about. Tribute bands are the way to go now. If you did a Faith Hill Tribute Band, you'd get some work and you'd entice some musicians to play with you. I have several friends that does tribute bands and they are making bank right now. I have a friend that plays sax in a Bruce Springsteen tribute band and they make like $300 a man a night for their gigs, they do all private and corporate stuff.

Ego, get one, you'll need it and exercise it to the point where you thicken your skin a bit. This is the wrong business to get into and be fragile. Once you get in a band, your troubles are far from over. You have to deal with playing to chairs at some gigs, dealing with a-hole club owners who don't want to pay you, patrons who are jerks who will turn their back on you and ignore while you're up there singing your heart out, dumbasses who think you're a jukebox who's just there to take their requests and will loudly talk smack about you because you don't know their favorite song, drunks who want to grab your mike and sing along.

Nashville's about as dead as California. Try an international circuit. If you don't have kids, check out traveling to Europe and doing some shows. There are booking agents who handle that as well. Research.

Good luck to you.

Chaeya

Yep, that'll do it!

Chaeya

Thanks especially to Chaeya. It means a lot to be able to get advice from a fellow female.

And OMG Craig! I hate that photo! It was 112 degrees that day. Yucky and sticky. I'm not quite sure if I want that particular image out there, but my hubby insisted.