General Music Chat

Aww, you guys need just a big hug!

At least we can come here and vent to people who truly understand!

Chaeya

I was contacted by a major producer. I have no band to take to the studio and no money... it went nowhere. I feel like that was the deciding factor; it would cost so much to put me in the studio as I am, and the industry is hurting so much that "taking a chance" on an unknown artist is just not a common option anymore.

Well I still have no band or money so, and I WILL NOT perform with a hack band behind me. It is what it is... not fulfilling and very frustrating. Having seemingly popular material and nothing else has been nothing but hell for me for years now.

I'm supposed to do 2 web radio spots and I don't even feel like picking up my guitar. I haven't written any new material for about a year.
I'm just plain tired and unmotivated to go on with this drudgery.

Your material is excellent. Why not play and record solo? Leave gaps on some of your recorded material and hire professional studio musicians to fill-in the blanks. You're good enough that you don't need any band behind you. Maybe even try on-line collaboration with PROFESSIONALS. I feel your pain and I am equally frustrated but I never give up. I decided to concentrate on nothing but originals and have contacted a couple of excellent people to just do the originals with the goal of recording. If the band starts talking about covers and four set gigs I'll kindly remind them that I'm not interested...

I just thought I would ask why folks plans are musically next year coming? Where would you like to be, what are your goals?

Hmmm. Well, 2010 ain’t over yet. I hope to have enough new material to begin playing out before it snows. With or without drums we’re going out there. Continue piecing together the home studio and work on recording. Try to raise cash to keep upgrading our gear and cover expenses. Same goals as always; Don’t stop, don’t fail, or die trying. Maybe we’ll hook up with a manager /agent if we get our act together enough.

I plan on following through with finding my niche. Hayden, as depressing as it seems, we can't quit because it's what we do, simple as that. If we let go of all the wanting to be famous crap, successful, trying to make a living at it and all that, I think we'd be much happier.

f**k fame. Pay me. Fame is the worst part of playing music. I never had that problem. I’m happy when I break even. I’m happy when I get food and gas. I’m happy just having a place to play. Of course making a living at it is a big goal. But, it requires persistence and a little luck.

I've seen how this world is creating all these "opportunities" to separate musicians from their hard earned money and I'm done with it. f**k it.

Yeah, the music business is good at making money…for parasites. The actual artist is usually lucky to only have some good memories if they’re not careful. The more you do yourself, the more control you keep, and the fewer hands in your pocket. I have mixed feelings about the effect the internet has had on us. There’s good and bad.

It's cool being a pirate.

Aaarrrrrr!

Unfortunately, I'm very close to where Hayden is right now, in terms of mindset. I've realized this year that music for me is a joy that comes with a chest full of heartache.

I’ve had more heartache than Fred Sanford.

I'm in the wrong location (without the option of moving-even traveling to a decent area would mean hours on the road).

I had an offer to play with some really talented guys. But, they are so far out in B.F.E. I’d be spending about $100/mo in gas just to practice with them. It’s a shame too. They can’t get anyone because they’re so far off the beaten path it isn’t worth it for anyone to join ‘em.
The guitarist looks just like f**k House M.D.!

Musically, I've become WAY too particular...I would love to be playing, even in a cover band (I know that sounds snobbish, and I apologize, but the important part of music to me has always been the creative process). The problem is I can no longer psychologically deal with the aspect of telling so-called "musicians" where to put their fingers on their instrument.

For too long I wasn’t particular enough. I’m getting too old to be jerking around making someone else’s dreams come true. Sink or swim this is MY ship we’re sailing on. AAAAARRR!

For years, I've been beating myself up, failure after failure.
"Why did this band fail? Why couldn't I get that band off the ground?"
Each time I put the blame upon myself, sucked it up and dug in deeper. I worked harder at honing my craft. And in the end, the true cause of all my pain?
Other people.

"l'enfer, c'est les autres ("Hell is other people") - Jean-Paul Sartre

I know what you are thinking-I've read it on here many times before..."You have to be willing to compromise".
Trust me, I have. I've compromised so much over the years, it's ridiculous. I learned a valuable lesson from it, though. If you bend over backwards long enough, you'll be able to stick your head up your own @ss, and then, just maybe, you can see the point of view of the idiots surrounding you. I have given in on some of the most idiotic points available to man.
My last band had a gig scheduled for three one hour sets...and had enough material for one hour. Three days before the show, this one imbecile decides to play CEO...and starts trying to cut songs off of our set-because HE doesn't like them! Brilliant! Not only do we have to play the same songs three times over, but now, we may even have to repeat some those songs a FOURTH time, just to make our scheduled time!
(Banging head on wall repeatedly).
I just can't deal with that kind of b.s. anymore. I'm better than that.

Chimpanzees are better than that. It’s sh*t like that is why I stopped playing for so long. I want to know the people I’m working with better this time. I don’t need to find out (with dozens of pending gigs) that I’m playing with a psychotic, a f**k, or a moron.

Aww, you guys need just a big hug!
At least we can come here and vent to people who truly understand!

(Hugs Chaeya)
Maybe this site isn’t a total waste of time or money.

I was contacted by a major producer. I have no band to take to the studio and no money... it went nowhere. I feel like that was the deciding factor; it would cost so much to put me in the studio as I am, and the industry is hurting so much that "taking a chance" on an unknown artist is just not a common option anymore.
Well I still have no band or money so, and I WILL NOT perform with a hack band behind me. It is what it is... not fulfilling and very frustrating. Having seemingly popular material and nothing else has been nothing but hell for me for years now.
I'm supposed to do 2 web radio spots and I don't even feel like picking up my guitar. I haven't written any new material for about a year.
I'm just plain tired and unmotivated to go on with this drudgery.

Your material is excellent. Why not play and record solo? Leave gaps on some of your recorded material and hire professional studio musicians to fill-in the blanks. You're good enough that you don't need any band behind you. Maybe even try on-line collaboration with PROFESSIONALS. I feel your pain and I am equally frustrated but I never give up. I decided to concentrate on nothing but originals and have contacted a couple of excellent people to just do the originals with the goal of recording. If the band starts talking about covers and four set gigs I'll kindly remind them that I'm not interested...

DIY or die. As much as I’d like somebody with a fat checkbook to set us up with everything we need, there’s always strings attached. I may not be able to execute everything to my exact wishes. But, I’m forced to be more creative with what I’ve got.
I hear ya Hayden about hitting a dry spell, creatively. We’re both disabled. Physically and psychologically. There are lots of days when we don’t do ANYTHING. Sometimes you try to force yourself. But, nothing really gets accomplished in that state. Just gotta persevere through it and be ready when you’re ready.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPxlenE-kic

Don't start a business either. We should all just quit, give up, and wait around till someone can do it for us. Righteously.

It's a good idea to plan a little bit, but those plans always change as soon as unexpected things arise.

I hope the new band is out playing and playing at the level I know we can be at! I hope my kids are healthy and happy and not getting anymore citations for me to pay lol! I hope my eldest stepson is happy and doing well in college. I hope our dogs are healthy and happy and don't cost me $1500.00 in vet bills like they did this year. I hope we have a conservative congress and house. Last but not least I hope the economy makes a turn for the better!

Hayden....you sound like you're depressed. Be careful....take care of yourself.

This too shall pass.....I'm just coming out of a year long writers block and it's easy to beat yourself up over it. Thing was I'd written over 100 songs before the block and I'd just emptied myself out. It'll come back.......
And...it's easy to forget that we're at a major turning point of the entertainment business on top of the worst economic situation since the depression, nothing is easy now......But it will turn, it always does....

Thanks Bob, Stranger, Mike... everybody. Bob I would love nothing more than to hire players for the studio but the funds just aren't there; I go as long as possible between new strings. Know what I mean?!
There are nothing but posers here. They love to talk and plan but when it comes down to the work involved in original music performance... well they just tend to fade away.
I don't wanna hijack this thread with my sh*t so: I plan to not plan.

Haley, this may make you feel a bit better. One of my friends has a year old pup that he loves very much. The dog ate a rock that would not be passed. emergency surgery saved the pup. Then infection set in,and emergency surgery was required again. The total bill only came to 12 thousand.

I'm not crazy but, I wouldn't spend that kind of money on myself...Gwen where is my pistol?

Probably in the same place as my glass encrusted, flame thrower powered Machete.
Why does everything you say, get turned into political debate?

My studio is down, Maybe I should blame healthcare?
I haven't got a job, Should I write to the Tea Party? gufffawwwwwwwww!
Cuz I know all about tea pip, pip!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway. I'm going to complete what I started, musically.
If folks cannot stay on track on a musical thread, I've no doubt at all, that in a band situation, things would be hairy, to say the least.

Good morning!!!

]
Gwen where is my pistol?

My studio is down, Maybe I should blame healthcare?
I haven't got a job, Maybe I should blame healthcare?Should I write to the Tea Party? Maybe I should blame healthcare?
Cuz I know all about tea pip, pip!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe I should blame healthcare?



Good morning!!!

]
Gwen where is my pistol?

Good morning Mark. I wouldn't blame it all on health care. The main parts of this legislation have not even kicked in. Then you can blame it for your wife leaving you , your dog biting you, your roof collapsing, your septic system for backing up,and your heating system for breaking down.

I agree with you though, why waste a perfectly good bullet when a rope can be reused.

Oh damn. Did I take anything out of context?

Any one notice how disgusting it is when things are taken out of context?

you mean like "America is the greatest nation on earth"?

There are nothing but posers here.

Not fair buddy, I have my second CD finished but for the bass and drums and I've played hundreds of gigs. And the vast majority of my gigs were 4 hours of all original music. I used to play weekly in Seattle...

Do I have plans on getting signed by a label and making a living off my music?

That ship sailed long ago and the chances of anybody, including yourself, getting there from this site are slim to nil.............

I agree the vast majority here are as you describe.

Jut don't lump everybody in that pile....There are people of talent here....

There are nothing but posers here.

Not fair buddy, I have my second CD finished but for the bass and drums and I've played hundreds of gigs. And the vast majority of my gigs were 4 hours of all original music. I used to play weekly in Seattle...

Do I have plans on getting signed by a label and making a living off my music?

That ship sailed long ago and the chances of anybody, including yourself, getting there from this site are slim to nil.............

I agree the vast majority here are as you describe.

Jut don't lump everybody in that pile....There are people of talent here....

I'm talking about the town I live in, not BM. And getting signed is not out of the realm for everybody here. I speak only for myself, you should do the same.