General Music Chat

In my experience.......most of the people (musicians) that have rarely "played out".........never will. In fact.....it's why I have posted in my profile.."no startups".

They may be decent players......and have a great talk.....but when it comes down to it....they just don't have a clue what it takes to resource gigs, market their band, and are clueless when it comes to developing a following, maintaining a steady gig schedule and solidifying a position in the venues rotation on a steady basis.

Anyone can play one gig now and then....and invite their family and friends to fill a room once in a while. But do it again a week later....and see who shows up. Let alone two or three times a month.

As far as guys that enjoy practicing....(jamming). Much like others here......I don't find rehearsing several times for one gig (or the potential of a gig) very much fun.....in fact....it's down right a pain in the ass. Especially when I sit there with my elbows on my snare and watch the others figure out the song. In my opinion....they should have that DOWN before rehearsal. SO many players just don't get it.

"Where are you playing next" is the question I seem to ask everyone if I am approached to be a part of a project. When they answer....I can usually smell a bullshit artist or a dreamer most of the times. If they've only played a handful of gigs in the past (in any group...ever)....and have nothing lined up in the future....it's a big red flag.

YOU are SO right on. I cant drive and unload and sing and breath smoke for 4 hours and load and drive again anymore.

Now I work for the Internet. Writing, Singing, Recording then someone else sells it and we will do an occasional hand picked gig. The merchandising
is done online.

One thing though. You have to produce high quality commercial material
on a consistent basis.[/b]

WOW! Again...another post with sooo many different opinions.. Mine:

I wouldn't waste my time for one minute if I didn't think I was going to get something back from it. So much time spent learning new tunes, doing all those exercises and for what??

To me, music has ALWAYS been the "extra money I could use" each month. My job still has me on a 20% pay cut so I consider every gig a supplement to my income... I always strive to be in a working band and the summer's are definitely a cash cow if you play your cards right!

Just like in the other thread... TO EACH HIS OWN!

WOW! Again...another post with sooo many different opinions.. Mine:

I wouldn't waste my time for one minute if I didn't think I was going to get something back from it. So much time spent learning new tunes, doing all those exercises and for what??

To me, music has ALWAYS been the "extra money I could use" each month. My job still has me on a 20% pay cut so I consider every gig a supplement to my income... I always strive to be in a working band and the summer's are definitely a cash cow if you play your cards right!

Just like in the other thread... TO EACH HIS OWN!

sh*t, I'd be happy recouping expenses. Playing music has always been a big money pit, to me. But, a junkie's gotta have their fix.

CRIP,
You're one of these guys who's lucky enough to have everything within reach.
Thats rare. You live in a place big enough to support bands. You have
bands in your genre that need you as a player. You obviously have a wife
that supports your playing. Practice is close. Most of all you have the
talent and drive to make it happen.

All of these things are ingredients that in many cases are missing for people
here on BM. Thank Your Lucky Stars bud. You have the Tiger by the tail.[/b]

Wow.... now that you put it that way... Honestly, it isn't as easy as you think... I haven't been out there for over 2 decades...I just always managed to get players in my band who have always been on the scene and bring down their following.. otherwise I'd be up the creek as all my friends and relatives don't go clubbing anymore! I lucked out in my latest band as they've been out on the scene for well over 7 years and have a healthy following....The singer has been a cop for over 25 years and has a lot of his buds come on down to support us..which helps....and when we can find a babysitter, my wife works for a giant vitamin company and when she can come, a ton of her co-workers show up just to party together....all that and the fact that this band can command a set salary gigs whereas all my other bands salary depended on the amount of peeps we bring down....so there were nights when we didn't make a freakin' dime due to inclement weather and no one attending! There are a lot of factors involved in order to command a salary and I've finally hooked up with the right band.... I had to tone it down a bunch as I was strictly a shredding metal guitarist.... Now we do alternative and dance but I still get to wail once in a while and we play to a much younger crowd then the past bands I've been in which is a plus money wise!

I don't believe he was insinuating an "ease" as much as your accomplished position.
Anyone whom has see even video and heard audio of you playing Kerry, knows damn well it has not been easy .

I don't believe he was insinuating an "ease" as much as your accomplished position.
Anyone whom has see even video and heard audio of you playing Kerry, knows damn well it has not been easy .

Thank you so much Sans for the positive critique of my playing!

lol...actually I was criticizing my post before that as I made it sound sooo easy that you just snap a band together, learn 12 tunes and you're out! The most important thing anywhere you play is ATTENDANCE! That's how you get constant gigs at the same club....they make a killing at the bar if you bring in the people! I've seen some of the worst musicians ever constantly playing at 2 or 3 local bars because they just got out of high school or are in college and they bring a ton of people down but their playing is just god-awful... Bars don't care about talent, equipment, sound, personality, etc... If you want to make $$ doing this, you better pack the place on your first few gigs and then after that, try to have a decent amount of peeps around.. It's a shame that it's come t that, but that's what you get when you only have your sights set on playing the local joints... as long as I can do it and put extra cash in the pocket, I'm gonna do it. I'm too damn fukkin' old to set my sights on becoming anything else..I don't record anymore...I try and just stay close to home and enjoy just getting up their and playing and bringing home the cash!

Slacker

You have nailed it. I am totally satisfied with my guitar (strat) and so far it can do anything I dream up. I'd been unhappy with my sound but that's all over.

What's cool when you get to really playing, all warmed up and so on, it's often hard to tell what will come out. That is pretty exciting.

I'm working on putting a project together (aren't we all?) so I focus on song writing and practicing the songs so I can tape them. but I always make time to just play - just to get it out.

Talbot

Just a followup on what I was saying about online collaborations - it's not limited to just audio. These guys at Kompoz created a video of their playing a song they created together. It's pretty decent music and the fact that it's a video, you get to see them perform as well.

http://www.kompoz.com/compose-collabora ... deoId=1685

Chris

Not for any other reason other than I love to play my guitar. I love playing music and I love writing it.

I share this focus with you Slacker. Music and guitar has been the thing that keeps me grounded with myself. It's almost a form of meditation when I practice. Also, I like the creative process of working with other musicians. I feel just as good in a closed-door jam session as performing in front of people. I have volunteered at a local public school to teach guitar to children on the weekends. I want others to find what we have found... A way of self- realization.

Right on.

How great is it when you are playing your favorite axe in a room all by yourself and all consciousness of the world has drifted away from you, and all you hear is the sound of your guitar doing what you want it to? In those moments all you are aware of is how sweet the sound, and it almost seems as if the instrument is playing itself without any input from you.
I think a lot of musicians know what I am talking about. We all certainly have all been there at one time or another. Its almost like tunnel vision for ears. That's where I want to go every time i pick up my axe.

That is simply the greatest place my guitar and I can go. Then after a while your consciousness drifts back into the real world going on around you and you think wow, how sweet was that? You know what I am talking about.

I love an appreciative crowd as much as any musician, and occasionally I can get to the same place at a jam or with a band when we're all in a groove. But no where near as often. But when it is just my guitar and myself I can get there almost every time I start playing alone in my room.

The reason I come here to vent,...I always receive better feedback with logical understanding at this site. Could be, the patrons here are more mature. ?
I have read a few classified ads mostly on Craigslist stating, "Looking for musicians to write and collaborate with, play music and record. We DO NOT intend to play out. Will NOT be booking any gigs !! This is for FUN ONLY" !!
To me, That ain't fun(.) !!! If that's all I had to look forward to, I'd probably go back to drinkin", chasin' wimmin', maybe cuttin' out paper dolls, playin' cards...........
I am sixty-seven years old, been playing music professionally off and on, for a little over forty-five years.(Rhythm & Blues, Soul, Rock"n"Roll, Traditional Country).
Recently, I have attended (two) different Jam sessions.(neither of which was in an environment meant to entertain the public. As it turned out, there were musicians there that represented, Bluegrass, Country, Rock"n"Roll, Gospel, Folk. They brought all their varied instruments electric as well as, acoustic. Up to, and including a Dulcimer.
In this group of musicians, there was a lot of varied skill, ability, musicianship. It was that every musician with advanced skill, was encouraged to take a lead ride on every song. There-fore every song was atleast 10/12 minutes long.
Summation: If I can't play music with the intent to play out, book gigs, entertain my fellow man.... Then I'll be a hermit, and entertain myself.

The "Patrons" here, are anything BUT mature. We suffer the slings and arrows of the outrageous misfortunes thrown upon us from the trolls on this site, (we could be perfecting Nano technology in medicine or maybe editing our memoirs); but we toil at our only true love.

We creative types suffer from an affliction called "Selfous Worstis Critix", (commonly known as 'our own worst critics'). Anything you say WILL be held against you, and we shy away from peer judgment and criticism.

So, if you meet someone on this site who says he is a musician................"Then kill him, for he is not Buddha."

Setting your sights to play in the local honky tonks ( we don't have local clubs here) is lowballing. In MO and OK we have casinos and music shows and entertainment parks and complexes that employ literally thousands of musicians full-time and pay well. At these places you don't have the drunks to put up with, and definetly not as many fat woman in tight jeans as you do in the honky tonks. In the casinos your more a sideshow not the main event. There usually is thousands of people in these places while the bands perform, but the draw is the gambling. These casinos have incredible stages most with a green room behind or to the side of the stage, and a free sound man, and usually a bar at or near the stage. While the big bar is usually located more centrally on the gaming floor. The casinos due care about talent, euipment (personal equipment e.g. guitars, drums and pianos, etc, you use there pa and sound man, your sound man can sit with him though), sound, personality and looks to name a few. I don't know how many musicians are employed in Branson, but it's alot. The drawback to playing in Branson for me was having to play the same show day after day note for note at both matinee and evening shows. Don't show up drunk and start wailing cause you won't be working there long. At least that was my experience there twenty-five years ago. There's my "for what its worth", probably not two cents.

....rather do that every day for a living than have to work it the sh¡thole I have to go to every day to keep food on the table

Then do it, you can do anything you set your mind to.

Not on Long Island....We don't have casinos or venues like that.... I just play out at the local clubs for extra $$.. Believe you me....No way of making it here for a living and I'm too old to move and have a wife and 2 teenaged sons so until they're up and out of the house, gotta bring home the bacon.....the safe way!