General Music Chat

Not that I want to, but for those of you who do...

Obviously no one here is a rock star but the reality is that only a small percentage of musicians get to that level. Most musicians work hard and make about the same as a factory worker. But the few who do become huge stars are either very talented, very motivated or very lucky (or some combination thereof).

My question is...who would want to be? 90 some odd percent of "rock stars" having fleeting fame and are saddled with enormous debt once their star has faded. Hollywood is chock full of mansions now on the market, once purchased by meteoric rap stars who had a hit or two and then faded into obscurity. Then think of all the ones who end up in substance abuse, revolving door rehabs, multiple disastrous relationships, custody battles, yeeesh...

No thanks. I'd take my current happy life and fairly unknown gigs over that crap any day.

Nice one...did you write it?

He makes some good points, he hooked me on starting young. If i wouldn't have picked it up as a 12 year old, i probably wouldn't have had the patience to start, i can almost guarantee i wouldn't be playing had i started later.

As you look to your influences and life experiences to help you in your creations, go out of your way to be yourself and try not to emulate your favorite band or what's 'hot' at the time.

This is one of my main gripes about musicians and something i never aspired to. "I want to sound like Geddy Lee" well guess what? you could play on his full rig and you'll never sound like Geddy Lee.
People that gravitate towards the "Guitar Hero" crap are going to end up doing one of two things, playing and sounding like a quasi version of their hero or getting frustrated and end up quitting. Hopefully it dawns on them that, that emulation crap don't work; so while they're busy trying to sound like someone else; where do they fit in? <---thats the point most people miss.
I've always taken what i wanted from other musicians technique wise and just left the rest. If i hear a song or a line in a song that speaks to me, i don't care if Mr. Ed played it i still like it and want to learn it.
I love the bassline to "Boogie on Reggae Woman"...hhhmmm there was no 'bass player' on that song.
Any questions?

<snip>..
People that gravitate towards the "Guitar Hero" crap are going to end up doing one of two things, playing and sounding like a quasi version of their hero or getting frustrated and end up quitting. <snip>

That's it, in a nutshell. Now maybe you get why I get so irritated at conversation stubbornly revolving around bars/nightclubs as the sole litmus test for if one is "making it" or not. That's very juvenile thinking, and disregards the hundreds of other venues and forms of career success one can have.

I don't know about where you live but the competition is ferocious here in Detroit, Rock City. There are literally thousands of great musicians and hundreds of excellent bands all vying to play the same places. Let's face it, there's only so many venues that feature live original bands. The chances that you will break into and then get out of that scene are vanishingly small. I think it's better to have music as my hobby; I do it on my terms and still have fun.

I don't know about where you live but the competition is ferocious here in Detroit, Rock City. There are literally thousands of great musicians and hundreds of excellent bands all vying to play the same places. Let's face it, there's only so many venues that feature live original bands. The chances that you will break into and then get out of that scene are vanishingly small. I think it's better to have music as my hobby; I do it on my terms and still have fun.

See, here we go again. Even in Detriot, it is not so that bars and clubs are the only venues a band can make inroads in their career. There is a festival circuit and festivals go on in large numbers in EVERY state. If your band gets on the ball enough and gets some good booking help, you can jump on that train too. Festival gigs turn into a fan base for then planning and putting on your own small concerts. I'm telling you, they work! With some diligence and craftiness in your planning you can soon be filling out 300 tp 500 seat venues for tickets and your CDs. I am not saying this idly. I've done it. It works.

New mantra for the year - say this to yourself a hundred times a day, in a lotus position if you like:

BARS AND CLUBS ARE NOT THE ONLY VENUES

The festival/casino circuit is also extremely competitive. As I have written here before, I have a friend (www.fiftyampfuse.com) who does that scene and it's no easier, mostly because it pays a lot better and there are a lot of good bands wanting to get those gigs. But that's not the scene I'm referring to; I'm talking about places that feature live original music, and unfortunately that is mostly bars and lounges. If you can make it on the fair circuit that's cool, but most of the bands I'm talking about play in the same fifteen or so venues.

I always thought being a Rock Star was a state of mind.

Ive been a Rock Star for 30 yrs its just no one else knows it but me.

JW

I always thought being a Rock Star was a state of mind.

Ive been a Rock Star for 30 yrs its just no one else knows it but me.

JW

Well, i've been "Master Of All I Survey" for i don't know how long; and it's frustrating that no one acknowleges it.

The festival/casino circuit is also extremely competitive. As I have written here before, I have a friend (www.fiftyampfuse.com) who does that scene and it's no easier, mostly because it pays a lot better and there are a lot of good bands wanting to get those gigs. But that's not the scene I'm referring to; I'm talking about places that feature live original music, and unfortunately that is mostly bars and lounges. If you can make it on the fair circuit that's cool, but most of the bands I'm talking about play in the same fifteen or so venues.

I see ads for Nevada casinos running quite frequently that want bands or players for bands. When was the last time you saw your local watering hole advertising for bands?

Also, the festival circuit is so varied that it's hard to say how competitive it is...it would depend on your genre of music. They cover so many, I haven't seen any sort of study done on that. The only thing I can speak from is the neoCeltic end of it, because thats what I was involved in. Sure there were lots of bands of our ilk out there but the circuit also had lots going on for them. Now if you are talking about competition for top spots like Wolftrap or Teluride, well sure, that is competitive. But there are scads of levels between them and doing nothing, and more often than not you get large audiences dedicated to listening to you perform. That also translates to CD sales after your shows, as well as fees paid to you. Then you can take a fan base and go back to those locales and put on small to medium size concerts, building to bigger ones.

If you are willing to put the thought and effort into using those venues for career building, they work.

To make it as a rock star you first have to be completely dilusional about your abilities. Then, tell everyone how great you are without actually posting any content or doing anything to back it up. Be sure to talk yourself up and make outlandish claims. Next be sure to let everyone know how you are in deliberations for a "major" record contract or know some one in the business who is begging you for your work. It also helps to sound like an expert and put down everyone elses stuff, and blame everyone else to make your self look awesome.

Lastly when the time comes to actually prove yourself have a list of execuses as the day is long so you really never have to back anything up.

Follow these steps and you are well on your way.

Yes, I am being sarcastic.

Hmm, didn't Patti Smith give us the definitive recipe for becoming a rock & roll star, some years ago?

So You Wanna Be (A Rock 'N' Roll Star)

so you want to be a rock & roll star
well listen now to what I say
get yourself an electric guitar
and take some time and learn how to play
and when hair's combed right
and your pants are tight
it's gonna be all right

with time you go downtown
to the agent man he won't let you down
sell your soul to the company
they're all waiting there
to sell plastic wares
and in a week or two if you make the charts
the girls will tear you apart

what you pay for these riches and fame
well it's all a vicious game
you're a little insane
what you get is the public acclaim
don't forget who you are
you're a rock & roll star
na na na na na . . .

hey you. come here. get up.
ah, this is the era where everybody creates.
recognize my face?
they call me broken glass.
that's because of the sound [ ]
[ ]
what you pay for all these riches and fame
well it's all a vicious game
you're a little insane.
well you're a little insane
oh a little insane
'cause the thing that you gain
is the public acclaim
don't forget who you are
don't forget who you are
don't forget who you are
you're a rock & roll star

***************************

I thought that was Paul Rodgers and BAD COMPANY? lol

We're both wrong. The song was written and first performed by The Byrds in the late 60's. Apparently it was about the group The Monkees.

http://www.amiright.com/articles/articl ... 2201.shtml