United States

The biggest change Ive noticed is our crowd all gos home at midnight now LOL

Sad, isn't it? Being a headliner used to be a good place to be, now its more like yuo're entertaining the clean-up crew and a few people waiting to catch a cab. The fact that beers are nearly 7 bucks doesen't help matters either. Seems like only national acts get to enjoy being on top these days.

I fall into that 40-50 group and I have found the same problem I live between York PA and Baltimore MD (pretty good music towns) I have good luck finding good musicians with no sense of commitment or moderate musicians with a good level of commitment but rarely both good musicians with good band sense I don't think at my age I am going to get famous but when I gig I want to enjoy myself and entertain the crowd and I can't do that in the midst of a bunch of drama. there don't seem to be as many good musicians as in years past but the story is still the same so I just keep on doin' what I do and good things happen from time to time (still looking by the way)

now you know why mustang sally is suddenly some kind of classic rock song

The problem I've run into is too many uncommitted amateur musicians who really don't have the motivation to succeed in a music career. I'm not in this for fun, to "impress girls" or "get laid". I'm in this to replace my day job with my music career full time and unfortunately, musicians who either already have good paying day jobs (and aren't motivated to work toward any other occupation) as well as clueless amateurs who aren't willing to learn the songs presented to them, have been a stumbling block. This is why I'm a solo act now. I can write and record songs all day at pro quality by myself with my personal studio, guitar, bass and drum machine, so other musicians aren't necessary for me to write my songs and express myself. I just need a singer to sing the lyrics and can hire a hired gun bassist and drummer for live shows. The hired guns can always be replaced, if necessary with more cooperative musicians. I prefer it that way because the only two people I could write with comfortably are in other bands and writing with people who aren't on the same page with my musical direction, just doesn't work for me. I'm done with trying to form a band with other people and entertain a "democratic process", when I OWN THE NAME OF MY BAND (DARK BLU) and can fire everyone and start over again if they aren't getting the job done. I had to do that in my previous band and I've had a couple rounds of "cleaning house" in DARK BLU before transitioning it from a band to a solo project. Dave Mustaine, Zakk Wylde, and others manage to find professional musicians to join them and form bands because they aren't dealing with amateurs who aren't trying to get the job done and become rock stars. That's my goal. Anyone who isn't trying to fill there role in my project and become a rock star is useless to me. I'm not a follower and no one is going to join my band and usurp control of it. Everyone has a specific role. Play your instrument to the best of your ability, learn the songs I give you, and play them right, not changing parts because you aren't capable of playing what I wrote. I've been through a couple of rounds of that and I have no patience for it. You don't join someone's band and when given songs to learn, NOT learn them and then start changing sh*t because you can't play the sh*t I wrote. Any musician who can't get the job done is useless to me. I'm trying to create something great here, not something half ass, so half ass musicians don't cut it and unfortunately, there are too many half ass musicians out there who have no business sense, no sense of responsibility, half ass skills on their instrument, and no level of commitment.

I refuse to stop working toward my goals and objectives just because there are too many amateurs out there getting in the way. I'll just have to weed through them to find the pros who are hungry, want out of their day jobs, and want to be rock stars. I've got the tunes, the business plan, and the will to make it happen. Finding talented, committed pros who can get the job done is tough but not impossible. Just have to find them.

Amen brother. You paractice at your home the music given to you and at rehearsal work on putting all the pieces together. Do not waste my time, and your other bandmates time by thinking your coming to practice. uh uh might as well let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya. Cause your gone from my band.

The problem I've run into is too many uncommitted amateur musicians who really don't have the motivation to succeed in a music career. I'm not in this for fun, to "impress girls" or "get laid". I'm in this to replace my day job with my music career full time and unfortunately, musicians who either already have good paying day jobs (and aren't motivated to work toward any other occupation) as well as clueless amateurs who aren't willing to learn the songs presented to them, have been a stumbling block. This is why I'm a solo act now. I can write and record songs all day at pro quality by myself with my personal studio, guitar, bass and drum machine, so other musicians aren't necessary for me to write my songs and express myself. I just need a singer to sing the lyrics and can hire a hired gun bassist and drummer for live shows. The hired guns can always be replaced, if necessary with more cooperative musicians. I prefer it that way because the only two people I could write with comfortably are in other bands and writing with people who aren't on the same page with my musical direction, just doesn't work for me. I'm done with trying to form a band with other people and entertain a "democratic process", when I OWN THE NAME OF MY BAND (DARK BLU) and can fire everyone and start over again if they aren't getting the job done. I had to do that in my previous band and I've had a couple rounds of "cleaning house" in DARK BLU before transitioning it from a band to a solo project. Dave Mustaine, Zakk Wylde, and others manage to find professional musicians to join them and form bands because they aren't dealing with amateurs who aren't trying to get the job done and become rock stars. That's my goal. Anyone who isn't trying to fill there role in my project and become a rock star is useless to me. I'm not a follower and no one is going to join my band and usurp control of it. Everyone has a specific role. Play your instrument to the best of your ability, learn the songs I give you, and play them right, not changing parts because you aren't capable of playing what I wrote. I've been through a couple of rounds of that and I have no patience for it. You don't join someone's band and when given songs to learn, NOT learn them and then start changing sh*t because you can't play the sh*t I wrote. Any musician who can't get the job done is useless to me. I'm trying to create something great here, not something half ass, so half ass musicians don't cut it and unfortunately, there are too many half ass musicians out there who have no business sense, no sense of responsibility, half ass skills on their instrument, and no level of commitment.

I refuse to stop working toward my goals and objectives just because there are too many amateurs out there getting in the way. I'll just have to weed through them to find the pros who are hungry, want out of their day jobs, and want to be rock stars. I've got the tunes, the business plan, and the will to make it happen. Finding talented, committed pros who can get the job done is tough but not impossible. Just have to find them.

Amen brother. You paractice at your home the music given to you and at rehearsal work on putting all the pieces together. Do not waste my time, and your other bandmates time by thinking your coming to practice. uh uh might as well let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya. Cause your gone from my band.

-1, no audio at all anywhere..color me disappointed.

I feel for the guys in NYC - born and raised there - played in Manhattan for 12 years. It costs money to play. Moved to Vegas. some things are the same and some are different. Still can't get guys to do "homework." Here is the tune, learn your part, come back prepared. Why is that so difficult? The other problem here is you can't get anyone to commit to anything unless there is a paying gig - and some guys want to get paid for rehearsal. ?Right, the town is bankrupt and no one is working, but don't try to put anything together from the ground up because that would actually mean you would have to work more than 2 hours a day. Guys who do the work, get the work, end of story - at the level of most of us musicians who aren't STARS, attitude is more valuable than talent.

Won't stop trying/. I have a day career, but if I don't play - I am miserable -- After so many years, playing live music is a need -- not a desire.

I feel for the guys in NYC - born and raised there - played in Manhattan for 12 years. It costs money to play. Moved to Vegas. some things are the same and some are different. Still can't get guys to do "homework." Here is the tune, learn your part, come back prepared. Why is that so difficult? The other problem here is you can't get anyone to commit to anything unless there is a paying gig - and some guys want to get paid for rehearsal. ?Right, the town is bankrupt and no one is working, but don't try to put anything together from the ground up because that would actually mean you would have to work more than 2 hours a day. Guys who do the work, get the work, end of story - at the level of most of us musicians who aren't STARS, attitude is more valuable than talent.

Won't stop trying/. I have a day career, but if I don't play - I am miserable -- After so many years, playing live music is a need -- not a desire.

Who gets paid for rehearsal? Even when I played bass for a band I didn't like, I never asked for $.

Personally I like paid rehearsals,
even paid auditions.