#16749 by
RhythmMan
Sat Dec 08, 2007 9:03 pm
Yeah, you can't get to 2nd base if you keep one foot on first.
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When Billy Ray Cyrus tried to get a record deal in Nashville, they said "No. You sound too much like Rock."
He moved out to LA, and tried to get a record deal, and kept hearing, "No, you sound too much like Country."
Well, hell!
He finally got a record deal, as . . himself . . .
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If you want to sell your songs, you have to market them to the right audience.
Maybe I can market some of my songs as folk, but certainly not all of them . . . I have some songs that shuffle, some that are almost acid (on an acoustic guitar, no less), blues, jazz, whatever . . . some styles of song (like Jaunty Boy) are just plain, well, . . . new . . . different . . .
I like so many very different styles, that I think I'll have to separate them when it comes time to market an album. . . . I have enough songs for 4 albums, btw . . .
When I write a song, if it starts to sound like anything I've heard before, then I change it.
Go to an open mike - you'll hear 10 songs played with G, D, & C.
That's ok for a singer, I guess; but I'm a musician who wants his music to stand on it's own; no vocals, just instrumentals.
I can hear it now, "Yeah - a one man show, and he doesn't even sing?"
Say what you believe, but I've always got a great response playing solo instrumentals.
Yeah, I admit it's not what I had planned on. But I can't find anyone qualified, available, and close enough . . . to join me . . .
On Bandmix I found one bass player; but he lives too far . . .
Everyone else has an excuse . . . you guys know what it's like . . . but it's worse for me, because I'm apparently asking too much of other musicians . . .
s'ok . . .
So - I'm a solo instrumentalist . . .
When I play out, I play only originals, and with no 2 songs being the same style.
I choose the song order/stlye very, very carefully, however . . .
Folk, 'new,' funk, 'new,' 'jazz,' 'new,' rock, boogie . . . whatever.
And people always come up to me afterwards to shake my hand, and say it's refreshing to hear some new stuff, and all . . . whatever . . .
Ok, that's all very well and fine, but . . .
. . . but, when it comes time for these same people to BUY music . . . damn!
What category would they FIND me under?
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I don't know that there's really a solution here, other than my becoming more prolific, and lumping categories together.
. . .
I am appreciating your input, people.
It's a real big job for one guy . . .
Listen to my songs - I play both the guitar, and the bass. And I do the drum track (when there is one) . . .
Usually, the tracks are kind-of complicated . . . not always, but usually . . . and I do all the recording and mixing . . .
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. . .yeah . . . it's a lot of work . . . and I don't look like a male model, so I don't have the 'proper image.'
Sheeeee-it.
Some days I just feel like saying 'the hell with it."
But - then, within 2 weeks, I'm playing 2 more brand-new songs . . .
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I guess I'm only in it for the music, nothing else; and I guess I'm here to stay . . . no matter what 'my style' is . . .