Prevost82 wrote:Hey Monti ... if you're fine with playing music and doing it for the love of it .. then keep doing what you are doing .. I've got no beef with that.
The problem with the internet is monetizing your effert ... can't go on making little or no money forever. New gear will be needed, gas money, recording equipment ...
That is mostly true. I have a question to ask you: when you say new gear, do you mean in the sense that your old gear's busted, or getting new gear because it's NEW? To be honest I can make do without buying the top of the line gear. In fact, in Electronic music while there are a lot of new gear coming out all the time, a lot of Electronic musicians are fine with their old stuff.
Gas Money? yeah performing live acts... or in MY case, just to go see a venue in Seattle is rough because Tacoma has no Electronic Scene.
Prevost82 wrote:"So your friend isn't rich--by YOUR standards" ... got nothing to do with my standards. He has spent a considerable amount of money to get this CD out into the market, so if he doesn't make any money he won't be able to afford another CD ... it's simple math.
Agreed. This is why I don't release CDs... to cut down on costs. While I want more sales, I can say that never had to drop any more money down after my first release. Another reason why I don't release CDs is because my area really IS weak when it comes to Electronic music.
Prevost82 wrote:Is he happy ... I guess he is he got his music out there ... is he successful .. from talking to him ... yes & no. He thinks he has had good reviews but would have like better sales, he has over 5000 fans on FB but has sold under 500 CD's ... back to monetizing on the internet.
[quote="Prevost82] Things will never get back to the way they were ... unless you're known enough to touring Europe or playing live in some place like Mexico where people are not listening to free music with their earbuds plugged in all day .. and live music still has value.[/quote]
I agree with that too--in fact I need to perform more-- but as I said, just moving out of my area isn't very cost effective. New bands are coming out with various ways to perform live using alternate methods.
[quote]This is one of the worst years I've seen for live music, I've only had 3 calls to play this year ... it's dead. Even festivals are shutting down this year .. 3 big fests just in my area have shut down ... well known artists are having a hard making ends meet ... I can't see how this is good for any musician out here ... you included[/quote]
I forgot to ask where you are at? I'd discuss this with you more... not because I disagree, in so much the scene where I'm at is terrible for variety of reasons... and depending what you do might work up here. One shouldn't think what wouldn't work where you're at won't work in say... WA?
Just saying.
[quote]What I stated was if want to be successful (monetarily) you need to get the best of the best on that list. Take one off and you will be less succesful take 2 off even less ... and lets not forget about LUCK ... being at the right place, in front of the right person, with the right product.[\quote]
But... that's if you trying to be signed. And even if you have all of those, there's an issue of copyright control and royalties that you might have to give up.
I'm not giving anybody anything they haven't EARNED. And unless you have millions of fans behind you, you won't have the luxury of keeping your copyrights if you're signed.
[quote]Hell ... I was young once too, with high ideals like yours ... but I got tired of starving and sponging off of others ... and became a music whore... like a fellow keyboard whore sez " How much does the gig pay"[/quote]
I hate to tell you this, but I'm turning 39 next month, I've crash and burned numerous times-- and continue to do so because I need that experience. I know full well you can't monetize from Social Media. (I've learned some REAL hard lessons on that one.)
I've been actually quite real with myself going into this. This is how come it's gonna take longer, and be harder, but I've got what a lot of other people haven't got in this biz.... PATIENCE.
And don't assume I've been leeching people while I'm doing this. I believe in handling things myself.

Monti's Theme... out now across the internets!