General Music Chat

Well how's everyone getting on putting your band together,has it been an easy ride everything fall into place when you need it too?
What about getting gigs are they easy to come by, does the whole band go and look for work or is it left to the guy who starts the band.
I want to get an idea of the music scene on the semi pro level both in the UK US and Ca. I've been a musician for fifty years I never looked at it as something to get a living out of though I understand how some would, for me its always been a pleasure to make music it was a gift I was given its my hobby I've played in different places all round the world met many interesting people and all of it without any pressure from management or record companies or umpteen people that need feeding so I consider myself lucky and think that I've seen the best of live music.
in the early days pre Beatles pop music was exciting and it slowly grew with everyone wanted to be Cliff or Elvis, Saturday mornings down at the record shop all getting on and listening to the latest releases I remember the cheap £5 guitars, Orange is such a lovely colour(hic) dont you think, thats how nearly all of us started but slowly as time has progressed and audio has moved on from the vinyl how many of us would have thought that technology would bring about the demise of live music because thats how I see it. Music is now everywhere shops car plane ipod mp3 pc pad you cant get away from it, well you can get away from it and thats whats happening in the UK, the advent of the smoking ban and the loss of hundreds of pubs that used to have live music has started a decline in live music. Our music instrument shops are closing ok maybe online trading has had an effect but overall live music is dying the days of musicians being able to pop into a music shop pick up a guitar and belt out "Smoke on the water" before sticking down a deposit on your soon to be pride and joy are almost over, so I thought I'd ask you all for your opinion on the state of live music in your country, once upon a time if you wanted a bass player it was no problem just stick an ad in and just wait for them to come pounding at your door same goes with drummers singers leads keys etc so how is it now? The reason I ask? well I've got a shed load of gear that I've collected over the years so if anyone thinks that the scene is healthy and on the up you can make me an offer lol.

Congratulations!

You have just won the "Most Rambling Post With A Great Point" in the history of Bandmix forums!

By George, I think he's got it!? Now if I could only figure out what "it" is?



The live music scene seems to suck everywhere except in SOME large cities for all the above mentioned gripes and a few more like video games and giant home-entertainment centers and an aggressive police force on the roads nowadays.

But I'm a Texan. We believe you can do anything you are determined to do, so it's your call and no one else's.



.

If it was easy it would not be worth accomplishing.

My submission for long-winded pointless addition:

The music store on the corner still exists

It's just one of a chain corporation, with many links.

No haggling, that Fender Mexi-Kor Strat might have an msrp of $649.99, but it has a MAP of $349.99, and that's the price you pay no matter where you buy it.

The neck wont be perfect, there are no longer "rare gems" among guitars, it will likely have an electronics issue, usually bad volume pot or pickup switch will be the first to go, and usually within the first two years. It will likely never perfectly intonate either because of the cheap neck, or cheap hardware on the bridge, and that same cheap bridge hardware will likely cut into strings just a hair more than it's better-made earlier models, causing broken strings at an ever-slightly increased rate.

Let's no leave out the cheap, chinese-made pickups, which will buzz/hum more than they likely should, and sound slightly less than good.

So now, it's a matter of finding the best neck (that gem!) among them, plopping your layaway money down to a guy way too young to even understand what he's selling, making minimum wage - a guy who was reluctant to help you to begin with and only begrudgingly helped after you had to search the store for him and ask; and then expect to be harrassed every other week by phone about when you are going to pay off the balance.

You will want that guitar to be it's best, so you might as well save up $350 more to go online and order better pots, switch, new wiring, new bridge hardware, a new nut, new tuners, and prepare to either learn or pay someone else to do the work.

Fast forward to your band.. despite a solid demo, set list, and the ability to entertain a crowd, venues are reluctant to hire your band. The only ones willing to give you a try are places that couldn't fill up if they had a free beer night. You beg everyone you know collectively to show up, but most don't- nobody likes the place, or the location, or the prices. The few people not friends who randomly show up are asked to pay a cover, and promptly turn and leave. The best deal you could broker was to play for the door, making a solid $15 per man for the night, but unfortunately between drinks and food, you spent $40-$50 each. Congrats, you just paid to play.

Fast forward two years - with your hardest efforts, you've managed to build a half-decent fan base- disappointing in it's overall scope, but in today's market where live music holds little value, you appreciate what you can get. You play all the best bars in your area, but can't penetrate any of the "big" clubs and bars because none of them book bands who aren't signed to local booking agencies. Agencies expect bands to travel FAR (here you could be expected to play up and down the east coast), and also expect you to play weeknights, and allow them full schedule control... something not doo-able by the standards of any "weekend warrior" band.

You sigh.. knowing that despite all your efforts, your place in the local market is the best you can ever do with your current circumstances. Your band maxxed out on pay two years ago, which equates to $100 per man per gig. You occasionally land a private event or party that gains you an extra 50-100 per man, but it's certainly not the status quo. At the rate you get, you barely cover your bands expenses overall.. this sure is one expensive hobby, you think.

Welcome to the life of a local cover band.

You gotta love to play and the 100$ a night is just enough to pay for Kleenex to wipe the spit off of ya if it gets ugly on any given Sunday.

(but not enough to pay the 400$ fine and never mind the community service when you smack the offender with a beer mug) lol

This is why I dig playing at the frat house. When it gets ugly, the frat bros "TCB" all the way and I don't even have to put down my guitar.

You can look down on the backyard frays and the frat shows all you like, you won't get rich but you'll have a good time in good company.

The only thing better than the frat house is a backyard party where they are having a home spun wrestling show that goes on while you play !!!!!

Thank you all for the feedback I do appreciate it, I understand that it may seem rambling to those who are challenged by text speak. In the uk we call it communication. I just wanted to know how things were going with fellow musicians across the pond.

This is not a personal slam, but something one should consider when "communicating" with others outside your "sphere of friends."

In the USA we call it inappropriate grammar.
And it can be an indication of laziness, a trait best avoided in members of a working band.

It's fine between my band-mates / family. But I can tell you from my personal experience in the HR profession.
It would not get an application past the first trash can.

Well how's everyone getting on putting your band together,has it been an easy ride everything fall into place when you need it too?
What about getting gigs are they easy to come by, does the whole band go and look for work or is it left to the guy who starts the band.
I want to get an idea of the music scene on the semi pro level both in the UK US and Ca. I've been a musician for fifty years I never looked at it as something to get a living out of though I understand how some would, for me its always been a pleasure to make music it was a gift I was given its my hobby I've played in different places all round the world met many interesting people and all of it without any pressure from management or record companies or umpteen people that need feeding so I consider myself lucky and think that I've seen the best of live music.
in the early days pre Beatles pop music was exciting and it slowly grew with everyone wanted to be Cliff or Elvis, Saturday mornings down at the record shop all getting on and listening to the latest releases I remember the cheap £5 guitars, Orange is such a lovely colour(hic) dont you think, thats how nearly all of us started but slowly as time has progressed and audio has moved on from the vinyl how many of us would have thought that technology would bring about the demise of live music because thats how I see it. Music is now everywhere shops car plane ipod mp3 pc pad you cant get away from it, well you can get away from it and thats whats happening in the UK, the advent of the smoking ban and the loss of hundreds of pubs that used to have live music has started a decline in live music. Our music instrument shops are closing ok maybe online trading has had an effect but overall live music is dying the days of musicians being able to pop into a music shop pick up a guitar and belt out "Smoke on the water" before sticking down a deposit on your soon to be pride and joy are almost over, so I thought I'd ask you all for your opinion on the state of live music in your country, once upon a time if you wanted a bass player it was no problem just stick an ad in and just wait for them to come pounding at your door same goes with drummers singers leads keys etc so how is it now? The reason I ask? well I've got a shed load of gear that I've collected over the years so if anyone thinks that the scene is healthy and on the up you can make me an offer lol.

I think the music scene at least in the u.s. depends on where you are at in the country. Here in Houston it is as it always has been. GOOD! I feel lucky to live in an area that has always been sort of under-rated. I have no problem finding bands or gigs. It is like anything else in life you have to work at it and be patient!

text speak. In the uk we call it communication.

Really? You don't use punctuation and call that communicating?

It looked like either laziness or a mild form of mental illness to me....but you say that is an intentional style nowadays in England?

text speak. In the uk we call it communication.

Really? You don't use punctuation and call that communicating?

It looked like either laziness or a mild form of mental illness to me....but you say that is an intentional style nowadays in England?

Hey Ted,... When the heck you coming back up this way? Bring your wife and family this time, you old shmuck. Miss you. GLEN and GWEN!!! (smile).

In mid July...and no way my wife is going to travel with me. it drives us both crazy.

But I will have the great Polish producer, Pawel Zarecki and his wife, with me.

Thanks for some perspective.

Joel - you're one of the lucky ones, had the right talent for the right place at the right time. Not everyone is so lucky!

Joel - you're one of the lucky ones, had the right talent for the right place at the right time. Not everyone is so lucky!

The right talent for the right place at the right time . . . yes . . . apparently so.
However, I for one do not believe in "luck' save that which we make for ourselves.
I say this, as I contemplate and struggle with the very real possibility of having to "begin anew".
Good luck, bad luck, . . . or simply poor decision making on my part?
I accept the proposition that it is do-able, as long as (1) It is in God's plan for me (2) I accept his guidance and make the appropriate decisions.