General Music Chat

A few people here suggested 'get out to the clubs/bars, open mics, network with others etc and you'll have better luck thatn advertising for band members here or CL'.
Last night at an OM, the guy co-running it asked if I wanted to partner with him doing a duo act (acoustic)! He's been out there and knows venues looking for acts. Maybe something will come of this opportunity!

Excellent !!!

Break a leg, Mike.

right on, mike. and good for you being out there in the trenches fighting the good fight.

good luck w that. hopefully something good will come of it. if not....hey, ya had another musical adventure.

as the saying goes "love ain't love til ya give it away".

(not sure what that has to do w anything ....i just like the saying!)

as the saying goes "love ain't love til ya give it away".

I never heard that before, but google says its a Reba McIntyre song, which would explain why I hadn't ...

as the saying goes "love ain't love til ya give it away".

I never heard that before, but google says its a Reba McIntyre song, which would explain why I hadn't ... [/quote

i used to play in a little trio yrs ago and one of the guys had a tune that used that line. i guess that's where it got in my head.

hmmm, i'm gonna have to find a recording of that old tune. got it on cassette somewhere. he was a real good songwriter and sang a lot like john sebastian.

Sometimes, not often, a jam can lead to a paid gig. but I prefer NOT giving anything away for free. I'd rather park my butt in my house than go play a jam for free. Probably one reason I don't "gig" very much any more. Those gigs that pay anything aren't paying enough to make it worth my while to "gig" anyway. So my next "gig" will be producing a studio CD and marketing it on the web and those paltry gigs we do on occasion we'll have CD's to SELL and make a little extra money. I'm about a little less than half done with my CD, so I'm not too far away from completing it. I've got several very good musicians more than willing to participate in completing it. Once it's done I can croak in peace. At least I'll have accomplished something in the world of music, instead of playing other people's stuff for peanuts....

FBob

You have described my own quandary. Part of me wants to play in front of people - it's been a while with only the occasional bass playing church thing of late.

But playing inn clubs is a damn hassle. That gear is heavier than ever, the pay is lower than ever, and everyone seems to want to play covers! I can see where that could be fun - I've done it and occasionally enjoyed it. But I just can't do that anymore.

So I've assembled a music room in my new home. Moved to a town where a lot more opportunities abound for partnering with talented players (although I left some good ones behind). But like you said - time to record original material.

I've written a lot of songs over the years and lost more than a few because I didn't record them. I've forgotten the music to a couple more! Writing chord charts helps I don't read music well enough to spell out note patterns and chord charts don't tell you what riffs you were playing or the rhythm.

Yeah, it's recording time. I want all tunes recorded before I worry about anything else.

Talbot

Welcome to the current scheme of things, gentlemen. lol
"Different area, all the same issues".

I am thinking I may migrate over to Keys for a local band.
They have to be something amazing though, else I am uninterested.

I'm thinking that really is the situation without actually mouthing the words.

I'll play almost anything as long as the people involved are really inspiring and I can actually handle whatever instrument with any kind of expertise.

Otherwise all the same lame covers and douche-bags make Scott a sad and sarcastic mfer.

"Show me something quality or it's AMF, all the way".

If I gotta play a xylophone, I might consider it as long as they sound awesome and I can actually handle it without making myself look like a teabagger. lol

If I gotta play a xylophone, I might consider it as long as they sound awesome and I can actually handle it without making myself look like a teabagger. lol

scott, doncha know mallet players get all the girls AND all the high dollar gigs???

at least that's what i was TOLD.

Don't ask me, I don't know sh*t.

Anyone that I've played with will tell you that.

I only care about the music and really nada else.

I play for an audience of one.
Irrelevant of the size of the crowd.
The job don't pay much, but my retirement will be Heaven.

Right On Guitar Mike, hope it works for u, but enjoy it while u got it the trip is where all the fun is at.

I go both ways on the original covers thing, when playing out the crowd wants to hear music they know and can dance and sing along with at least in ur basic trio or quartet on this forum. When players are auditioning they should play cover songs, so there's really know question in how to play it.

I think the xylophone would be easy and really good way to learn ur pitches.

I play the guitar and piano, but bought a complete bass rig (man is that mf heavy) about a month ago, and have been pleased with the new ways it shows me tonal relationships, that and the next bass player that says guitar players can't play bass, I'm gonna show him how many ways and all over the neck I'll pkay a 1, 3. 5. 7b, before I go Mixolydian or Dorian on his ass.

I'm just about the music the rest of my life is trivial and meaningless, the green lights on in the studio, Do Not Enter

You could go technical as you want on bass but for me bass is percussion with tone, in sync with the drummer. Very few people attack bass strings like I do. It's barbaric with good timing! And then I sing over that! A rare combination.

You could go technical as you want on bass but for me bass is percussion with tone, in sync with the drummer. Very few people attack bass strings like I do. It's barbaric with good timing! And then I sing over that! A rare combination.

Went to a new (for me) OM last night - the guy hosting it (turned out to be him and a 'band' - I use the term loosely) had been at another OM I'd been to and added me to his mailing list.
This was the bar at a Chinese restaurant. Place was jammed with regular barflies. I may not have been the youngest person there, but that's the way it felt - just the way all these 'regulars' were. Anyway, it wasn't really an Open Mic at all, but that they wanted people to sing/play with the 'band'. I told them to take a break while I did 4 songs. If I'd walked in without my guitar I would have left without playing, but I felt kind of obligated after the host saw me come in with it.
If this had been the first OM I'd ever gone to, I probably never would go back to one, but my skin has thickened over the last year+.