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Miko you may be the best guitarist to ever strap a guitar on, but you may suck as a person, sorry man just call it like I see it, and no I didnt go looking for your songs, personally I find avenged sevenfold boring, but thats just a matter of taste.

You need to network.

I went to an open mic and buddy of mine host every week last night, he asked me to come play wed night with him and another guy, cause thier normal guy is out of town. This bassist and singer are part of one of the better club bands in Memphis. And no I didnt get asked because I have a huge ego and monster chops, I got asked cause they know that i respect thier space playing and wont go in there trying to be some sort of rock god.

Nashville has literally 1000s of musicians, you just need to get out and network with folks that play in your genre. Go to the Rutledge I hear they have some music playing there that may be up your alley, find people in real life doing what you want to do and make yourself available. An old friend band Jasmine Kane was up there this past sat. Hell Im not even in Nashville anymore and can probably get up there and play with someone in a week if I want too.

I wish you luck, and thanks for listening to my stuff and busting my chops!

Get off you computor, get off your ass and get out there where people are doing whatever it is you want to do.

Now that was some quality advice. And I thank you for it!

I guess I had to rattle some cages, but whatever. For the record tho, I am not a arrogant prick (as much as 1 little thing I typed on here may lead you to believe) And I am not a guitar god.....Jesus christ. I think I was COMPLETELY misunderstood here....

I don't remember exactly what I said, But if I said anything that led people to believe that I thought I was the best....it is only because that is what I have seen from the 30 or so guitarists I have met and actually played with. But, I would ask ANYONE to challenge me if you think you are better. I AM NOT arrogant and if you are better than me, I would love to learn from you. But at the same time, let's not pretend that a handful of videos of me messing around doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, is a reflection of my best capabilities. That was not my intent. I did not do those videos thinking "Oh, I am going to show off my very best skills here!"... I did those videos thinking "Oh, yeah....I will put a couple little videos on here, sure why not?".
Notice that I am wearing the same clothes in all the videos? That's because I did them all (including starting the damn profile) in one day. Really, in like 3 hours. This was NEVER meant to be a well thought out "showcase" of ANY kind. Just me putting something out there. I would not use this profile for anything more than proving that I am a real person and that I am not some troll or something. That's all!
And the other thing. I have had as much success in the past as ANY of you (anyone with more success than what I have seen would not be on Bandmix at all) Let's not act like I have never done anything and I am green as grass. I have sold out many shows, built a fanbase, been in the studio, been on tour and played at a very high level in the past. And not as a hired gun, but as an original musician in an original band where I did my share of the work on my own. Just not here in Nashville, but in St. Louis and Chicago. So I don't need the BS from a bunch of random people on here that nobody has ever heard of. Your no further along or better than me, so don't pretend that you are.
Let me be clear here, I don't "suck as a person" and I am not really that arrogant or angry either. IT WAS JUST ONE THING I TYPED ON A BAD DAY! And nothing more. I would hope any intelligent person would understand that you can't fairly judge someone by one thing they say or do. Now, If they continue to be arrogant and cocky consistently, then fine, rip them a new asshole. But I am pretty sure I have made it clear that this is not my intention. That, although I stand by some of my opinions, I DO regret being so harsh and ugly originally. That was just a bad moment that came across much worse than I expected it to.
And to continue to adress the many misunderstandings here...(This directed towards the comments made by "Just another guitarist"....
I am as hard a worker as there is. No, I don't really want to work this hard to get a group together (I don't think it should be that hard to find a drummer) But, if I had a band, working my ass off and carrying my share of the load is in no way a problem for me. That's what I was bitching about in the first place! As in, "Why do I have to do all the work just for someone else to jump in at the last minute and take equal credit for it?". To me, it seems like it's everyone else who just wants to show up at the 11th hour and get paid to learn your songs. I am trying to be the humble, hard working guy that is open and available for anything. It's everyone else that is being picky and lazy (IN MY EXPERIENCE, for god sakes, I am not saying that about ALL of you!) Just the people I have met and talked with. Trust me, if it's a good guy with a good attitude that is willing to work his ass off that you want.... That is definitely me.
And I couldn't care less if anyone wants to "believe" that or not. I am not going to try to defend myself to people anymore. I know who I am and I know that I am a very down to Earth, humble person with an intensely strong work ethic and very good musicianship. If I offended anyone I am sorry (aside from the one time someone called me out and I bit back) it was never my intention to do that...
But for those of you who are just reading my very first post and then responding to it.....STOP. I have retracted most of that many times now and explained that I was just angry and upset. Lashing out at the world! Not at anyone specific....

I think I am one of the best guitarists in Nashville only because I don't think to many people that can play as well as I do have their head on straight. You see, I am not a "hired gun" trying to make a dime off of someone else's material. I do not claim that the only way I will show up somewhere is if you pay me to. To me, THOSE are the real arrogant pricks. The ones everyone should really be laying into. The guys that are not as good as they think they are, but think they deserve cash up front just to rehearse. That is not me. I am just as good as any "hired gun" but I don't care to get paid right away because I know the money will come in time if we really earn it and deserve it. When I say I am a pro, that's what I mean. THAT I am a pro, not that YOU are the pro and I want to take credit for YOUR ideas....in my opinion, that makes YOU the pro, and ME a wannabe "hired gun".......I want to be original and write the music myself (or at least my share of it) To me, that's what it's all about....
That's all I ever really meant, and all I ever should have said...

Besides, I just read my original post again. What exactly did I say anyway that got people so wired?

I actively said that this DOES NOT apply to everyone, and that I am sure there are plenty of people around THAT ARE NOT like this...

Almost everyone that has responded to this post, responded as if I was talking directly to them. NO< I was talking about my experience with people that are not even on this site. NONE OF YOU (Except for the one guy that one time that I have since apologized for, but only did out of self defense)

But what did I even say that was so bad? All I really said was I need to meet better people than the ones I have met so far. Because the people I have met so far are a joke and drove me into writing this ranting pile of garbage in the first place...But I wasn't really talking to any of you, or anyone on this site for that matter. So why are you all taking it so personal and telling me i'm an idiot for trying to find people to start a band with by cursing at them and being a prick to them? I'm not.
I was cursing and ranting about the people I have met and left behind, and I was speaking to the people I want to meet in the future. Sounds to me like everyone just got really defensive for some reason and thought I was talking about them specifically when I was saying things like "Your not that good" and stuff...I was talking about people I have actually met and played with that really are not that good, not any of you (the people I am actually trying to meet and play with. Which is the whole reason I paid for membership to this site)
And it's funny, I never even tried to message or recruit any of you (anyone that has responded to this so far), so what would make any of you think I was talking about you? I'm sure you are all fine musicians and great people.....wasn't talking about any of you. I was actually trying to meet better people and was hoping someone on here would have shared in my horrible experiences playing with sloppy guitarists, or broke drummers that are not as good as they claim to be.
And when I said I was starting to think I was one of the best guitarist in Nashville, what I meant was. From the people I have played with, I AM the best (and that's about 15 people so far or so) guitarists and drummers, I am better than all of them so far (leaps and bounds better actually). And I am tired of playing with crappy musicians. SOO, I paid for a membership on here to meet better ones. PEOPLE LIKE ALL OF YOU, The very ones who think I am calling them bad and think I am slamming.....which I wasn't! (except for that one guy) I was just ranting about not finding good musicians on my own, and was hoping some of you could help. Instead, you all thought I was talking about you, your best friend and your mother or something....
Again, I wasn't cursing at any of YOU....I was cursing TO you, ABOUT other people...

Sorry, dude, but you're still showcasing. But now with caveats.
You still say "And when I said I was starting to think I was one of the best guitarist in Nashville, what I meant was. From the people I have played with, I AM the best " then say "and that's about 15 people so far" - 15 people? There are thousands of musicians in Nashville. Best of 15 doesn't mean anything.
Ranting is fine, but when you post to look for new people, what are they looking at? - your RANT! When thye 'pre-audition' you, what are they looking at? - your "videos of me messing around doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING", how do you think that is going to help you?

The excuse that everything (rant and videos) was done in 1 day tells people that you're not putting much effort into this.

Everyone who responded to you (me included) is trying to help you by letting you know what YOU APPEAR TO BE to us from what you posted. Ever hear the phrase "You never get a second chance to make a good first impression"?

Come on pal - declaring yourself the 'best' in Nashville is kind of silly and will be regarded as such by guys who themselves are pretty good.

Now days you are lucky to the be the best in your trailer park! Everyone plays.

Besides, Dave Mustaine and John McLaughlin are the 'best.' Wait - maybe it is Jeff Beck, Chet Atkins or Keith Richards? Maybe it's Mike Talbot? Who knows - there is no objective test of 'bestness' or Doc Watson might own the title. How do you declare 'best' across genres as diverse as Heavy Metal and Blue Grass?

I think it has been productive for you to hear our responses. (most of us play or have played professionally) You may be sure that the is the response you will get from most players. Tone it down my friend - let others praise you. Write good songs and lay of the bragging - you can put this together if you do.

Wanting to do it with original music is laudable in my opinion.

Talbot

Come on pal - declaring yourself the 'best' in Nashville is kind of silly and will be regarded as such by guys who themselves are pretty good.

Now days you are lucky to the be the best in your trailer park! Everyone plays.

Besides, Dave Mustaine and John McLaughlin are the 'best.' Wait - maybe it is Jeff Beck, Chet Atkins or Keith Richards? Maybe it's Mike Talbot? Who knows - there is no objective test of 'bestness' or Doc Watson might own the title. How do you declare 'best' across genres as diverse as Heavy Metal and Blue Grass?

I think it has been productive for you to hear our responses. (most of us play or have played professionally) You may be sure that the is the response you will get from most players. Tone it down my friend - let others praise you. Write good songs and lay of the bragging - you can put this together if you do.

Wanting to do it with original music is laudable in my opinion.

Talbot

By in large it would seem that how good one is may be largely irrelevant.
( past a certain level of competence of course )
I'm not advocating any of us stop working and stretching to improve.
What I'm saying is it's not so much what we've got talent wise..
It's what we do with it, that really matters.

George

You are right about that 'certain level of competence' but that is a pretty high level these days. I believe if you are all competent in the essentials: know your chords and notes, understand rhythm, melody, timing and so on - the key to success is three things: do you play together well? As in do you sound like a band and not some individuals playing together; do you have big league material rehearsed, recorded and ready to go; and of course, do you have 'luck.'

Note: scenario is similar but with obvious differences if one is a solo artist.

I tried harder than most for the 'big time' but my 'luck' ran out. I've often thanked God for that. If I were famous my personality would have become even worse and my bad habits too. I wouldn't mind the money though!

I wonder if 'Mikofire' will ever return here after this ignominous start?

Hey, what do I know? I think "Beast and the Harlet" sucks rocks and can't imagine why anyone would waste time learning such a lame guitar solo.

No accounting for taste I guess...

Always let others praise you and take 0% of it to heart.

"You are only as good as your last show".

Scott

"I wouldn't belong to a club that would have me as a member!" Groucho Marx.

We have to have a boatload of drive and ego to assemble enough musicians to make a band. To talk shifty bastards into hiring us to play music in their club - or to listen to our demo tape.

It's when we start believing that nonsense we are at risk on a lot of levels. We've all known guys who started buying their own wonderfulness. Should be a warning to the rest of us.

Talbot's Theorem: Self satisfied players drift toward mediocrity. As do bands who tolerate their performances being less than totally outstanding and embrace 'good enough.'

Talbot

Talbot's Theorem: Self satisfied players drift toward mediocrity. As do bands who tolerate their performances being less than totally outstanding and embrace 'good enough.'

Talbot

Wow, that's a mouthful there..too true for comfort.

Even now, I am tempted to embrace 'good enough' because you can't control what others do, only your part of the 'special sauce' and everyone wants to keep limping along, regardless.

And if you decide to undertake something new, you have to have the drive to make it your own and something worthwhile, else you are headed for 'good enough'.

(Tastes like sugar, but as poisonous as Cobra venom over the long run.)