General Music Chat

Ugh where do I start?
I used to say it's not THAT bad from my own previous experiences, but f**k! It is that bad. All people wanna do is talk talk talk talk n fuccing talk. Okay you told me bout your style, you told me bout your set list. You also showed me a lil piece of your playing (which was good/kinda).. now when are we meeting? "Ummm.. well, gee.. I dunno.. ummm... errr.. well, we're not really sure where we're heading as a band, you know?"

ARRRRRRRGHH.. And most of em say "dude, you're just what we're looking for in a frontman in our band"
If that were true, we wouldn't be talking online/by phone for the 3rd time without meeting once. Just set the place n time, I'LL BE THERE! And then when I say "how bout Tuesday? Thursday? Sunday?" they're like "I don't think I'll be free.. I have to go.." wherever.. the excuses start rollin like pebbles down a mountain (I dont wanna hear it bout my metaphors either)

I hate wasting time when it comes to music. And "YES, I've searched further than online n newspapers ads"

Am I supposed to feel better after typing that stuff? Cause I don't

Hey man, relax. Lol. As you have heard on here that is far from unusual, people just do that crap. Heck, I got a message today of someone looking for me to jam with them, I just told them outright "No, sorry." Instead of running them through loops.

People can be annoying, it is normal. Just keep searching and do not give up, you will get into a band. Or just start up your own band, get everyone together. I plan on starting my own band when I move. That is that project I posted about some time ago.

So yeah, just keep calm, let it go. There are tons of bands out there who need lead singers and tons of musicians who would like to join a band.

Just start over again, reexamine your options and go a different direction this time.

Peace out, hope this helps somewhat, GuitarAnatomy.

Yeah GA, calm him down...Jesus... ..The only thing I can tell ya is that with time and experience, that can only come from situations like this, YOU will get better at pickin up on little things and will learn to ask KEY questions early on. Things that seemed irrelvant at the time will dawn on you later..Looking back in hind site , I can see the little nuances about "these kinds of people" that I missed yrs ago..10yrs from now , you'll have several categories in which to put all of US.. Seriously, your a great vocal and Im sure a good guy to work with..Youve helped the oldman here more than ya know...With that, youve got to keep the faith even when it looks bad..Hell, I sat in nashville for months in a crappy run down apt, No TV,drinkin a case everyday waitin on the PH to ring, networkin my ass off before I finally got a road gig.Sure seemed pretty hopeless but my persistance payed off...Hang in there. I know , easier said BUT,.you got your bros' here to hear ya out...Not much we can do but be there for ya.

Now get in there and put US another tune up to listen to...

John

See. this is where me & GA & John are quite different - I get PISSED - I rant & I rave & I get all pissy for awhile - & then I get over it quick & move on. Gotta have that release when I get frustrated, or I might let it get to me for real, & there's no sense in that. Just ain't healthy.

Don't blame you a bit, Andrew. As you saw in my last post, I was a lil PO'd, too.

It happens.

Thanks for sharing.

Hope it gets better for you.

Put your anger to work.

Woodshed and work on material, thats what I do when it gets crappy.

If you can sing you could just come down to Memphis every sunday night and sing with one of my projects that needs a singer.

Good Luck and just stay at it.

Thanks.
John, I DO ask key questions. I start with influences n style, because I don't wanna ask em if they're gonna meet me n then I chicken out because I don't like their style, right? Gear comes along and then right away, I ask for an address and/or try to arrange a meeting.

GA, (I don't think you've said your real name before ) I will NEVER give up. You'll have rip my heart out in order for me to stop my hunt

Wish it was that easy, JW. You play very well, but Tennessee is beyond far at this moment. 3 years n I'll move wherever my music needs me. And you're right bout the writing. Matter of fact, I write my best when I'm in that kinda mood.

Andragon,
Get used to all the talkers and posers and excuse makers. Forget them. I stopped talking to them.
If they cancel the 1st meetup for ANY reason, I forget about them . . . forever. And I meen forever; they'll waste your time talking.
.
OK, they cancelled, and I never called them again. But if they call me back w/ an apology and offer a firm date/place to make music - well, maybe they are for real. Then I give them a second chance.
.
I suspect that if 1 out of ten leads pan out - you're doing alright.
Just think of every contact as a 'lead,' - and not a musician . . .
That means that if you're looking for one person, you'll probably have to contact 10 people first.
.
Another thing to consider: the availablility of musicians in the USA for any given experience level.
>There are millions and millions of people w/ little experience. Lots of choices.
>There are probably 3-4 million people w/ some experience. Now it's a smaller pool to choose from, but they're out there.
> Probably 3/4 million musicians w/ a lot of experience; so there's even less of them available . . .
.
Now of these people in any category, how many are seriously looking to play out? 1 out of 4? 1 out of 10? 1 out of 20? . . . I don't know . . .
Anyway; something to think about.

Haha, Lol. Yeah, that is good you will never give up. My real name is Jonathan. You can call me Jon, John, Jonny, Yon, Yonatan, whatever you like, just don't call me late to dinner. Kidding around.

Hey, these guys are giving you some great advice. Everyone has a different way of viewing things in the music business as you see. I would just drop someone who kept making excuses, they would have like two chances with me (Yeah, I am a hypocrite, I have made excuses before too, whoops, not doing that again).

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

Thanks.
John, I DO ask key questions. I start with influences n style, because I don't wanna ask em if they're gonna meet me n then I chicken out because I don't like their style, right? Gear comes along and then right away, I ask for an address and/or try to arrange a meeting.

GA, (I don't think you've said your real name before ) I will NEVER give up. You'll have rip my heart out in order for me to stop my hunt

Wish it was that easy, JW. You play very well, but Tennessee is beyond far at this moment. 3 years n I'll move wherever my music needs me. And you're right bout the writing. Matter of fact, I write my best when I'm in that kinda mood.

I think half my post count on this forum are on this subject lol

Some of the other key questions I've personally learned to ask questions about how often they rehearse, where they rehearse, how many gigs they play, how often, and what's left after getting you (are they also needing bass, anything else?)

That line of questioning either gets very straight forward answers, which you know they are for real; or you get a lot of answers like: "uhhh...well... let me explain about that..." and then you know they talk more than play.

I sat on my ass for over a month waiting for an audition to join a band back in february, only in the end to find out all they did was f**k talk, talk and then talk some more.

People can talk all day about "making it", but those people never do.

Now look what you did, got me all riled up again

well I just wanna twist a posers' jaw when they jerk me around! of course I dont, but I want to. I'm stuck having to rely on a 2 people to play a gigg that have bullshitted me before already because there just aren't any real musician's around here. it is frustrating to say the least. this is not looking for a poker buddy or someone for your bowling team. This Is A Passion, and it brings out a passionate response when an artist gets jerked around on his (or her) art! but the fact is you are all right in my mind. you just have to look past them and continue on. I have had at least a dozen POSER'S do it to me in the last year, and it got in my crawl every time. but I'm stuck in a backward area w/no gig's near (which means no serious players) so what can I do? its a real struggle.
hang in there Andragon and don' do anything I want to do!

Another thing to consider: the availablility of musicians in the USA for any given experience level.

Thanks for responding. I guess I got a good chance then, because I don't care that much bout experience. As long as you know how to play your instrument, be creative with it, AND comfortable with it. Experience comes along the way. At this point, I care little bout it. Side note: it's Canada here, but it's practically the same in the music experience aspect

I would just drop someone who kept making excuses, they would have like two chances with me (Yeah, I am a hypocrite, I have made excuses before too, whoops, not doing that again).

Jon, I rarely scratch people off my "list." However, I focus much less on them. But like Alan said, if they say "Well, [insert HUGE excuse] we're into it as much as you are now. Let's go kick ass," I'd go for it.. if it suits me.

Some of the other key questions I've personally learned to ask questions about how often they rehearse, where they rehearse, how many gigs they play, how often, and what's left after getting you (are they also needing bass, anything else?)

Ofcourse, these are great questions, but:
1. I don't wanna sound like a machine. I have a short list of MAIN questions to find out if there's a possibility or not.
2. Despite your questions' importance, they come second on my list. Why? Well, for example, if someone expects me to scream my way through a song (which I don't even like) and I didn't ask em bout the style. I could care less whether he practises or not. See what I'm saying? But yea those questions are fired at them, if I get the right answers from the first set of questions

...But I'm stuck in a backward area w/no gig's near (which means no serious players) so what can I do?

I know, man. I moved here a year ago expecting SOMETHING. But damn it's almost dead. The norm here for rockers are 3 groups:
1. Hardcore screaming, the loudest the better.
2. Experimental progressive stuff.
3. Strictly radio pop rock and nothing else.
Sad

Thanks "y'all,"
Long-ass-post Andrew.

Andragon, You will find that people want what they want but they do not know how to go get it. What many don't know is that you just gotta jump in and do it. The first thing that you gotta do is put your foot down, you are working for them just as much as they are working for you. If they are not willing to commit to a meeting you then, get to steppin;. They are afraid of something and regardless of what that fear is, you want no part of it. Don't worry about "what ifs". I truly understand your frustration and I am glad to see it. You are ready to perform, play your ax,yet no one around seems to be where you are at. Well, you can't move to Orange CA. so you hafta look in your own community. Don't be afraid to be the boss, don't ask for a meeting. Plan the meeting. This is a job, so you plan the meeting and if they don't show up for it you know where you stand. At this point, without an earth shattering excuse, business with them is over.

JMHO,
Mary the Flutist

Thanks, Mary. Too bad I don't play axes
I move my throat muscles and vocal cords though

Yes, definitely. I AM putting myself out there.. it's just that sometimes a disappointment after another kinda puts you down. To be honest, I do feel better.. and here I am contacting 2 new ones. One online.. one is a friend of a friend.

Some key questions to ask prospects, if ANY of these are responded to in the negative you move on: 1) Have you got a place to rehearse and enough good equipment? 2) Do you have any songs WELL REHEARSED in your repertoire? 3) Do any of your current band members have any professional experience? 4) Do you have ANY original material? 5) If so do you plan to perform them on your gigs? 5) Do you have any places you know where we can gig soon after REHEARSING all material? 6) Do you want to get to the recording studio after rehearsing enough good material? 7) Is it possible to come up with one definite time each week that all band members can definitely be somewhere to REHEARSE? REMEMBER IF ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED NO YOU MOVE ON. If you get to your first rehearsal and people are drunk or high on something you LEAVE and move on. Later...

Some key questions to ask prospects, if ANY of these are responded to in the negative you move on: 1) Have you got a place to rehearse and enough good equipment? 2) Do you have any songs WELL REHEARSED in your repertoire? 3) Do any of your current band members have any professional experience? 4) Do you have ANY original material? 5) If so do you plan to perform them on your gigs? 5) Do you have any places you know where we can gig soon after REHEARSING all material? 6) Do you want to get to the recording studio after rehearsing enough good material? 7) Is it possible to come up with one definite time each week that all band members can definitely be somewhere to REHEARSE? REMEMBER IF ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED NO YOU MOVE ON. If you get to your first rehearsal and people are drunk or high on something you LEAVE and move on. Later...