General Music Chat

There have been many success stories as well as complaints about Bandmix. I want to share what has happened to me since joining Bandmix; 1- I did meet a female guitarist through this site. Although she is green, we do plan on pulling some things together. 2. Through this girl, I have met a recording artist and we plan on working together. 3. I have been jamming in an local rock band called Alder Eagle. With them, I have been playing Locomotive Breath-Jethro Tull, Moondance-Van Morrison and Can't you See by the Marshall Tucker Band. We will be playing Tustin Tiller Days nearby. 3. I auditioned for a jazz band in Rdondo Beach...very long drive but I made the band. Hopefully the drive won't stand between me and success. 4. Hubby and I went out to breakfast at a restaurant that has a jazz band. I just HAPPENED to mention that I played flute. The pianist asked if I had my ax with me. I just HAPPENED to have my ax in the car. I actually was on my way to a flute choir rehearsal. I played one tune with them. We had a blast. I will going back for breakfast this Sunday, hopefully, with a longer jam session.

Now my most rewarding experience is a piece of music that I arranged for flute choir, piano,cello and percussion. It is a piece originally written for guitar called "Coffee Break", composed by Billy McLaughlin of Minnesota. I wrote it with the knowledge that it would be played by a young group of flutists. I had it recorded and I asked my former composition professor to critique for me. He liked it and would like to have it performed at the college's allumnus concert in April. So now, I am going to re-write it for an experienced flute choir. The piano and cello parts will have more movement. I have ideas surging through my head so I hope I don't overdo it to the point that it is unrecognizable. I sorta know Billy Mclaughlin. I saw him performing in Ohio at Kent State ( one of the branches ). I am originally from Ohio. I introduced myself to him and asked if I could jam with him the next time he performed in the area. He said yes. This was many , many years ago. I recently contacted him and asked if I could do the arrangement. He said yes, of course. I sent the CD of the recording but I have not heard from him yet. I hope that he doesn't hate it. However, it looks like things are looking up with and without the help of bandmix. In my honest opinion, this is exciting. Share your excitement with us.

Nice, nice, very nice! Love these success stories.

Good going, Mary!

I'm proud Mary.
Wait thats a song.
I'm proud for you Mary.
One benifit of a site like this, is it helps to maintain focus and enthusiasm for the musicians in the good times. And a sounding board for when things aint so great. The information and support I have recieved from the people on this forum has been instrumental (NPI) in the improvement of my craft.

ROCK ON !!!!

Sanshouheil and Philbymon, I was expecting to get responses from you guys. Thanks for your support and know that I support you guys in your endeavors. I hope that I can get somethin' online, namely, Locomotive Breath. Then you can compare that with "Coffee Break" and Syrinx. Who knows the opportunity may eventually arise where we may get the chance to jam together.Texas is not far from CA and West Virginia ain't far from Ohio.

Joined BandMix in August. September rolled around and I am in a band. It worked for me. Thank you! I really believe that it did because I have some audio in my profile and I weeded out all the extra stuff that I was not looking for, such as bagpipes. Detailed what I was looking for, the different songs that I sing (shows range in many ways). I thank the person that turned me on to BandMix.

As a bonus, I got to type to many different ppl here!! I am proud to call you guys friends!

There are a range of different opinions and styles. I think that opens up a whole range of possibilities and makes you appreciate the differences in people.

Also for people first starting out, if they/we pay attention to all the posts, there are TONS of GREAT ideas. From marketing your band to making sure you keep the sound man happy! These things I would never in a million years think of. Now, personally myself, I would never intentionally piss anyone off, but who knows what I might inadvertently do? With some of these posts, it makes you more aware of what to do and not to do.

Wow, I got long winded there.

Sorry 'bout that

I too am a satisfied subscriber to Bandmix, even though I have a free "cheapskate" account.

Robin,
Have you checked out Bandvista website builder? I still believe its a worthwhile investment for anyone with a workable act with serious intent on booking gigs. I hope to subscribe to it myself when I get my band tightened up, and am freed up to devote more time to my musical endeavors.

Building a house all by yourself takes a big bite our of one's day, but I still am jonesin' to get back out gigging. The Gin House Rockers are in stasis at the moment, but as long as people like you and Crip and Mikey Gentry and J.W. and Craig and Shredd6 and Joseph are out giggin'. it gives me a strange feeling of satisfaction to know that the art-form is still alive and kickin'.

Whining ol',
Howlin'

I too am a satisfied subscriber to Bandmix, even though I have a free "cheapskate" account.

Robin,
Have you checked out Bandvista website builder? I still believe its a worthwhile investment for anyone with a workable act with serious intent on booking gigs. I hope to subscribe to it myself when I get my band tightened up, and am freed up to devote more time to my musical endeavors.

Building a house all by yourself takes a big bite our of one's day, but I still am jonesin' to get back out gigging. The Gin House Rockers are in stasis at the moment, but as long as people like you and Crip and Mikey Gentry and J.W. and Craig and Shredd6 and Joseph are out giggin'. it gives me a strange feeling of satisfaction to know that the art-form is still alive and kickin'.

Whining ol',
Howlin'

It's cool to see that you are building your own house. Now that I think about it, I know at least 4 people in Ohio who built their own homestead. More power to you, Howlin. Just don't lose your focus on your music...I know that is easy to do when you are taking care of a home, especially one that is your own creation. How long is it taking to build? Maybe you should be on HGTV.

Mary,
I believe I first started digging the foundation around 2002.
We bought up window as cheap as we could find them, and I designed the house around them. Sounds crazy, but I knew from experience (this is my second house project) that windows are an expensive item, and I like lots of them.

The house has (or will have)
In floor hydronic radiant heat
Masonry wood stove
1600 square feet
upstairs laundry
one bedroom (all our boys are out of the house)
heavy insulation.
field stone facing
heavy timber pole support to accommodate an open floor plan.

Unfortionatly, code regulation and local restrictions are making it increasingly difficult for people to build their own shelter. I too have known a lot of old timers that have done so, but those days are passing.

We hope to procure an occupancy permit next year, so I have to bust butt.
I would still like to find the time to book the band for a Halloween gig or two.

Howlin'

SWEET house! I love houses that have character! Can't stand the new ones that are flat faced. There is nothing that makes them different from the others. Good Work!

I too am a satisfied subscriber to Bandmix, even though I have a free "cheapskate" account.

Robin,
Have you checked out Bandvista website builder? I still believe its a worthwhile investment for anyone with a workable act with serious intent on booking gigs. I hope to subscribe to it myself when I get my band tightened up, and am freed up to devote more time to my musical endeavors.

Whining ol',
Howlin'

Robin,
Thanks for the compliment.
I am an advocate of smaller energy efficient shelter. My architectural mentors are Thomas Jefferson, Frank Lloyd Wright and Sarah Susanka.
Ms Suzanka is the author of "The Not So Big House" which I found very inspirational.

I was wondering if you may have overlooked my post to you concerning Bandvista? Now that you have a gig, it may be of interest to you.
Howlin'

I haven't overlooked it. The "leader" of the band is actually doing a great job of researching everything. He has done bandvista and gigmasters and other points of interest. He has really got a handle on how to go about getting the wedding band thing going! He is even "Spying" on the competition to see how they do their gigs. Such as DJ between sets or do their own CD set up. He is even thinking about when and how to get the group photo done. He has put a ton of thought and research into this project. We even have a listing in the Delaware Bride magazine which a LOT of brides get or look at. Being in the Salon business, I am aware of where brides look. I know I will be able to possibly make some contacts thru the salon. Brides book their wedding appointments a year in advance or even start researching as soon as they get engaged. I can possibly "stear" them in our direction. As soon as the band has all the elements together, auditioning a keyboard player Monday, I am going to finish up the MySpace and my hubby is going to work on the web site.

It is exciting to see this come together and to be a part of it! I am also using all the info that JW and everyone else has added to the forum to help out.

Robin,

Good to hear that you got a handle on a professional gig. Judging from your vocal abilities and your outgoing personality, you should do well.
Wedding gigs are serious business and they require a professional attitude. My wife and I were doing them some years back. Besides playing bass,Cin became adept at wedding protocol, coordinating with the photographer, etc. Not easy work. Weddings are looked down by many musicians, but for the most part, are no place for an amateur attitude. Serious money can be made, but it's not witout its risks. I've known people who were sued for botching up somebodys wedding.

My current aspirations, musically, is to get out to do a few beerjoint gigs. I hope to someday have time to get back into songwriting. I find inspiration in this forum, as well as a whole lot of entertainment.
Best of luck to you,and keep a positive attitude.
Howlin'

Mary,
I believe I first started digging the foundation around 2002.
We bought up window as cheap as we could find them, and I designed the house around them. Sounds crazy, but I knew from experience (this is my second house project) that windows are an expensive item, and I like lots of them.

The house has (or will have)
In floor hydronic radiant heat
Masonry wood stove
1600 square feet
upstairs laundry
one bedroom (all our boys are out of the house)
heavy insulation.
field stone facing
heavy timber pole support to accommodate an open floor plan.

Unfortionatly, code regulation and local restrictions are making it increasingly difficult for people to build their own shelter. I too have known a lot of old timers that have done so, but those days are passing.

We hope to procure an occupancy permit next year, so I have to bust butt.
I would still like to find the time to book the band for a Halloween gig or two.

Howlin'

Howlin, That house is gorgeous. It's only 1600 feet? It looks much bigger than that. Our townhome is just over 1600 feet and it looks considerably smaller than your homemeade home. Your house must look huge with an open floor plan. It would be too bad to see fewer self-home builders. I had an accompanist in Ohio, a woman, who built her own house because her husband developed cancer and was unable to complete it. Although he started it she did most of the work. My daughter had a friend whose dad built their house. I worked with a nurse, who played bagpipes, whose hubby built their home. My mom's cousin built his house. The best place for laundry is upstairs. My brother remodeled his home to have the laundry upstairs. That way, you don't have to haul laundry up and downstairs.

Hope you get that Halloween gig.

Mary,
Thanks for the compliments. You a right about an open plan increasing the feeling of spaciousness in smaller homes. I have done extensive research on many aspects of this house and, as I mentioned before, found Susanka's book very helpful as pertains to more reasonable sizeing. There are literally hundreds of over sized, heat wasting homes up for foreclosure in our area, produced by a greed driven market. We are currently seeing the sad results of that kind of thinking.

The upstairs laundry was Cin's requirement. I seemed to make sense to me.

If you wish,I'll post a link to Cin's photobucket album of the progress. The house has progressed since the pic posted was taken.

On the subject of flute music....

I have always thought that one of the most beautiful combinations of instrumentation is a trio of flute, viola, and harp.

Cins calling to have coffee, so Gotta go
John