Prevost82 wrote:Kramerguy wrote:Just wanted to say that the quality of musicians/people on this site are WAY above the par for most other sites.
I've been debating negative attitudes (older musicians who failed?) on harmony central and I can't believe the difference between the positive "can do" attitudes and support of the folks here vs. the "give up, it's a miserable existence" attitudes over there.
Kudos to all you folks, I'm glad I found these forums 
Happy new year!
Not from the music I heard posted here ... including my own ... JMO
I think the older musicians were trying to tell you something ... but you didn't want to here it.
To be honest, I really didn't want to hear it (the negativity), but it really wasn't about me, It was never about me. It was my observation in a different thread about the violinist, where quite a few folks were being extremely negative, to which I reflected on how that same kind of negative attitude (although totally different situation, which is why I chose not to mention the violinist thread) directly affected me, and that I overcame it. How I overcame it and where I'm at in life was never, and shouldn't have been hijacked into the topic.
Prevost82 wrote:I don't see anyone overhear that has gotten anywhere close to the hights Pat Coast or Terry D. had achieved. Terry had reach the brass ring before you even were out of dippers, check out him MTV video from the early 80's. I think you should look at the reality of what they are saying about this industry.
Which is why I've always made it a point to NEVER compare myself to other musicians and bands, as you more or less just did. There's always someone better than you, and there's always a band that will be more successful than yours, even if your in the Rolling Stones, you will never be considered by ALL people to be the best band ever. It's a fruitless pissing match, and something I learned HERE, speaking with most of these fine people, is that working together, and supporting each other is a FAR better and more productive method of networking that comparing penis size. Something that HC has WAY too much of.
Prevost82 wrote:I played with Sonny Rhodes about a year ago and had a good disussion with him ... he's around 65 years old. All he knows is music. He's got no exit plan and lives from gig to gig, just existing. He's living in Canada (illegally) now because his health is failing, he has no medical plan in the US so he got himself a Canadian girl friend so he can use her medical. He was scheduled for a double hip repacement this last summer. He looks like he's 80 something ... I guess from the life he has lived, self-inflicted? Maybe.
I've never said nor indicated that I'm making stupid decisions without a safety net. The folks on HC said that for me, and somehow it became fact.
Prevost82 wrote:I'm an old guy. Like Pat & Terry I started out in the 60's playing ... making a living and a good one at that. Live music was sot out by the public in the 60's, 70's and part of the 80's and you could gig 5 days a week (just like a day job). That start going away by the 90's and now there are little to no audience that gives a sh*t.
I'm also a sideman, I play with duo's or trio's that are touring and if they get a larger gig they fill out the band to a 4 or 5 pc to get a fuller sound and better show. I see these guys and gals (some with 6 CD's out, getting airplay) touring across the country and they are scraping money together for gas to make it to the next gig, which is sometimes 500 miles away because of the lack of venues. It's not very pretty.
I know it turn into a bit of a pissing match over there (HC) for you but you should at lest look at the reality of the industry ... at lest keep it in mind so you don't end up like Sonny .... I think that is the message the old guys are trying to get across.
Ron
You admitted that the industry has changed, but I disagree with your presumptions about what it has become. Some people have changed with the industry, others have not. I have a pretty good feeling that the most bitter of older musicians have not. The horror stories I often hearcan be averted with proper planning, being up to par with the status-quo, and always having a safety net. I've never claimed to be anything but thoughtful and realistic about where I'm at and where I want to be, and I certainly know the realisms of today's industry.
Remember how those same folks reacted to that Dick Dale video? DD was 100% accurate in everything he said, yet, several of the "successful" (whom I call bitter) musicians on HC slammed him and his advice. Stupid. ANY advice is good. Including mine: Don't let negative people drag you down with thier bitterness and failed expectations.
I do appreciate your input, as every story, tidbit of advice, etc... is always read and absorbed.
For instance, I like BLueStrat's posts, he's oldschool, he's obviously had a great deal of touring and experiences to share, and he IS a bit bitter that it wasn't what he wanted it to be, but he's NEVER condesending or nasty to folks, even when trying to inject rationale into things.
What many of them failed to realize in that thread was that they all attacked the messenger because they didn't like the message.