General Music Chat

There's nothing wrong with solo work. Anybody who's got enough money for you, take it. I wish I could do solo work. Might be pretty boring hearing nothing but bass and vocals. A duo would be interesting to me. Guitar, bass, drum machine, vocals, or even no drum machine. There was a great duo I saw years ago. I can't remember their name, I think it might have been Hot Damn Brothers or something like that. They played every genre of music. It was amazing.

Congrats on the work coming your way Phil!

I was going to ask what you charge as solo, and then I saw JH post about that. Which is in line with what I am going to be asking. Starting out at $200 to $250 for a 3 set night, and as I gain a following, increasing this to $300 to $350.

I need the work too!

Struggling financially in a BIG WAY!

You'll be making more than that per hour 24/7 when your CD company starts sending you the money from your CD sales...

Thanks Bob!

I hope that's true my brother!

Cripes! Had a dream about this song...except it was "Shop Like You Were Buying." That isn't quite the same, is it?

I found this acoustic version of that song for you here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbdknB0_5s0

Thanks ratsass...

He doesn't know the chords. Prolly got them o/l. All the sites I looked up had 'em wrong. Most of them left out the all-important B7, & many left out the key change at the end (like your guy did). It's amazing how many bad tabs there are out there!

I got it figgered out, I do believe.

I don't think he quite grasped the thing.

This guy was closer, though he's kinda boring -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZn9Pl1q ... re=related

Well...I'm off to play on my blisters, so wish me luck.

I'm gonna try this McGraw thing out tonight to see if I really have it.

Scared as sh*t these days doing solo work. I really need them good lucks anymore, & that kinda pisses me off, folks!

You the man !
Badges? Badges? We dont need no stinking Badges!!

Got there early & set up, went home & showered & returned in plenty of time to tune up & get in the right mind set...Time comes to play, so I turned on the PA, & nothing. Dddonnie was there, so I asked for his assistance with his PA...turns out it's got a blown fuse, & there's no extras. So we left to get another PA. When we got to his house, he says he's left his keys at the bar! Go back & get the keys, go get the head & return, but there's no power chord! Now I'm a lil frazzled. Call up another friend to bring me a PA & get set up to play an hour late. Played on the blisters & it hurt like hell, & I don't feel like I"m getting enough energy in my playing, but I'm not that surprized...the ppl seemed to like it, & they stayed throughout the nite, but DAMN I'm burnt on this night! I did do the whole 3 hours, but I feel like I played 9!

Tomorrow I hafta move a buncha med records for a Dr friend at 9 AM, then I have band practice, & then I hafta play that wake. I tried that song tonight, but flooked it up. There won't be time tomorrow to perfect it. I'm getting frazzled again just thinking about it all!

Breathe deep - I'll do fine. I'll just hafta use cheat sheets, but what do they expect when they gimme 2 days to learn it. I HATE that, though. Makes me feel like a rank amateur, but there's only so much I can do working around a 2 yr old...Grrr

My fingers feel like I put 'em through a garbage disposal...tomorrow's gonna be real fun! I can't wait until it's over...I be grumpin' even though I gots gigs! WTF's wrong with me?

The bar owner tonight was pleased with me...he paid me an extra $25 for my efforts & hassles, & I got a $20 tip for playing a tune that I actually know, so it weren't all bad...it just feels that way cuz I expect more from me...ya know, when things flook up so badly at the very start of a night, it really drains my energies to the max.

Does it hit you like that?

I'm usually so prepared, but I'm feeling like I'm not & it's got me buggin'...I have GOT to get my own lil PA, even if it's just a lil all-in-one.

Hmmm...I best go sleep on it all. Send me flowers!

As poorly as I did last night, the owner was very pleased. He wants to put me in a rotation to play there every 6 weeks.

I still have 2 parties to play, coming up, & that wake this evening. That one is worrying after I flooked up their special song last night, but I guess I can forgive myself for being a lil flusterbated with all the last minute crap I went through. I really am more focused, as a rule, but the PA crap really threw me for a loop, for some reason, last night.

It's funny, though. I never use song lists when I do solo stuff. when my energy level is where it should be, I play all kindsa upbeat songs. Last night, it was mostly folky stuff & toned down stuff. Still, the ppl seemed to like it, but it sure wasn't a party!

I feel like I'm gonna have that damned McGraw song in my headbone forever, though...unless, of course, I'm on stage trying to play it! GRRRRRRRRrrrrrr

Dude! No extrea fuse? Shame on you! (I'd better get busy and get some myself )
When stuff happens in cascades like that it can really take a toll on you.
Emotional / mental stress like that can wear you down faster than physical labor, and the recovery time can be longer as well.
The owner was pleased because you kept your commitment and worked your way through the setbacks like the professional you are.
Keep up the good work my friend, all's well that ends well.

I agree with Sans.

And it sounds like you got the gremlins out now, so that wake, will probably go off without a hitch, cause really that is more important. After all, people will only have ONE wake to play for, but you can always put on a better show at a joint that's hiring you back. Consider all that a dry run for something far more important. Serving the needs of a grieving family. They will remember this as their last commune with their deceased son, and you have truly been "honored" to help create the mood for that event.

You went through the worst at the earlier gig, so don't sweat this one. You are ready for it. You know you are. Stop doubting yourself. You are out there in full force now. How many musicians want to be in your shoes right now, cause they are struggling to find ANY paying gig out there. You're doing a great job. You have the talent. Be positive, and keep up the good work bro!

Full report when it's done please!

Some semi-good news - band practice has been postponed, so I can finish off that song before the wake.

I feel sorry for Dddonnie, though. He's hurting pretty bad & grumbling about how boogie-boarding ain't for no 61 yr old. He walks like Walter Brennan in the Real McCoy, for those of you what remember that. That's why he was so deep into his cups last night he wasn't much help when it was called for, but it's perfectly understandable. It wasn't his gig, after all.

So I"m off to work on this thing some more until I really feel it enough to do it right...I have a hard time feeling country stuff, esp when it's this melodramatic...

I know what happened last night, now, I think. I plugged the original board into a receptacle that's on a frikken dimmer switch. That's prolly what blew the fuze in the 1st place! Eh...at least it wasn't my fault. I had no way of knowing. Still, since it happened on my watch, I'l hafta run out to Radio Shack to replace it...& maybe get a few extras for future problems,...

The doc's stuff about killed me! Heavy stuff & no help at all! Well, he paid me a lil extra for it being so tough, & he was no help at all.

Next week he wants me to put his new boat together...?!?!?!?!?...I've never heard of a boat kit, or DIY boats. Eh...told him sure, I'll do it! At $25/hour. I figger it'll prolly take me about 2 hours just to read the directions...heh heh heh (Not really. He's been a steady customer of mine for 8 years. Pays me to do the weirdest stuff - put up & take down & store his Xmas lights, dispose of old med records, change light bulbs, painting, building stuff, finish his basement...ya know...all sortsa stuff. I'd never rip off a customer, & it shows the way they stay with me.)

Oh yeah...more good news - got a call from a guy that was there last night, & he wants me to play in another joint, & left me a message with his #. I was working when I got the call, but I'll call him back tomorrow.

Sheesh! I wish these ppl could have heard me when I was gooder, cuz I prolly could charge more...LOL

Man, I have a lot of hard work to get back into shape if I'm gonna do this stuff again!

Oh well...off to work again.

I'm glad things are rollin' for you again Phil. It may restore a little joy to your life brother. Lord knows we ALL need more of that in these times!

Congrats on everything!

Phil,

I enjoyed reading the candid account of your solo gig. I've had my fair share of gigs that were less then perfect over the years. I trust things will turn out all right. As was previously pointed out, "At least your out giggin', and you have the ability to pull them off even when things ain't going that good." )

As the song goes...
"Always look on the bright side of life"

Looking forward to hearing how the next gigs go down.

HJ

Well...I', mpt in the best shape to describe things, but here it goes...

I got there, set up, & checked everything, & all was well. They set me in a chair in front of everyone like I was on display...I did the song in a pretty perfect fashion..then I did everything else pretty well...then I went out & got a lil tip[sy...& now I'm goimg to bred


I'll give ya more info tomorrow...