Austin Music Scene - Relocating

opium89 · #1 08-27-2006, 11:47 AM

Any Austinites here? I'm moving there from Phoenix in a few weeks and will be looking for a steady gig. Any advice, info, web sites, instructors, etc I should be looking at? I've already seen the Chronicle but not much else. Any info would be appreciated.

Munjibunga · #2 08-27-2006, 02:25 PM

There are more than 250 live music venues in Austin on any weekend night, but more than enough musicians to go around. If you're half-way decent, though, you should be able to get a gig.

jimb213 · #3 08-27-2006, 10:21 PM

be sure you go to bass emporium when you get here. it's a killer store, with tons of awesome high-end gear, and the guys that work there are cool.

as for the scene, there tons of mediocre to bad bands playing every night. and occasionally good bands, too.

there's lots of different scenes around here. there's a pretty awesome punk/indie/emo scene, a good roots rock scene, some great jazz players... I would say just go to shows of bands in the style you want to play, and get to know the regulars and the musicians, and get your name out there.

txbasschik · #4 08-28-2006, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimb213

be sure you go to bass emporium when you get here. it's a killer store, with tons of awesome high-end gear, and the guys that work there are cool.

as for the scene, there tons of mediocre to bad bands playing every night. and occasionally good bands, too.

there's lots of different scenes around here. there's a pretty awesome punk/indie/emo scene, a good roots rock scene, some great jazz players... I would say just go to shows of bands in the style you want to play, and get to know the regulars and the musicians, and get your name out there.

I second that emotion.

You can pretty much play as little or as often as you like, here. The pay is not much in a lot of places, but you can play out a *lot* and make money. Lots of bands play an early show, then a late one somewhere else up the street.

You can play almost any kind of music you want, also. I have worked with a drummer who was in a blues band, a rock band, and a Bollywood band!

And yes, Bass Emporium is the place to go!!!

C'mon down, sug!

Cherie

opium89 · #5 08-28-2006, 10:20 AM

Well I am really looking for some resources online or otherwise. As mentioned, I found the Chronicle online that has musician wanted ads and such..Any others I need to be looking at?

One cool thing I found out is that Ed Freidland from Tucson recently moved to Austin and will be giving instruction there. Any other REALLY good instructors there?

jimb213 · #6 08-28-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opium89

One cool thing I found out is that Ed Freidland from Tucson recently moved to Austin and will be giving instruction there. Any other REALLY good instructors there?

no kidding? interesting... check out the university for some good teachers, or check bass emporium.

opium89 · #7 08-28-2006, 11:02 AM

Yep. About two months ago I think. You want his contact info?

Torch7 · #8 08-28-2006, 11:20 AM

Yes, Ed is teaching in Austin now, he is over at the Bass Emporium.

http://www.bassemporium.com/lessons.php

Hookus · #9 08-28-2006, 04:52 PM

Anyone with a stick and a rubber band can get a gig in Austin, I kid you not. If your music has any kind of college appeal, you can gig any night you want downtown, but there are great outlying bars as well, that pay more.

My advice for being a professional musician in Austin is: Get a real job.

Bass Emporium is the place to go. They can tell you anything you would want to know about being a bass player in Austin, and there are usually other bassists there to network with as well. Not many places where you can noodle away on a Ritter as you talk music...

masmasbasso · #10 08-29-2006, 10:16 AM

I'm usually super busy and you can make a living playing in Austin, but you have to be able to play a bunch of different styles and be well connected. I do have to tour to pay my mortgage, but I could probably get by playing with just Austin people if my overhead was a little lower.

It is a hard to break into any music scene since people just hire people they know. If been trying to help Ed Friedland get some gigs as my sub, but people just seem to want people they know. Get out and network in the scene you want to work in and you'll be alright if you can play. And remember that Austin is a singer/songwriter town, so don't show your chops, be a supportive player and just show up with a 4 string bass. There are a ton of vitage snobs here and they just don't get it when they see a 5 string bass and something that's not a fender. In the end there is always a lot of work if you are a good bass player and I'm just speaking about the original music and jazz scene. I have no idea what it's like in the cover band world here.

opium89 · #11 08-29-2006, 11:08 AM

I think I am being misunderstood here. I am not looking to make a living playing music there as I have a day job that pays the bills, just looking for an original band in the rock genre to play shows and such more as a hobby than a job. Really what I want to know about are the local resources that have musicians wanted ads and such. As mentioned, I found the Chronicle online and discovered some on craigslist just last night. Any others I should be looking at?

masmasbasso · #12 08-29-2006, 11:15 AM

I know... My making a living post was in regards to Hookus' post about getting a real job. But yeah, just go out and meet a lot of musicians in the scene you want to work in and the rest will follow.

Bass Emporium is a great place to hang. I spend too much time and money there.

jimb213 · #13 08-29-2006, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masmasbasso

Bass Emporium is a great place to hang. I spend too much time and money there.

ha! I don't spend enough time, but too much money there! It's kinda frustrating being a lefty, though. All these killer basses, and I can't do much with 'em, since most of 'em are upside down.

oh, well. I can still test out tons of awesome cabs and amps!

Bayou_Brawler · #14 08-29-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opium89

I think I am being misunderstood here. I am not looking to make a living playing music there as I have a day job that pays the bills, just looking for an original band in the rock genre to play shows and such more as a hobby than a job. Really what I want to know about are the local resources that have musicians wanted ads and such. As mentioned, I found the Chronicle online and discovered some on craigslist just last night. Any others I should be looking at?

myspace.......the answere is always myspace....it's the biggest people network on earth....you can search for players....send emails to people to see if they are looking to play or know people who want to play...or know of bands looking for players....you can email bands and ask the same questions.....search groups...if you want to be in the music scene you should probably be on myspace...

Hookus · #15 08-29-2006, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masmasbasso

I know... My making a living post was in regards to Hookus' post about getting a real job.

You're right, I sometimes seem to forget we all don't play in rock bands. I guess it just depends on where you play as well. But, you play a lot, and tour a lot, it is different if you are playing just in town, pays better to play covers, you can make some very good money at that. The rock scene and indie/singer/songwriter scenes are much different, here, IMO. Your stuff sounds good on Myspace, by the way, real groovy. JRDuer is a TB'er that plays an upright as well here in town. I have met him at one of my shows. We should have an Austin TB showcase...

masmasbasso · #16 08-29-2006, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hookus

You're right, I sometimes seem to forget we all don't play in rock bands. I guess it just depends on where you play as well. But, you play a lot, and tour a lot, it is different if you are playing just in town, pays better to play covers, you can make some very good money at that. The rock scene and indie/singer/songwriter scenes are much different, here, IMO. Your stuff sounds good on Myspace, by the way, real groovy. JRDuer is a TB'er that plays an upright as well here in town. I have met him at one of my shows. We should have an Austin TB showcase...

You do have to mix it up if you want to work a lot here, but that's the great thing about it. There is so much going on here. Of course I'm thinking about moving to L.A. or Nashville. Austin musicians aren't really motivated in some cases and I want to live in "working" music town and make a little more money when I do session work or gigs.

I haven't really met any TB-ers here in Austin. I met one in Dallas once at a gig. He was in the opening band and had a Valenti. I just knew he had to be a TB-er and introduced myself.

An Austin GTG would be cool. Any idea what JRDuer's name is in real life. I might know him.

jimb213 · #17 08-29-2006, 04:57 PM

how 'bout some saturday afternoon gtg @ bass emporium, and maybe burgers at waterloo around the corner on burnett?

masmasbasso · #18 08-29-2006, 05:01 PM

Sounds good to me. I leave town on the 16th for two months, but I'd be into it if it's in the next two weeks. Maybe make a new thread about it.

jrthebassguy · #19 08-29-2006, 06:31 PM

Austin has a pretty sweet scene, especially compared to it's neighbor, Houston, which has by far one of the worst music scenes in the US.

fcleff · #20 08-29-2006, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimb213

how 'bout some saturday afternoon gtg @ bass emporium, and maybe burgers at waterloo around the corner on burnett?

Um, I hate to sound like I'm inviting myself (I'll probably be working anyway) but Brentwood Tavern has much better food than Waterloo and is just up the road on Burnet (opposite direction). Admirable beer selection, too. I would love to meet some other TBer's here in town, though.

As to the original post, the Chronicle is pretty much all there is in terms of finding folks to jam with. But you will have to go through a lot of frustration if you go throught the Chron. The best advice was posted earlier: go to the shows you like and meet the folks you want to play with. The music listings in the Chron will also let you know when you can get to an open mic jam. Good luck.