Musical Career

Thundaboid · #1 12-17-2008, 09:29 PM

Hey guys
I've been dreaming of getting a career in Music for the past few years. I'm 18 and just graduated from high school this year. I want nothing more than to tour and experience a real live show from the stage, not a piddly little small town battle of the bands for 25 people. I have to choose between a career as a Lab Technician and Musician, and I want nothing more than to be a musician. But as every source is telling me, I'm a foolish dreamer and I'll never turn a profit as a musician. Is it achievable or just a pipe dream?

To help, here's a vid of my bass skill. I usually play blistering metal in my band but I only recorded the stuff I truly enjoyed playing. Aside from the first part, its all original

Thundaboid · #2 12-17-2008, 09:30 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ6svV_YMWI
Sorry, here it is

Fool · #3 12-17-2008, 09:52 PM

Music is not about the money man.....

Thundaboid · #4 12-17-2008, 09:57 PM

I'm not in it for the money, I just want to be able to live off of my music. I want it to be the only thing. I know how much a full time job takes away from it, I have one and I hate it.

Fool · #5 12-17-2008, 09:59 PM

Work, practice, work. It can be done....

join a cover band, rehearse. stage gigs at bars, weddings, parties,casinos,local live events, you could stage one at your house and buy the keg and have everyone pay 3 bucks for the cup....but your a little young...Go to churches,studios. Get paid to record...even restaurants want some live entertainment these days. we liberate people on the days they DON"T have to work. You can get tips to if you do a good job. play for anyone!
Get on the street corners if you must....thats where i started...

and don't forget to save some time for your own musical ideas. I dig the vid, it would be better with some drums, vocals and guitar. IMO)

Thundaboid · #6 12-17-2008, 10:01 PM

this is getting away from the original direction, is it feasible to make a living after I go to music college in a musical career only?

Fool · #7 12-17-2008, 10:07 PM

you can do anything man....

Steve · #8 12-18-2008, 07:06 AM

I think a permanent career as a musician playing "Blistering Metal" on the road is a fairly unrealistic goal.

Earning a living as a skilled and formally trained musician with some sort of degree and teaching credential is a very doable goal.

If I had it to do over again, I would take a long hard look at being a musician in the military. They have excellent players, opportunities and benefits.

spade2you · #9 12-18-2008, 08:11 AM

You need money and benefits to survive, unless you have rich parents willing to pick up the tab for the rest of their life.

I think it's much more prudent to get a decent day job that pays the bills and do music stuff on the side. At the risk of sounding too offensive, I wouldn't exactly call the clip pro caliber bass playing.

Go to school, get a degree in something USEFUL and take music on the side. Getting a degree in music is a lot of work and I've seen a lot of guys drop out because it was a lot more difficult than they had anticipated.

Keep in mind as a professional musician, cover bands pay the bills. That's far from blistering metal. I'm not knocking cover bands, but I'm happy I have a choice on what I play in bands. Also it might be important to note that there's a big drummer shortage where I live. I'd hate to think about what would happen if I were relying on a band for my paycheck right now.

iplaybassguitar · #10 12-18-2008, 08:25 AM

i would never tell a person its just a pipe dream.

however.
it IS very hard to make it as a musician.
you WILL need to practice if you wish to do so.
you WILL need either serious theory chops, playing chops, or VERY good fortune, and usually the answer is a combination of all three.

**baba** · #11 12-18-2008, 08:40 AM

Take the tech job and play music as a weekend warrior. If the music grows to the point that it warrants you quitting your day job, then think about leaving.

WalterBush · #12 12-18-2008, 08:53 AM

As much as I hate to disagree with a lot of people below, I will.

Being a musician for a living is definitely doable, given a few conditions.

1) Don't have a backup plan. Focus everything you've got on being a musician--day jobs are a necessity sometimes, a career robs you of valuable energy needed to be a musician. Don't take a day job you aren't willing to quit.

2) Don't get anyone pregnant. Better yet, don't get a girlfriend/wife at all, at least until you're established. That's good advice for any young'n, though.

3) Being a musician is WORK. Not necessarily at being a better player; lots of amazing players are starving. You need to learn to sell yourself (something I'm only just now learning to do properly, or I'd give you more advice.) You are self-employed in most cases as a musician; it's a one-man business, run it as one.

4) Learn to sing. It'll get you more work. Learn some other instruments as well. They'll make you do that in college, anyway.

5) You may end up playing music you hate. It's a paycheck, though, and 4 hours a night with people you barely get along with, playing music that puts you to sleep is STILL better than a sharp stick in the eye, or going broke. You may have to wear silly costumes, and learn to dance some. It's still all good if it comes with $$$$ at the end.

If you're willing to accept the above, and work hard (at getting work, not necessarily playing!), then you can have a career in music, no problem.

If all you want to do is play in an original band, doing only what you want to do, prepare to starve. You might find a way to do it; most don't.

Good Luck!!

Commreman · #13 12-18-2008, 08:57 AM

You are 18. Your life is ahead of you.

At the risk of sounding like an "old man" (I'm 48), I want to give you perspective. First and foremost, the music business is just that - a BUSINESS. Never lose sight of that. The business itself is very ruthless, and very cutthroat. Blistering chops are less than the price of admission. In fact, they can hinder you. What do you offer? Is your image one that people will want to see? Do you sing? Most important, do you write? One of the most successful "bassists" in the industry right now is Pete Wentz. Say what you will about his chops (he admits they are marginal at best), he is a great songwriter, and his image sells a lot of product. His fans don't give a rat's patoot about his chops, and he knows it. His band went through years of $hitty no money tours before they hit.

The business itself is going through seismic changes right now. What do you offer that can sell or move product?

I learned these lessons the hard way. When I was 19, I was in a band that went on to become (and still is) a major success - without me. I did the crappy east coast van tours for no money and limited food, did the studio time from midnight to 6 AM, had great chops and thought that these things would carry me - I was wrong. When push came to shove, the record company stated that my image was completely wrong - I was too short, and I was losing my hair at a pretty rapid rate (this was before the day that shaved heads were cool). I wasn't one of the primary writers in the band either. The bottom line was that no matter how well I played, I was out.

I was fortunate in that I was studying both music and marketing in school, and dropped back in to college after about a year of licking my wounds. In the time since, I've started both a business and a family, I have recorded with a ton of people, I still get to play 50 shows a year in a slow year, I'm playing better than ever, and enjoy it much much more now that it doesn't support me.

With all of that, I would encourage you to take your shot while you are young and have no real responsibilities. Just keep your head clean, your eyes open, and understand that this really is a business first.

tycobb73 · #14 12-18-2008, 10:51 AM

Musicians that don't have music degrees:

Paul McCartney
Bily Joe Armstrong
Dave Grohl
Elton John
Pete Wentz

Why get a degree?

My former teacher graduated from Berklee and is playing in an originals band. He says he hardly uses his Berklee stuff in his band.

spade2you · #15 12-18-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycobb73

Musicians that don't have music degrees:

Paul McCartney
Bily Joe Armstrong
Dave Grohl
Elton John
Pete Wentz

Why get a degree?

Cuz I'd think a jazz fusion band with Dave Grohl, Billy Joe Armstrong, and Pete Wentz might sound funny...not in a comical way.

Thundaboid · #16 12-18-2008, 07:34 PM

Thanks for the responses, and yeah, I wouldn't call myself pro either, I've been playing for maybe 2 years now. The 'blistering metal' isn't what I really aim to play, I'm in one of those situations where there's such a shortage of bands I have to play a style that I don't really want to. I prefer, like my sample, mellow stuff. I'm a mellow guy.

You guys have helped a lot with this, but I have one last thing. How would I, after getting on with a good band, get on to a tour? Even like Spade said, small east van coast tours?