I am no longer a professional musician.

Benjamin Strange · #1 08-02-2008, 10:01 AM

I quit my steady gig this week. For the past two years, I've been out on the road playing with various artists in dive bars and on big stages. It's been fun at times, but over the past 6 months it's gotten to be very depressing. I found myself mostly supporting some rather unmusical fellows who fancy themselves to be guitar heros, or blues gods, or some other blundering rubbish. I found myself getting sick of noodly, never-ending guitar solos, fake blues voices, bad lyrics, rushing drummers, womanizing front men, dwindling pay and dwindling audiences. I found myself playing music that I don't like - music had become a job, not an art. It was poisoning my relationship with music, and I had to take a step back or forfeit my soul.

So, as of now, I'm kicking in to high gear writing my own material with solo projects, Burnt Infant, and UFO Death Cult, and am trying to regain what I had lost: integrity.

Also of interest, I'm joining forces with my guitar tech friend, Scott Morgan, in the guitar repair business. I've been tinkering with instruments for 17 years, and my mods and repairs have been steadily getting more and more serious. Scott makes his living teching for guitarists around town, as well as for some big names (like the Neville's, Leo Nocentelli, Teena Marie, Steven Segal, Dumpstafunk, and others) - and he needs some help in the shop, so now I'm in the picture. It's a pretty serious business, doing everything from installing pickups to completely refurbishing vintage instruments that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. I'm pretty excited about this - yet another new way to utilize my skills, and do what I love doing, to pay my bills. Sweet!

Valerus · #2 08-02-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

I found myself playing music that I don't like - music had become a job, not an art.

THAT, my friend, is when you step away.

Good job on doing so. Some people don't recognize it and it ruins music for them.

thumpbass1 · #3 08-02-2008, 10:20 AM

So working on your own solo projects, and no longer being out on the crappy gig circuit with a crappy band makes you no longer a professional musician? Hey, congrats on your current new situation. It sounds like you've found some happiness in your life again. To me the word ' professional ' seems to take on a whole more relative meaning for me as I've grown older that goes beyond just getting a bunch of gigs and getting paid for it. I still gig and I get paid for it, but I don't feel I'm less than professional if I happen to be taking a break from gigging. Anyways, congrats, and I hope you get your sanity and sense of integrity back, as well as finding all of those reasons again that called you to be a musician in the first place.

ahkiatt · #4 08-02-2008, 10:23 AM

All the best in your new move.

Benjamin Strange · #5 08-02-2008, 10:23 AM

Well, I meant "professional" in the sense that playing music was my sole means of income. Now I just have to worry about making money some other way.

René_Julien · #6 08-02-2008, 10:32 AM

Good luck with your new endavours and goals.

I don't know how it's like for a professional musician that hasn't got his own band.
If it makes you unhappy, leave that way of life.

Good luck on solo projects. And enjoy learning those new (precious) skills of instrument repair.

mike_v_s · #7 08-02-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

Well, I meant "professional" in the sense that playing music was my sole means of income. Now I just have to worry about making money some other way.

There's a dynamite fishing rodeo in Lower Plaquemines this weekend. It might not be too late to enter.

Mike

Stumbo · #8 08-02-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

So, as of now, I'm kicking in to high gear writing my own material with solo projects, Burnt Infant,....

Good luck on your new projects.

As someone who's wife works with abused kids, may I suggest that another name besides "Burnt Infant" be used.

Joey3313 · #9 08-02-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Good luck on your new projects.

As someone who's wife works with abused kids, may I suggest that another name besides "Burnt Infant" be used.

Dude, it's just a name.

invader3k · #10 08-02-2008, 11:28 AM

UFO Death Cult sounds like an awesome name, though.

Benjamin Strange · #11 08-02-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Good luck on your new projects.

As someone who's wife works with abused kids, may I suggest that another name besides "Burnt Infant" be used.

It's the most metal name I could think of - to be used for the most non-metal music possible. Besides, it could be a metaphor or something.

Brad Barker · #12 08-02-2008, 11:51 AM

best of luck.

...and there's always nor-cal...

machine gewehr · #13 08-02-2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

I found myself getting sick of noodly, never-ending guitar solos,

Guitards

Good luck on the new path.

René_Julien · #14 08-02-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

It's the most metal name I could think of - to be used for the most non-metal music possible. Besides, it could be a metaphor or something.

You are free to do what you want,

but I wouldn't go with the "Burnt Infant" name.

I'm pretty liberal, but I advice against it if you can still change the name.

mike_v_s · #15 08-02-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

It's the most metal name I could think of - to be used for the most non-metal music possible. Besides, it could be a metaphor or something.

Benny Boy, I've always thought the name was cool (and we all know how much weight that carries). Second, PM me some contact info, I'll give y'all a call if I'm ever in need of the work.

Mike

**SoComSurfing** · #16 08-02-2008, 04:27 PM

Ben, where do I know the name Scott Morgan from? Has he done any work over my way on the coast? Its very familiar, I just can't place it.

Congrats on the new direction and making the decision to do what you needed to do. My area doesn't have a tech worth a crap anymore, so if I have some major needs, it may be worth me making a trip over your way on occasion.

Deacon_Blues · #17 08-02-2008, 05:15 PM

I think it was a good move to quit those gigs. It's not worth to hold on to things that don't make you happy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

I don't know how it's like for a professional musician that hasn't got his own band.

Huh? I know several professional musicians that don't have their own band. They:

- play with other (mostly professional) musicians on various projects, either their own or someone else's,
- play as backing musicians for solo artists,
- do various bar and wedding gigs (easy cash there),
- teach,
- do studio work (as musicians, songwriters and/or producers),
- play in theaters and on TV shows,
- do arrangement work
- etc etc etc...

DigMe · #18 08-02-2008, 06:25 PM

Cool, man. I hope you find yourself in a satisfying situation.

bc

MakiSupaStar · #19 08-02-2008, 06:46 PM

Congrats on the move and all but you listed Steven Segal with good guitarists. Has he gotten good or something? Saw him play with Toots and it was laughable.

Benjamin Strange · #20 08-02-2008, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Congrats on the move and all but you listed Steven Segal with good guitarists. Has he gotten good or something? Saw him play with Toots and it was laughable.

I said he was a big name - I never said he was good.

I will never tell him that; he might punch me in the balls.