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Any one here make it to pro?

#61
Lets take a step back here...There are a dookload of 'pro' players here. 99% of the music made in the US if not the world on stage is done by guys who will never be famous. Being famous doesn't necessarily mean you're a better player, it can mean a variety of other things.

Having a 'label deal' can mean any number of things as well.

The reality of being a 'pro' is just that you make your living by playing bass. Whether it be in front of 10000 people or in front of 100 people at a time.

I had a young drummer once that we took on some 'road' gigs and he was stunned at the number of great bands and people he saw play. He couldn't understand why those people were playing clubs and dive bars when they were every bit as good as the 'name' players and bands. We had a lot of talks about the the fact that "famous" means a lot of things have lined up...everything from hard work, to artistic talent, who you know, to just plain luck. That's not to take away from any of the guys who have made it who have indeed worked the grind and never gave up on the climb out of obscurity.
 
#62
I've done a few cool things. Toured as an opener for Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Craig Morgan. Played tons of cool clubs around the country. Been in a few music videos, been on tv. I don't have to work a day job.

However, I am not famous in the least. I sort of prefer it that way. I have some friends who are in pretty big bands, and the loss of privacy/anonymity isn't something I'd enjoy.
 
#63
Gotta say Johnny April, you float around under the Staind tracks for sure. I've obviously heard some of your guys's songs but not with the acuteness and developed ear that I have now, and it's given me the ability to take other things into account beyond what I could years ago. Of course I'm not even out of high school yet, so I'm obviously not going to be the leading authority on musicology and the open spectrum of possibilities with music, but kudos man, I like your stuff.

Also, lowfreq33, I hate to be that fanboy that oogles over big names (which I'm generally not) but out of curiosity what was your band, or some of the bands you've been in named over time? Wouldn't hurt to mention the names of some of your friends groups haha, just for pure enjoyment. If you don't want to / can't I'm in no way forcing the words out of your mouth, but I thought it may be fun to know :)


Thanks always,

Brooks
 
#64
BurningSkies said:
Lets take a step back here...There are a dookload of 'pro' players here. 99% of the music made in the US if not the world on stage is done by guys who will never be famous. Being famous doesn't necessarily mean you're a better player, it can mean a variety of other things.

Having a 'label deal' can mean any number of things as well.

The reality of being a 'pro' is just that you make your living by playing bass. Whether it be in front of 10000 people or in front of 100 people at a time.

I had a young drummer once that we took on some 'road' gigs and he was stunned at the number of great bands and people he saw play. He couldn't understand why those people were playing clubs and dive bars when they were every bit as good as the 'name' players and bands. We had a lot of talks about the the fact that "famous" means a lot of things have lined up...everything from hard work, to artistic talent, who you know, to just plain luck. That's not to take away from any of the guys who have made it who have indeed worked the grind and never gave up on the climb out of obscurity.
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All true and that's just getting there. I wonder even more about the guys who manage to stay there.
 
#68
I was in a band that was moderately famous in my neck of the woods (well, we haven't actually broken up, but our last gig was about 2 years ago). We released one album on a major label, which garnered us some fantastic opening slots - Paul Rodgers, Deep Purple, Dave Matthews, and Alice Cooper were probably the highlights, which were really way out of our league to be honest. Then we parted ways with the label, released another (4th) indie album and have been fading slowly into obscurity ever since!

But I did get to spend my entire 20s touring around North America, and hardly ever had to work the dreaded day-job (approaching my 40s now and I still don't, knock on wood). I guess fame matters to some people, but I don't miss even the little bit of it that I ever had.
 
#70
JimmyM said:
Um, not really. Bowzer joined shortly after Woodstock.
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Yeah, but still....Sha na na in general was a undervalued band. To me, they would have been the only good thing besides the who and hendrix at woodstock.

Just wished they hadn't been so obviously pressed for time during that historical performance...you can tell because "at the hop" is WAY too fast.

Someone must have told them before they went on "listen guys, this is 100% a hippy audience. You guys are rockers. We need to get you on and off in 8 minutes"......
 
#71
lucas vigor said:
Yeah, but still....Sha na na in general was a undervalued band. To me, they would have been the only good thing besides the who and hendrix at woodstock.

Just wished they hadn't been so obviously pressed for time during that historical performance...you can tell because "at the hop" is WAY too fast.

Someone must have told them before they went on "listen guys, this is 100% a hippy audience. You guys are rockers. We need to get you on and off in 8 minutes"......
Click to expand...

Hendrix+Woodstock= Heaven
 
#72
Caca de Kick said:
Pro and fame are two completely different things. Learn the difference if you don't know.

Also record deals doesn't mean fame either, or even mainstay pro for that matter. I'm in Seattle and I know alot of people who's bands got "deals" but never went anywhere, and never made money, but I also know alot of local pros who make a living playing everyday.
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Yep ! and that also goes for players who don't have the socalled "Monster Chops but do play everynight and the ones who has those chops who play in thier bedroom most of the time
 
#74
When young my band got two records deal, sold them in several countries, video in MTV. Never got a penny , ex-band mates still on the ''business'' , they have opened for Metallica and couple of other big bands , they still waiting to make a dollar. Are they a ''pro''?
 
#76
pedroims said:
When young my band got two records deal, sold them in several countries, video in MTV. Never got a penny , ex-band mates still on the ''business'' , they have opened for Metallica and couple of other big bands , they still waiting to make a dollar. Are they a ''pro''?
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HELL YA!!!!!!!!!!!! OPENING FOR METALLICA IS LIKE BEING AN ANGEL!!!!!!
 
#77
Eric Albany said:
HELL YA!!!!!!!!!!!! OPENING FOR METALLICA IS LIKE BEING AN ANGEL!!!!!!
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I know , crazy dream came true :)... fortunally they are doing fine running other business ( restaurants, freight services etc. ) so music career is more like a hobby, of course you need to have good contacts to play as guest in a Metallica concert, I think the other band playing was mastodon.
 
#78
slapmachine said:
Also, lowfreq33, I hate to be that fanboy that oogles over big names (which I'm generally not) but out of curiosity what was your band, or some of the bands you've been in named over time? Wouldn't hurt to mention the names of some of your friends groups haha, just for pure enjoyment. If you don't want to / can't I'm in no way forcing the words out of your mouth, but I thought it may be fun to know :)

Thanks always,

Brooks
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Nothing super huge, I played for a guy named Steve Richard for awhile, right now I'm with a group called Copper Hollow. Done a bunch of little Nashville based things, played on a lot of demos.

As for my friends, the most notable is playing with Skynyrd right now. I've got a lot of buddies who are sidemen with big artists, but they float around a bit.
 
#80
fingerbun said:
I don't think so. He's just saying success in the industry doesn't always mean money.
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+1 I sometimes refer to my tenure with Joanna Dean as "the year I was on two videos on MTV, toured Europe, and nearly had to file bankruptcy".
Have a good lawyer and a good accountant and NEITHER of them should be your manager or a label exec. Words to the wise....
 

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