Why Some Musicians Don't Gig

[ghostsontheroad]

I just meant Rock n roll is a young man's game...haha. although my father plays more gigs than I do...I do believe people are more into it when they aren't tied down with as much responsibility and obligations...but hey I've been avoiding them my whole life...I'm sure others here can relate! haha!

 

[Febs]

Like anyone else that posts in a forum, I throw my opinion out there free of charge. It's up to the reader to discern what is useable and what is not. I've been accused of not taking TalkBass seriously and its true, hehe. It's just an Internet forum. Full of BS, anonymity and posturing, but every now and then there are some pearls of wisdom thrown out there. The number of links a poster has doesn't help me determine whether the input is BS or not. The information has to stand on its own two feet.

It is true that the *number* of links is not necessarily meaningful. However, the *content* of those links can be extremely telling.

 

[drpepper]

I've read that a few times and can't make any sense of it

My point is if you want to keep it real, do what you would do when you talk to someone in person. If you are a walking billboard in real life, then it makes sense to do it here as well.

Well, your point seems intentionally obtuse needlessly disparaging. "Talking" to someone on a forum is not the same thing as talking to someone in person.

But you also seem pretty firm in your position, so we'll have to simply disagree on that.

 

[Brad Johnson]

What was the title of this thread again?

Clearly went over your head.

A hint: examples vs. answers.

 

[bluewine]

I just meant Rock n roll is a young man's game...haha. although my father plays more gigs than I do...I do believe people are more into it when they aren't tied down with as much responsibility and obligations...but hey I've been avoiding them my whole life...I'm sure others here can relate! haha!

True its a young mans game. Remember us older guys were young when we started.

Most of us don't know when to call it quits. As long as I have my health I'm staying in the game.

 

[drpepper]

I think most of these guys are honest.

Good thing for most of these guys then

 

[Ronnietex]

Oh my gosh! I am so glad I saw this thread. I wanted to vent but didnt know where or how so please excuse me while I vent. Lol, I apologize for the whine in advance!

A guy wanted me to play in a Christian rock/metal band. He is a good guitar player and has been playing a long time. He said he wanted to start a band. It sounded like a great fit and I wanted to play some Christian songs in those venues anyway. He was getting a drummer and a singer/guitar player also. We meet, I start learning the cover songs and the originals from recordings. I put a lot of time into it because I wanted to really do well!

I was calling to find out when to get with him and practice and rehearse. He was not returning my calls but said he was going to be busy over the holidays a few weeks ago. Ok, no biggie. I take my time, put off something else important I needed to be doing, had most of the covers down cold. Lol, I was feeling so proud and happy. I was so much looking forward to January when we planned to hit the ground running. We were going to cut a CD to sell, had the studio plan, all the good stuff!

Lol, so yesterday he finally emails me. Tells me he is going to be too busy it looks like and the sorry, hope there is no hard feelings sort of thing. Yet this was the guy that preached we would have to overcome problems, wanted a two year commitment, wanted to travel on weekends, the whole nine yards! I was wise enough to only give a six month commitment. But I did say if that six months worked out I would commit to another year.

The Mr. Commitment guy, Mr. I need you so bad and you are just the sound I am looking for guy didnt even have the nuts to call, just an email.

Ok, sorry for the rant but it sucks when you sacrafice time to help out someone thinking it will be a great gig for all and then not even a phone call to discuss ways to overcome a problem.

 

[Brad Johnson]

People, in general tend to shy away from criticism. The way I see it, if someone is willing to take the time to listen to what I am doing and offering feedback, I will be thankful because they at least put in some time and effort to listen and comment.

One of the questions I always ask in an interview, whether it's music related or not is "How well do you take criticism?". This is very important to me because no-one is perfect and if you want to grow beyond what you have now is to take some input from the outside.

You can't make an omlette without breaking some eggs.

Link Removed

 

[Jarrett]

"Talking" to someone on a forum is not the same thing as talking to someone in person.

But you also seem pretty firm in your position, so we'll have to simply disagree on that.

I'm open to hear a differing opinion. Why is "keeping it real" on a forum not like talking to someone in person?

 

[Brad Johnson]

Semi-related story.

20-some years ago I was in college playing in the jazz program at Texas. As a matter of course, many of us would get called now and then to play in a combo at some University black tie function. These gigs seldom paid, but those of us on scholarships seemed to be the ones who got called, so it made some sense to me.

Here I was one night playing at a dinner party with the UT brass in attendance and a few people whose names you might recognize. It was cool.

Then we finished a set. I laid down my bass, walked five feet in the direction of the coffee stand, and this guy who had definitely been watching the group play comes up to me and tells me to bring his table three cups of coffee.

Two things have made this event stick in my mind. First, I knew that the guy understood I was the bass player. Second, it wasn't clear to me that he was trying to be a jerk. Rather, I think the notion came naturally to him that the musicians and the waitstaff were more or less the same.

This was one of the reasons I was never able to fully commit myself to a music career. I guess I'm a little too conscious of my own image to be that person every day. I say that not the least bit pejoratively towards anyone who made another choice - nor towards the waitstaff for that matter, who God knows made more than I did that night.

I still gig, but I can't stand being treated like the help.

Fortunately none of the contractors I deal with require musicians to wear anything that'll have people mistaking them for the waitstaff, who often wore tuxedo style garb. They stopped that years ago.

When I did get asked to do something while walking through a crowd during a break or whatever, I'd calmly look around, get the attention of a waiter and tell them that these people need whatever they requested of me, all with a smile. The requestor more often than not would apologize for mistaking me for a waiter, I'd tell them no problem and move on. IOW it was no big deal.

 

[jive1]

I dont play out because Im afraid DeluxeRed is going to show up at my show and take my gig.

Great example. Here's some dude who came on these boards talking a big game about his stage presence, clothing, etc. and when someone posted a video of him he became completely discredited.

Sadly, I'm sure some people believed him and followed his advice until they found out what a total fake he was.

 

[Brad Johnson]

What exactly is "keeping it real" on TalkBass? Joining the various clubs? Posting your gear? FB, ReverbNation, band website links?

I don't walk up to everyone I meet on the street and say, "I play this gear and I am in these clubs and I am in these five bands and here is how I rock out when I play and..." That would be annoying as hell. Very immodest. Outside of TalkBass (in the real world) those things come up in conversations if the other party shows interest in them.

On the internet many folks project an image far beyond who they actually are. For example, there are people who will offer advice on things they have little to no experience with. My personal favorites are the ones who are adamant about what others shouldn't do based largely on what they haven't done.

Walter Mitty would've loved the internet.

 

[Altitude]

When I did get asked to do something while walking through a crowd during a break or whatever, I'd calmly look around, get the attention of a waiter and tell them that these people need whatever they requested of me, all with a smile.

That's exactly what I did as well. I was wearing a tuxedo just like the waitstaff, but this guy was seated very near me when I was playing and it wasn't more than a few seconds after the last note when this exchange happened. It's not likely he thought I was a waiter. Maybe, though.

For all I know, the guy had just written a $50,000 check to the fine arts school and figured that a little coffee service wasn't too much to ask in return. He's right, too - it isn't. But I decided I would rather be the person writing the check than the one getting the coffee.

 

[Jarrett]

Great example. Here's some dude who came on these boards talking a big game about his stage presence, clothing, etc. and when someone posted a video of him he became completely discredited. Sadly, I'm sure some people believed him and followed his advice until they found out what a total fake he was.

But was his advice good?

 

[MatticusMania]

But was his advice good?

Clearly not, unless that word "Banned" means so awesome we had to keep his influence away from others...

Not so cool of a move there. I think you might have gotten votes for your competition.

I voted for 26 North.

I just clicked the report button. This is no place for SPAM.

 

[drpepper]

But was his advice good?

His advice on doing cool synchronized dance moves with the guitarist was not good...it was great!

 

[Jarrett]

Clearly not, unless that word "Banned" means so awesome we had to keep his influence away from others...

LOL, I missed that guy.

 

[Jarrett]

I just clicked the report button. This is no place for SPAM.

C'mon now, he's just keeping it real and showing he is in a band on TalkBass

 

[drpepper]

I'm open to hear a differing opinion. Why is "keeping it real" on a forum not like talking to someone in person?

Life's too short.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I'm open to hear a differing opinion. Why is "keeping it real" on a forum not like talking to someone in person?

Because you don't know when someone here is keeping it real without some serious scrutiny.

I remember a TBer who gave advice on live gear requirements for years. Then one day someone asked him about what types of gigs he did and he said that he'd never done any, only played at home. He hadn't offered that info in all the years leading up to that and gave the impression that he had more than anectdotal "experience" to base his advice on.

On an internet forum, a person, should they so choose, can be whomever they want to be, vs. being themself. Fortunately it usually takes more skill than most people have to pull it off convincingly for a length of time.

You can have a conversation here with a guy who says he just got home from a gig vs. have a conversation at that guy's gig. Humongous difference.