For Those Who Write Original Music...

[Deleted member 5962]

Hey, I'd certainly want him to be the singer in my band!

And while I know you could do better, I'd definitely be in that band if you'd have me. I mean, imagine the chicks we'd have at our shows!!! Ok, I'm just being silly now...

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Also, I've listened to Sergio's stuff and thought, why isn't this guy a zillionaire and famous?

I've always wanted to hear more of his stuff. Links would be appreciated if anyone has them.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Because 'music' and 'business' are not even remotely related things.

TRUTH! (And, a big part of the reason I say some of the stupid things I do)

 

[László]

TRUTH! (And, a big part of the reason I say some of the stupid things I do)

Join the CLUB

 

[Draconomics]

Also, I've listened to Sergio's stuff and thought, why isn't this guy a zillionaire and famous?

Because 'music' and 'business' are not even remotely related things.

I think we, the public, need to let go of the term, 'music business'. That's just me speaking in my semi-artistic capacity.

Anyway, that's the point of the thread.

I would also like to say this:

Who the f#cking f#ck says you need to be 18 years old to make good music? I mean, really. If you're over 40, you are NOT past it, in terms of music making. Pablo Casals played into his 90s. Who says we can't? Because he was classical? No freaking way, and I say this as someone whose musical preference IS classical.

Granted, you might not be able to get a record deal...

You know...the whole thing about needing to be a certain age to make your best music....sometimes I do feel a tiny bit like I missed my prime. I know, I'm still only 35, but musically I didn't do much in my 20s. That said, im doing my best stuff now, and im a better person now too.

I'll probably never land record deals (especially with my prog junk), but who needs em now? I can not only make demos, I can make FINISHED records and distribute them myself. There's limits sure, but you get full unadulterated control over your music.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

This is not me disagreeing with you, Just an observation based on personal experience.

We tend to forget sometimes that music isn't a contest. It's not about being 'better'. It's something we're all on the same team to do, or at least in my opinion, should be.

'Music' and "Business' are two terms that, logically speaking, don't have much to do with one another. They're words that get thrown together for reasons that have little in common. Sure, it's great to make a living, and grab that cash with both hands and make a stash, etc....but what does that do for creativity and being unique as a musician? To me, not much.

And I say this as someone who's done decently enough in the music 'business'. In fact, I'm undeserving as hell, and have been very lucky. Everyone who's heard my work knows that they can do every bit as well, if not better.

I'll say this for the 'made' stars: There are reasons they're successful, and those reasons are usually related to talent and ability. I know, because I've seen it with my own eyes. I've worked with some very talented people that labels wanted to 'make' who in fact didn't catch on with the public. I've worked with people who did.

Are they hacks? Well...depends on the person, the goal, the skills and a million other factors.

But to a degree, most successful musical acts are to one degree or another, 'made'. It's often a matter of random chance.

While it's possible that other people might be more creative, or more original, or whatever, let's not take away from the very hard work that people put in who DO to get where they do in life. To be made? Guess what. You have to not only have the opportunity, you have to be able to seize it when it arises. And talent is involved, like it or not. But so is bravery, persistence, confidence, and lots of other stuff.

For the most part, bands want to succeed financially, and 'make it'. Some get to do that based upon fan appeal. Some get a big push from their label or industry. You'd be VERY surprised at big name bands who got a TON of money allocated for promotion to get the attention of fans, who are now big names. I know this because (a) I'm in the biz, and (b) I still do a little entertainment law.

Are they 'made'? I dunno. I'll let you define it, but everyone is 'made'. Everyone.

Ermahgerd! 100% this!

Ok Les, one more word and THEN I'll shut up. Promise!

Justin Bieber! Just sayin'

Ok, that was two words. Well, four.

And was just joking... because Bieber is always funny.

Woof! I cannot imagine the life of child stars. All those Disney kids and Lou Pearlman kids, being a Cyrus or a Knowles… brutal.

All those artists have been worked to an almost Judy Garland level of depravity, all their success has been earned, even if they were afforded a head start.

But the thing that people in bands that dream of having a record deal and “making it”, is that it’s not the end, it’s the start. You got the job, now you have to do it, and it’s f@ckin awful.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Also, I've listened to Sergio's stuff and thought, why isn't this guy a zillionaire and famous?

Because 'music' and 'business' are not even remotely related things.

I think we, the public, need to let go of the term, 'music business'. That's just me speaking in my semi-artistic capacity.

Anyway, that's the point of the thread.

I would also like to say this:

Who the f#cking f#ck says you need to be 18 years old to make good music? I mean, really. If you're over 40, you are NOT past it, in terms of music making. Pablo Casals played into his 90s. Who says we can't? Because he was classical? No freaking way, and I say this as someone whose musical preference IS classical.

Granted, you might not be able to get a record deal...

Aww… thanks, Les.

You know from past conversations I was (un)lucky enough to have been on that trajectory a few times in my life. It’s honestly better it didn’t happen for me, I’d be #canceled or dead.

 

[Moondog Wily]

Aww… thanks, Les.

You know from past conversations I was (un)lucky enough to have been on that trajectory a few times in my life. It’s honestly better it didn’t happen for me, I’d be #canceled or dead.

Gotta say, I have felt the same way since my teens! If I had pursued a career in music and found success, I would certainly be dead from an overdose or other stupidity!! Not that it ever would have happened for me (success), just sayin', the thought of it always frightened me!!!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Gotta say, I have felt the same way since my teens! If I had pursued a career in music and found success, I would certainly be dead from an overdose or other stupidity!! Not that it ever would have happened for me (success), just sayin', the thought of it always frightened me!!!

Ehhh..I get ya.

But the good news is: The best part of being a musician isn’t the notoriety, the money, the travel, or the groupies. It’s the creativity and the whole point of this thread: Songwriting.

 

[jxe]

i could have been fred durst, but #thereal fred durst was just so compelling. and the songs!

 

[MusiquedeReve]

My looks, what little I had to work with, are long gone.

Hey, at least you had that -- I can't lose what I never had

 

[Moondog Wily]

Wow...just found this thread...I'll play...I don't have any new recordings on the interwebs...but a few old ones and even a crappy home video of my first ever gig at some living room party LOL...

Made this one for fun....used my CU24...it was done in a afternoon start to finish..

This one was made in an evening as well just experimenting with a new studio setup...

Someone uploaded a video of my first gig probably sometime in 1997....geez...watch your ears.

I also play in a christian band that also does originals as well..
It was a while back but it was cool..Spotify link....it takes 4:18 to even get to my guitar solo...lol..The song hit hard live though.

Now....

All my more recent original stuff I don't have loaded up online...my brother might...but I don't know.
Other than trying upload to some website this is all I had on my fingertips.

These days I'm playing locally in a cover band that stays pretty busy...but we are still evolving and getting better...I really didn't know any covers till crash coursing songs for this band.

Very well done GuitarJammin! Awesome that you can put it together so quick as well!! Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[alantig]

It took a long time, but I had to learn not to be intimidated by better musicians. The first time I can remember starting to make that shift was the first time I saw Stanley Jordan. Just jaw-dropping. He was opening for Wynton Marsalis, and I'd never heard of him. By the second song, I turned to my friend at the show and said, "That's it. I quit. I'm done." That lasted about 3-4 hours. When I got home, I ended up trying to do what he did - and failed miserably.

Eventually, I was able to find inspiration from these people instead of intimidation and frustration. Just this week, I saw the Aristocrats again (and if you've never seen them, they're doing a livestream tom'w for $18 - zuma.live, highly recommended). Guthrie Govan, whom I suspect a lot of people here are familiar with. Marco Minnemann. Bryan Beller. (I've been on somewhat friendly terms with Bryan for a while now, and I still find it somewhat amusing that he recognizes me.) Three absolutely monster players. And I came away from the show just wanting to let the weirdness inside my brain come out. The problem is I can't always get that to translate from brain to fingers. But as Samuel L. Jackson said in Pulp Fiction, "I'm trying, Ringo. I'm trying real hard..."

I mean, listen to what these guys did to the blues (spoilered for language and title - instrumental, but there's a spoken introduction).

Spoiler

Then follow it with the sheer beauty of this.

How can you not come away inspired?

 

[Draconomics]

It took a long time, but I had to learn not to be intimidated by better musicians. The first time I can remember starting to make that shift was the first time I saw Stanley Jordan. Just jaw-dropping. He was opening for Wynton Marsalis, and I'd never heard of him. By the second song, I turned to my friend at the show and said, "That's it. I quit. I'm done." That lasted about 3-4 hours. When I got home, I ended up trying to do what he did - and failed miserably.

Eventually, I was able to find inspiration from these people instead of intimidation and frustration. Just this week, I saw the Aristocrats again (and if you've never seen them, they're doing a livestream tom'w for $18 - zuma.live, highly recommended). Guthrie Govan, whom I suspect a lot of people here are familiar with. Marco Minnemann. Bryan Beller. (I've been on somewhat friendly terms with Bryan for a while now, and I still find it somewhat amusing that he recognizes me.) Three absolutely monster players. And I came away from the show just wanting to let the weirdness inside my brain come out. The problem is I can't always get that to translate from brain to fingers. But as Samuel L. Jackson said in Pulp Fiction, "I'm trying, Ringo. I'm trying real hard..."

I mean, listen to what these guys did to the blues (spoilered for language and title - instrumental, but there's a spoken introduction).

Spoiler

Then follow it with the sheer beauty of this.

How can you not come away inspired?

I feel the same. I used to get terrified of more seasoned musicians. They were always great people, but you feel so inferior. It made go home and woodshed the heck out of my skills. I got opened to stranger things too, theyd turn me on to Zappa, Beefheart, Henry Kaiser, cats like that. It was then I realized you dont need to have the best skill or knowledge, just be odd. Lol

 

[Moondog Wily]

It took a long time, but I had to learn not to be intimidated by better musicians. The first time I can remember starting to make that shift was the first time I saw Stanley Jordan. Just jaw-dropping. He was opening for Wynton Marsalis, and I'd never heard of him. By the second song, I turned to my friend at the show and said, "That's it. I quit. I'm done." That lasted about 3-4 hours. When I got home, I ended up trying to do what he did - and failed miserably.

Eventually, I was able to find inspiration from these people instead of intimidation and frustration. Just this week, I saw the Aristocrats again (and if you've never seen them, they're doing a livestream tom'w for $18 - zuma.live, highly recommended). Guthrie Govan, whom I suspect a lot of people here are familiar with. Marco Minnemann. Bryan Beller. (I've been on somewhat friendly terms with Bryan for a while now, and I still find it somewhat amusing that he recognizes me.) Three absolutely monster players. And I came away from the show just wanting to let the weirdness inside my brain come out. The problem is I can't always get that to translate from brain to fingers. But as Samuel L. Jackson said in Pulp Fiction, "I'm trying, Ringo. I'm trying real hard..."

I mean, listen to what these guys did to the blues (spoilered for language and title - instrumental, but there's a spoken introduction).

Spoiler

Then follow it with the sheer beauty of this.

How can you not come away inspired?

Wow, those cats can play! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Moondog Wily]

I feel the same. I used to get terrified of more seasoned musicians. They were always great people, but you feel so inferior. It made go home and woodshed the heck out of my skills. I got opened to stranger things too, theyd turn me on to Zappa, Beefheart, Henry Kaiser, cats like that. It was then I realized you dont need to have the best skill or knowledge, just be odd. Lol

In defense of Zappa, he was a whole lot more than odd! I always refer to him as the greatest composer of the 20th century!! If you have not already heard "Jazz From Hell" or "The Yellow Shark" and some of his other late career work, definitely check it out!!!

 

[Draconomics]

In defense of Zappa, he was a whole lot more than odd! I always refer to him as the greatest composer of the 20th century!! If you have not already heard "Jazz From Hell" or "The Yellow Shark" and some of his other late career work, definitely check it out!!!

Oh yeah...ive heard those tracks. He was a phenomenal composer. He became such an inspiration for me. It took a while to get in to his vibe, but once there you understand how ahead of his time he was.

Beefheart is the same. It took four rounds of Trout Mask Replica to finally come around. Now it's one of those albums I go to if I feel like my writing has gotten stale.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

This is not me disagreeing with you, Just an observation based on personal experience.

We tend to forget sometimes that music isn't a contest. It's not about being 'better'. It's something we're all on the same team to do, or at least in my opinion, should be.

'Music' and "Business' are two terms that, logically speaking, don't have much to do with one another. They're words that get thrown together for reasons that have little in common. Sure, it's great to make a living, and grab that cash with both hands and make a stash, etc....but what does that do for creativity and being unique as a musician? To me, not much.

And I say this as someone who's done decently enough in the music 'business'. In fact, I'm undeserving as hell, and have been very lucky. Everyone who's heard my work knows that they can do every bit as well, if not better.

I'll say this for the 'made' stars: There are reasons they're successful, and those reasons are usually related to talent and ability. I know, because I've seen it with my own eyes. I've worked with some very talented people that labels wanted to 'make' who in fact didn't catch on with the public. I've worked with people who did.

Are they hacks? Well...depends on the person, the goal, the skills and a million other factors.

But to a degree, most successful musical acts are to one degree or another, 'made'. It's often a matter of random chance.

While it's possible that other people might be more creative, or more original, or whatever, let's not take away from the very hard work that people put in who DO to get where they do in life. To be made? Guess what. You have to not only have the opportunity, you have to be able to seize it when it arises. And talent is involved, like it or not. But so is bravery, persistence, confidence, and lots of other stuff.

For the most part, bands want to succeed financially, and 'make it'. Some get to do that based upon fan appeal. Some get a big push from their label or industry. You'd be VERY surprised at big name bands who got a TON of money allocated for promotion to get the attention of fans, who are now big names. I know this because (a) I'm in the biz, and (b) I still do a little entertainment law.

Are they 'made'? I dunno. I'll let you define it, but everyone is 'made'. Everyone.

Best post I've ever read on the internet.

I don't mean to make music into a sport. I am not saying the best deserve the most success. Music can be SO many things. A chord strummer who writes great songs has every right to success that Yngwie does. My point is that truly dedicated musicians/singers, with real talent, shouldn't have to chose another career because they can't "make it" while some with far less talents get made into stars.

But lets be honest. This applies to everything in life. Success and talent often don't even closely go hand in hand. I have a guy I fired a few years ago for fraud, who is still a "entry level" guy at what I do, in knowledge and ability, and I just saw notice he received an award for 2021 business volume that far exceeded mine. This guy couldn't carry my jock in a bucket. He'd rather take shortcuts and bend the rules, than become an expert at his job. But... he works FOR a realty company, so he sits in a company with 50 real estate agents who are strongly coerced to send their deals to their inside lender. He couldn't make a living when he worked for me. More interested in shortcuts than being an expert. He doubled my volume last year... probably made $500K. And I wouldn't hire him again because he made $22K doing what I do. But put him in that situation, and he doesn't have to be good at his job, to be a "star" in our industry. THAT is the kind of thing I don't like. I don't care what he makes. Ha, I was offered that job! LMAO. But I don't like the way they do things, and I can do MANY things he doesn't have a clue how to do. I'll take my path and truly use my expertise to help people, and make a living. My choice.

Music is all about what you want from it. NOT success. I have friends who have played for years and never ever wanted a penny for it. I've had friends who lived and struggled in Nashville for years trying to "make it" in the industry. And, I know what a few people in the industry said to my daughter when she was there. One of which is the major reason for all of my issues with this topic. And I still don't know if I'm ready to tell anyone all of that. She didn't even tell her mother, THANK GOD! My wife would have been in Nashville shooting some asshat who would have been lucky I didn't find him first, cause I would have hurt him far worse. Holy crap. Enough

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Ermahgerd! 100% this!




Woof! I cannot imagine the life of child stars. All those Disney kids and Lou Pearlman kids, being a Cyrus or a Knowles… brutal.

All those artists have been worked to an almost Judy Garland level of depravity, all their success has been earned, even if they were afforded a head start.

But the thing that people in bands that dream of having a record deal and “making it”, is that it’s not the end, it’s the start. You got the job, now you have to do it, and it’s f@ckin awful.

another greatest post ever... I know you aren't old enough for this to mean much, but if you were my age, Marcia Brady was THE American sweetheart of your youth. To find out that at one point she was a drug addicted prostitute, was something I couldn't really believe, even when I was in my 50s when I heard it. Truly sad what some of those "star kids" went through. And HOLY CRAP, how would ANY one of us deal with being an international star before you were 20, then having that gig end and.... what now?

I'm just glad my boy Vinnie Barbarino is ok. Hope Epstein is!

 

[Deleted member 5962]

I feel the same. I used to get terrified of more seasoned musicians. They were always great people, but you feel so inferior. It made go home and woodshed the heck out of my skills. I got opened to stranger things too, theyd turn me on to Zappa, Beefheart, Henry Kaiser, cats like that. It was then I realized you dont need to have the best skill or knowledge, just be odd. Lol

must the the jock thing, but I never got terrified of another musician. I saw Yngwie on his first solo tour in the US and was so blown away, I came home that night and played til 5:00 in the morning with headphones on... just trying to recreate what the heck he was doing. There are physical limitations everyone has, but never be intimidated... just seeing how close you can get to them will make you a better player.