Re: Had a tryout last night.

when you get closer to 50 you just do it.

"js" <nothing@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:g6rmd3$3kj$1@xxxxxxxxxxx
See, I knew no matter how gently I phrased it, people were going to take
it
wrong...

Some here might remember that I used to lead an all original band that was
also one of my most financially successful efforts. I made more money at
that than I did on most commercial gigs.

And I have an original side project now which doesn't make a dime, but has
a
lot of buzz to it.

I'm asking to learn, kids. Like Corey, I will be 40 this year. Like Corey
I
have other commitments, as do the other guys in my band.

However, I also know that all bands have an "endgame" i.e. they either
come
to a point where they can't go on anymore, or where they have met their
goals and need to revise them.

In the case of commercial music, it's easy. Your goal is to make money.
When
you stop making money, you either break up or change your show.


For an original band, it's much more complex, partly because there is no
monetary "carrot and stick" and partly because everyone's idea about the
project is different. One guy may just want to do it for fun. One guy may
want to be famous. One guy may just want to be signed to a record label
for
once in his life. Each of these goals also involves a radically different
approach.

So I was wondering if Cory's band had clarified their goals ahead of time.

The other thing is, success feeds on itself - As soon as money enters in,
it
becomes a business. Let's say you just want to play "for fun". Well, word
gets out about your band, and you start playing more and more shows, and
taking in enough door moeyto be comparable to commercial gig. What do you
do
then?

Or let's say your CD gets picked up for airplay an some college 4 states
away and becomes a big hit. They want you to come and do a free show, but
you'll sell lots of CDs. What do you do if you're the guy who fronted the
money for the CDs? What do you do if you're the guy who's playing "for
fun"
and you have a lot of "day job" responsibilities?

has Corey's band anticipated these challenges?

I'm wrestling with these problems myself, and I just wanted another
person's
perspective.

Contrary to popular belief, I don't have all the answers.





"coreybenson" <coreybenson@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:918f71fd-f210-4463-b56b-6647e679de3a@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Jul 30, 3:26 am, "js" <noth...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Yup. Although I was really thinking of how you can justify it to the
wife/ex
wife on "your" week with the kids/your boss that you need four days off
so
you can "road trip" through three states without making a dime.

"Jonathan" <jonat...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:g6p8dg069i@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Jim Carr" <newsgro...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:qyTjk.442$Zv3.261@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'd say that for thousands of years mankind has composed and
performed
music simply for pleasure. That hasn't changed. What's changed is
this
notion that it *must* be a profit-making venture. When it comes to
original music, I say just accept the fact that you're doing it for
the
love of it and see where it goes, which may not be very far.

Thousands of years ago it didn't cost you $20 to drive to the gig
and
back. The clubs are making money off having bands there, original or
otherwise, and the ones who say "It's for the love of music man, not
for
your evil dollars!" are fools letting the clubs take advantage of
them.
Never mind the effect on every band in town when they start
giving
it
away to the clubs and lowering the value of life music as a whole.
Just
because you play your own 3-chord song instead of Buddy Guy's doesn't
mean
that club shouldn't give you $50 of their $4-a-beer profits so you
can
cover
that tank of gas and dinner and set of strings you bought for the
gig.
There's a whole world between paying money to play originals at a
"showcase", and playing Mustang Sally at the local Dentist's Union
Christmas
Ball; it's called breaking even and treating your music and ability
as
something of value and worth.
-Jonathan

Jonathan and JS:

I have a day job. You guys have made the decision not to... And I
fully respect that. I've done what you're doing before, so I've been
there.

I make assloads of money at my day job. My bills are covered. I own
two businesses that make me money as well. My music "habit" is fully
funded by my studio income.

In other words, I don't NEED to get paid to play anymore. If I'm going
to play Mustang Sally, I WILL f'ing get paid! LOL

I just don't want to play MS, Mony Mony or Skynyrd covers anymore.
It's more fun to write bad originals than it is to play classics, or
even most of the new hits, and Jazz bores me. I respect it, but have
very little interest in playing it. I'm beyond wanting to be the next
Victor... I'm a meat-and-potatoes bass player, and that's all I ever
want to be.

So, playing in an original band is, for me, my version of Fly Fishing.
Or Sailing. Or Hunting. All of which are hobbies that cost shitloads
of money to do well. My hobby is self supporting, and my wife is a
professional singer. She knows the deal, and one night per week to
rehearse doesn't hurt her feelings. So, in my case (and I'm NOT
comparing myself to anyone else) this'll be fun, and that's all I'm
worried about!

Hope you two are doing ok these days. Round these parts, lots of
places are cutting out music all-together. Most of the full timers I
know are picking up temp jobs to help make ends meet. Hopefully the
trend will swing back...

Corey




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