Re: Had a tryout last night.


"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.

In music, as in many other things you don't have all the answers up front.
If you did there'd be no reason to play the game. You also can't really
know what anyone else's goals are. What they tell you is not what they
really feel.

Gerry


.

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