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Post subject: What would you do...???
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:29 am
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I'm posting this very important question here on this forum only because you dudes are so cool and have a ton of great advice to offer. Well here it is...

I've been offered a gig with the highest paid band in my area to be their new lead player even though the music is way below my capabilities. They are a cover band that primarily plays 80's hair metal and the like and even though I still love that style of metal, it just isn't what I've been writing for the past couple of years. I've been trying to form an all original technical/speed/death metal band for quite a while now and nothing ever seems to come of it. The dudes that are interested just don't have the skills necessary and the rest of them are just plain scared away by the complexity of what I write for a whole band (they don't have the skills either). Mediocrity seems to be O.K. with them, but absolutely not for me. I write more along the lines of Nevermore, All That Remains, Testament, ect. while they all write like Godsmack (YUCK!!!). I'll NEVER give up on that dream because it's what I am as a musician.

So the problem is that if I take the gig I'll feel like I sold my soul to making money rather than writing and performing my own music which I really pour myself into. They tell me that I can pocket $200.00 to $250.00 a night and that it'd be "easy money" for me. I'll have to admit that I've watched them live and they do put on a hell of a show, but it's still not to my standards. So is it keep chasing the original dream and maintain hope that it'll come together someday, or take the gig and have a lot less time to actually write and record my own brutal material?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO???

ALL responses are welcome BTW... :twisted:

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:35 am
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How else do you come by money? If you are needing the dough, I say, do it! You'll still have time to write, and pay rent.


Last edited by senderkik on Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: What would you do...???
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:36 am
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If it isn't fun for you I wouldn't do it. You'll just end up being unhappy and either playing with no soul or quitting. People can tell when you don't believe in what you are playing. However, if you can look at it as a side project while continuing to pursue your dream it might be fun just to get out and share your talents with an audience. Who knows, maybe you'll inspire the guys to rise to your skill level and musical tastes. Here in Texas almost everybody plays with multiple bands. Just my opinion.

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Last edited by riversitter on Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:36 am
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What makes you think you can only be in one band though? Many people are in several, all different things.

Getting exposure and meeting lots of new musicians (and potential bandmates) while playing with the other band, meeting club owners, sound tech, etc, can only help to get you and YOUR music out there as well. This is pretty common.

At any given time, I'm in a few different projects too. On and off, it might be something like...

- guitar for original rock/progressive band
- acoustic guitar for comtemp. coffee shop trio
- bass for touring band in the area
- percussion for latin jazz band
- writing projects with various musicians
- recording tracks for studios or other local musicians on CD's,


You don't have to think "ok, this is all i will ever do, and i can't do anything else, and i'll never do my own things if i take this gig". There's aboslutely no reason you can't take this easy gig, get the exposure and use that to help your own project in the meantime. And, keep your own project going at the same time as well.

To me, music isn't about playing only one thing only, and dedicating your life to that one narrow thing. To me, it's using my musical talents to just play, with many people, in different styles and places, to learn things that I normally would not be exposed to, make the crowd love us, have fun, and make some money in the meantime.


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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:36 am
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I say do it. Here's why:

Although this will not provide a challenge for you, it will get you out there. The more exposure you have, the more likely you are to meet people who appreciate your abilities and might be in a position to help or join you.

So I don't see it as selling your soul or going for the easy buck. I see it as a stepping stone to something greater. Think of it as a networking opportunity.

Just my $.02


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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:25 am
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I'd take the gig and keep writing "your" music and be working on the side with "your" project and when "your" project" is ready to go, give your notice.

It's just the nature of the biz. :wink:

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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:32 am
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The short answer: you're playing.

Expanded a bit, as others are posting, you're gaining exposure, keeping in practice and there's nothing to say you can't be in other projects. I'm assuming that they're not requiring a contract banning you from side projects or solo work.

Having been both a performing musician and now in customer service for years, I'd also say that playing is only one aspect. True, you could be a pure artist and go for nothing but your music -- no interest in at all going into the "entertainer" side of music. But if you're planning on being more balanced, view this as a great opportunity to hone your audience skills.

I base that on my early days of playing. My first bandmates said that my playing was way above anything they'd ever heard or could do. But they fired me anyway because they said my audience rapport, especially in tne lead role, was zero. Thus in my second band, I worked a bit less on my technical chops and a bit more on getting what I was doing across to those who were listening.

But I still didn't feel I was selling out because I worked on side projects for the "soul" aspects of playing. Yep, I was in a totally commercial band but I'd jump the aisle so to speak and pop up in a jazz trio or even once in a while in some roadhouse in a kick-butt country band. Bottom line: it was all playing, it was all good.


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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:08 pm
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I say take the gig, enjoy playing in front of lots of people, make some decent money doing what you love. Getting paid is not selling out. Perhaps over the course of a month or two you can start to influence/inspire your new bandmates to play more technical stuff. Even cover bands throw in an original now and then. It's in these original songs that you have your chance to work your mojo. At the very least, view it as a "side project" and keep to putting together your own outfit.

All the good advice in the world aside, you have to go with your "gut instinct". If your gut says "don't do this" then don't do it.

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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:16 pm
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dgonz wrote:
What makes you think you can only be in one band though? Many people are in several, all different things.

Getting exposure and meeting lots of new musicians (and potential bandmates) while playing with the other band, meeting club owners, sound tech, etc, can only help to get you and YOUR music out there as well. This is pretty common.



Well said. It can't hurt to be out there. Your going to look like a star next to the other band members. Meeting all the people who own clubs, work at and promote in the area will always pay itself back.


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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:37 pm
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Shreddin,
Take the gig mate. Its always better to be out there doing something than struggling along on your own wishing for the next stu hamm and dave lombardo to come your way. In my experience when your out gigging you come across a different class of musician. Whenever i've advertized for musicians all i got was people who weren't good enough for other bands.
Take the gig, covers pay own material doesnt on a local level. You could have great fun doing it. performance is very different to musicianship, the london philharmonic orchestra are great musicians for a fun gig though the ramones left em standing. that is opposite ends of the spectrum.
Its not like your quitting what you want to do, just putting it on the backburner whilst you show the world what you can do. :evil:

Do it mate, your a fantastic player, show that fact off. The covers band must get a decent audience to pay well.

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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:20 pm
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IMO...Don't do it, it's not what you want to do.


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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:34 am
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This depends on how badly you need the money vs. compromising your musical integrity. I personally don't see anyhing wrong with taking this gig and getting some exposure and then later on maybe a transition to what you really want to do. Maybe this can be a bridge from wehre you are now and where you want to be. If you will hate every minute of being in that band then turn it down. If they have any potential to improve or become something more than they are now, maybe you can have a positive influence on them. In the grand scheme of things we are all used to impact and be impacted by others. We all need to recognize those opportunities. Good luck with whatever you decide.


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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:47 am
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I don't see why you can't do both. I have friends who play in more than one band at a time. I know a bass player who plays in four or five bands at once.

He was telling me about how he had a gig where numerous bands were playing. Two of his bands played the gig. He played with one band for their set, then later on, played at the same event with his other band.

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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 10:06 am
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If music is your only job, and its the only thing you do to generate an income, then you may just need to take whatever option is going to help pay the bills. If playing music is your dream job, and you do currently something else on the side just to stay afloat, then you really need to consider if this band will help you get to where you want to be. Also, forget about the playing side of it for a moment, and think if you get along and like these other people in the band in general. Because while you may fit into the band musically, if you don't get along with them too much other than the music, then band drama, issues, and diva-attitudes are a little bit more of a hassle to deal with...the money may be good, but if you don't really like what you are doing or who you are doing it with, you need to make sure that stuff doesn't get in the way of your own musical goals and ideas. Personally, I like to keep music fun, and will only do things musically that I find fun and enjoyable, no matter how good or easy the money will be. To me, if its not fun, it becomes a job, because even if I am working, as long as I am having fun, its not work, but I take many non-fun jobs just to pay the bills. Music is my escape from work, so it has be fun...

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 10:19 am
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bowlfreshener wrote:
If music is your only job, and its the only thing you do to generate an income, then you may just need to take whatever option is going to help pay the bills.

+1

music has no boundaries... :wink:

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