It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:01 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 207 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 ... 14  Next
Go to page Previous  1 ... 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 ... 14  Next
Author Message
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:07 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:31 pm
Posts: 2122
Location: Southern California Mountains
cryingstrat wrote:
FirstMeasure wrote:
cryingstrat wrote:
I can't imagine anyone here would like (or could handle) the nit picking scrutiny that Mayer has endured for simply liking to play and being lucky enough to be paid well for it.


John Mayer has to be able to take it, as would any of us if we Get or Had Gotten there. The price of fame is Critisizm. I was never handled with kid gloves by the audience when I was busting my hump on the local bar circuit. It's all part of the Trial by Fire, and if he folds under scrutiny (which I don't think he will, too many people like him a lot) he doesn't deserve the record deal, let alone the Fame.


Oh yeah. I remember I played solo one night (just me and a Takamine 12 string) in a small pub in Princeton, NJ. I played my heart out, poured out all the emotion I could without crying. After my set I'd thought I'd kicked butt. I was getting lots of kudos and then two couples came over and told me I sucked totally....and dude, they really meant it. There's always going to be someone who hates what your doing.

I was playing for a Bartenders Association meeting one night at a Moose Lodge. One Moose, dressed in Overalls and T-Shirt, didn't know the Hall was rented out to a Function with a Rock Band playing, and he told us exactly what he thought of his Moose Lodge housing the worst music he'd ever heard. I was new to the band (10-15 years younger than the rest of them) and they weren't sure how I was going to react to being heckeled. I waited for him to finish abusing me, thanked for the compliment, and told the Band, "This Guy Wants Some ZZ Top, do you guys know Sharp Dressed Man?" And we did an encore for him. Very satisfying moment.

Of course if it were my own material, I'd have been a little more sensitive. I've never had the chance to play my own stuff, yet. I bet that's very satisfying (even when jerks voice thier opinion).

_________________
"Persistence Is The Father Of Invention"
-Crazy Old Man In Training
Image


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:12 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:47 pm
Posts: 4294
Location: Somewhere near Seattle
Playing your own stuff, solo, is about the hardest thing I've done musically. At least when a band gets razzed you've got others to lean on. When it's just you and your music it's very personal. They're attacking your babies, the songs that expose all your pains/fears/joys/loves. It really does feel like you as a person is being judged.

_________________
"is that a real poncho...i mean
Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
Hmmm...no foolin ...." FZ


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:39 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 634
Yeah, the problem is, the audience can't relate to brand new stuff, it has no value to them, they can't sing along or whatever. As opposed to the world of recording in which copyband stuff has no value. Plus getting your band or band X to play your brand new song well is awfully tough, as opposed to getting it perfect in your DAW, which these days is a piece a cake.

Solution: write and produce stuff good enough to get downloaded a ton, have the recordings for sale at the gig or cards with the download link on em, and THEN play out with the material. Then you can intro the stuff to the crowd in a way they'll pay attention to it.

Record first, because then at least you can play the recording to the band and they'll get what you're going after better, and respect the material more.

And don't think this will all go away once you're a star. John Mayer's crowd wants to hear the usual hits, as much he's sick of em and just wants to play the new stuff. Same as it ever was for every performer on Earth.

The reaction the first time Cream played "Sunshine of Your Love" and "Crossroads" live in America (before they were ever recorded) was a collective shrug. Polite applause. Of course, my reaction was, "Hel!, I gotta steal that 'Sunshine' riff!" And I did. Theft is one of the cornerstones of pop music.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:05 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:31 pm
Posts: 2122
Location: Southern California Mountains
Because I've always been able to play what I hear on the guitar, I fell into the Hired Gun position, I could play live with any band after one rehearsal (none if it were a blues band). I'd try to write something and it would remind me of a song and I'd learn that song instead. I wrote maybe 6 songs in 15 years, figured I my talents didn't lie in writing.

Then I took up mandolin, and recently Keyboards (piano mostly). I've written 3 whole songs and maybe 12 Ideas and parts on piano in the last year. I transpose what I wrote to guitar and it's sound OK. This led me to a new issue I never faced before.

When I tried to record my ideas, I turned into a manaquin that could only play from the basic positions. My grace and fluidity were gone. It must be what stagefrieght feels like. I've never had Stagefrieght in my life, I'm a true Ham on Rye.

I've gotten over it a little, but not enough to like my finished product, it still sounds segmented and choppy. Has anyone else had to deal with anything like that?

_________________
"Persistence Is The Father Of Invention"
-Crazy Old Man In Training
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:09 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:47 pm
Posts: 4294
Location: Somewhere near Seattle
Every time I go to lay down a few tracks I'm amazed at how hard it can be to get it right when I was just playing it perfectly a few minutes ago for practice. Seems like you hit the record button and you start thinking instead of playing. At least thats me. Now I know why nothing ever gets done in one take.

_________________
"is that a real poncho...i mean
Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
Hmmm...no foolin ...." FZ


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:30 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:31 pm
Posts: 2122
Location: Southern California Mountains
That's it, "thinking intsead of playing". I wonder if that's why Hendrix had so many "hangers on" in the studio, so he could have a little audience to play to. Sirt of distract him from the headphones and little red light.

_________________
"Persistence Is The Father Of Invention"
-Crazy Old Man In Training
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:33 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 634
Yeah, it takes a long time to relax and focus on sitting in the pocket. And where the pocket is is open to interpretation. For instance, for country players the pocket is a little ahead of the beat. For R&B and pop grooves, the pocket wants to be on or just behind the beat. In the studio, or your bathroom if that's the main studio room, finding the right pocket is critical.

A producer is mostly concerned about that when laying down the basic tracks. Triple-scale first call studio guys talk about little else. They get hired mainly for their ability to nail the pocket first take. Thousands of guys can play the notes. Few guys can sit in the pocket.

That's why I like midi. It's the home studio loner's best friend. Midi sits in any pocket you tell it to.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:34 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:47 pm
Posts: 4294
Location: Somewhere near Seattle
FirstMeasure wrote:
That's it, "thinking intsead of playing". I wonder if that's why Hendrix had so many "hangers on" in the studio, so he could have a little audience to play to. Sirt of distract him from the headphones and little red light.


Yeah, that could be. Make it a performance instead of studio work.

_________________
"is that a real poncho...i mean
Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
Hmmm...no foolin ...." FZ


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:57 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 634
Probably because it increased the odds that one of them would be holding.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:02 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:47 pm
Posts: 4294
Location: Somewhere near Seattle
I'm sure several of them were holding.

_________________
"is that a real poncho...i mean
Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
Hmmm...no foolin ...." FZ


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:15 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:31 pm
Posts: 2122
Location: Southern California Mountains
-Censored-. What am I thinking, this is a family site :oops: Sorry

_________________
"Persistence Is The Father Of Invention"
-Crazy Old Man In Training
Image


Last edited by FirstMeasure on Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:24 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:47 pm
Posts: 4294
Location: Somewhere near Seattle
:shock: :shock: :shock: :roll:

_________________
"is that a real poncho...i mean
Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
Hmmm...no foolin ...." FZ


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:32 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:03 pm
Posts: 1222
Location: Texas
i find that when i record my own stuff, i have peiced to gether some revelant idea of what i want to solo to sound like when i go in there. I like to play a song live for a while before i track it, give it it 's own shape and feel. Now as far as being a "hired Gun" i try to get the feel the artists wants. If they are happy i am happy, even if i dont like what i did!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:35 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:31 pm
Posts: 2122
Location: Southern California Mountains
Unfortunately, I have a much easier time making other people happy. Especialy if it's an original band, and all I have to do is learn the material, take a little direction and find places to insert my own quirks and style. When I'm trying to build my own thing, I'm the only one critisizing me.

Live, you have the audience use as a gage. In an audition, you have the band your trying out for. When recording your own stuff, there's no imediate way to judge your material. I suddenly have to trust myself :shock:

_________________
"Persistence Is The Father Of Invention"
-Crazy Old Man In Training
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:01 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:14 pm
Posts: 111
jeez this thread is kinda scary :shock: :lol:


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 207 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 ... 14  Next
Go to page Previous  1 ... 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 ... 14  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: