Living off my music?!

Hi ,

Edited by ailgun - November 06 2006 at 13:11

Well I think I am misunderstood. I think I know enough about home recording , software etc.

Edited by ailgun - November 06 2006 at 14:47

ailgun no offense here... but you need a serious reality check. For all I know you could be the greatest writer/musician/composer/singer -  IT DOESN'T MATTER. You don't go from "tinkering" around with recording software, making a few songs, and putting them on myspace - to selling your recordings and making money. "Established" musicians have a hard time getting by these days - you need a serious long term gameplan if you want to pursue music as a career. As a start, I would recommend getting some musicians (meaning ANY guy/girl who can play a damn bass or drums) togethor and jamming/practicing on a regular basis. Do not be picky about who you play with at this point because it's not 1969 anymore. You are not Genesis. Start gigging anywhere you can get a gig, if you can get work playing at your local junior high school/prison - then do not hesistate to take the job.  Aside from this you'll need another  "regular" job to fund all the costs of having a functional band - new instruments/amps/strings/cables/tuners/effects boxes/transportation. When you guys first start out - you don't start out playing Yes covers or "The Glass Prison" by Dream Theater - play Rolling Stones covers for all I care, play Black Sabbath songs - play anything as long as it's tight and it grooves - you have to build chemistry with your band member first before you lay your Bachzart monstrousities on them. After awhile - you've covered several songs, a couple of long, late night jams, and maybe a gig or two - you're ready to start working on your original material (NOTHING CRAZY), the key is to keep it simple but still conveying your original ideas - if it is beyond your capability set it aside/ or take a piece of it and make it blossom into something new - something on your current skill level, it's all about natural flow of energy. After you get a couple of originals that you can play tight as hell you can begin the process over again. Always challenge yourselves - WITHIN REASON. If your band sounds like a crate full of sheet metal falling down the stairs - then either change the song, play it painstakingly slow, or go back to playing Black Sabbath covers.

Now... I assume this entire time you were going to school and graduated from high school. But a high school diploma isn't good enough for well... anything. You need to major in something at least music related. Music theory, recording engineering, acoustic physics - SOMETHING related to music. Each one of these things I told you to do give you "music points" you need as many "music points" as you can get if you want to somehow... someway... make a living off music. My point is, you need a backup plan - chances are your band isn't going to "make it" on it's own - the money you make off gigging will be miniscule, microscopic (maybe enough to buy a couple of Happy Meals for your drummer after a show). So after college you hopefully won't have a job you completely despise and somewhat tolerable - recording engineer, music teacher... at least it's something in your field of interest and can only HELP you. Not to mention the amount of people you will have access to in college, especially if it centers around arts/music. The more you build your "musical network" (who can play this instrument, who's uncle knows so&so pro musician, who works at a recording studio) the greater your chances for success will be. If you stay really focused and dedicated to music I think only good things can come from it. Don't expect to be handed anything in life you have to do all the work. Most importantly don't ever stop writing/playing music - because if you love doing it, then why stop? "making it" is not that important. Good luck with it.
















Edited by Hierophant - November 06 2006 at 17:07

Well I will be answering all of your questions and making my comments. Firstly thanks for you luck wishes! I will write passively..Start and finish without stoping. Cause I have many things in my head.

I think I am too young actually. I have started listening to Opeth in the last years ( 1-2) And for 7-8 months I have played them in my room sometimes lonely sometimes with another guitarist friend of mine. And after learing more bands with the help of Opeth's influences I got into Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson. He gave me the influence to write. And I am writing for 3-4 months. ( A pause...) Firstly it begun lovely and just like a hobby. But now it has become an obsession for me too :( I am happy when I come out with something good I am happy. Otherwise nerveous.

And I have graduated from high school this year. And I am in a colleage of Graphic Design for 2 months. I am happy with it and talented. But in depth I want to be a musician.( Any kind of...Writer , producer , film-game , instrument player etc. ) But I think I have inspriation to create :( And I really think I can manage all this..When my creativity drops dead I feel otherwise but there is so much thing to discover. And when I look back I see many times like this. But I could write after these periods too. You can think that I am a little boy writing sh*t! And thinking in anormal way.  But please..And actually I am known here underground ( I like Turkey ) But maybe you can guess , Turkey is not the place for a Prog listener , experimental guy. I love my country in here in pubs etc. I can't play my songs. Or anywhere else! Maybe before concerts of huge bands. But my band is not ready for a gig like that. To open more..We have local shop here selling records etc. Including the owner of the shop everybody he gives the demos adore the songs. And they tell that they would buy the CD. But I don’t know how can meet someone makes records.

 

So I am writing my songs , putting them on myspace. Some people like them , some doesn’t make comments! Sometimes I feel pathetic , sometimes my ego rises like Tibet. I am weird.

 

And I wonder did you guys listened my songs? If you have listened and thinked about them. Please tell whatever! Probably you will want to hear more , I can put some more samples. I want you to listen them all and comment!

 

Again sorry.

Well thanks , it's for sure that I will chase it but. In my local area it's hard for me to play gigs really. There are mayfests in universities here , but I can't play there cause I play prog etc. Last year we played several covers in a Metal fest but playing cover's is not enough for me!

I think it's best to play my music wherever I can , give everybody my demos. And promote my self in internet( Like I do here ) . And wait.

Well things are different now... And I must say I am ready for these things. But the problem is my familiy. Guess the behavoir of them , it musn't be so hard :( I am in collage now..Probably after finishing it in 3 years I will be trudging around. In 3 years I can do things you guys said above. ( Having bands , promoting , getting known... )