Major Auditions ?

**Timbata** · May 15th, 2005, 06:46 PM

$2000 - $3000 a week in a wedding band!! Wow, You guys must really play the Sh*%t out of the Electric Slide & Y.M C A.

**got_a_matchgrip** · May 15th, 2005, 07:50 PM

Originally posted by TImbata:
$2000 - $3000 a week in a wedding band!! Wow, You guys must really play the Sh*%t out of the Electric Slide & YMCA

LMAO

DAY-ammmm...don't 4get "[HEY,] Macarona [Aaaa-AH!]"

...& mebbe [Don't You Know that You're My-] Hero...[I guess that's the same as "Wind Beneath My Hindquarters -er, Wings"]

... & [still] After the Lovin', Mac the Knife, & NY, NY... /;cp

Or...Like A Virgin... /;cp

If I never hear the ES, YMCA, Macarooni, & Wind Beneath My Hero again in my life, it'll be almost like paradise. Oh yeah, & I'm Too Sexy 4 My Shi[r]t by Nuff Said, Freak. [j/k - or am I?!]

I think KGee outghta release a smooth-j*zz duo version of I'm Too Saxy for My Shirt, with a healthy side order of Yawny ivory [but not necessrily ebony] tickling... j/k, i jest.

I possibly expect another visit from mat or 5, & mebbe a couple others, b4 we get this ship back on course...mebbe.

Didn't mean to veer over into the corn field; just had to follow TIm's [AWA mats] incredibly comedic lead.

[ May 15, 2005 09:39 PM: Message edited by: got_a_matchgrip? ]

**benrand** · May 15th, 2005, 08:39 PM

Do you guys know any Skynyrd?

**troutbrooke** · May 15th, 2005, 08:46 PM

Originally posted by Groovesmitty:
Vai put the Black Page in front of you? Why? He should know that most professional drummers have played that already. I have it memorized.

You have it memorized? Yikes! That's impressive, but I can't help but wonder why anyone would have it memorized. Did you work on it that much? I remember ordering the sheet music for the Black Page back in the early eighties, and working on it for a few weeks and playing it, but I don't think I EVER had it memorized (except for the first half - MAYBE).

Did you actually play that in a band? Live? In front of an audience? That must have been exhilarating AND rewarding.

Although I don't think of The Black Page as a masterpiece or anything, it's definitely a challenge to 'hear' those groupings. I would have to disagree with your statement that most professional musicians already know it though.

**Groovesmitty** · May 15th, 2005, 10:00 PM

I expected those responses, I'm laughing out loud.
Yes, the repetoire can be a bit, let's say, unattractive.
I'm also a partner in the band, but we pay the musicians who aren't partners around $600.00 per 5hour reception. And we play around 4 gigs a week. I get to stay home, see my wife and children, while still making music my life.
I studied at PIT and all the students at the time were learning the Black Page. I worked on it under the guidance of Ralph Humphrey. I have never played it with a band. I do know it from memory as do a few other drummers that I went to school with.
I wasn't saying that to brag. I'm not what I would consider a great player. I thought that learning the Black Page was common amongst drummers who are into odd groupings.
I'm more of a jazz drummer than anything else.
Best of luck CL, keep us informed.

**troutbrooke** · May 15th, 2005, 11:00 PM

Originally posted by Groovesmitty:
I wasn't saying that to brag.

I didn't get the feeling that you were bragging, just being matter of fact, but still, having that piece of music memorized after all those years is impressive.

I'd like to compose my own little polyrhythmic tour de force a la Black Page someday.

As for the gig doing weddings and casuals, I can relate to that too. I used to play with a wedding band over ten years ago, and this band was charging between $5,000 and $8,000 per night back THEN. The band was amazing, with great players.

I could only handle playing that stuff for a few months though. It wasn't for me. I didn't become a musician just to make a living. Music means too much to me and I need to be playing music that I love. If I can't play music that means something to me, I won't do it. It got to the point that I started hating playing.

This isn't a slight against wedding bands either...I got the same feelings playing with various pop and rock bands too. It's a curse.

It's one thing to be given free reign to be creative within a framework, but merely being a human timekeeper is an insult to a drummer/musician.

**CLWarunki** · May 15th, 2005, 11:29 PM

[quote]Originally posted by drumming sort of person:

It's one thing to be given free reign to be creative within a framework, but merely being a human timekeeper is an insult to a drummer/musician.

I totally agree. Infact I passed up a major gig when I was 19 because of this... then again if I get the gig I am going for now I have a feeling it will not be very creatively rewarding, but I can play in the minor leagues and be creative all my life and not make a cent... you need to go pro at some point. Look at Bozzio, he is one of the most creative drummers of all time but when he started with Zappa he was playing Zappa's music and note for note. Now where is the creativity in that!? Now he can do whatever the hell he wants and there are no limits. You know what I mean?

**troutbrooke** · May 15th, 2005, 11:50 PM

Originally posted by CLWarunki:
Look at Bozzio, he is one of the most creative drummers of all time but when he started with Zappa he was playing Zappa's music and note for note. Now where is the creativity in that!?

There may not be much creativity there (the same could be said for the role of a musician in any orchestra playing the classics) but there is still interpretation of music that one believes to be important, not to mention the challenge of pulling off something technically difficult.

He was hardly being a 'human timekeeper'....

[ May 15, 2005 08:50 PM: Message edited by: drumming sort of person ]

**got_a_matchgrip** · May 16th, 2005, 12:31 AM

GS, that's not bad $ for sidemen in a wedding band, at least down in the SE-US neck of the woods. I do realize you're on LI, so your marketing strategies [AWA the band] sound pretty on. I know there's a lot of wealthy dads [& moms] marrying off their daughters [& sons] in that neck of the woods... ;c)

Originally posted by benrand:
Do you guys know any Skynyrd?

LMAO

"FREEEE BIIIIRRRD!" [coming from the back of the room, by one of the "wet"-bars]

["You guys do any Zeppelin?"]

Now back to the regularly scheduled topic.

[ May 15, 2005 09:43 PM: Message edited by: got_a_matchgrip? ]

**Groovemeister** · May 16th, 2005, 01:40 PM

WOW!

That is sooo much money to be making a week out of weddings!!! HA HA HA!!! MAN!!! [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]

Anyways,

think how many people can play the music you're auditioning for. I'll bet every single one of us on this board could play it upside down. The point is, how you click with the band.

If you walk in smiling, compliment their songwriting, (whilst not kissing ass) keep your eyes on the other players the whole time and remember to smile - you stand 150% more chance that the guy who plays the same parts (however musicially) and does none of this "extra credit" stuff.

Remember, if you are going to be in a bad with them, they've got to like you!!

MP

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