Hey steve ..

Thanks for the replies everyone [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

Steve:
A far as the internet helping you, are you speaking in regards to getting your band, Altered, out there?
To the rest of what you said, i agree wholeheartedly. It is a struggle that i am constantly at odds with within myself. You sound as if you have found a great situation to where you can 'have your cake and eat it too'... inspiring [img]biggrin.gif[/img]
I have a job that i love doing, but for me it isn't A LOVE nor is it gratifying, not like drumming, or like your love for your day gig. If i could find something that i love doing as a day gig and have drumming as a nite gig... ah, hog heaven, but the search goes on... [img]wink.gif[/img]

Sammy:
That is another struggle of mine... i LOVE Seattle but realize the majority of what i would want to accomplish musically can't be acheived here, just due to what the city has to offer. As you obiviously know (since you lived here) we are basically up in the far reaches of the country, wedged between two mountain ranges and hidden within the trees! The only session player that i know of who lives up here is Matt Chamberlain, and he made his name first in NYC and THEN moved here. I don't think i am going to have any labels pay my way around the country to do sessions anytime soon! It is a hard thing, as you know since you love the NW too, having your heart in music and having your heart where you live... but not having the pleasure of having the two mutually reside in the same geographical area. In the case of two of my buddies, one ended up moving to LA to pursue a session career. The other one got lucky and auditioned, and got into the empty drum chair in a locally known Seattle band that was just getting big, Death Cab for Cutie. I see myself, if i was going to make it, probably having to make the move to LA and not being as lucky as the second case. What you said certainly sheds some light and gives inspiration that good players can 'make it'. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] How did you go about landing the gig you are in now? Was that something that you had in the works before you moved to LA or did that happen after you got there?

Rudy:
Yeah, i have basically resigned myself to the idea of being a 'whore' to the music and the business. Hopefully, though, satisfaction can arise from this, through smart musical and business decisions. I love playing and don't mind 'selling out' because, to me, if i am selling my services, then i am doing what i want to do... i love the idea of being the one people use to make their music sound good... or atleast sound good to them [img]wink.gif[/img] What i play and what i listen to for enjoyment, well, they aren't always the same... which is good and bad. If i had a dream gig, i would play on Broadway, which as you mentioned... sight reading, here i come!

Thanks again everybody!
[img]wink.gif[/img]

Hi Rudy. i'm doing pretty much what you mention in your post. haven't done the ships but i might when the kids have grown up. have you done much of the above? one problem i have is finding gigs in the week and the biggest bummer is being offered two maybe three gigs on a weekend lol

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 05, 2004 09:00 PM: Message edited by: drumkid ]</font>

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Originally posted by drumkid:
Hi Rudy. i'm doing pretty much what you mention in your post. haven't done the ships but i might when the kids have grown up. have you done much of the above? one problem i have is finding gigs in the week and the biggest bummer is being offered two maybe three gigs on a weekend lol

<font color="#a62a2a"><font size="1">[ December 05, 2004 09:00 PM: Message edited by: drumkid ]</font></font>

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hi drumkid,
At the moment my staple diet is teaching and weekend gigs with different function bands. But yeah, I did ships from 1993 to 1999. Started depping for drummers who wanted to take leave every now and then and I was like ' wooT! carribbean cruise for 2 weeks, yeah!' Then in 1995 I got a regular ship gig offered to me with a trio and then moved up to the 7 piece showband playing in the ship's theatre pit. So I'd cruise for 2 weeks, return to UK, turnaround and go out again. Every January to april was the world cruise. No regulars took leave then because EVERYONE wants to go to places like australia, bali and san francisco. Well I certainly did! The showband was fun, challenging and hard! Until I got used to the pace and then it was cool. Reading a different show or cabaret every night does tighten up your reading that's for sure! Money is good considering after 6 months I became NT rated( no tax)and nothing really to spend money on as food and everything is free.So it's a great way to see the world, put money away and play drums. I've also done summer seasons in the past, like holiday camps, which is crap in one way, because it's so cheesy, but still, fun on many levels too. [img]smile.gif[/img]

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The biggest and most important thing any drummer can do to give himself an advantage and open more doors, is to make sure he can read, and read pretty well. This goes hand in hand with good timekeeping.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Good points Rudy, it's not a topic that's generally discussed on here, but I would say that if you want to be taken seriously as a drummer and musician; as far as being a drummer that freelances and doesn't just play in one band, then it is vital to be able to sight read to a decent level.

As Rudy said, if one wishes to play in a variety of playing styles and situations, then at some point you will be faced with a pad full of charts and invariably no time to rehearse, it's just 1234 and off you go!

When I was a kid, we lived next door to a guy who produced a Canadian band called Loverboy (nice name!) I was just starting to play the drums, playing to records and I remember him telling me that none of the drummers he works with can read music and for me not to bother. My Dad took me to one side and told me not listen to him and to carry on with my reading and understanding of notes. Needless to say he was right. These days it's not enough to have good time and groove as you will often find yourself having to nail charts at the first reading.

[img]graemlins/music.gif[/img]

Matricks:
I've gotten all my gigs through working at coffee shops. There's a constant flow of musicians coming in and out. They would see me practicing on the counter and it would strike up conversations. I got my first real gig with "Ricky Lee Jones" on the HORDE tour that way. I also met my dream band which I'm currently with (the apex theory) that way too. When I returned to LA after a Seattle adventure, I actually got into writing and touring doing theatre work. Soon after that I was playing in 4 or 5 bands and met somebody which led to apex. I swear, coffee shops are the best way to meet musicians, but it wouldn't have happened with out sacrifice (moving to LA) [img]frown.gif[/img] That's life though [img]smile.gif[/img]
Sammy J.

Coffee shops huh? I never would have thought it but it makes sense! It is funny you mention that because i have received a few gigs at those-type places when i have been just sitting and transcribing, or working on music on the laptop. People see you are doing music ask what you are up to, and next thing you know they need a drummer or know someone who needs a drummer for a gig...
Working at one i would guess that you meet alot of people and have plenty of time to small talk each person as they come in... quick and easy networking i would think. Interesting story [img]cool.gif[/img]
As far as the sacrifice of moving to LA... Too bad the LA gigs can't come to me up here in Seattle instead of me having to go down there! Don't they know our trees are alot nicer up here and have alot more of them ...not to mention coffee shops!...
Thanks again Sammy J [img]wink.gif[/img]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one struggling between going pro and having a "legit" job.