Chops and gear are happening...what's next?

[blake1]

Hi Klemme.
"Blake when you mean "Hanging Around", what do you mean?"
I mean everywhere.
If you want a gig, you have to hang out with those people whom you want the gig with. Jam sessions are great if nobody has heard you, but once you've established yourself as a good player then you have to continuously promote yourself EVERYWHERE. (Jam sessions are mostly a jazz phenomenom btw). The musicians that are working all the time in the clubs are constantly putting in time hanging out at these clubs.
BTW, the best player isn't always the one who gets the gig. The player with a good attitude with good playing can usually work more than the great player with the wrong attitude or personality. That's just how it works here because anybody can be replaced in a split second. I mean everyone! That's what brings the level up though.
Jam sessions are weird because usually there's a miss- match of players, so the music suffers to a degree.
In N.Y. you play to be heard so you can meet more people and they hire you. It's tough because the pay is so little and the time involved in hooking up with people takes time. You have to be like a cockroach to survive here. I was amazed to hear my favorite players playing in the smelliest little dives. That was very humbling because that's the reality in N.Y.C. One week at the Village Vanguard and then the next nights in a little interenet cafe. If you want to play that's what you have to do, unless you have established yourself to the extent that you can live outside the city and get all of the major touring gigs. That's mostly the jazz scene I'm talking about.
Becoming a singer songwriter drummer
is the same, except the venues will usually be nicer and have p.a. systems. The singer usually pays for rehearsals and a minimum for gigs, so that's another route.


Remember and use this as a mantra -

There is always room for a good player and good attitude : )

[XNavyDrummer]

Thanks for the great posts you guys! I have a good friend who told me that if he didn't have another gig that night, he would be willing to play for $20 just to have a chance to make some contacts. This is a guy who has recorded for several major motion pictures and TV shows.

And you are right about the good attitude!

[ashio nz]

Wow - dead right Andy.

I guess 'assume nothing' and take every opportunity that's out there...you never know who's listening to you.

I have known people who go to Tuesday jam nights, sit in with the house band, make the right impression, then get a call from someone who offers them a radio commercial jingle the next day.

[peter c]

You may not be in sync with this
but I'm going to say it anyway.

There are those in the world that
feel that what you put out is what
you get back and always putting
your best foot forward, pardon the
pun, is always the best policy.

As it was stated, you never know
who is out there looking at you.

One more thing, helping your fellow
musicians is a way you can help your-
self and that's probably the most
important thing you can do, right
there. I did you not.

[img]cool.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 26, 2004 09:55 PM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>