Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Zick  Blackhouse and Plexysis:
While I'm not one to shun reality, everyone that I've heard about who's made it said they never, ever gave up. To me bailing after 3 years is a cop out. That's wayyyy too early to give up IMO.
It took me 15 years to find my musical voice and learn enough about writing, recording and mixing to put together three songs that have gotten me noticed. I went to college out here, worked in tech support, real estate, IT, sales, and now that I have a financial backing I'm tackling music and audio production full time. Not to mention I built a great project studio and own some of the best gear, guitars and amps money can buy. Not to mention the fact that I also work in a private studio.
There's no ONE way to do it. While I think you two have great points about making it in your market then moving to LA, I think that will work for some people. Not for me. There was no chance in hell I would have made it in my small-ass town unless I wanted to do Country all my life. |
I should have checked your location. From your first post, I got the impression that you were thinking of moving to LA — didn't realize you were already there.
Also, I believe that if you go back and read my post, you'll see that it was a fairly balanced perspective regarding the time frame:
...give yourself three years. If you haven't found what you're looking for by then, you probably won't —
or at least you'll have experience and information based on who you are to serve as an indicator of how things will go.
As far as not giving up, I never said give up, but it's important to realize that success is capricious. I've seen men of genius who worked unrelentingly towards their goals wind up on the scrap heap, while one-note-wonders were dragged into fame and fortune kicking and screaming all the way.
It seems you already have a fairly good handle on the LA music scene, and my previous assessment still holds. You also seem to have made some inroads, so I'm curious about your question. Why are you asking if LA is still a good place for music? From a professional standpoint, it certainly is. From a local-band-trying-to-make-good perspective, you already have your answer. For the most part, the club scene in LA is a dead end. But I'm not sure if that's what you are asking. Are you looking for a band to produce and sell to a major label? Are looking to make your name as a musician or as part of a band?
Speaking of my friend's wife, after the series she was in got cancelled, she went from her name being a household word to spending 23 years struggling to find work in LA — actually being turned down for roles that had asked for her type by name. And now, after just 8 months in New York, she landed a lead for an new HBO series. The point is, that LA isn't necessarily the best or only place to make things happen (and it doesn't suit certain personalities). You can find what you're looking for in a number of places. Certainly if you're in West Dog Rape, Indiana, your chances are less, but there are always cities nearby where you can gig. Plus you have the internet to get the word out, which makes the whole world pretty much a small town — if you use it wisely.
In your case, it seems that you've already established yourself to some degree. If you're content with your progress so far, then simply stay where you are and keep at it. If you're looking for a guarantee, I'm sorry to say that success is random (I believe I had used the word "capricious").
Another example of the random nature of success is Larry Fishman of Fishman pickups fame. He calls his company "The accidental business." He started out looking for a means to amplify his acoustic bass for jazz gigs because he didn't want to switch to electric bass. He couldn't find one that suited his ear, so he decided to make one himself. The Boston jazz scene dried up, giving way to rock, but word had gotten out about his pickup. The rest is history.
And as far as being in the middle of nowhere, Sweetwater started out as a mobile recording studio (A TEAC in the back of a Volkswagen van) in Fort Wayne and just built a 30 million dollar facility. Musician's Friend, a $400 Million dollar company, started in a barn in Oregon selling guitar strings.
I tell you these stories not trying to convince you to move, but rather that location isn't everything. There are so many other factors ruling success, and not all are under your control. As I said, there are no guarantees. If anything can be taken from what has been said, it's that success is possible from any location— and so is failure.
It seems to me though, that you are on the right track.
-B-