Despite all the bitching...

[rack gear]

Originally Posted by freetard

So you know the secret to be a rich rockstar? Care to share it? My goal in life is to millions selling my music.

I thought you had the answers?

not really sure what this means?

"My goal in life is to millions selling my music."

ESL?

[rack gear]

jerry heller once told me the secret to success in the record business is easy, just be the first at what you do (sex pistols, nwa, etc) or be the best at what you do (dylan, stones, floyd, michael jackson, etc).

[kennybro]

Originally Posted by rack gear

not my intention at all. my wish is for everyone today to be able to have the kind of robust experiences I've had, not the exact experiences I've had... I think if someone feels they are being talked down to, it's certainly not my intention to do so.

Yes. Certainly not my intention either. If anything, I feel for the guys out there now trying to pound out a decent living. They work their asses off to follow their bliss. The fact that times are quite tough does not diminish their drive.

I'd trade it to be like 23 years old again, and just starting out even in these tough times, I can tell you that!

[Reality]

Originally Posted by kennybro

The point was how much easier it was to make a living playing music in the 70s and 80s than it is now. I did it then, full time, and made a hell of a lot of money. Was signed for four years, and made even more money, doing nothing but music. Made enough to buy houses & cars and fund an education that now allows me to continue gigging every week for pleasure, (got a nice small gig tonight actually, and playing a HUGE wedding tomorrow night with a 9 piece band for big $'s, thank you very much), and still have clients into my studio at least once a week. Life is easy and relaxed for me now because of how it was in the 70's and 80's, but times have changed.

I have a few extremely talented friends who still make their living playing music, and I wouldn't trade places with them. It's hell, trying to keep the gigs rolling in these days, and club pay sucks. No benefits. No future. Little money. At the mercy of every jerk club owner who know you depend on them for your livelihood.

It's not a good time, and anyone who was there and is still here doing it, full time or not, knows that.

So, 30 years later, how are you so comfortable, yet your talented friends struggle?

[Reality]

Originally Posted by Yummerz

There will be a smelly ripple from my butt.

In todays world, think about this for a week and you'll probably be more well off than most musicians....

for about a week.

[Shock Value]

Originally Posted by Reality

So, 30 years later, how are you so comfortable, yet your talented friends struggle?

got a nice small gig tonight actually, and playing a HUGE wedding tomorrow night with a 9 piece band for big $'s, thank you very much),

You're a wedding singer?

[Reality]

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

Are you on <redacted, to not offend GS moderation>? Easy way? Apparently you don't appreciate irony.

In case you didn't pick up on it, I was expressing doubt that your


is any more than blowing smoke.

And you're accomplishments? Mixing with toes?

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

Put up or shut up!

To make things clear - there is no "easy way", and the current state of the industry is such that a large number of hardworking, serious musicians - some of whom are (a) my friends, and (b) internationally known - and were working successfully in former years - are either out of work or only marginally employed.

So if you've got some "magical method" lay it on us.

Because I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!

Just like the whiney threads spurred me to start this one, my answer to that is, there is no "magical method". Just a simple answer.

Put what up? Credits? Would that make you happy?

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

45.3% drop in musical groups and artists Please disregard all the troll posts in the latter part of the thread.



So what? There have always been droves of mediocre amateurs.

Welcome to the real world. This happened back in the 30s and 40s when recordings shook the music world.

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

The problem is that in the current climate many, many extremely talented, extremely hard working professionals, many of who had viable careers a few years ago, are out of work.

Current climate? ....Climate. How often do you stand in the middle of a hurricane? You'd probably find a better place as soon as you could. The climate is rough now. The problem is pertaining to the music industry (as narrow minded as it is), it's not life threatening.

The most talented people in the world have never been heard. No one feels sorry for them. Go write a song about it...

There are many talented, hard working people that gained success, then got complacent, and now are complaining that they can't make it like they used to. I think that's coming to an end here in the next 5-10 years.

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

So let's hear your magic solution.

If you can't see that the masses are starting to have a say in this game, keep the blinders on. Once you get that, the answer is pretty clear. I'm N-O-T going to spell it out.

BTW, you're repeating yourself.

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

So you admit you're just trolling - trying to be provocative for its own sake.

We don't need that. We need people who are productive.

Sounds like you need each other to pat yourselves on the back. I'm not guarding that bridge.

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

Nonsense. I've said it many times and I'll continue to say it - it doesn't matter what tools you have as long as they're of at least a certain minimal quality (I dispute the assertion that a Zoom recorder is as good as a decent '60s reel to reel) Joe Meek did Telstar on a pair of consumer quality stereo recorders. Link Wray did Rumble on a 3 track Ampex in his back yard chicken shack on his farm.

It's not your toys - it's how good you are.

A Zoom recorder is not as good at recording a song as a `60s reel to reel?

Not surprised you missed my point altogether.

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

Unfortunately in the current business climate you can be GREAT and still have a great deal of difficulty getting heard - largely because of the droves of mediocrities flooding the market with noise.

How about pointing out a great that has not been heard.

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

So if you have some way to cut through that please elucidate.

See above... told you it would hurt. You just don't want to admit it or see it. It's been answer in this thread by the way, and not by me.

[kennybro]

Originally Posted by Reality

So, 30 years later, how are you so comfortable, yet your talented friends struggle?

I'm a college prof these days. I'm lucky that my work is still in the arts, as I teach TV prod, photography, graphic design, and I developed a recording arts class that starts in the fall.

So basically, I saw the writing on the wall in the early 90's, and got out of full-time music. Went back to grad school, worked my butt off and got the degrees.

My big luck was that I made enough in the 80's to be able to financially survive 6 years of school. I never paid a penny tuition, as from day one, I worked as a grad student teacher or lab tech. Not all of my friends had that luck, as they were living hand to mouth even in the good times, and there was no point where they could break away from constant gigging and invest in a more secure future.

Just a throw of the dice, really. But heck, there's good luck floating all around. You just have to recognize it and grab it as it goes by.

[Reality]

Originally Posted by kennybro

I'm a college prof these days. I'm lucky that my work is still in the arts, as I teach TV prod, photography, graphic design, and I developed a recording arts class that starts in the fall.

So basically, I saw the writing on the wall in the early 90's, and got out of full-time music. Went back to grad school, worked my butt off and got the degrees.

My big luck was that I made enough in the 80's to be able to financially survive 6 years of school. I never paid a penny tuition, as from day one, I worked as a grad student teacher or lab tech. Not all of my friends had that luck, as they were living hand to mouth even in the good times, and there was no point where they could break away from constant gigging and invest in a more secure future.

Just a throw of the dice, really. But heck, there's good luck floating all around. You just have to recognize it and grab it as it goes by.

Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Well done.

[ray_subsonic]

Originally Posted by kennybro

You just have to recognize it and grab it as it goes by.

This is the best anyone can do at the moment. Just work with what you have in front of you as it stands, and look for opportunities that are either coming your way or passing you by. That is until there are some more positive changes in the areas of copyright.