I love bein a musician.

[kayla]

Just a random post. i love everything about bein a musician. i freakin love my band and bandmates. we've had a few bumps in the road but its totally worth it. sometimes it gets tough practicing so much and putting so many hours in, but gettin complimented on our improvements makes the time and effort worth it.

i've put a lot of time in myself, but i need to thank a few area musicians who have helped me improve a ridiculous amount in the last few months; Chris Kane, Rick Wertz and Jason Feathers. Thank you guys for helpin me out! its greatly appreciated.

Also, love the areas musicians. I've met some pretty cool people over the past few years. Annnnd i've met my fair share of crummy people but anyways.

I just love bein a local musician.

Soo, you guys can use this thread to brag on your band, yourself, the area scene. whatever. just no politics and sometimes i wonder, if anyone else gets super stoked to play gigs or practice?

- kayla.

[Gallowglass]

Good for you Kayla! No thanks for me are necessary. It's good for me to see someone so enthusiastic and dedicated. No matter how much anyone shows you, no one can make you a better musician but yourself. You're the one who goes home and woodsheds the concepts and techniques until you can use them and make them musical. Give yourself a pat on the back while you're at it. I know I've seen you improve a lot, maybe even in ways you might not even be aware of yet. I'm glad you're finding so much enjoyment.

Since Kayla invited it, I'd just like to say thanks to all my buddies and bandmates who I've met through music. You know who you are. Thanks for enriching my life and helping me experience the joys of music together. It's such a big part of my life...I don't have any idea what I'd do without it.

[ToonaRockGuy]

Being a musician is better than any drug or alcohol you can name. I've been playing since I was four, and despite the rough spots, I wouldn't change a fucking thing. The best part about even being a weekend warrior is waking up on Monday dreading work, and then realizing that you get to play a show on Saturday night. Ownage.

[songsmith]

Good for you, Kayla. You're going about the exact correct way, no shortcuts expected.

I can remember daydreaming as far back as early grade-school about being in a band, but never thought I'd ever be capable of playing an instrument, and I was far too shy. I went for it, though, and not once have I ever regretted it. I don't claim to have any talent, only drive, so the people I've been fortunate to have access to really made a difference.
People like Jim Mosey, Steve Summerhill, and Jim Price taught me really valuable business lessons. Mike Riling and Steve Koehle taught me what I need to know about the technical stuff. Guys like Felix and Jeff Wallach put me on the right path guitar-wise. There's just too many more to even cover!
Many thanks to the musicians from the Altoona/Blair County area who put me on the right course, and the overall scene... which I feel is as good, or better, than any similar-sized town anywhere in the US. You guys set the bar high, and it really makes a difference.

[Banned]

the musicians from the Altoona/Blair County area ..., and the overall scene... which I feel is as good, or better, than any similar-sized town anywhere in the US.

I agree with this 100%. The Central Penna. area is loaded with talent, so much better than what passes for popular music on radio and TV today.

[skipisode]

I've always felt you can learn something from every musician you meet. Sometimes it's good things and sometimes it's not so good, but it's a lesson none the less.

"LOOK, LISTEN, LEARN" that's a philosophy I feel we can all benefit from as musicians. And always try hard to respect what the other guy is doing versus try to compete with him, because evetually you'll end up bitter some how. Music is one of the greatest gifts in the world, and I for one wouldn't trade it for anything!

ROCK ON BROTHERS AND SISTERS! (or country, jazz, classiscal, etc. what ever is your preference)

[Jasaoke]

Hooray!! I love Rockpage threads about music!!

Isn't it remarkable how it only takes a few minutes to list, in detail, the elements of music, but after a lifetime of study we can still learn, discover, and explore?

[lonewolf]

the musicians from the Altoona/Blair County area ..., and the overall scene... which I feel is as good, or better, than any similar-sized town anywhere in the US.

I agree with this 100%. The Central Penna. area is loaded with talent, so much better than what passes for popular music on radio and TV today.

That's it. You know there's something wrong when these two join hands and start singing kumbaya.

[sstuckey]

the musicians from the Altoona/Blair County area ..., and the overall scene... which I feel is as good, or better, than any similar-sized town anywhere in the US.

I agree with this 100%. The Central Penna. area is loaded with talent, so much better than what passes for popular music on radio and TV today.

That's it. You know there's something wrong when these two join hands and start singing kumbaya.

Yep, I checked the weather report and hell has frozen over.

[mjb]

I like this thread, everybody sums it up pretty good. i've made some of the greatest friends in altoonas music scene and not just from here, but this site is where it all started, so, thanks brother RON. right now, i'm struggling real hard to play though, i have serious family problems and it looks like my wife and i are splitting up, thats not bad enough but there is a child involved and thats what makes it hard. but as far as music goes, you think its always going to be there for you, but for some reason i can't even gather the want to open the case and pull it out...it seems when your in the middle of all this angst, you just cant seem to get it together enuff. Blues is a funny thing, i think most people think ahh man you should be playing the blues RIGHT NOW, but i think its not till you come out on the other side that you can play the blues with the conviction and the truth that its uppost to be played with. i've tried everything to keep my marriage together, my wife as i always seen it was suppost to be my muse and all she has ever done is hold me back from being all i could be, and at this point after years of trying, i am now looking foreward to comming out on the other side. it will be a long road but in the big picture someday i will look back and this will be a blip in my life and i will soon be back out there doing what i love but for the short term... i gotta take care of business.

Thanks for letting me vent, i don't do it much, but on this site i feel theres alot of people like me and although you may not have gone through it, maybe you feel things the way we feel things too. hope to see you all soon..

kla, it has been fun to watch you develope these last couple of years, your enthusiasm and will to putting in the time is what it akes and you've done exactly that. keep up the great work!

[Hawk]

mjb, we talked before. We love ya man and be strong.

Music is the greatest reflection of emotions. Music can evoke emotions for the listener and musicians can provoke emotions through their instrument.

Music is a form of communication that goes beyond verbal to a part of the brain that absorbs primal energy.

Therefore the emotions are shared. There is no greater feeling than sharing these emotional musical bridges with band mates and listeners and the high that comes from those shared moments.

My dad's favorite saying after hearing a really good musician was, "He could make that _____ talk ! That's what every musician strives for everytime he plays, to "touch" someone...

mjb will be out "touching" us soon enough, with great emotion...

[kayla]

mjb, i hope everything works out for ya man!

well said hawk!!! i think the coolest thing is connecting with one person. you often get one person thats totally into it, i always try and make eye contact with them.

theres just this awesome feelin when your into and they are into it. that connection cannot be described.


- kayla.

[jetcitywoman]

I'm a juke box hero and got stars in my eyes!!

[lonewolf]

the musicians from the Altoona/Blair County area ..., and the overall scene... which I feel is as good, or better, than any similar-sized town anywhere in the US.

I agree with this 100%. The Central Penna. area is loaded with talent, so much better than what passes for popular music on radio and TV today.

If there's anything that I've learned by moving back to this area its that the local music "scene" doesn't have a fucking thing to do with talent!

[Merge]

I think I know what you mean, but could you explain that, Lonewolf??

[lonewolf]

I think I know what you mean, but could you explain that, Lonewolf??

Lets just say that there are more social factors than there are talent factors in the local music business. Its no different than getting any kind of job around here...its more about cronyism and nepotism than it is based on skill.

When I graduated from college, I couldn't even get a job here as an electronics technician or a draftsman--cronyism and nepotism were willfully cited as the reason. I take a quick drive to Chicago, and within a year, Honeywell gets 2 patents and that keyboard layout you are probably typing on right now (minus the windows keys). Skill? Plenty enough for a promotion to the top R&D department at a Dow 30 company, but not enough for Hollenbach's...Hmmm, what's Hollenbach's up to nowadays? ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Few people know that had I not made that trip to Chicago, odds are that The Front would never have formed as it did, and FORCES would most likely be the local rock band name most recognized from the 80s.

I do believe things would be very, very different, I do.

[kayla]

Lets just say that there are more social factors than there are talent factors in the local music business.

i see some of your point. but how do you have a successful band if you arent socially active in promoting etc etc? if no one knows who you are it won't matter how much talent the band has. am i right?

on another note - i'm really tryin to get our band established locally, no one freakin knows us from adam. i really dont know how to do it, but im tryin to network us as much as possible. play benefits and play for free at different places. will it work? i dont know, but i hope it does. i think a lot of it will depend on our attitude as a band. i will take any tips i can about gettin established locally.

- kayla.

[lonewolf]

Lets just say that there are more social factors than there are talent factors in the local music business.

i see some of your point. but how do you have a successful band if you arent socially active in promoting etc etc? if no one knows who you are it won't matter how much talent the band has. am i right?

- kayla.

You can make promo packs with CDs or DVDs, pics & info and hope like hell the idiot booking contacts you gave them to know enough not to put a DVD in a CD player. Most of them end up as round-file frisbees anyway.

You can get breakout business cards and print flyers of your gigs and hand them out to people in advance at the venue and surrounding area and hope that even one out of 50 will show up. This also includes sending full-color posters to the venues and hoping they actually put them up before your show. Its usually a good idea to follow up at the venue with a roll of tape.

You can take those same type of cards and make catchy little fan club cards with slogans like "I'm a Vergen, I rock to The Verge" and hand them out everywhere you go.

You can create a Facebook Page with quality videos and create show events so you can send hundreds of invitations to people in the hope that a half dozen might show up.

You could consider taking the next step and forcing people to see you at gunpoint...well, maybe not. Too bad, it seems like it might be the only thing that actually works....unless, of course, you are on the "approved" list.

[kayla]

well, i dont know about all that. im just enthusiastic about our band, and excited to play. maybe that will produce more gigs than bein bitter about the local "scene".

[Merge]

I don't think Lonewolf is bitter, Kayla. I think he's just speaking from experience. I know how the scene is down here in western Maryland (it sucks), and I'm not at all bitter about it. Most of the suggestions he made are good suggestions, I know several bands that do those things.

[nakedtwister]

Great encouraging post Jeff. It takes work Kayla and not just from one person. It is very frustrating at times but it depends on what you want to get out of it. I don't see anyone from the area making a killing, contrary to what some may believe. I have been to quit a few shows of more well known locals that the seats are pretty empty. Shit we have played for crickets a lot too. B

[ToonaRockGuy]

I'm sorry, Jeff, but I don't share your pessimism. A couple of bands that I've been in, namely Banditos and Gin-N-Juice, started from nothing with no "name" members, and were successful with hard work, promoting, and putting on quality shows.

Gin-N-Juice started as a jam session on Thursdays at (then) City Limits playing in front of 3-5 people, and within 18 months we were playing Saturday nights at Four Dees to a packed house.

With Banditos, we worked our asses off to promote and put on a good show, and we played to full houses most everywhere we went.

Heck, when I was in NailDriver, we played to good-sized crowds, and I'll bet they still do.

I'm not saying that there is no cronyism in our area, because there certainly is. But (to Kayla, now) if you are willing to put in the effort and not expect instant results, over time success will happen if you have the goods. You have to be willing to do what it takes, and to pay the price. If you are a cover band, you gotta play the songs people want, even if you detest them. If you are an original band, you have to be willing to play to mostly empty rooms and get your music out there as much as possible. Covers can have quicker success, and originals can be more rewarding due to giving birth to that music.

It's all in how you look at it. But if you are negative about it, you'll never find the positive in anything.

[lonewolf]

Great encouraging post Jeff. B

Jus' tryin' to help.

[StStanley]

If there's anything that I've learned by moving back to this area its that the local music "scene" doesn't have a fucking thing to do with talent!

Why don't you cite some examples of this "talent-less scene"? Because the last time I checked, there were a LOT of talented people active in the area scene.

It's also been my experience that some people complain about a scene, and others participate in said scene in whatever way possible. One thing that I have learned in over 20 years of performing live is that you're NEVER done paying dues. I know that I'm not.

[lonewolf]

If there's anything that I've learned by moving back to this area its that the local music "scene" doesn't have a fucking thing to do with talent!

Why don't you cite some examples of this "talent-less scene"? Because the last time I checked, there were a LOT of talented people active in the area scene.

It's also been my experience that some people complain about a scene, and others participate in said scene in whatever way possible. One thing that I have learned in over 20 years of performing live is that you're NEVER done paying dues. I know that I'm not.

I never said it was talent-less, I also wouldn't go as far as to say "a lot" either. Because of the "democratization" of music thru karaoke and cheap equipment, there are probably 100 bands around here that would never have gotten out of the garage 35 years ago. It seems today that everybody is a musician, whether they are or not. Because of this, I'm not going to give anybody bad, sugar-coated advice. Telling them to go to college is much better advice than glad-handed, backslapping circlejerkery that could lead them to a life of squalor.

The one thing I did find out through all this is a confirmation that karma does not exist.

Its also been my experience that some people don't have a clue about me or all the things I've contributed to the "scene" since I moved back here 13 years ago, or since I literally started paying dues when I first joined the musicians union here 37 year ago. Clueless as to how I am happy to help anybody out for very little or nothing in return.

YOU REMEMBER OUR SHOW, DON'T YOU?