Guitarists that "made it" because they knew someone

[VonBonfire]

I have a controversial one....

Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Wouldnt have been what he was without his brother.

I think Stevie was roughing it around Austin while Jimmie was out touring the world tbh. Per a recent documentary Stevie had a couple fans locally that had some connections and basically put a team together around him to get him where went eventually. Too bad Austin is literally nothing like it was in the 70's, which is weird because there is so much more money and growth here now....a lot of those surrounding areas like out near Poodies hilltop lounge were basically extremely rural until about 15-20 years ago. More corporate power, more money, more control, more volume complaints and regs=less decent gigs.

 

[70 Mach 1]

Hard to say. You need to be in the loop just to get gigs at a local dive bar.
From there it progresses to better dive bars. Then you keep moving up until you get to weekends at the whiskey A go go or the Iridium.

Then you need a following to pack the place

The more big wigs you meet on the way up the further you'll go.

Luck plays an important role too.

Have to be at the right place at the right time

 

[DanTravis62]

This thread has delivered already

But I have news for you guys who think it was EVER about talent in the music industry

It's always been "who you know" - how the fuck do you think Dave Navarro's stupid, untalented ass got into all those bands?

 

[romanianreaper]

Tommy Thayer from KISS. I think Gene produces one of their albums.

Dave "Snake" Sabo. Being best friends with Bon Jovi helped him and the band.

 

[skoora]

I found a certain sense of peace when I came to terms (many years ago) with the reality of my inability to adapt to schmoozing and networking for personal gain was going to cost me a decent shot at a career in original music. Or careers in general really. It’s not just something for the entertainment industry.

 

[thegame]

I found a certain sense of peace when I came to terms (many years ago) with the reality of my inability to adapt to schmoozing and networking for personal gain was going to cost me a decent shot at a career in original music. Or careers in general really. It’s not just something for the entertainment industry.

I can 100% relate to this

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

I found a certain sense of peace when I came to terms (many years ago) with the reality of my inability to adapt to schmoozing and networking for personal gain was going to cost me a decent shot at a career in original music. Or careers in general really. It’s not just something for the entertainment industry.

Sounds like you need a new pedal, that'll help boost that personal gain and tighten up that flabby low end.

 

[VonBonfire]

I found a certain sense of peace when I came to terms (many years ago) with the reality of my inability to adapt to schmoozing and networking for personal gain was going to cost me a decent shot at a career in original music. Or careers in general really. It’s not just something for the entertainment industry.

Everyone who continues on in the industry does so on their strengths. I've always had at least one dude in the band who wasn't into socializing that has other qualities that are just as valuable. A whole band full of guys like that might be a problem, but so is a band full of schmoozers.

 

[skoora]

Sounds like you need a new pedal, that'll help boost that personal gain and tighten up that flabby low end.

It’s not a self esteem issue. I like meeting folks. I just don’t want to do it in the sole interest of self promotion without any other meaningful reason. I find it shallow and worthless to my spirit.

Like I said, I recognized that this mindset wasn’t really going to help me, so I was OK with letting it all go when I did. No regrets.

 

[skoora]

Everyone who continues on in the industry does so on their strengths. I've always had at least one dude in the band who wasn't into socializing that has other qualities that are just as valuable. A whole band full of guys like that might be a problem, but so is a band full of schmoozers.

Ain’t gonna lie, if there was at least one guy in the band who was the man about town, I would sigh some relief. I was always down for helping with any professional stuff, like booking etc. Plus I mostly, always did the recording/mixing of any demos or releases so I figured that’s what I can offer.

 

[VonBonfire]

It’s not a self esteem issue. I like meeting folks. I just don’t want to do it in the sole interest of self promotion without any other meaningful reason. I find it shallow and worthless to my spirit.

Try typing out your own one sheet sometime...the cringe factor is off the chart when I do it but it's a necessary evil.....the whole industry subsists on bs and hype.

I've always been in it for the adventure, the music, and meeting new people. I love it when I see a dude who gives me a right schooling on blues guitar. It's depressing but at the same time the thought of it keeps me motivated. More depressing is seeing fewer and fewer capable players in the genre. The whole live music scene, even in a busy area like Austin, is like a smoking pile of wreckage unless you like bro country covers, tom petty, and the joker by steve miller in which case welcome to paradise.

 

[Fiesta Red]

Dave "Snake" Sabo. Being best friends with Bon Jovi helped him and the band.

The band got a really shitty deal out of it too.

 

[VonBonfire]

The band got a really shitty deal out of it too.

According to Bach's bio Snake and the others just wanted to kick around and live the rockstar life after the initial success instead of making more music.

 

[cobrahead1030]

All of them.

 

[guitup too]

Jimi Hendrix.