Moving to CA...

[Mark Day]

Better to try and fail than to never try at all.


Mark

 

[Chubtone]

Better to try and fail than to never try at all.
Mark

I agree with this completely. I moved to LA from Chicago when I was 18 years old. Sounds ballsy, doesn't it? Don't give me too much credit, my parents moved here during my 1st year of college and when I finished the year I joined them.

Then I went balls out for 8 years here, truly trying to make it. I was in the right place at the right time and got some pretty cool gigs and had some mildly interested management and record co contact. But nothing came of it. I have had people ask me why i didn't make it and I always respond, "too ugly".

However, I have zero regrets. I went for it, it didn't work out and now I can just live my life. I don't miss playing in bands. I don't miss doing gigs. I just sit around my house enjoying my family and playing guitar for me. Playing what I want to play, when I want to play it.

However, I don't feel in this day and age you have to be anywhere special to "make it". Our own Ola Englund just joined Six Feet Under. He lives in Sweden. They are from Tampa, Florida. Back in the day, you had to be in LA. NY was a distant second. These days, I think you have to kick ass wherever you are, and promote the heck out of yourself on You Tube and Facebook etc and if you have "it", it will be found. Ola had it. Ola was found.

 

[Chubtone]

I would like to move to CA to pursue my music career.. I play guitar - rock music (mainly) and blues, piano - jazz/blues...

Hey buddy, I just checked out your youtube clips, that Bm Blues Jam clip is freaking great! Are you as young as you look?

 

[Audioholic]

LA is so expensive. I think it's the place to be if you are into film work and film scoring type of thin. Not sure it's THE place to be for other stuff. What is your goals?

 

[sixstringking713]

UPDATE (to clarify Thank you for the replies and suggestions. I am graduating in Fall with an EE degree, single, no kids, will be 21 yrs old. Looking to pursue music, start a band, and bring some good rock music back... I plan to have a fulltime job with my EE degree (that's why I said palo alto, seem to be alot of EE jobs and is near San Fran) and do music on the side until it takes off (if it does) and then live off that. I know if I want any chance at getting somewhere, I need to drop my shit and move out immediately. I guess I am basically asking where is the best scene to start a band, and try to get famous (I know it's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll ).

I have a lot of music equipment for both playing guitar and recording in general. I just need to find people to start a band and try getting noticed.. I have always been in bands since 4th grade and have been fairly successful locally getting gigs when most adult bands are not even getting them...

No. And from what I hear don't bother with Nashville unless you know someone or can sight read.

I can sight read but idk, not really interested in Nashville right now but I will look into it more. Open to ideas.

I've been in the bay for about a year. Spent some time in LA. If you are looking for a career in entertainment go to LA. The people are fake and the water is dirty, but so is the business.

The vibe in SF is way more laid back and there are some viable career options. That said, the bay is literally the home of cork sniffing. It isn't as much of a put-on up here, yet it retains every bit of the snobbery. I like the weather, which is jeans and long sleeves most of the year. You don't really need a car to get around in SF. Cost of living is higher up here.

In summary you can succeed in either place if you have the savvy, drive, and talent. I would make the decision more around atmosphere and weather.

you want a steady gig...cruise ship. just saying...

I love LA but it seems like a place to be once you already made it and your recording your 2nd album not trying to break in with the first. Nashville is cool but there are some crazy chops there, you better be able to do it on sight, the first time every time. Vegas sounds like fun but you better have discipline or you could land hard with the extra circular activities.

I'm going with NYC...so much opportunity there between broadway, live shows and recording. Everyone comes through the apple.

If your willing to really relocate I would send you to Macau.

I'm actually from upstate NY, so I have considered NYC, but I hate NY weather. Still an option tho, not totally against it I guess.

None of my business but if you are single with no kids, I say go for it. Move to LA or Nashville and give it hell. You might be able to make it a career or you might not, but you won't regret it.

If you are married and/or have kids think twice. If you aren't already established it's a huge gamble when you have people relying on you. Just my .02. I realize this was not the original question but too many people chicken out and regret it when they are at a station in life when they can give it a run.

In other words, go into the belly of the beast if you are going to do it. Don't settle for somewhere near the scene.

None of my business but if you are single with no kids, I say go for it. Move to LA or Nashville and give it hell. You might be able to make it a career or you might not, but you won't regret it.

If you are married and/or have kids think twice. If you aren't already established it's a huge gamble when you have people relying on you. Just my .02. I realize this was not the original question but too many people chicken out and regret it when they are at a station in life when they can give it a run.

In other words, go into the belly of the beast if you are going to do it. Don't settle for somewhere near the scene.

Well said, if you don't have responsibilities, go for it now while you can. If it is in your heart do it or you forever regret it.

Better to try and fail than to never try at all.


Mark

Yup, single, no kids, thank god
thanks for the advice

Better to try and fail than to never try at all.
Mark

I agree with this completely. I moved to LA from Chicago when I was 18 years old. Sounds ballsy, doesn't it? Don't give me too much credit, my parents moved here during my 1st year of college and when I finished the year I joined them.

Then I went balls out for 8 years here, truly trying to make it. I was in the right place at the right time and got some pretty cool gigs and had some mildly interested management and record co contact. But nothing came of it. I have had people ask me why i didn't make it and I always respond, "too ugly".

However, I have zero regrets. I went for it, it didn't work out and now I can just live my life. I don't miss playing in bands. I don't miss doing gigs. I just sit around my house enjoying my family and playing guitar for me. Playing what I want to play, when I want to play it.

However, I don't feel in this day and age you have to be anywhere special to "make it". Our own Ola Englund just joined Six Feet Under. He lives in Sweden. They are from Tampa, Florida. Back in the day, you had to be in LA. NY was a distant second. These days, I think you have to kick ass wherever you are, and promote the heck out of yourself on You Tube and Facebook etc and if you have "it", it will be found. Ola had it. Ola was found.

I would like to move to CA to pursue my music career.. I play guitar - rock music (mainly) and blues, piano - jazz/blues...

Hey buddy, I just checked out your youtube clips, that Bm Blues Jam clip is freaking great! Are you as young as you look?

Thank you, awesome!
yup 21

LA is so expensive. I think it's the place to be if you are into film work and film scoring type of thin. Not sure it's THE place to be for other stuff. What is your goals?

Would like to find a talented drummer, bassist, and vocalist. Start a band a la Van Halen with a modern edge with some pink floyd influences thrown in the mix (odd i know). 3 major influences for me have been EVH, gilmour, jimmy page.. I can write songs, I have a bunch of recordings of them already put together. I'd even enjoy being a session musician if I could play rock music... I would like to build a small makeshift studio in my own house and produce the music from start to finish..

 

[Greg Riley]

I just checked out your video's...you are young and you have great chop's with a heavy EVH influence. With what your planing. I would do everything measured with a plan and goal. Seek the support of family and friends. Stay away from serious relationships (don't have kids yet! lol). Stay away from debt. You are at the stage where you need to go from a guitarist with great chops to a musician. Play everything you hear. The better musicians you surround yourself with..the better you become. If you still desire the move to California..Think about The Musicians Institute and Berklee. In those places you will surround yourself with other serious musicians, further your education, make connections, and open future doors. Don't hesitate decisions and get caught up in a life you will regret. Play music because you love to..not to be a Rockstar.. You can have all the talent in the world and still not get that. Guthrie Govan makes a good living, Shinedown is loaded, and Eddie Vanhalen is just sick

 

[Greg Riley]

I just read your last post.. The Electrical Engineering degree is awesome. I would still consider a music education degree on top of that at your age. That seems to be whats truely in your blood. Perhaps holding off the EE job for a year. Or finding a EE job in the musc industry. The EE degree makes me think of Tom Sholtz (Boston).

 

[alxdgr8]

After talking to lots of people that used to live in LA and why they left, I wouldn't ever move there if I was beginning pursuing music. You'll just be a tiny fish in a ginormous sea. I only hear complaints about the LA music scene and how happy people are to be out of there and playing elsewhere.

 

[sixstringking713]

I just checked out your video's...you are young and you have great chop's with a heavy EVH influence. With what your planing. I would do everything measured with a plan and goal. Seek the support of family and friends. Stay away from serious relationships (don't have kids yet! lol). Stay away from debt. You are at the stage where you need to go from a guitarist with great chops to a musician. Play everything you hear. The better musicians you surround yourself with..the better you become. If you still desire the move to California..Think about The Musicians Institute and Berklee. In those places you will surround yourself with other serious musicians, further your education, make connections, and open future doors. Don't hesitate decisions and get caught up in a life you will regret. Play music because you love to..not to be a Rockstar.. You can have all the talent in the world and still not get that. Guthrie Govan makes a good living, Shinedown is loaded, and Eddie Vanhalen is just sick

I just read your last post.. The Electrical Engineering degree is awesome. I would still consider a music education degree on top of that at your age. That seems to be whats truely in your blood. Perhaps holding off the EE job for a year. Or finding a EE job in the musc industry. The EE degree makes me think of Tom Sholtz (Boston).

Thanks

After talking to lots of people that used to live in LA and why they left, I wouldn't ever move there if I was beginning pursuing music. You'll just be a tiny fish in a ginormous sea. I only hear complaints about the LA music scene and how happy people are to be out of there and playing elsewhere.

well, then wouldnt it be easier to find talented bandmates?

 

[Chubtone]

What about Austin?

 

[Gorehog]

what exactly is making it.cuz now,looking back,of all the 80s metal bands,who really went to superstardom?being a "rock star" is just a facade in my book.look at Skid Row,they had a cpl huge years,GNR,humongus!,for a cpl years,RATT,QUIET RIOTFIREHOUSE,BLAH BLAH BLAH,whoever,sure it was prolly great fun.but to have that little window of superstardom doesnt equal shit to me.cuz,if i was in one of those bands,i may have a few bux in the bank and not hafta have a real job,but they have been struggling,grasping at straws ever since their big break.just like most of the nation,if not the world.

with that said,find a city that will give u the opportunity to give u what you want.if ya want a steady gig and a steady income.it doesnt hafta be LA,New York,Vegas,damn it could be Pittsburgh,Phoenix,whever.

good luck to ya.

 

[sixstringking713]

What about Austin?

Are there a lot of gigs in austin?

 

[Bob Savage]

Guthrie Govan makes a good living

I love Guthrie's Erotic Cakes album and his playing all around but I would be surprised if he's making a "good living." Either that or perhaps our perspective on "good living" is different.