Why didn't YOU make it big?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chubtone
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My decision to be a professional musician included making the proper sacrifices to do so. I sold my house, all my cars, got rid of pretty much all my bills, uprooted and moved to hollywood where I could network in a place where the industry is. I couldn't imagine trying to do this in any other place. It would be a waste of time. I still get offers from other national/international touring acts. I turn offers down weekly, due to being spread a little thin, but I stay friends with them and invite people out to meet for drinks etc. Always talk about working on things in the future, they get offers from other media that they choose not to use the band for and would ask if I'm interested in tracking for a single for film or commercial placements, etc, and vice versa. Get in where you fit in and be productive. Its not rocket science and you don't have to be yngwie.
 
Never tried. can't write lyrics (I have nothing to say really).
Put the energy into building a career in software development.
No regrets.
 
Already had a kid and a well paying career before I got good at guitar.
But I can play Lay it down, Eruption, Bark at the Moon, and about half of Mr. Scary so I think I've accomplished all I need to. :lol: :LOL: :rock:
 
singtall":3ifg7dlk said:
1987 - we are right there in the middle of the metal scene, prettyboys and all. but our singer liked cocaine too much and out drummer liked to get drunk and fight. the band split up.
1988 - i quit the new band and got married. she divorced me after i cut my long hair.
1989 - i got an offer to play with a high energy (ecstasy dance music), which i turned down. they got a 7 year RCA deal....and got dropped in 5 months.
1990 - got back with coke head singer. while signing record contract with music attorney, the attorney asked our 6'4" muscle bound singer for some head....and our singer kicked his ass. end of deal.
1991 - released cd with christian metal band. decided to take the band on tour, half of them wouldn't leave their wives. end of band.
1992 - moved to Florida to team up with a great singer and drummer. recorded cd. couldn't get a deal because we refused to pay Jani Lane's vocal coach to "teach" us to sing.
1993 - signed deal with a "major" management agency. the agency broke up our band, keeping only me and the singer, with plans to pair us with members of other bands that they tore apart. 5 months later, they decided to stop tearing apart bands and let us all go. being from several states and no longer having the financial backing, we all returned home. started new band and played the club scene again.
1994 - found superhot wife, got married, quit the band.
1996 - released another christian meta cd. no tour to follow because i was now one of the guys that wouldn't leave his wife and kid on the way.
1999 - release self title release on independent label. played the local club scene.
2003 - released another cd while playing weekends and working a day job.
2004 - met with record company that heard one of our cd's that was sent to them by a club owner that discover the band "twelve stones". he asked our age, i replied "35", he said "you guys are too old". end of band.
2006 - took a job with a church. recorded and played guitar on a cd released by the church. a little over 5000 copies sold.
2008 - released another cd that sold over 10,000 copies.
2009 - released a live cd that flopped because the church brought in all studio musicians with the exception of me. at the time, the church music style was pretty much rock, the musicians they brought in were R&B players....the new direction didn't go over well with the congregation. everyone quit or left.

now i just work on presets for various effects units and make short clips to demo equipment.
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I tried to be a part of the hardcore/metal Christian scene in the late '80s to mid '90s with no luck, though usually it was due to guys leaving the band to mess with girls than trying to stay home with wives. :D Hey, was your metal band somewhat known back then? I have a crapload of Christian metal cassettes and CD's from around that time.
 
I never had aspirations to make it in the music business. I don't like traveling that much, I don't drink much, don't like drugs, don't like hauling gear, and was never thought I had anything special in regards to musical talent.

I much prefer music as a hobby. When I feel like writing songs, I do. And I don't have to worry about them selling.
 
I just wasn't hungry enough. Had desire and a small measure of ability but I wasn't treating it like I should have, which was all or nothing. "If I don't make this happen I'll starve or be homeless" kind of thinking. I was always a little too comfortable in life without having to really do it or perish. Sure there were personality, work ethic and visionary conflicts but I put it on myself. I just didn't want it bad enough. Now I'm too old and married and wouldn't give up my decent, steady paycheck and benefits for anything. I do miss the idea of making a living from music as it's truly my biggest passion but it's so not in reality for me now. Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda.... :yes:
 
After the A&R screw up from our singer...We did get several songs on Television shows...which was cool, still get BMI checks for .68 cents.....a few more and I can get a bag of picks to use as a Tax write off...
 
Got close on the late 80's. Drummer's dad was a "rockstar" and hooked us up with a lot of people. Had interest from a couple labels. Then, our singer got arrested and thrown in jail. Dumb ass. Started going through the process of replacing him, but things didn't go well. Label interest started to die. Then, Nirvana hit and it died completely. Got frustrated and went to college.

Now? Married with 4 kids living in the corporate world. I have a decent axe collection and a recording studio at my house to feed the "sickness".

Bass player/writing partner? Makes great living writing music for video games.

Keyboard player? Lounge act in Vegas.

Singer? God only knows.

Drummer? Touring the world with a signed act and living the dream. Thanks dad!

Oh well. Could have, should have, would have.
 
definition of making it big falls short as i read these posts. Making it big means more than just getting out of the basement playing a few local pubs and having your buddies show up.. What about major record label contract, and or ...... how about a 7 album contract, major mtv videos with regular rotation, gold record, multiple awards , constant touring doing 800 to 5,000 heads a nite, even 10,000-15,000 shows ?
Did not feel mAking it big, a step away, felt it, tasted it, with grasp. Climbing up just to fall back down. Thankful for the memories of the journey will live on .
 
pstar":dci8ki38 said:
definition of making it big falls short as i read these posts. Making it big means more than just getting out of the basement playing a few local pubs and having your buddies show up.. What about major record label contract, and or ...... how about a 7 album contract, major mtv videos with regular rotation, gold record, multiple awards , constant touring doing 800 to 5,000 heads a nite, even 10,000-15,000 shows ?
Did not feel mAking it big, a step away, felt it, tasted it, with grasp. Climbing up just to fall back down. Thankful for the memories of the journey will live on .
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Seems like most of us fall into 1 of 2 categories:

1. Willing do do absolutely anything to "make it" and just never got in the right spot at the right time with the right people.

2. Were not willing to do absolutely anything and when the allure of a normal life with steady income was strong enough, the dream was over.

If you have a life full of good people around you and have a decent job, you made it. :rock: :rock: When music is part of your dna as it is mine and probably most of you, you are rewarded every time you perform and reach the audience. As much as I wish I could have been part of a global band like Journey, Metallica, etc, I am ok playing locally knowing that I am able to help people enjoy music.
 
No talent and no drive. I went to high school with the drummer for Sympony X and used to jam with him from time to time. Learned what real talent was then. So even if I didn't have it I got a whole hell of a lot of free concerts with some excellent musicians. Found that I'm a better fan than front liner but was never angry or jealous and would certainly never give up those experiences. I still love gear and can play enough to amuse myself. That's all that matters.
 
I chose to finish college and join the military instead. I regret nothing.
 
I was always pretty good. Not as good as many of the 80s long-haired, slick-meisters that I was "competing" against. But certainly better than what passes for most big name guitar players these days. I did pretty good impressions of Randy Rhoads and Yngwie in my youth (at least better than any other players in my area). I even majored in classical guitar at a university program headed by Christopher Parkening. So I was/am no slouch as a player.

But I didn't wanna sleep on some urine/beer-stained floor in some basement in LA or Seattle for years to make it. So I've just been banging around bars and clubs in mostly in the MT/WY area for the past nearly 3 decades. I'm cool with that. I'd like to have the money... but all of the other trappings of the whole "rock star" deal stopped being alluring to me years ago. After I outgrew my rock-star-wanna-be phase, I ended-up going to flight school and wanted to be a commercial pilot more than a rock star. Alas, I ran out of money after getting my private pilot license and I've been a network admin ever since. :(
 
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petethorn":va80bh2n said:
What is this "make it big" you speak of...?
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I'm pretty sure it's living comfortably while doing music for a living. Seems like you're there, Pete.
 
Bob Savage":qsl6p1b7 said:
petethorn":qsl6p1b7 said:
What is this "make it big" you speak of...?
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I'm pretty sure it's living comfortably while doing music for a living. Seems like you're there, Pete.
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WERD

:thumbsup:



Would rather "make it big" ala PT than be Chad Kroeger, wiping my ass with gold-flake TP while singing constipated vocals and churning-out one big hit after another. :lol: :LOL:

If I wanted to be a [pop] rock & roll song-writing machine I'd rather be Rob Thomas ANY day. I might get sick of hearing his stuff shoved-down my throat on AOR stations, but it doesn't make me wanna smash the radio when it comes on like Nickelback does.
 
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