Off topic, but wish me luck!

[cellardweller]

This is off topic, here in the fostex forum, but....

My first "gig" in several years is this coming saturday. Nothing big, just a "small" bar, but it's something more than I was doing 6 months ago, we gotta start somewhere

Unfortunately, it's not original material, I have succumbed to the mindnumbing drivel which is the "cover band", but it is, hopefully, a stepping stone to finding some like minded musicians to do original material, either in my current "group" or elsewhere...

wish me luck, say a prayer, rid me of negative karma or whatever. All donations of goodwill accepted!

[billisa]

I envy you. I am a totally studio bound individual who couldn't play anything live... So my hat's off to you. Performing is a real rush, so have fun, and keep doing it! Enjoy yourself and your audience will too.

[cellardweller]

Thank You So Much!

I thought I was studio-bound as well...Only as old as we make ourselves I guess! Not sure at all that this could possibly be a bad thing...
I've never been the kind of person who "feeds off" of the emotions of others, so I'm not sure this will be the rewarding experience that it is for others, but I'm in it for the long haul this time. Gotta give 'er the ol' college try this time, or else I'll never be able to complain!

Peace

[lbanks]

Good luck and enjoy!

[dave in toledo]

hey cellerdweller, im going to be 42 in a couple of months, have been playing in two classic rock bands and a country band for 6 years, in my area if you want to get paid you have to play covers, only people doing originals are the kids playing for free in a few spots where the managment takes advantage of the kids enthusiasm......

besides its not so bad, get to drink free beer and watch pretty girls dance, not bad for a part time job....

you will do great, just have fun, and everything else will fll into place ROCK ON

[T1ny]

Good luck CD! I know the feeling though, for years I held on to my band and when we finialy broke up I decided to just stay in the studio and record. A friend of mine called and told me their bass player left them with no notice so I showed up to play a gig with them... Now I'm getting paid for playing every weekend. (Oh, I had never played bass until the day of the first show so I was playing /REALLY/ basic bass lines, but it was fun anyway so I am learning how to play it right now!

[cellardweller]

Thanks to all.

Yea, I can see covers as being a necessary evil, I just hope we can eventually work in a couple of originals.

I've only practiced with these guys a total of 4 times, and one of those times the drummer and bass player were not able to be present. I have a CD of all the songs we are going to do (15 or so songs), but there are some tuning differences between actual "on the CD" tunings, and the way we play, apparently to accomodate the vocalists' range.

Thanks again, billisa, lbanks, dave in toledo, andT1ny.
Though this forum does not get the traffic that others do, it is IMO the best because of the quality of people here. I LOVE YOU GUYS MAN!!!

[YeshuasFan]

Granted we are probably talking a different musical style but have you ever considered the fact that, when all is said and done, virtually all classical guitarists are merely cover artists.

[cellardweller]

Interesting point YeshuasFan, and a style of music I am not exposed to often enough...

All went okay Saturday night, except for not soundchecking AT ALL, due to their Nady (or one of the other high end power amps ) power amp toasting dust bunnies...

My feet are now officially wet. I had forgotten the HARD work which goes into it all.

Now for an explanation to my "cover-band" remark.
I have never been one to play covers, never. Not even at 16 sitting in my bedroom. Partially due to my limitations at that time (and still!), which developed habits and avoidances of playing other people's stuff.
When I got into the mindset of playing covers, it seemed everything I came up with sounded like someone elses song.
I have always been, foremost, a writer (of sorts), and made the music match the mood of the lyrics. Playing other stuff kinda tainted that corner of the mind which usually had only it's own melodies...
Nothing wrong with cover bands, per se. My comment was mostly in jest.

So how do you guys manage the cover vs. original aspect? Do you save your original stuff only for yourself? Or do you do (perform) a couple of originals? What ratio of original/cover do you do(perform) ?

Sorry for the rant....

[dave in toledo]

i think it is a advantage to learn covers, it expands your musical abilities, its hard to learn more licks without trying other peoples.... great way to become a better musician... some of the people i have met who only play originals are very limited in there abilities ( take the now popular one finger power cord with alternate tuning.. there is a guy i know who couldnt play a dominate 7th if his live depended on it, but he calls himself a guitar player....)

we play all covers, ive been playing in bars, county fairs, festivals, weddings and whatever since i was 15, im 42 now....i have come to the realization that nobody wanted to hear our originals in the bars, except other musicians...

but things are different all over, if i go north to detroit, there are no cover bands all originals (they still dont make any money though)

i do this as a part time job and the money is a big thing. i average between 8 and 12 thousand a year playing out.

great part time job, free beer, and get to watch pretty girls dance...

[cellardweller]

Well apparently I need to travel, because I didn't see any pretty girls dancing

Sounds like you have THE part-time job...

Those 1 finger power chords are included in 50% of the songs we are doing. Which is pretty hard getting used to for me...

[dave in toledo]

i swear you make me laugh so hard.... need to travel hahahha i guess it depends on if its the first set or the last if they are pretty or not.....

[bsr2002]

it depends on if its the first set or the last if they are pretty or not.....
============================

They start looking better at the end of the third set and your 5th Beer.