If this sounds ignorant, tell me.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Royston
  • Start date Start date
R

Royston

New member
As a financially challenged musician, I have yet to record a studio quality demo.

The one time my band went into a professional studio to record the 'real' thing was back in 1993 and we fired our singer half way through the process so we were left with a lot of debt and great tracks with no vocals.

So, now I'm just a one man band, I couldn't even share the recording costs with fellow bandmates. I guess what I'm saying is do you have any advice for me?
Surely there must be an arts commision that donates recording time or money to add to the culture of the USA. I've heard about grants and whatnot for visual artists, so why not musical artists/composers?

Your Thoughts Please...
 
There is a company that has donated millions and millions of dollars to aspiring musicians (and drummers) to help pay for instruments, studio time, etc......they are called McDonalds....can you say "would you like fries with that?".....
 
Be a capitalist! Socialism won't get you nowhere, bro.
There are a million and one ways to make money. An example is eBay. Buy low, sell high, and don't be afraid of losing. A friend of mine makes $1500-$2000 a WEEK at it, and he doesn't even have a regular job. He is quite financially independent.

Isaiah
 
Royston said:
Surely there must be an arts commision that donates recording time or money to add to the culture of the USA. [/QUOTE

You must be walking backwards through life, because it seems to me that just the opposite is occuring: seek out any hint of character/culture and rub it out like a big mafia rat. Last time I looked, most of this country looked like one big online mall, sprinkled with food courts and plastic plants.
Click to expand...
 
Prism,

If you have any other money making ideas, I'd be happy to listen...
 
LOL gidge, prism, vurt, very funny!

I always wondered, why are there so many aspiring musicians who think the world owes them a living?
If you need money, do like everyone else, work. If you want to be successfull as a musician, work your ass of at your craft, when you're not working to earn money.

Sorry Royston.

Reminds me of something that happened last year. I came out of a restaurant in LA and this "homeless person" asked me for some change so he could get something to eat. I had my thoughts on something else entirely, looked in my wallet and said: "sorry mate, I've only got a 50". He said "that's ok sir, I've got change" and pulled a wad of notes out of his pocket. Never again!!!
 
Sjoko...

With due respect, piss off. Comparisons to a homeless person are pointless and futile. I have a great day job, good pay etc... That wasn't my question, In my opinion the government should give a little money to up & coming artists that have talent and originality, because the music industry does nothing to encourage talent. It just uses puppets like Eminem, Britney, Nysnc etc. As a sure fire cheap way of making money. The government spend money on sports etc. it seems sports is the most important thing in this country and the culture & arts of this country take a back burner.
 
How do you piss off respectfully? You asked for opinions - you got a response. Like it, don't like it, that's up to you. If you cannot swallow opinions, don't ask for them.

Your response confirmed exactly what I read "in between the lines" of your original question.

"As a financially challenged musician, I have yet to record a studio quality demo."
"I have a good job, good pay etc..."

I'm sorry, it does not match. If you have a good job and good pay, don't call yourself a financially challenged musician. If you were serious about your music, you would find a way. I have seen people do the most amazing things, go through hardship, use incredible amounts of imagination, just to either get into a studio and record, or to save and buy some equipment to record themselves. I admire that, and wherever possible I will help those people.

"Sponsored art" on the other hand, has been proven not to work. In some other countries I have seen artists get grants, only to turn out the most unbelievable crap.
Somehow it is not in an artist's nature to perform without pressure. Also, who would decide the criteria for any kind of grant or sponsorship?

Just imagine I'm on a committee deciding who is going to get some money for recording.
I've just seen people who work their asses off at their music, gigging, writing, rehearsing, making ends meet by holding down various jobs just so they can support themselves while making music.
Then you come along and tell me you tried to make a demo 8 years ago, but the singer of your band walked out and you were left with a lot of debt from the recording. Now the first thing I would think is; "Is he trying to tell me that, if the singer had not left, they wouldn't have had to pay for the recording?" Next you tell me you're financially challenged, but you've got a good job and earn good pay.
Who do you think would get the money?

This is a wonderful business my friend, lots of people, even famous ones, are just scraping a living together, but its their life and love. Its a very hard and often cruel business as well, with a lot of challenges and hurdles. You can always get help from like-minded people, but don't get involved expecting the world owes you and your art, or you'll be brought down to earth very quickly.
 
One thing I forgot. What I DO believe in is education. And here governments should put a lot more of their money. Despite all the evidence they have failed to recognize the great importance and difference in particular music education makes to a child's development.

How would you go about changing that? Well, you open your mouth, do what you can, and if the government doesn't want to get involved, you make sure good education in arts related technology is made available privately. You roll your sleeves up and get stuck in finding solutions.

Before you tell me to piss off again Royston, I put the finance and educators together who went on to set-up Ex'pression Center for New Media in Northern California, which is fast becoming recognized as one of the top new media education centers in the world. Check it out:
http://www.xnewmedia.com/splash_01.html
and, I didn't get that done by expecting hand-outs.
 
So to summarize...

...and answer Royston's question directly - YES, it sounds ignorant! (consider yourself told...)

:)

Bruce
 
I think you can record a studio quality demo for less than $5,000 US today. Find a couple of musicians to split the cost, if you need to.
 
I KNOW you can go to a professional studio (at least where I live) and record a whole album for wayyy under $5,000!

Isaiah
 
Hey prism, as you live "up there", have you heard of Robert Lang Studios in Edmonds?

I went to visit Robert last year - that place most be the eight wonder of the world!
Robert had a small house on a hill, with a double garage at road level. You had to come out of the garage at the front, and climb several flights of stairs to get to the house.
Robert converted the garage into a small studio. That was decades ago ........ he forgot about being an engineer and kept building. Digging underground, room after room after room. Now I think he has 5 tracking rooms, and the latest one under construction is large enough to house a small symphony orchestra.

He told me that a couple of years ago he dug a bit to much and ended up under the neighbor's garden......
He's such an eccentric, and such a loveable rogue, that the neighbor has had his will changed, if he dies the house goes to Robert, so he can keep on digging.

Who is the real mole?
 
Prism- I meant buyng the equipment yourself and making the demo. If someone's really motivated, cost isn't even an issue in making a quality, successful demo.

sjoko2- I read that you did some recordings with Pete Bardens. I'm not that familiar with Camel even though I'm a progressive rock fan, but I like his solo work. He's a talented guy.
 
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9496&highlight=cost

the links to the mp3 there wont work, but maybe Ed has it hanging around somewhere...I have it on my hard drive.....this band recorded a 15 song CD...for around 11,000 they got the tracking, mixing, mastering, artwork, 1000 CD's.....Ed will tell you its only demo quality, but even the MP3 sounded awesome.....

If you have the talent, the heart, the songs, the dedication, eat canned beans for a year to save up money.....in the meantime, find a few other musicians (and a drummer) that share that same dedication....11,000 divided by 5 guys is 2200 a piece.....2200 divided by 52 is about 42 dollars a week for a year....

Im rambling my ass off just trying to tell you to get off your ass and do it yourself....wait for the government to help you out and youll have a long wait...
 
Yeah, I knew what you meant, Wide Awake...
What I mean is, it seems to me that most bands would rather go to a pro studio for $500 or so, instead of building their own for $5,000....unless they had some friend with a studio who offered to record them...it would be the cheap alternative with a good end result.
I just like to have a studio because I love music, recording, technology, and cool-looking microphones. :-D
...So, I would never have a need or desire to go to a pro studio... and I can "pass the wealth" on to my friends. You can do excellent work with a good pair of ears and a couple grand...and it'll last you a long time.

KnowwhutImean?

Isaiah
 
Oh and sjoko2... Nope, neverheardofhim. Ever heard of Don Emerson or Malta Records? Don owns a studio up here (Malta Records), but apparently he's a huge hit over in Europe...how 'bout that, eh?

Isaiah
 
To address the original point, of government assistance for musicians I don't know of any such thing in Sweden. There are alot of private organistions and companies that donate such money though (in USA aswell, I would guess).
Oh, and I know that in Denmark you only get welfare if you give something back (i.e. picking up the trash from public parks - you get something to do in order to be able to collect welfare) - and I think they have now opened up for artists (visual and musical) to be creative and be able to pick up welfare. Pretty original.

Anyways, I have been working for four years now and putting every damned cent into my musical equipment. I have a new guitar, new amp, more effects, and am close to completing my home studio (only lacking monitors now). I can't afford going to a studio with the prices they have, and besides - I like playing around with recording/mixing/mastering since I learn more about music that way.
To each his own.
 
Royston:

The government does give grants to artists every year,and I believe if my memory doesn't fail me it's done on the state level. I looked into it once, and it is a reality, and not many people know about it. You have to apply with the state, and you'll get inteviewed, and have to make a case for yourself. I actually might have the number you need to call...you live in Indiana, right?

Unfortuneately for me there are a lot of savvy artists in Detroit and I couldn't compete. You may have more luck in your area.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top