Posted on 03/13/2016 3:38:53 PM PDT by taxcontrol
I can’t say that I know the answer. Maybe a professional musician will. There are so many great guitarists...I think it would be highly competitive. I say this as a family member of a drummer that never made it out of local clubs.
But I do think Satriani is one of the best! to study.
Make sure he keeps his day job until his night job pays.(btw that’s the name of a song.)
Q. What do you call a musician who’s broken up with his girlfriend?
A. Homeless
...and, as everyone has said, have a trade/job. Equipment ain’t cheap and rent and food still cost while you play those 2 nights a week at 50. 00 a band member.
Q: how many drummers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: Who cares!
Q: How many guitar players does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: 10. 1 to do it and 9 more to stand back and say, “I can do that”.
Q: How many lead singers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
:
A: Just one, he holds the bulb in the socket, and waits for the universe to revolve around him to screw it in.
Get on YouTube. Quite a few young musicians were discovered on YouTube. Get a good camera, good lighting, good sound, good software and somewhat attractive and changing backgrounds. Learn the editing software to create nice looking and great sounding videos. Create a channel with regularly uploaded videos. Don’t just do a few and abandon it. Creative covers of popular music, original tunes, some “talk about me” videos, vlogs such as meeting up with musician friends and jamming are an attraction. Make an effort to develop an on-air personality if you’re shy and lack energy, but stay authentic. Find out about the $ you can make from ads, as some are making a decent living from their YouTube channels or at least a salary supplement.
He has to want to play live in front of an audience. And he does not have to be perfect. A good music school helps. Juliard is one of the best. A kid from my high school went to the University of Georgia school of music on Thrombone and wound up in the Johnny Guitar Watson Band. Most college music schools hate rock music, and therefore the State university may not be best for rock guitar. Play and keep playing and keep being in a band that plays to an audience. Try to find a style and keep trying to build on it. Be a friend of the musicians and be willing to be flexible with trying new styles. Blues rock is popular. Go to lots of live concerts.
Here’s the best advice I can give any aspiring professional musician - you should only do this if you can’t imagine doing anything else. If you’d be just as happy being an accountant or software engineer and playing on the side, then that’s what you should be doing. (You’ll probably be able to buy better gear that way anyway.)
If you are going to try to be a pro musician be as versatile as possible. Don’t spend years learning every Eddie Van Halen lick perfectly and expect to make a living. Guitarists who can read well and emulate a lot of styles can get great gigs in musical theater (especially if you can double on banjo!) and mediocre but steady and fun gigs on cruise ships. Learn as much as you can about computer based music production, composition and improvisation. Create your own website, YouTube channel and Facebook page and promote yourself constantly. If you’re too shy for that sort of thing there’s no place for you in today’s music business.
Lastly do not take out loans to go to music school, you by no means want to be loaded down with student debt in today’s music business. There are always ways to learn whatever you need to.
You might want to consider various networking approaches. I’ve been using stage32, a site for creatives of all types, for the writing end of things, but they also have musicians. For example, sometimes filmmakers will look there for soundtrack musicians, etc. I also found this compendium of music-related networking sites:
http://www.musicthinktank.com/mtt-open/25-social-media-resources-for-musicians.html
Because what he probably needs most at this point is a decent connection in the business, someone who can mentor him and possibly help him think through a business model he can live with.
Alternatively, as others here have said, nothing wrong with having music be part of your life, as long as you have some reliable way to pay the bills.
Peace,
SR
As a lifelong professional musician my advice to you Would be to let him go at his own pace he’ll figure out what He wants to do with his talent
.
My friend’s son is an up and coming musician. Here’s one of his music videos.
He got his degree in business at Texas A&M first. His parents said it’s been a great degree for him because he understands the business side of music. He also has a solid degree to fall back on.
There are also music business degrees.
My daughter wanted to major in music, but she got musicians cramp (focal dystonia) in high school and had to give up playing. Music is a very physical degree, and it rarely pays well. Most musicians have to supplement their income with teaching.
Doesn't mean they aren't incredible (many are and have performed and still do with major artist.) But the pay is very inconsistent even after you are on a big tour. As more often than not these musicians (and singers etc) have to hustle up the next gig.
It is a bit complicated really to give any simple answer here as I know too much about the lifestyle, the financials, the politics, the culture to give any simple answers.
But I will tell you depending on his level I would suggest two things after asking and accessing two things about him yourself (and possibly with him.) What is his PASSION level for this guitar playing and secondarily and just as important what is his CONSISTENCY level in pursuing his craft--playing, practicing, and daily commitment?
I can tell you right now. If he is not super dedicated with his action of constantly playing AND practicing (always getting better), I would be a bit weary of supporting collegiac level investment. His passion level should be very, very high. If those two things are not there and I mean in a mutual way, this industry will be illusive and not promising for him more than likely. He must have the capacity to always work and get better not matter what his natural talent. Drive and consistency is very important in this industry.
I don't know where you live. I am in the LA area. So I am always around the best in the industry (except maybe London and NY.) But I do know it is important to start playing with others in the form of a band and one that practices together and does gigs. It would be best for him to involve himself with serious musicians that will be invested in regular practice and getting gigs. If he finds that the bands he is involved with are not into growing and being professional (which may take him some trial and error) he needs to continue to keep his ears and eyes out for bands that are. In the professional world true professional musicians are dedicated, hard working, professionals that rehearse and continue to do new stuff and offer great music. It takes time and consistency to get fans. So don't worry as much about that. That will come with time.
There are a few good schools out there the musicians institute in LA might be a great place for him when the time is right as a guitar player. Check out too to see if they might have some summer workshops etc he can be a part of. See how that goes.
Don't access his talent as much as you access the points I brought up above. Unless he is showing Jimmi Hendrix level playing right now what is really going to matter is his consistency, passion, drive, professionalism, willingness to learn from others that are talented and professional, as well as his long term investment in growing even though tough times (lack of validation & hard times financially.) The latter is where his passion for the craft is going to be the only thing sustaining him even if he seriously doubts he is any good if he doesn't get a lot of encouragement at times. Unfortunately it is a very, very tough business. But truthfully it is a HUGE reward. Huge!! I would say put it all in if he has what I mentioned above, but also let him know he may be doing other types of work for money along the way.
I love that he is also studying music theory.
My feedback is very pragmatic from an industry stand point. Be cautious of being scammed when you look at school etc. There a few great ones out there. But I would really recommend ones that accomplished musicians in the genres he is flourishing in attended. Such as the musicians institute, or Berkely School or Music, or North Texas. I also love that he is writing. Encourage him to take singing lessons as well as a guitar player that can harmonize is a HUGE bonus and WILL get hired if he is any good at playing or picked up quickly in a band. Who knows he could even end up his own front man. Keep supporting his growth in all these areas as they will all help him tremendously in the long run. Also encourage him to utilize programs such as Garageband. Record himself and listen back with a critical ear to try to improve on that level as well. Best of luck to you and let him know his dedicated hard work, drive to learn and improve, as well as his passion and consistency is gold in this industry and if he has natural talent on top of that he should be very proud of the groundwork he has laid and keep it up. It takes time and consistency.
The following are not necessarily intended as jokes:
A young child says to his mother, “Mom, when I grow up I’d like to be a musician.” She replies, “Well honey, you know you can’t do both.”
Q: What do you call a beautiful woman on a professional musician’s arm?
A: A tattoo.
Q: What do aspiring musicians use for birth control?
A: Their personalities.
Q: Why do some people have an instant aversion to musicians?
A: It saves time in the long run.
Q: What do call a musician without a girlfriend?
A: Homeless.
Q: What will you never say about a professional musician?
A: “That’s the musicians’s Porsche.”
Q: What do you call a musician with a college degree?
A: Night manager at McDonalds.
University of North Texas is an excellent music school and much cheaper than Julliard. I don’t know how hard it is to get scholarships at
If you don’t get accepted into the music program at North Texas, you can still go to the college under a different degree. You can audition again to transfer into the program. Even if you don’t major in music, you’ll he surrounded by people tops in the field.
One last thing...
Find joy in it smile!
If you aren’t enjoying it, your audience won’t either.
Don’t give ugly looks at your band members when they miss a note. You will, too. Smile.
(An old trick I learned was when you screwed up in a solo, repeat it. The crowd thinks you are “innovated”, like you meant it all along! LOL).
North Texas has a rear Jazz program, no doubt. The wife and I have made the trip from Sugar Land to Denton to go to that wonderful festival.
But the drive is the investment in the music and craft first. I also encourage him to start a page on Reverberation, and befriending other SERIOUS musicians. Also encourage him to get a Soundcloud acct and possibly doing some covers songs and posting on these sites and getting feedback.
Most importantly encourage him to see himself at the highest level but live it pragmatically each day and know that the only way to get there is through the very consistent hard work, and dedication over time in his craft, the business, his networking, doing gigs, playing with others, always learning, etc
Have a close HS friend who ended up in a Los Angeles area punk rock band that made it to semi-fame in the 80s-90s. Now at age 50 something they still play for tours and festivals and make a nice semi-pro second income for their efforts. (His side skill was a phD in microbiology)
I was in the same boat musically, right down to the sax and guitar. My Dad told me to move to NYC and start playing and network, but I went to college instead in pursuit of sex, drugs and rock n roll. Since I graduated music college I have played in a lot of bands and made a lot of money, even made a living playing music for a few years. But I should have listened to my Dad. My advice is therefore, go where the musicians are and get started as soon as possible. Nashville, NYC, LA, New Orleans. Time slips away quickly...
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Rear= great
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