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Location: Boise, Idaho | I told someone recently that I gave up my dream of being a rock star and I wasn't totally facetious. Although my day job is not exciting, it allowed me to raise a couple of great kids. My brother spent 8 years making a living in a band and went through hell dealing with people that hang out in bars. Unfortunately, that's the crowd that most musicians have to face. He seems much happier now that he's just a dad. So "fortunate" is relative. |
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Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Back when I was 20 and in college I played in a couple of bars. The fringe benefits (ie:girls, free beer) were great, but that's all I truly remember. If it was a giant pain in the ***, I have absolutely NO recollection. I also have NO idea what I was paid. |
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Posts: 400
Location: Northwest Arkansas | I'm what a young person would call "old". I put my heart and soul into it. I'm not the best player in the world, but I can play most any song I want. I've never married. I will someday. Do it for the love. I think I did word that wrong. I don't think fortunate is the word for it. I think "Did you have a full-time JOB playing music. That's what it becomes. I like playing for the kids at the juvenile detention center a lot better than I did for a smoke-filled room full of drunks. I like the nursing homes and assisted living centers. All for free. I don't think the joy is making money making music. I think the joy is making music. Period. I don't care if you know 5 songs or 5000. Love what you do and it's awesome. Like I said, I've got 44 years playing. God willing, I'll have 44 more. |
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Location: South Florida, USA | In the 70's, I had a few Bands that did very well in the Orlando area. We had an agent and were booked solid for a few years. All I know is that I made enough to pay for an apartment and live well enough to strike a golf ball regularly. I cut a few records ( 45s), had great reviews in the paper and truly thought that I had a chance of making it. Didn't happen and eventually got a real job. However, I have been able to play, record, DJ, entertain etc. for the past 40 years, and even though I just turned 60, I think I'm better than ever! At least my wife thinks so. I continue to collect Ovations, Record and entertain for friends, family and the occaisonal party that fits my criteria. The worst ( or best) part of today is all the fantastic equipment available to play with. Back in the day the idea of having a "harmonizer" was like going to Mars. Now, we have amazing toys to play with and I dare say we sound better than before. Music is a wonderful gift and I have been blessed and gratified by the joy people receive from it. ( Thanks Ventures, John George,Paul and Ringo) 
www.golfmanbil.com
Edited by golfmanbil 2012-09-06 8:02 AM
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Well said. 52 years of playing and counting, but I'm only shooting for maybe another 25. |
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Posts: 260
Location: Spain | mymartind35 - 2012-09-06 6:12 PM
I'm what a young person would call "old". I put my heart and soul into it. I'm not the best player in the world
That describes me. I'm not a good player at all, I do a few pubs gigs now and then, only get around 50€ and free booze but hey, for a night out doing what I love, great! I love playing live, I give it all I've got and I think the crowd likes that.
I've never "made a living" at it though, now way good enough for that!!!!  |
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Location: South Florida, USA | Professor,
Just spent a week in Broomfield at a reunion that included old band members from Thailand, back in the '60s! Was a blast and the CO scenery, Red Rocks, etc, AWESOME
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Location: Orlando, FL | Hey golfmanbil. What bands were you with in Orlando?
I grew up in Orlando in the 70s. Spent a lot of time in bars drinking and listening to music and even a bit of time drinking and playing music in them. If you played here a lot I'll be I saw you. Unless you played disco... :-)
Edited by Designzilla 2012-09-06 7:48 PM
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Posts: 400
Location: Northwest Arkansas | We just had a reunion. Everybody was sober this time and a lot older. Boy did we ever have fun. I can't believe we did those songs almost perfect after years of playing apart. I work every day, sometimes for 8 hrs., just to learn every song I can. In another 6 months I should be able to play with just about any band. I love playing with different bands. I get lots of invitations, but I have to learn their set lists and I can play more than 1 or 2 songs. I remember a few years back I asked to sit in at 8 o'clock. I walked off stage at 2. I've gotta get some major chops back. Like I said I play acoustic. Lots of bands around here don't work up the acoustic part. They focus on lead guitarists jamming. I can do that too but on acoustic. I love doing old rock tunes and playing lead on my Adamas or my Custom Legend. It adds a little something, I hope. Keep telling stories about what you did. I think it's cool. |
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Location: South Florida, USA | Hey Steve,
Here is a link to a photo book I made of my Musical adventures. It covers all the Orlando gigs and bands.
Also enjoyed your website and your music!
Bill
http://app.picaboo.com/WebView/Project.aspx?clientID=462f1a06919ccc... |
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Location: Flahdaw | That is a fantastic memory book, Bill. I grew up in Satellite Beach in the 70's and was thinking I might see a clipping from the Cocoa Beach area but didn't. Anyway, quite a resume there. Post some links to some of your music. |
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Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | A terrific chronicle Bill. Thanks for sharing your journey. Some pics induced a few flashbacks! LOL "The "Abandoned Philosophy" Band - what a hip name for that time! BTW - nice guitar collection ya got there!!
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Location: South Florida, USA | Thanks Guys for the kind comments, much appreciated.
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March 2010
Posts: 30
Location: South Florida, USA | Bob,
I've been a subscriber to your channel for a while. Love your lessons, voice and style. My favorite is your version of Wichita Lineman. Really really nice.
I have a few tunes( no original ) online at my website. Thanks again.
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Location: Flahdaw | Bill, I'm flattered. I doubt there's ANYTHING you're gonna learn from ME, but I appreciate the compliment. |
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Posts: 400
Location: Northwest Arkansas | The photo book was great Bill. What a story those tell. Nice gear. I'm going to have to get the negatives from our bass player. He took photos of everyhing. The band names were really good too! That's a good lesson to the younger players. Document everything. Take photos. You won't remember 1/10th of what you did. |
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Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Very cool photo album Golfmanbil! What a great bunch of memories!
I'm familiar with some of the venues you played, but honestly, you played a MUCH nicer type of establishment than I frequented in my misbegotten youth! |
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Location: South Florida, USA | Steve, LOL, yeah I guess most of my Bands were kinda nerdy top 40 type stuff, but we had to please the Tourists and the Mouse |
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Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Golfmanbil, from the looks of things you had a great time doing what you loved! What more can you ask?
Back in the day, the mouse hired a lot of great musicians of various flavors for full time gigs. I used to know a couple of barbershop singers who worked there and a guitarist who wandered frontier land playing bluegrass in a quartet.
I saw a bunch of bands at Tomorrow land terrace. You must have played on the rising stage there, bet that was fun!
Edited by Designzilla 2012-09-09 6:27 AM
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Posts: 247
Location: Seacoast NH | I play out periodically with my two buddies in an acoustic trio doing mostly covers, but have never come close to making a living out of it. But on our family vacation last week up on a pond in the woods of Maine, I played around the campfire at night for everyone. My 2 year old son and niece kept paying me in S'mores to play more songs. Those meant more to me than anything else I've ever made in some tiny bar or club...it was great! Next time I need to bring along some guitar polish for the marshmellow mess however (even if it was just a Gibson).  |
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Location: sitting at my computer | mbedard1 - 2012-09-10 4:07 PM My 2 year old son and niece kept paying me in S'mores to play more songs. awesome!  |
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Who's been fortunate to make a living playing music?
