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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Since Amelia I've been thinkin'... again. :rolleyes:
In a rare moment I can think, yeah.. I AM a musician. Then when some clairity sets in I realize that, for the most part, I'm just a guy who plays songs.
After all this time I'm understanding the vast difference in those terms.
I'm gonna work on that. |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | You've lost your mind on the beach ...
As for myself? I'm now a "cajonist" not sure if that qualifies as a musician or just a guy who whacks away on a wooden box but it makes ME happy and that's what counts.
I know what you mean Brad, there's a huge gap between those of us that "do" it and those that really "get" it. Step one is admitting which camp you're in.
Dave |
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Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Speaking of cajonists, we had a great time with our guest "BoxBanger" (Cliff) at our gig last Friday. I was amazed at the sound that he could get out of that thing.
As for being a musician, there's no doubt about which camp I'm in. I really regret not putting the time into my musical education when I had the time available. Hopefully, down the road I will be able to put more into it. For now, I do what I do and it's a lot of fun, and really drunk people seem to enjoy it. |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I struggle with that question every day Brad....
but I think my audience knows for sure which camp I am in |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | I really don't like that term "cajonist." It kinda sounds like someone who is playing with his cajones. Percussionist sounds much better. |
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Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | You don't have to feel deeply on love with your spouse every day to know you'll love them all your life.
Same with the music thing. As long as the penny drops once in a while. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Originally posted by alpep:
I struggle with that question every day Brad....
I didn't used to think of it.
Events like the Tour and Amelia have brought it up.
For me, in so many ways, this whole OFC thing has been all about the gradual and consistant loss of my innocence.
I really don't like that term "cajonist." It kinda sounds like someone who is playing with his cajones. Don't second guess yourself Mitch. I'm sure that is just what Dave meant. |
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Posts: 4413
| I think you're a musician al - you're always crotchetty...
Not to mention cleff in NJ.
And temp's always in a bar.
And when it snows weaser is always diminished.
And Trader Jim is always playin' dem changes.
And moody is always pluckin' his eyebrows. |
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December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | I know how you feel Brad. There have been a couple of periods in my life where I felt like, and referred to myself as, a musician.
These days, I just feel like a guy who loves to play guitar. That's OK with me.
:D |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Designzilla:
I know how you feel Brad. There have been a couple of periods in my life where I felt like, and referred to myself as, a musician.
These days, I just feel like a guy who loves to play guitar. That's OK with me.
:D That's me also. I love to play guitar and if along the way I can brighten someone else's day. Payment enough. :) |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I'm an "artist". I found out long ago you get get away with all kinds of worthless crap if you call yourself an "artist". ;)
I think the definition of musician involves the concept of doing it as a profession. Someone once told me: "An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices until they can't get it wrong". Most days I don't even qualify as an amateur. :rolleyes:
Who cares? I have fun and that's all that matters to me. But I do try to keep on getting better. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Being a musician sounds like a job. I wish playing music was my job (as long as it payed ;) ) , but it's not.
I'm just another who loves playin' his guitar. |
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Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Nevermind. Bobbo just said the same thing.... but better |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | "An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices until they can't get it wrong". Awesome, awesome quote.
Gotta write that one down & save it. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | A musician would work it into a song lyric. I've always wanted to be a musician, but reality finally grabbed me a few years ago. I don't know if I would be able to enjoy music if it was a job rather than a hobby.
My mother sang and played piano fairly well and enjoyed it. My dad always made everything into a job. Singing was fun. Practicing for band was work.
In the 60s, everyone started playing guitar and I realized that there were a bunch of people that had no musical training or knowledge. People thought that they could sing if they sounded like Dylan. Playing guitar and singing became a hobby although I always envied friends who were in their garage bands and might actually make a couple bucks. I chose another occupation and have often wondered if I'd have been happier if I had chosen to become a musician.
A couple weeks ago I bumped into an old soccer buddy who was playing guitar and singing at a winery open house. He had retired and started doing solo gigs and some with a small band. He seemed to enjoy being a musician, but had plenty of headaches for very little money. I'm planning on retiring and becoming a musician now. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | For me the defination of "musician" does not have to include getting paid for it. I'm sure there are a ton of musicians out there with other careers.
I like what Cliff tells his gig bosses.
"You're paying me to haul my stuff in and out. All the stuff in between is thrown in for free." |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I agree with you, Brad, but that's not the common parlance. People see guitars (at least if you have more than one) and an amp and ask if you make any money. For some reason women ask me this more than men, usually in the context of telling me that they think no one needs more than one guitar unless you make money at it. I tell them that they shouldn't need more than one dress unless they can make money with it.
Men seem to think you are a guitar collector rather than a musician, maybe because guys are generally more into collecting stuff. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | but that's not the common parlance. Ooooooo... I love it when you talk lawyer. :D |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Hmmm...Interesting to note that you use the term " musician " ,instead of " guitarist" , is that by heart or necessity , what do you do when you feel " low " , do you reach for a guitar , or do you sing ,
I reach for pen and paper and design an amp. , pre - control or power -amp , loudspeaker filters and the like , I allways had a job , yet , there were numerous times where I swore of electronics as a hobby , only to do it professionally , I`ve been a seafarer ( engineer ) a photo -reporter ( freelance ) helped a friend start a photo -studio , he had that for ten yrs. , ( now his brother has it ) ,
Busked on the streets , here , and on week -ends jumped on a train to Germany , busked in Munich , Cologne etc. the guitar thing paid for it ( No boss ,very nice !!) , coffeegigs , been invited to play in bands ( had to play music others imposed on me... bwadr ! ) , yet , whenever things were on low , I reached for that " pen and paper " and dabbled with Electro/mechanics , so I guess that I`m an E/M engineer by/at heart , I still want a sailboat , and probably will fill it up with a nice soundsystem , and whenever I do the guitarthing , it usually includes sound reinforcement , anything from a battery -driven mini -amp upto a gut -punching humdinger ,
So I guess that you are a musician who plays guitar , and remembering your post about an application for a gig , you probably are a performer too.. :)
Vic
..Brad , You Rock !!! |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . Ooooooo... I love it when you talk lawyer . ."
menage-a-trois = a lawyer who double-bills . . .
I don't (by ANY means) consider myself a "guitarist".
I'm just a singer who need t'do something with his hands while singing. . . |
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January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | "I'm just a singer who need t'do something with his hands while singing. . . "
Thank goodness you play guitar! |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Jim Morrison found another alternative... |
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January 2006
Posts: 1132
Location: NW Washington State | I was never a musician. I used to be a guitar player. These days I don't play much, so I guess I'm just a "guitar enthusiast".
-Steve W. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I would never consider myself a real musician, although I know many who are true professionals. They think of me as a performer, or a performing artist. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I'm the Artist formerly known as musician ;) |
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Food for Thought
