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Location: Upper Left USA | I've probably spent several thousands of dollars so I could make a couple of hundred. Toss in a bunch of "All you can eat" occasions and it just about breaks even. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Miles wrote: Maybe I just don't get it.. but unless it's just playing with friends or some friendly get-together... why on earth would you let some establishment (club, restaurant) make money off YOUR talents and get nothing for it? I played many Open Mic nights while living and working in Nashville in the early '90's...The Bluebird Cafe, The Bell Cove Club, etc...
It is (was and probably still is) the way it is in Nashville...due to the number of pickers/writers/wanna-be's, it's hard to find a paying gig in Nashville although, fortunately, I was able to several times. The other side of the open mic's is the free exposure...in Nashville networking is all important and getting a foot in the door or getting heard and viewed by the industry folks is something money can't buy...I personally had a blast and met some great people...and the industry folks hang out at the bigger open mic's in Nashville... |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Slightly off topic, following on what Mishka said.
At a seminar I attended once Steve Bogard (current pres. NSAI among other things) related that he formed a wedding band when he moved to Nashville to keep the wolves at bay. Most musicians in Nashville, it seems, don't care to spend a lot of nights playing I Knew The Bride When She Used To Rock & Roll or We've Only Just Begun. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I spent 18 years on the road; mostly full time 24-7-365...I made good money for the times and was able to buy great equipment; a nice van to travel in; and gasoline, food, etc. to keep it all rolling...I didn't own a home, no family at that time, and spent way too much for "party favors"...I had a good time playing music for a living for all those years, saw a lot of the country, played some golf, and survived!
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I would not trade what I have now for any of that...family is worth everything to me...but I am glad I had the opportunity at the time... |
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Location: Chicago | Net Profit: a lifetime of Joy! |
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Location: Indiana | A buck fiddy... |
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Location: Michigan | holy smokes we are all going broke from playing these crazy plastic guitars :eek: :eek: :eek:GWB |
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| So for those of you who are down on the whole open mike thing, what do you suggest to someone who lacks experience and is trying to break into performing in front of the public?
And do you think that open mikes are helping depress the wages of those who perform music as a profession?
Michelle |
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Location: Novi, MI | Shoot... I've made nothing also... have done two gigs only... both non paying just to get any stage fright out.
I am working on getting a couple of paying gigs hopefully... Maybe in a year or two I'll break even. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I'm definitely into negative territory on this one ...
Since I've spent more time being married or engaged in serial monagamy, I reckon I'm in negative territory on the getting laid part too. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by Guitarzannie:
So for those of you who are down on the whole open mike thing, what do you suggest to someone who lacks experience and is trying to break into performing in front of the public?
And do you think that open mikes are helping depress the wages of those who perform music as a profession?
Michelle Don't worry about the naysayers....go ahead and do some open mics....it's great experience. And like TUS said, someone might see and hear you and want to hire you.
Open mics can't "depress the wages" any more so than the crappy economy in general. |
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| Originally posted by darkbarguitar:
Don't worry about the naysayers....go ahead and do some open mics....it's great experience. Agreed. It's how I've been getting over stage fright after almost 30 years of not playing out. You also get audience feedback on what works and doesn't for when a paying gig comes along. I just wish we had more acoustic open mics around my town. |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Michelle, go to as many open mics as you can! Like I said, I take my students to them so they can get a feel for what it's like to have all those people looking at you :eek: , you find out how to work your voice with a microphone (it's quite different from singing without one.), and if your lucky there will be someone in the audience who will give you HONEST feedback on your performance. And remember, they are going to hold open mic's whether you go to them or not, so don't worry about cutting into anyone's profit. |
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| Allison, I've done open mikes about three times. Was terrible all three times and have pretty much backed away from them for a long time. People keep asking me when I am going to play again, but I just don't feel ready. I watch people all the time at them, though. I am really intimated by those who show up.
Some days I wonder if I'll play guitar good enough to get out of the living room! :D
Michelle |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | What you need to do is go to a lot of jam sessions. Just pick one person, watch their fingers, and try to follow along. When there is a roomful, no one can hear your mistakes. You will have to change chords quickly, and even if you can't keep up, each time you try you get a little better. And as far as practising goes, several short sessions a day is better than one long one. And make sure you aren't practicing your mistakes! If there is a part of a song you have trouble with, don't just skim over it and then go on to the easy part. Break the song down into little chunks and learn them right. Play the song as slowly as you need to to get the hard part right, and eventually without realizing it, you will get faster.
Or better yet, take a ride out here to the Hills and we'll play together. ;) |
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Location: Flahdaw | Michelle, another thing to do is to videotape yourself...can be as un-nerving as playing publicly....maybe more so. I would rather play in front of strangers than play in front of a camera for some reason. But it will really give you good feedback on your performance qualities (or lack thereof). I can barely stand to watch myself, but I learn something from it everytime. |
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Location: Michigan | i wonder why anyone would think open mike nights or battle of the bands are bad for anyone??
most comedians all started out by getting seen at open mike nights that lead them into showbiz.
robin williams
billy crystal ect.....
in the sixties all of the haight ashbury hippies were playing for free at every opportunity you could get.
greatfull dead
mama's and the papas ect......
in the nineties a fellow who was busing tables and flipping burgers at the local bar down the block from me was doing battle of the rappers every weekend night for free until someone spotted him and put him on the charts.his name is marshall mathers or otherwise known as m & m.
as far as people getting used for free entertainment well thats the artists personal call.
i used to love to go and see and participate in the battle of the bands ,( and yes the lousey garage bands that we were ) it was whoever had the most friends show up won it.
i think there a great idea for everyone.GWB |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by Guitarzannie:
Allison, I've done open mikes about three times... I am really intimated by those who show up. Side story-- I just got done watching "Woodstock, then and now" on the tube.
CSN were on stage saying, "This is the second time we've played together and we are scared s***less."
Years later, it was revealed, "We weren't scared of the 400 Thousand people in front of us... But off-stage to the side of us were the Jefferson Airplane and The Who! Those were the people we were scared of."
That being said, I still don't think that I play well enough to be allowed out in public.
So when I feel brave, I give it a shot anyway. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Yeah, that was kinda my point. When I play in front of strangers I'm not worried....I know I'm better than THEY are. But when I play in front of a camera, I have to impress MYSELF. That's tough.
Michelle, find an open mic that attracts really crappy players. Then you won't feel intimidated and you'll be great. |
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Location: Phoenix | I personally take a dim view of the "open mic" nights here in Nashville. I got roped into participating in one about ten years ago, our band leader said "it would get us exposure and practice" or words to that effect. Exposure...to who? The only folks in the bar were other musicians who were playing for free, and their friends/families. There weren't any managers, agents, or any other folks of importance. Looked to me like a way for the bar owner to get customers (the friends/families of the free entertainment) without giving up a dime.
As far as "practice", most of us in that band had played out already, a few rehearsals were all we needed....So I was bummed out on the whole experience.
For those folks who have never played out in public, *perhaps* it may help, but there are other opportunities for those just starting out. Play at friend's parties for example; just drag your guitar along, somebody will want you to play it. Or play in church. Or play at jam nights as others have suggested (though personally I can't get no satisfaction from being in a group of fifty pickers).
Back to the original question, maybe I've grossed a few thousand (bar gigs don't pay much here). Net, I'm probably still in the hole by a couple grand. |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | It did spark-of Bob D`s career , without them open mic`s ( in NY ) who knows ..
Overhere , a couple o` decades ago , a young American with axe and small amp. came on the street , with a youn Dane armed with a tom on a stand , they played for a few weeks , and then he said that he would form a band ..
They disappeared , only to surface the summer after on the Big Stage at " Roskilde Festival "
( Woodstock equivalent .. audience was 70.000 ) .. ye think I`m joking ?..
The Band`s name was " Sharing Patrol " and appeared on TV too.
" Persevere and have Patience !!! "
Vic |
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Location: Michigan | i don't get it , agents and managers go to bars and resturants just like real people like you and me.they are not some special breed that only hangs out in certain places?
a good successful agent should be in any local or known establishment to seek out talent.
most of the old talent was found in these places.
GWB |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yeah, but agents and such are Lazy nowadays.
Once again... Before The Music Dies...
Click >full movie... |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Arthur , Yer being CRYPTICAL ... `tho I love Erykah Badu ....The B`ooful Queen of Blues Bro`s 2 .. |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Originally posted by guitarwannabee:
i don't get it , agents and managers go to bars and resturants just like real people like you and me.they are not some special breed that only hangs out in certain places?
a good successful agent should be in any local or known establishment to seek out talent.
most of the old talent was found in these places.
GWB People are people , even them Alien species Yer talkin` `bout , who would n`t know Talent when it bites `em in the bee-hind .. I know of several who did sum Bitin` ...
Vic |
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what is your lifetime $ income $ so far for playing your music???
