Looking for honest opinions on my band's potential.

mr dave · 10-08-2012, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJT014

Upon doing this we began to discuss "we would all split up for college so would you guys be willing to put the whole college thing off if things were looking good for us." Now don't get me wrong, we are good and I LOVE making music, but I have a plan to attend U of O and just the thought of putting off college is a bit nerve-racking.

There are 2 major reasons why you should not do this.

1 - You ever work in a call center? It'll be the best kind of job you can get if you skip college. Consider how much legwork you had to put in just to get lined up for college this time around. Now consider doing it again while working a job without the extra help from a guidance counselor or other HS resource.

2 - College is awesome. Seriously. Yes it will suck for your band but you can still get together and play during summer break. On the other hand you'll have a chance to make LOTS of new contacts while in college and opportunities to play with a lot more people. You'll also have the benefit of being 'that guy' who's actually already been in a studio and made a proper recording.

Trollheart · 10-08-2012, 08:44 AM

I'd definitely agree with this. I personally have never been to college, nor indeed would I have wanted to (I had no clear idea what I wanted to do with my life, all I knew was I wanted to get out of school. Now I'm a carer for my sister due to circumstances but spent almost 30 years in a job that though it didn't always suck, was never something I would have said I wanted to do when I was older) but the idea of skipping it in the hope you'll make it as a band is a bad one.

Sure, there are the stories of these rock stars who were going to go to college but then decided not to and made it, but let's be honest, these "success stories" are few and far between, and as Mr Dave says, if you go down that route the chances are that you MAY stick together with your band and play your music, or you may drift apart and then be left with no real reason for having not gone to college, a decision I believe you'd regret. Then of course you'll have to make ends meet by working in McDonald's or Seven 11 or whatever, while still playing at night and hoping desperately for a breakthrough, a discovery of your talent which, no offence meant, will probably never come.

A life in music is great, but really, you have to learn to live in the world of the possible, the world of the achievable and the world of reality. All signs point towards going to college and getting your degree, and then you can decide what to do; you'll still be young then but with, hopefully, fewer regrets and a sense of having perhaps dodged a bullet this early in your life.

Plankton · 10-08-2012, 10:07 AM

I listened to the song "Better Places, Better Days". Not bad, and as TH stated the guitar really shines. Vocals are a bit prominent in the mix, and really nothing to them. Even a bit pitchy in places.

I've been in bands for quite a few years, and I can speak from experience in saying that "Making It" in the music biz in todays market is about 1% talent, and 99% luck. Everyone and their brother can create music on their phones, PC's, tablets, etc., and everybody wants to be "Famous" and "Live The Life" so to speak. Sure it's all glitz and glam from the outside looking in, but when you're inside looking out the scenery changes drastically. So, unless you've got something you think the world would gobble up, I'd have to say go to college. Learn to be someone with integrity (you're off to a fantastic start btw), and travel down the road to being a force for positive human evolution. For every person that has made it in the music industry there are thousands that tried, failed, and wished they'd "Stayed in school". Personally, I started playing (guitar) when I was 14, and am now 46. I never really wanted fame and fortune, served my country, went to school and excelled in my field, and have worked for many major companies (GE, ComEd, GM, and Federal Signal to name a few) and now I live a very low key, but comfortable life. I play in bands, and record my own music but only for the love of music itself, not to make money. I don't need to. I have a career.

A very good friend of mine was the singer for a successful band, he'd wanted to be famous his whole life (had the ego to go with it too), and while I was in the service, he was out touring with Suicidal Tendancies. The band was going great, riding on their previous successes, when they made their final album. I was there when they all signed the record deal. They went in the studio, toured, and flopped. They now owe the record company 100's of thousands of dollars, the bass player OD'ed, and the band broke up. My good friend is now unemployed with no skills, living off of his wife as a stay home father. I'm telling you this as an example, sure there are other stories more tragic, as well as some with success, but in the end it's a very unstable way to travel through life.

At any rate, I wish you much success in what ever road you decide to travel down, and always remember that your actions mold you into what you will ultimately become.

Blarobbarg · 10-08-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plankton

A very good friend of mine was the singer for a successful band, he'd wanted to be famous his whole life (had the ego to go with it too), and while I was in the service, he was out touring with Suicidal Tendancies. The band was going great, riding on their previous successes, when they made their final album. I was there when they all signed the record deal. They went in the studio, toured, and flopped. They now owe the record company 100's of thousands of dollars, the bass player OD'ed, and the band broke up. My good friend is now unemployed with no skills, living off of his wife as a stay home father. I'm telling you this as an example, sure there are other stories more tragic, as well as some with success, but in the end it's a very unstable way to travel through life.

I know this is off topic and everything but seriously.

Plankton knows the Suicidal Tendencies singer! What the hell!

Plankton · 10-08-2012, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blarobbarg

I know this is off topic and everything but seriously.

Plankton knows the Suicidal Tendencies singer! What the hell!

No, the singer for Zoetrope, which toured WITH Suicidal back in the late 80's. Sorry for the confusion, I should have worded it more clearly.

Blarobbarg · 10-08-2012, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plankton

No, the singer for Zoetrope, which toured WITH Suicidal back in the late 80's. Sorry for the confusion, I should have worded it more clearly.

Ahhh. Okay, that makes more sense.

Plankton · 10-08-2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blarobbarg

Ahhh. Okay, that makes more sense.

Can't say that I never met Mike though.

AJT014 · 10-08-2012, 09:07 PM

I wasn't expecting to see this you guys! Thank you! Although, I do feel guilty having not contributed yet but I look forward to getting to it and don't want to leave anyone hanging. Anyways, TH, I must admit that I feel the same way. Though we have one song on our album that I really think is something special the rest is good but nothing exceptional. I am the lead guitarist in this band (by the way) and I really appreciate the comments! I honestly felt very awkward speaking with my band about putting off college because I never even thought of that as an option....I always wanted to give it a shot after college and let it go if it doesn't work out. If there is one thing that I don't want, it's to be the guy working at 7-11 putting everything into a failing band....Mr. Dave, I appreciate your comment. I didn't think of how much harder the application process wiould be after hs and I do really look forward to meeting new people! Plankton, I appreciate the sentiment and I must say that sounds like a great life! haha Like I said earlier I'd like to avoid those kinds of situations in which I dig a hole for myself...Lastly, Tor-Hershman, the "O" is Oregon.

Trollheart · 10-09-2012, 05:46 AM

You're more than welcome. You can thank us in the liner notes of your first platinum album when college is over and you've made it big. Don't forget the little people!

Screen13 · 10-09-2012, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I'd definitely agree with this. I personally have never been to college, nor indeed would I have wanted to (I had no clear idea what I wanted to do with my life, all I knew was I wanted to get out of school. Now I'm a carer for my sister due to circumstances but spent almost 30 years in a job that though it didn't always suck, was never something I would have said I wanted to do when I was older) but the idea of skipping it in the hope you'll make it as a band is a bad one.

Sure, there are the stories of these rock stars who were going to go to college but then decided not to and made it, but let's be honest, these "success stories" are few and far between

There was one Garage Band that did the right thing after scoring one US Hit who's members decided to go back to college in a time when they were still young. Count Five of "Psychotic Reaction" fame. If you heard anything else after that hit, especially the rest of the quickly recorded album, you will know why that decision was smart. I LOVE a great Garage band, but they had that one song and nothing more.

If one does not get the right kind of management or representation, or if one at least does not make the right moves on sites like Reverbnation (like accepting all kinds of invitations for small music fests and the like), it's going to be a long and lonely road.

It's down to this. You either focus on the band, or focus on College. There are a LOT of risks of being in a band. You could have potential, but not the right connections. You could have a hit, but then the magic will fade. You either choose trying to deal with the risks, or (if you already have a Major lined up) stick with your own happening. Who knows, you may be able to get some connection at College.

If you are in a major city, you night be able to blend the two together, but you have to make sure that the band lives close together (Maybe renting a house could be a smart move).

There's already a plan to go to College, so maybe that's a strong hint.

A bit of Trivia...connected to this topic (Kind of)
Although back in The 60's, going to College was a move to avoid The Draft, a lot musicians in Garage Bands who knew that they were never going to make it beyond that first rush of local fame made the right move by doing this. They mainly avoided being that crappy Bar Band doing covers who always wished that things could have went better or that disgruntled Musician who wished that the world would hear the music but instead released a few low-profile singles here and there while working that job that was not supposed to be.

10-08-2012, 08:44 AM	#12 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	I'd definitely agree with this. I personally have never been to college, nor indeed would I have wanted to (I had no clear idea what I wanted to do with my life, all I knew was I wanted to get out of school. Now I'm a carer for my sister due to circumstances but spent almost 30 years in a job that though it didn't always suck, was never something I would have said I wanted to do when I was older) but the idea of skipping it in the hope you'll make it as a band is a bad one. Sure, there are the stories of these rock stars who were going to go to college but then decided not to and made it, but let's be honest, these "success stories" are few and far between, and as Mr Dave says, if you go down that route the chances are that you MAY stick together with your band and play your music, or you may drift apart and then be left with no real reason for having not gone to college, a decision I believe you'd regret. Then of course you'll have to make ends meet by working in McDonald's or Seven 11 or whatever, while still playing at night and hoping desperately for a breakthrough, a discovery of your talent which, no offence meant, will probably never come. A life in music is great, but really, you have to learn to live in the world of the possible, the world of the achievable and the world of reality. All signs point towards going to college and getting your degree, and then you can decide what to do; you'll still be young then but with, hopefully, fewer regrets and a sense of having perhaps dodged a bullet this early in your life. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

10-08-2012, 10:07 AM	#13 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	I listened to the song "Better Places, Better Days". Not bad, and as TH stated the guitar really shines. Vocals are a bit prominent in the mix, and really nothing to them. Even a bit pitchy in places. I've been in bands for quite a few years, and I can speak from experience in saying that "Making It" in the music biz in todays market is about 1% talent, and 99% luck. Everyone and their brother can create music on their phones, PC's, tablets, etc., and everybody wants to be "Famous" and "Live The Life" so to speak. Sure it's all glitz and glam from the outside looking in, but when you're inside looking out the scenery changes drastically. So, unless you've got something you think the world would gobble up, I'd have to say go to college. Learn to be someone with integrity (you're off to a fantastic start btw), and travel down the road to being a force for positive human evolution. For every person that has made it in the music industry there are thousands that tried, failed, and wished they'd "Stayed in school". Personally, I started playing (guitar) when I was 14, and am now 46. I never really wanted fame and fortune, served my country, went to school and excelled in my field, and have worked for many major companies (GE, ComEd, GM, and Federal Signal to name a few) and now I live a very low key, but comfortable life. I play in bands, and record my own music but only for the love of music itself, not to make money. I don't need to. I have a career. A very good friend of mine was the singer for a successful band, he'd wanted to be famous his whole life (had the ego to go with it too), and while I was in the service, he was out touring with Suicidal Tendancies. The band was going great, riding on their previous successes, when they made their final album. I was there when they all signed the record deal. They went in the studio, toured, and flopped. They now owe the record company 100's of thousands of dollars, the bass player OD'ed, and the band broke up. My good friend is now unemployed with no skills, living off of his wife as a stay home father. I'm telling you this as an example, sure there are other stories more tragic, as well as some with success, but in the end it's a very unstable way to travel through life. At any rate, I wish you much success in what ever road you decide to travel down, and always remember that your actions mold you into what you will ultimately become. __________________ See location...

10-09-2012, 05:46 AM	#19 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	You're more than welcome. You can thank us in the liner notes of your first platinum album when college is over and you've made it big. Don't forget the little people! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

10-08-2012, 09:07 PM	#18 (permalink)
AJT014 Groupie Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 6	I wasn't expecting to see this you guys! Thank you! Although, I do feel guilty having not contributed yet but I look forward to getting to it and don't want to leave anyone hanging. Anyways, TH, I must admit that I feel the same way. Though we have one song on our album that I really think is something special the rest is good but nothing exceptional. I am the lead guitarist in this band (by the way) and I really appreciate the comments! I honestly felt very awkward speaking with my band about putting off college because I never even thought of that as an option....I always wanted to give it a shot after college and let it go if it doesn't work out. If there is one thing that I don't want, it's to be the guy working at 7-11 putting everything into a failing band....Mr. Dave, I appreciate your comment. I didn't think of how much harder the application process wiould be after hs and I do really look forward to meeting new people! Plankton, I appreciate the sentiment and I must say that sounds like a great life! haha Like I said earlier I'd like to avoid those kinds of situations in which I dig a hole for myself...Lastly, Tor-Hershman, the "O" is Oregon.