[mouse]

Open night/ jam night great idea.
As well as my usual band i am piecing together a rock unit to focus on some decent music from the good old 70's and 80's, something a drummer can get some meat into and really stuff my hearing. Starting as a garage band, we hope to get polished before performing and then likely organise out own gigs, hire a venue and sell tickets if it eventuates. Stuff the pubs, we potentially can make more in a couple of shows than a yeas gigging at a pub, but then that is not our objective anyway. Just have yet to find that elusive vocalist that sounds like Paul Rogers, or Pat Benetar to front us.

[UPSTROKE]

(Quote from Pyrochasm) "An idea that I have had recently was to have sort of an open mic night at some sort of community center or bar, except it would be a "open band" night. The instruments would be already there, you and some friends could sign up and make fools of yourselves! Just bring your own sticks, picks whatever."

A great idea Pyro. That very thing has been happening in Boise, Id. for quite some time. Here's how they are doing it there. One person has taken it upon himself to run a jam night. He went to a music store, (I think it was Guitar Center) and they gave him an exceptional deal on a set of PDP drums. He acquired a bass with amp and same on a guitar. He went around and found a club that was willing to have a "jam" night.
He uses the club PA and brings in his instruments. As the organizer and host, he gets some pay for this. He has a sign up list for the players and introduces the various musicians. He also determines what kind of music will be played . (ie: rock, metal, blues, country etc) If it, for example was a blues club, metal or country would drive the customers out. If some one is really bad or is doing the wrong music, it's up to him to get them off the stage. He is, after all providing entertainment for the club.
In Boise, it's working very well. There are several clubs doing it, each with a different kind of music. If someone has a used set that can be fired up and locate some of the other instruments, it could certainly be worth a try in other areas. Some food for thinking anyway, Hmmmmm????

[skinslapper]

Yeah i've done the open band night at our local pubs before. To be honest I'm not so much shattered by the whole "not live band thing" as long as the group is doing something useful with it. I guess I'm not going for the pub, wedding, nightclub scene anymore.

There are a few clubs dedicated to original music in our city and they'll let you use whatever you like. You just don't get paid very much.

[Smee]

Everything here in the UK is just fine.. Come on guy's life is full of ups and downs, thats just the way it is...........

[UPSTROKE]

The good old 50's, 60's & 70's will be a money maker for a good long time yet apparently. Why, I don't know. I'm so old, that I played most of it the first time around. Didn't seem that exciting to me.
(Quote From Mouse)
Just have yet to find that elusive vocalist that sounds like Paul Rogers, or Pat Benetar to front us.

Oh! Mouse, I almost forgot. Both Pat and Paul called to tell me they tried to call you and your line was busy, busy, busy. They said to tell you they were sorry, but they don't have all day to play on the phone. Gosh I'm really sorry you missed them.

[UPSTROKE]

Thank you for jumping in Skinslapper. Not all of us like to go to jams etc. One of the main reasons is probably that we're well known in our musical communities. For those musicians that are new to music or new to their community, jams are great. It's one of the few places a musician can get to know other like minded players and get something organized. It may be only another garage band, but it's a start.
My concern is to try to find some new ideas with ways or places to get players of all types and skill levels together in their respective communities. Some community facilities, some churches that would be willing to provide time and space. Maybe the Eagles club, the Elks, or some of the other Animal clubs will step forward. Where there is a will there's got to be some way.-------

NEED MORE INPUT-----------

[givemethebeat]

If this is a whack whack thread well here goes.

lets divide musicians into a few stereotypes.
first we have the beginner, any age.
next we have the beginner who is dedicated and going to do whatever it takes to get good.
then the intermediate
the intermediate who doesn't practice hard and makes excuses
then the dreamer
the wanna be
the could be/should be
then theres the drummer who has practiced hard but has low self esteem and people dont like him/her/
the drummer who cant get a spot in a band cause his gear is crap
the drummer who is a an artist and makes excuses for the sake of art...
the drummer who just cant keep time
the drummer who is always late
mum and dad beat me says the drummer
etc etc

***************
JAM SESSIONS lol
GOOD IDEA GUYS...go for it. who Pays?
if you like to continue to pay for stuff then go nuts. the amount of losers out there who try to take advantage of your good intention wil destroy the whole concept of community.

if people want my advice they must ask for it.

which brings to the next problem

how does one promote themselves? to get credible, to offer advice and be sustainable?

Amatures aspire to be Pros. Most amatures never make it. Why?. because of the lack of dedication and the desire and will to be the best. Most people take a hit on the chin, fall over and give up.

lesson number 1 : if you are not 200% dedicated to anything forget it. its a hobby. It always was and always will be.....

[UPSTROKE]

Givemethebeat; If that was just a rant, you should feel better getting all that off your chest. If that's the case, thanks for joining in. You are correct in that most people that start out on any instrument get disappointed with how long it takes to develop a decent skill level. Many simply lose interest and move on to something else. There are a thousand irrelevant reasons why people set their music aside. Those of us that stayed the course, regardless of our skill level or abilities, are the ones that this entire forum is concerned with.

Their are people out there with concern, facilities, the instruments.and whatever else it may require to create a safe, enjoyable, drug and alcohol free music environment. Our job is to find those resources and point the rest of the musicians towards them. Problem free?? No, crap will happen. But then crap happens in everything--even in our jobs, marriage, personal lives. We don't throw the towel in on those items. Why would we throw the towel in on this when we haven't even really tried yet??? NEED MORE INPUT-----MORE INPUT

[mouse]

The nationwide music store here has come up with this great idea, a Weekend Warrior program, what do you think

http://www.musicworks.co.nz/Page.php?page=28

Great stuff Givemethe beat, you have some positive points there that drummers can learn from. I guess i fall into some of those catergories or have at some stage.
It is the ability to perservere and keep on learning that to me is important. I don't have a bone of musical ability, but because i enjoy what i do and find learning new stuff interesting, i have slowly over the years got a bit better, so iv'e been told. I still don't understand the point where one can say you have "Cut It" as a drummer. If you enjoy what you are doing at any level, i would consider that as where you are making it no matter how proficient you are, or how much commitment you are giving. On that scenario the first time i picked up a pair of sticks applies to me.
Certainly if you want to be professional at anything you have to have a gifted or special talent and commitment to do well, and it's more than just playing ability, opportunity and management come into it. Iv'e heard some wicked guitarists who don't play in bands, some not so great who play all the time.
Everyone is good at something, not necessarily at playing drums, it's just realising your capabilities and working on them which i think is what Givemethebeat has portrayed, unfortunately many don't have an open mind annoying those that are a little better and certainly aren't listening. This goes back to the "giving learners a hard time" thread, some people just don't remember back when they first started and didn't know how to hold the sticks, etc themselves, and can be unforgiving lot.That's why we are here in these forums i hope, to help others and ourselves.

Somtimes there are reasons for people not quite up there as it is put. Myself as an example, call me a wannabe ,i prefer diehard (really don't care ) but I just do what i can with what comes up, and i enjoy it all. A reason i say this is that i have a learning disability from a MVA head injury at 20 which ironically was the reason i started drumming as a time filler, as i healed in the first place. I have since spent most of my drumming life winging it.
Not everyone is perfect, but by practicing plenty and always trying to improve, which is often one step forwards two back for me, i have slowly developed enough muscle memory to get by in most musical situations.

It's the small people that make the big people big. Wherever your'e at, enjoy the journey.

Off to the practice room, iv'e got a gig Sunday, Have a Happy Easter everyone.

[skinslapper]

Yeah, I think musical community initiatives are great. I did used to enjoy the jam nights we had when I was starting. My dad used to have to take me 'coz it was at the pub. I wouldn't mind doing that sort of thing again. Actually I'm trying to convince the missus to get back into singing so we can start a band together. maybe make some extra bucks.

This is my hobby, but it's one I'm very passionate about. Music as a job will not provide a steady enough income for me and therefore, it will always be slightly to one side.

I would have relished the idea to throw everything I had into it and seen if I could make it, but I'm more proud of my home and wife and so I'll take those little glimpses of glory from the small stages in the crappy little bars when they're given to me and that's enough for me.