Members pogo97 Posted October 16, 2011 Members Share Posted October 16, 2011 to make a decent living in music: youthgood lookssense of humourhutzpahgood social skillsconnectionsperseveranceappropriate attitude toward alcohol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members the_big_e Posted October 16, 2011 Members Share Posted October 16, 2011 Ability to tend bar and wait on..., Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted October 16, 2011 Moderators Share Posted October 16, 2011 ...and by that I mean you need to know it, understand it and have some control over it... add to this list: positive professional attitudebusiness sensedignityacerbic witpatience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Quarterwave Posted October 16, 2011 Members Share Posted October 16, 2011 SOCIAL SKILLS. You gotta be able to sell it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted October 16, 2011 Moderators Share Posted October 16, 2011 dignity I'm not so sure about that one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fingerpicker Posted October 17, 2011 Members Share Posted October 17, 2011 Daddy mack must be old and not so good lookin!!!! Kiddin----but those first two are not over rated. I know a girl who plays that is MARGINAL but shes hot and like 18/ yeah shes getting gigs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RupertB Posted October 17, 2011 Members Share Posted October 17, 2011 Assiduity - Attention to detail. Both in the sense of musical detail - being prepared and attentive to performing - as well as peripheral aspects of playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted October 17, 2011 Moderators Share Posted October 17, 2011 Daddy mack must be old and not so good lookin!!!! Kiddin----but those first two are not over rated. I know a girl who plays that is MARGINAL but shes hot and like 18/ yeah shes getting gigs Guilty on both counts, but some of the most successful solo acts in Los Angeles are older guys... skill and experience will trump youth and good looks almost every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted October 17, 2011 Moderators Share Posted October 17, 2011 I'm not so sure about that one... I am, though...you need to retain your dignity as a solo act especially. Without it you have nothing of value to offer.... IMHO, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Voltan Posted October 17, 2011 Members Share Posted October 17, 2011 i have strong white teeth... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted October 17, 2011 Moderators Share Posted October 17, 2011 I am, though...you need to retain your dignity as a solo act especially. Without it you have nothing of value to offer.... IMHO, of course. Pardon the off handed attempt at humor. Of course you're right. I was just commenting on all the success we see without any regard for dignity. But believe me, I'm right there with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted October 19, 2011 Author Members Share Posted October 19, 2011 Guilty on both counts, but some of the most successful solo acts in Los Angeles are older guys... skill and experience will trump youth and good looks almost every time. Yeah, but skill, youth and good looks together trumps everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sologrrl Posted October 19, 2011 Members Share Posted October 19, 2011 Knowing your own valuation. Networking skills/Communication (nothing worse than finding out last minute that something didn't go well because of a miscommunication)Having a penis (I kid, but that is apparently helpful in my local scene) A working liver (again I kid, no not really) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted October 19, 2011 Author Members Share Posted October 19, 2011 Having a penis (I kid, but that is apparently helpful in my local scene) this is especially important if you're a guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MDLMUSIC Posted October 21, 2011 Members Share Posted October 21, 2011 To me, the secret has always been finding the proper balance between musicianship and showmanship. I have a modicum of the former and an over-abundance of the latter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Howie22 Posted October 22, 2011 Members Share Posted October 22, 2011 Sometimes they don't matter. I know a guy locally who gets tons of gigs. He frequently gets hammered on stage, sometimes to the point of not being able to play, and dresses like he just finished cleaning out the garage. The couple of times I saw him play he was absolutely awful. No problem getting gigs, though?? Guess he has some of those other traits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Howie22 Posted October 22, 2011 Members Share Posted October 22, 2011 To add more of a positive post to the thread. . . I find that NETWORKING is really key. I get more gigs this way than any other. I'd really like to say that professionalism is paramount, but I just don't think it is - at least not in the bar gig business. I take a very serious and professional approach to this business, but I don't know that it gives me any edge over the other guys. Most places don't care about professionalism so long as you show up, play, and bring a crowd. Being professional is more helpful in booking private gigs. Honestly, I'm not sure that being able to bring a crowd isn't more important than anything else on the list. After all, at the end of the day, the bar is really only interested in selling drinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TomCTC Posted October 22, 2011 Members Share Posted October 22, 2011 The ability to successfully consume a pound of chicken wings onstage between songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members richardmac Posted October 22, 2011 Members Share Posted October 22, 2011 A sense of humor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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