Members Terry Allan Hall Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 What is your personal definition of making it (i.e., success) in your musical endeavor(s)? Has your definition changed from over time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fastplant Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 I'd have to say that 'making it' is not just getting signed, not just being paid well for your music. I'd say making it is gaining notoriety, being, at least, quasi-famous; being on MTV, radio, etc. I think this is what most musicians strive for when they say it. However, I think many would be happy with just a modest living off their music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zookie Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 'Making it', personally, would involve quitting the day job and making a living with music. It's not really about the money, per se, but being able to honestly answer the question "What are you?" with "A musician". Success is having your personal view of yourself match how the world sees you. I gig weekends and when the opportunity arises. I have to admit that I'm an office worker with a side hobby. Ditching the office worker part would be nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members worthyjoe Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 I think "making it" means you make enough money from album sales and touring revenue to live comfortably off of music alone. I think that would be the minimum requirement to consider yourself making it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarmook Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 I, personally, have NO desire to make a living w/ music - because I know I can never compete w/ the money I make in my current career. At the beginning, my goal was to get into a band that I enjoyed playing in (good music), that challenged me musically, and that was good enough to attract a local following and allow us to continue booking gigs... that's ALL I wanted. This band is there, so I'm working on developing the next set of goals... do I really want to do the regional tours? Probably not. At least not at the level of commitment I expect that would require. We're working on a recording, and trying to slowly grow our local fan base and move from the D-list rooms to the B- or C- list rooms, and maybe someday up to the A-list rooms. Again, however, I'm not sure that I'm willing to accept the commitment that the A-list rooms require. I know so many people (locals, and people who travel through town) that are 'making a living w/ music' that I know I don't want that life. That's fine. The question is how far I can push this current musical project without sacrificing the career and family life I won't leave. It's a fun question to try to answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jackcheez Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 'Making it', personally, would involve quitting the day job and making a living with music. I'll second that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HuskerDude Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 Originally posted by zookie 'Making it', personally, would involve quitting the day job and making a living with music.It's not really about the money, per se, but being able to honestly answer the question "What are you?" with "A musician". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RupertB Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 When I was a teenager, I dreamt like everyone else about "making it" and had a similar definition to most other peoples'. 20 years later, my personal definition is a little different. For me, becoming the best player I can and playing out as frequently as possible is "making it". I have about as much involvement in the business of music as I care to (ie: I play for 3-4 hours and somebody puts some money in my hand). I couldn't care less about being signed or famous. Right now, the long-term "dream" is to save & invest well enough that I can semi-retire to playing music, including incorporating my "business" so that I can write off every penny I spend for GAS. Might never happen but you gotta have a dream, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brian Krashpad Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 I never really defined "making it" because I never really wanted to do that, at least not in the way most others who use that term do. All I ever wanted to do was have fun. I didn't have any expectations about making any money or for that matter even playing out in public. So I guess my definition of "making it" was to have fun playing music. 14 bands later, I've done that, in spades. Some other stuff, like writing and recording orginal material written by myself and friends, and playing in clubs for actual (though not very much) money, seeing the occasional nice word in print, and hearing a song on the radio are all gravy. Hell, one band I was in (and still am in) even won an award one time. Another one got a 5-star review of it's debut recording. I've done made it. BK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Next to Nothing Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 Originally posted by Brian Krashpad I never really defined "making it" because I never really wanted to do that, at least not in the way most others who use that term do. All I ever wanted to do was have fun. I didn't have any expectations about making any money or for that matter even playing out in public. So I guess my definition of "making it" was to have fun playing music. 14 bands later, I've done that, in spades. Some other stuff, like writing and recording orginal material written by myself and friends, and playing in clubs for actual (though not very much) money, seeing the occasional nice word in print, and hearing a song on the radio are all gravy. Hell, one band I was in (and still am in) even won an award one time. Another one got a 5-star review of it's debut recording. I've done made it. BK Everytime I get ready to post my thoughts, this guy says all I want to say. Kudos, Brian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members THB Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 So far I've played for some large local crowds, played with some famous folks, played on T.V., had great reviews of my original stuff, played one of the top rooms in town and been asked back, play regularly with guys I love who make me sound great and am at the point where I'll travel to do gigs. But I'll know I've made it when boy#152 actually pays for one of me CDs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jackcheez Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 While we're on the subject of "making it"... I never made a million dollars in music, but I've had good times that a million dollars couldn't buy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elbow Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 I'm having a great time just playing with some guys and getting out to play a few gigs a month.... I still need my day job to pay for kid's college tuitions, vehicles, house, etc. I plan to "semi-retire" to working full time in music in about 5 years... that's making it to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dave Martin Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 Well, by my standards, I guess I've 'made it'. I make my living in the music bidness - I play live bass and on sessions, I own the studio where I engineer and produce, and my wife is a singer. This IS our day jobs. But more important is that both my wife and I have the respect of our peers (and our peers are some mighty talented individuals), we stay busy and we have fun. What's not to like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tedster Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 When I was 16, I was going to be the next Jimmy Page. When I was 22, I was going to be in the biggest Detroit band. When I was 25, I was going to be in the best band in my town. When I was 30, I was going to get a gig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GZsound Posted September 9, 2005 Members Share Posted September 9, 2005 This thread reminds me of the countless encounters with my relatives back in the 70's when I was in a full time touring band.. At Christmas dinner, at Thanksgiving dinner, etc. I always got the question.. "So Mark, when are you going to make it?".. At the time I was making six hundred bucks a week, working thirty hours, getting free housing, free food and free booze. No telephone expense, no utilities, etc. All take home money and pretty much tax free. I figured I was making as much as a bank branch manager. When I explained it that way to my relatives, I always said..."looks to me like I've already made it".. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members d. gauss Posted September 9, 2005 Members Share Posted September 9, 2005 tedster, you kill me! o.t.o.h., all aging, rationalizing jokes aside, even if no one remembers you, really "making it" is probably getting a decent royalty check in the mail so your kids can go to school without you whoring your name for a bar or a car dealership. i.e: j. geils = set for life -d. gauss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tedster Posted September 9, 2005 Members Share Posted September 9, 2005 I forgot to add, d, that at 48, "making it" refers just as much to a daily bowel movement as it does to anything else. HAHAHAHA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators MrKnobs Posted September 9, 2005 Moderators Share Posted September 9, 2005 I've "made it" as a soundman, that didn't do it for me. I've "made it" as a scientist, I just quit that gig. Both of those things made me an excellent living but they didn't make me happy. I have now concluded, as so many other people before me have, that success is doing something creative that you love, and somehow making a living at it. Right now, I *love* writing songs, I love producing albums, I love playing guitar, I love playing on stage. I also love landscape photography. And right now, I'm having fun writing that silly groupie story over on the other thread. So I think the creativity part of my brain is waking up after a very long nap. If I can succeed in achieving some sort of recognition for a creative endeavor, I just might be happy for the first time in 20 years. Then again, I might have to add the "didn't do it for me" after I try it. So I guess "making it" means continuing to grow and change as a complete human being, and finding creative work that makes myself and others happy. Subject to change at any time, of course. Terry D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members physicist-jc Posted September 9, 2005 Members Share Posted September 9, 2005 Being able to spend days in my own studio with an instrument I invented, knowing that no matter how alien the stuff I put out sounded, I'd still have a hardcore fanbase who'd love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LateGreats Posted September 9, 2005 Members Share Posted September 9, 2005 If we're talking about "making it" in the Bread "I'd like to make it with you" sense, then, well, you know... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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