Need advice on getting back into the music industry professionally…

[Jack Q]

I just joined this forum. It seems like a lot of people who frequent here are actually in the music industry and playing out to a large extent, so I thought this would be an appropriate place to ask my question.

 

I started seriously playing music (as a guitar player) in college and was doing gigs quite regularly by my senior year. (I was playing locally with a musician who was at the time was touring the west coast with a big name act. I was also playing, at times, to big crowds—3000+--- and opening for acts with national name recognition). I also played in another band after college with not as much success, but we played usually at least once a week at clubs in my college town and had regular fans who came to our shows.

 

OK, I’m done with the personal resume.

 

Basically, at this point in time, I’m 27 years old and a few years ago moved to California to be a part of the music industry. However, I have not been seriously playing with other people for the past two years and have been recording and writing songs on my own. Basically, I want to be able to bring as much to the table as possible once I start playing with a band again and have worked hard on improving my skills.

 

My major problem is that I have a full time job which takes up MOST of my life, but I need to work to pay off student loans, and all that fun stuff.

 

I want to get back into the music industry (playing, recording), but I need to make money at the same time. I’m sick of working a full time job to pay the bills, but don’t see just “jumping” back into playing music again as something that is going to immediately help me make a living. My goal has never been to play music and make a Bazillion dollars (although that would be nice), but to MAKE A LIVING doing it because its what I truly love to do and is all I ever want to do—its my addiction. I need the TIME to play music seriously, but my full time job is a major time-killer and hinders my ability to give music my all. However, I live in one of the best places in the world (when it comes to the music industry), so I have that going for me.

 

I know many of you have probably been is similar situations and I was wondering if anyone could contribute advice, thoughts, personal stories, etc that could help me figure out what steps I could take (right NOW and in the future as I progress) to help make music part of my professional life. Thanks for everything.

[daddymack]

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1621287

 

see my reply here...California, btw, may be the toughest place to try to do this...believe me...I'm in L.A., and have been for decades...and I don't make my living playing.

[cryptozoon]

One way to start off in the LA area is to promote yourself as a session player to commercial music studios. True these music houses usually have an address book of the top players in town, but good music producers are also always looking for a young exceptional talent who give the appearance of being totally plugged into the latest music trends.

 

Start hitting this list:

 

http://www.la411.com/Post_Production/Music_Production_Sound_Design/Index.cfm

[daddymack]

 

One way to start off in the LA area is to promote yourself as a session player to commercial music studios. True these music houses usually have an address book of the top players in town, but good music producers are also always looking for a young exceptional talent who give the appearance of being totally plugged into the latest music trends. Start hitting this list: http://www.la411.com/Post_Production/Music_Production_Sound_Design/Index.cfm

 

 

This is not necessarily going to get you work...but, networking with these people won't hurt you either. There are plenty of other small studios as well (that is where I started). Keep in mind that you need to get on a couple of sessions and get in with the engineers, producers, and managers...they can help you with other contacts. But you really need to impress them with your skills and attitude.