• Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Playing as a pro

Danny! wrote:
ZampraZ wrote:

But honestly I'd rather be not rich playing guitar, than rich and not playing guitar.

You don't have to choose you know, you can do both no matter what path you go down. It's not like if you decide to go to college you stop playing, it's a part of you that isn't possible to ignore. I'm playing on really stretching out musically in college, playing with people who are better than me, jamming around at local bars, just having fun. Hell, there's a jazz guitar quartet where I'm headed!

Of course


But still, if you're fresh out of high school, you're what, 18? So you don't have to continue your studies yet. I would suggest having your studies done by the time you're 30, so you know, take 5 years and give it a go. There is nothing wrong with continuing your studies at 23. Not at all.

If you're worried about your chops, do this. Compare yourself to all the greats, especially modern popular guitarists. Do you think that you have what it takes? You won't make it unless you believe in yourself and you have to have perseverance. You don't have to be super original to make it, all it takes is that you are good and can produce enjoyable music. And worst case scenario, you go to school and play all your spare time. There is nothing wrong with playing bars and local clubs. It's still lots of fun

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: Playing as a pro

You don't HAVE to continue your studies fresh out of high school, but it's a lot harder to get in and back into the flow of things when you've been out of school for 5 years. Finishing college by the time you're 30 is fine, if you're doing 4 years of premed, 4 years of med school, and 2 years of residency as a doctor.

If I were to truly dive in the ultimate goal wouldn't be The Forum. I would go studio musician, and if that led to bigger things, then sweet! That route would most likely come through graduating from the Berkeley School of Music or Musician's Institute here in SoCal.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan

21 Reply by ZampraZ (edited by ZampraZ 2009-08-23 01:08:17)

  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Playing as a pro

Danny! wrote:

You don't HAVE to continue your studies fresh out of high school, but it's a lot harder to get in and back into the flow of things when you've been out of school for 5 years.

Maybe but I'm sure that won't stop the one with big goals


Another thing to consider, listen to your playing, would you go see yourself on shows, buy cds etc if you were not you?

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Playing as a pro

I also wanna point out to you guys a lot of musicans really do make a living playing bars and things.  Heck Joe did for years before he got to where he was making enough money to play bigger theaters.  As for school, all my best friends went to school and studied while I played guitar.  I got pretty good on my own.  My friends got good playing with other people at college.  I played 8 hours a day when I was 18 but my friends learned what I did or more playing 10 hours a week total with people up in school.  So really the most important thing to remember is guitar is an education all to its self and if your learning it on your own its going to take longer, if your going to go to school find these people and don't be shy to ask "hey can you show me what you just did?"  The only thing that I was better at when my friends got back was the fact that I had more dexterity and bigger caluses then they got because I put in way more miles but didn't have the theory to go along with it.  10 years later I'm still stringing the theory together and 8 hrs of guitar playing at a time is a thing of the past.  kids take up my evenings and work take up all my day time.  I do get 30 mins at lunch to jam with a buddy I work with.  30 mins with him is like 2 hours by myself.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: Playing as a pro

AD3THREE wrote:

I also wanna point out to you guys a lot of musicans really do make a living playing bars and things.  Heck Joe did for years before he got to where he was making enough money to play bigger theaters.  As for school, all my best friends went to school and studied while I played guitar.  I got pretty good on my own.  My friends got good playing with other people at college.  I played 8 hours a day when I was 18 but my friends learned what I did or more playing 10 hours a week total with people up in school.  So really the most important thing to remember is guitar is an education all to its self and if your learning it on your own its going to take longer, if your going to go to school find these people and don't be shy to ask "hey can you show me what you just did?"  The only thing that I was better at when my friends got back was the fact that I had more dexterity and bigger caluses then they got because I put in way more miles but didn't have the theory to go along with it.  10 years later I'm still stringing the theory together and 8 hrs of guitar playing at a time is a thing of the past.  kids take up my evenings and work take up all my day time.  I do get 30 mins at lunch to jam with a buddy I work with.  30 mins with him is like 2 hours by myself.


Ahh thats so true, the second I started playing with other musicians I was learning things and doing things that I had struggled with for ages. Everytime I play I pick something new up (its a good stage to be at), I remember always struggling with 7th's 9th's and 13th's etc (I know sounds daft). I remember it well because a bassist I was jamming with took my guitar and showed me how to do them properly, showed me a tune to use them on then said next time I see you I wanna see them polished up...

  • From: Edgewater, FL
  • Registered: 2007-12-08
  • Posts: 5,046

Re: Playing as a pro

JohnTB wrote:
AD3THREE wrote:

I also wanna point out to you guys a lot of musicans really do make a living playing bars and things.  Heck Joe did for years before he got to where he was making enough money to play bigger theaters.  As for school, all my best friends went to school and studied while I played guitar.  I got pretty good on my own.  My friends got good playing with other people at college.  I played 8 hours a day when I was 18 but my friends learned what I did or more playing 10 hours a week total with people up in school.  So really the most important thing to remember is guitar is an education all to its self and if your learning it on your own its going to take longer, if your going to go to school find these people and don't be shy to ask "hey can you show me what you just did?"  The only thing that I was better at when my friends got back was the fact that I had more dexterity and bigger caluses then they got because I put in way more miles but didn't have the theory to go along with it.  10 years later I'm still stringing the theory together and 8 hrs of guitar playing at a time is a thing of the past.  kids take up my evenings and work take up all my day time.  I do get 30 mins at lunch to jam with a buddy I work with.  30 mins with him is like 2 hours by myself.


Ahh thats so true, the second I started playing with other musicians I was learning things and doing things that I had struggled with for ages. Everytime I play I pick something new up (its a good stage to be at), I remember always struggling with 7th's 9th's and 13th's etc (I know sounds daft). I remember it well because a bassist I was jamming with took my guitar and showed me how to do them properly, showed me a tune to use them on then said next time I see you I wanna see them polished up...

Wow! A bassist did that for you? hmmmmm  Sounds like someone I know.  He's kind of a jerk lol

Rock On & Keep the FAITH
             It is
Blues From the Bottoms

bigjeffjones's Website

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Playing as a pro

Why not go to school for music? That way you can play and still get an education. Check out the www.MI.edu I aways wanted to go to school for music but never felt I had the chops, but boy do I wish I put more time into playing and went to school for music because its still all I think about. I am lucky I have a good job and now can afford to buy some nicer stuff but for a long time even with a collage education I couldn't, I really enjoy my career but love playing guitar more!

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: Playing as a pro

College is 4 years or so. No real "time" at all. Seriously! You're probably going to live to be 100+. Don't blow it!

    GO TO SCHOOL! big_smile

    Even if you have to quit playing to do it, for a few years. 4 to 5 years is NOTHING! You can always get back into it, later.

    Too many times, people have this short-sighted view of Music and all the Entertainment Industry. I have fallen victim to this, myself.
    Why is this? (I suppose) the Media portrays everything as being about "Youth" and "Youth Culture". Well, that is basically B.S. Many Artists don't even hit their stride, until they are well past 30. And it many circles, Musicians/Artists are VALUED for their age and experience. It's your MUSICAL/ARTISTIC RELEVANCE that matters. There are Kids of 18 who are so locked into their own thing, to be current! And there are 60+ year olds, who are forging new territories right now. Age has about as much to do with Music, as shoe size. Don't fall into the "Gotta do it NOW!" trap.

    Being able to have multiple options is a necessity. 2, 3 or 4 "Career" options is basically mandatory, nowadays. Don't screw yourself, by not doing the right thing.

    And if you still are thinking it has to be either/or, look at Tom Morello:

    While carrying a full course load at Harvard, he says he missed only 3 days (in the ENTIRE TIME at Harvard!), where he didn't practice AT LEAST 8 hours a day. So, he still practiced on those days. But, just not his "minimum" 8 Hours.

    Besides, what are you gonna play? Guitar? No. You're gonna play MUSIC. And you could spend your free time at College, writing songs. Learning to be a Songwriter will get you a lot further than becoming a "GUITAR GOD"! LOL

    Seriously, GO TO SCHOOL. Anything else is just an excuse, not a reason. IMNSHO.

    Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner
  • Registered: 2009-03-07
  • Posts: 74

Re: Playing as a pro

It's not the hard stuff that would turn me off being a pro, it's the easy stuff that I couldn't handle. Anybody can get on stage and play guitar but it takes someone special to sit in the back of a stinky cramped van for 6 hours a day. wink

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: Playing as a pro

Who says it has to be stinky? Incense my friend! I enjoyed your post though Budda, thank you smile

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Playing as a pro

Budda wrote:

College is 4 years or so. No real "time" at all. Seriously! You're probably going to live to be 100+. Don't blow it!

    GO TO SCHOOL! big_smile

    Even if you have to quit playing to do it, for a few years. 4 to 5 years is NOTHING! You can always get back into it, later.

    Too many times, people have this short-sighted view of Music and all the Entertainment Industry. I have fallen victim to this, myself.
    Why is this? (I suppose) the Media portrays everything as being about "Youth" and "Youth Culture". Well, that is basically B.S. Many Artists don't even hit their stride, until they are well past 30. And it many circles, Musicians/Artists are VALUED for their age and experience. It's your MUSICAL/ARTISTIC RELEVANCE that matters. There are Kids of 18 who are so locked into their own thing, to be current! And there are 60+ year olds, who are forging new territories right now. Age has about as much to do with Music, as shoe size. Don't fall into the "Gotta do it NOW!" trap.

    Being able to have multiple options is a necessity. 2, 3 or 4 "Career" options is basically mandatory, nowadays. Don't screw yourself, by not doing the right thing.

    And if you still are thinking it has to be either/or, look at Tom Morello:

    While carrying a full course load at Harvard, he says he missed only 3 days (in the ENTIRE TIME at Harvard!), where he didn't practice AT LEAST 8 hours a day. So, he still practiced on those days. But, just not his "minimum" 8 Hours.

    Besides, what are you gonna play? Guitar? No. You're gonna play MUSIC. And you could spend your free time at College, writing songs. Learning to be a Songwriter will get you a lot further than becoming a "GUITAR GOD"! LOL

    Seriously, GO TO SCHOOL. Anything else is just an excuse, not a reason. IMNSHO.

    Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Average lifespan is 67, not 100+.

Wrong. 4-5 years is an eternity.

So he might as well go to college when hes 22...

30 Reply by Danny! (edited by Danny! 2009-08-26 01:22:42)

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: Playing as a pro

67? You've gotta be joking. This site says 77, and that's in America, home of the "McDonald's made me obese!" headlines.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lifexpec.htm

I plan on dieing at either 40 or 90. At 40 it will be from a scuba or sky diving accident.

4-5 years is an eternity when you pass the 3rd grade and then leave school at 9 years old to work the strawberry fields in Mexico (it happens, I know a lady), not when you spend up to 20 years getting an education.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: Playing as a pro

ZampraZ wrote:
Budda wrote:

College is 4 years or so. No real "time" at all. Seriously! You're probably going to live to be 100+. Don't blow it!

    GO TO SCHOOL! big_smile

    Even if you have to quit playing to do it, for a few years. 4 to 5 years is NOTHING! You can always get back into it, later.

    Too many times, people have this short-sighted view of Music and all the Entertainment Industry. I have fallen victim to this, myself.
    Why is this? (I suppose) the Media portrays everything as being about "Youth" and "Youth Culture". Well, that is basically B.S. Many Artists don't even hit their stride, until they are well past 30. And it many circles, Musicians/Artists are VALUED for their age and experience. It's your MUSICAL/ARTISTIC RELEVANCE that matters. There are Kids of 18 who are so locked into their own thing, to be current! And there are 60+ year olds, who are forging new territories right now. Age has about as much to do with Music, as shoe size. Don't fall into the "Gotta do it NOW!" trap.

    Being able to have multiple options is a necessity. 2, 3 or 4 "Career" options is basically mandatory, nowadays. Don't screw yourself, by not doing the right thing.

    And if you still are thinking it has to be either/or, look at Tom Morello:

    While carrying a full course load at Harvard, he says he missed only 3 days (in the ENTIRE TIME at Harvard!), where he didn't practice AT LEAST 8 hours a day. So, he still practiced on those days. But, just not his "minimum" 8 Hours.

    Besides, what are you gonna play? Guitar? No. You're gonna play MUSIC. And you could spend your free time at College, writing songs. Learning to be a Songwriter will get you a lot further than becoming a "GUITAR GOD"! LOL

    Seriously, GO TO SCHOOL. Anything else is just an excuse, not a reason. IMNSHO.

    Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Average lifespan is 67, not 100+.

Wrong. 4-5 years is an eternity.

So he might as well go to college when hes 22...

4 to 5 years an eternity???? Wait until you get out of grade school sonny boy before you quip in. Later on, 4 to 5 years will pass so quickly you won't even remember them.

As for the average lifespan, well maybe it is 67 or maybe it's 77. MAYBE. Theres nothing stamped on your **** saying you'll live that long. Life can be snuffed out in the blink of an eye.

You need to get some age and experience under your belt.

There's no set age as to when a person can attend college either by the way.

32 Reply by Danny! (edited by Danny! 2009-08-26 03:38:51)

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: Playing as a pro

Spider wrote:

There's no set age as to when a person can attend college either by the way.

But how would your freshman year ever be the same without the legal alcohol age limit going right out the window?? That's like (imo)...college experience memory #1 to be had! There is no limit, but when my parents were applying for college the SAT was out of 1600, now it's 2400, and the average scores and overall standards are going up. My dad's said multiple times that he probably wouldn't get into the college he did today. I'm not actually IN college until Monday, but I'm guessing the majority of people attending college later than a few years after graduating high school are attending community colleges (which there's nothing wrong with), not universities.

Again, I'm not IN college until Monday, but I don't think I'll be seeing too many 29/30 year old seniors walking around.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan

33 Reply by ZampraZ (edited by ZampraZ 2009-08-26 16:51:35)

  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Playing as a pro

Spider wrote:
ZampraZ wrote:
Budda wrote:

College is 4 years or so. No real "time" at all. Seriously! You're probably going to live to be 100+. Don't blow it!

    GO TO SCHOOL! big_smile

    Even if you have to quit playing to do it, for a few years. 4 to 5 years is NOTHING! You can always get back into it, later.

    Too many times, people have this short-sighted view of Music and all the Entertainment Industry. I have fallen victim to this, myself.
    Why is this? (I suppose) the Media portrays everything as being about "Youth" and "Youth Culture". Well, that is basically B.S. Many Artists don't even hit their stride, until they are well past 30. And it many circles, Musicians/Artists are VALUED for their age and experience. It's your MUSICAL/ARTISTIC RELEVANCE that matters. There are Kids of 18 who are so locked into their own thing, to be current! And there are 60+ year olds, who are forging new territories right now. Age has about as much to do with Music, as shoe size. Don't fall into the "Gotta do it NOW!" trap.

    Being able to have multiple options is a necessity. 2, 3 or 4 "Career" options is basically mandatory, nowadays. Don't screw yourself, by not doing the right thing.

    And if you still are thinking it has to be either/or, look at Tom Morello:

    While carrying a full course load at Harvard, he says he missed only 3 days (in the ENTIRE TIME at Harvard!), where he didn't practice AT LEAST 8 hours a day. So, he still practiced on those days. But, just not his "minimum" 8 Hours.

    Besides, what are you gonna play? Guitar? No. You're gonna play MUSIC. And you could spend your free time at College, writing songs. Learning to be a Songwriter will get you a lot further than becoming a "GUITAR GOD"! LOL

    Seriously, GO TO SCHOOL. Anything else is just an excuse, not a reason. IMNSHO.

    Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Average lifespan is 67, not 100+.

Wrong. 4-5 years is an eternity.

So he might as well go to college when hes 22...

4 to 5 years an eternity???? Wait until you get out of grade school sonny boy before you quip in. Later on, 4 to 5 years will pass so quickly you won't even remember them.

As for the average lifespan, well maybe it is 67 or maybe it's 77. MAYBE. Theres nothing stamped on your **** saying you'll live that long. Life can be snuffed out in the blink of an eye.

You need to get some age and experience under your belt.

There's no set age as to when a person can attend college either by the way.

You obviously have no appreciation of time. Time is one of the things we can't turn back, you underestimate the importance of 5 years. And I'm not in grade school. Time does not move quicker because you're getting old.

However I was referring to 4-5 years without guitar playing. I've only played guitar for 4 years, and the amount of hours I've put in and progress I've made is incredible. I can't even imagine how much I will have learned and improved in another 4-5 years. Still, college for me will be closer to 8 years since I plan to go to med school...

If you think 5 years is not an eternity, please, start counting now and don't stop until this date 2014.


Personally, I couldn't care less about having fun at college. It's like a mechanical movement, you go there, do what needs to be done and leave.

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: Playing as a pro

You don't make nearly as much progress doing anything compared to how much you develop when you first start doing it.

I'll let someone else handle this

ZampraZ wrote:

Personally, I couldn't care less about having fun at college. It's like a mechanical movement, you go there, do what needs to be done and leave.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan

35 Reply by ZampraZ (edited by ZampraZ 2009-08-26 17:52:34)

  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Playing as a pro

Danny! wrote:

You don't make nearly as much progress doing anything compared to how much you develop when you first start doing it.

I'll let someone else handle this

ZampraZ wrote:

Personally, I couldn't care less about having fun at college. It's like a mechanical movement, you go there, do what needs to be done and leave.

Obviously, but still, there is an endless sea of things to learn. And by fun at college, I mean, of course what you're learning should be interesting. But I don't care about having fun as parties. Besides, I'm not a party-person. I go there to get an education period. I handle it this way, I have perfect grades, it works for me. School is a god damn chore anyway smile

  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: Playing as a pro

Theres almost nothing as good as school, and when you leave I'm pretty sure you will come to the same conclusion... the work is hard but its a god damn easy almost care free life :x