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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 679
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OP
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 679 |
An opinion about the local Tampa scene.... Jeremy Gloff Blog Steve V
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,911 Likes: 1
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,911 Likes: 1 |
He doesn't know where to look....
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 29,275
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He's Spot-On about Tampa Airplay.
Let's see...Tampa Bay's Radio Hits that went National: Key Largo...Snoopy vs The Red Barron..
I recorded 4 CDs over-the-years at a WMNF DJ's Home Studio, WITH the DJ as CO-Writer/he Did ALL the Music, even...and NONE ever-aired at WMNF.
Ah well... Writing's more fun than performing, for me anyways...&..Tampa's no longer a Target to make it happen here.
(Thanks, at least to Mz Goody..for what little "Airplay" I ever got in FLA.)
Best Wishes, Big Understanding Hugs, Amigos, Stan
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,524
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Rick Crandall at
musictampabay@msn.com
will play your music too.
Just send Rick mp3's to his e-mail addy above.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 613
Top 500 Poster
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Top 500 Poster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 613 |
You must play music for the love of music and to have fun.
If you start attaching your ego to your success in the music "business," it's going to chew you up and spit you out on the sidewalk and ruin you, like it has so many other people. People don't value music like they used to. You can't make a living at it. It's the way things are.
I believe that developing a following is still possible, but you can't rely on any of the traditional avenues (radio, tv, a bunch of great venues to play at.) I'm an easy example. I play story songs. I could probably approach every book store and library manager within 60 miles and end up with a gig a week for a year. And if people like my music I might even sell some CD's. And if I could write another CD worth of material and do the same thing a year from now, I might start to develop an actual small following. So why don't I do it? I dunno. Maybe I will. It's just a lot of freaking work, and you have to not get depressed when no one shows up. And that may happen often.
But this is the type of strategy that people should look at. If the scene sucks (and it does,) then try to figure out something else.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 613
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Posts: 613 |
And then there's Have Gun Will Travel. I've heard of them and Matt played solo at the Bunker last Thursday (he's good.) They've got something going and they're a Tampa area band. They're playing all over the state, I believe. Using traditional means. So it can be done.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 29,275
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Top 10 Poster
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 29,275 |
HiYa Brother Jerry, ya Loveable & Talented GUY!!!
I'm SO friggin' Old & Set in Mah Ways that I (Frankly) Don't Know HOW to make a CD into MP3's.
Maybe if I had a Snail Addy..yeah...I'd send a CD or 2 to Your Guy & see how it goes.
I recently had Jimmy Buffett's Mgr-In-Charge of JB's Alcohol Empire visit my Clock Shop... "Jimmy's concentrating on his Booze Business a lot more than his Music these days". (or something real-similar to what I just put Quote Marks around).
Which says a LOT, don't it?--- ;-)>
Now, Richard's just posted words I don't exactly agree-with, so let's discuss it: "People don't value music like they used to/You can't make a living from it/It's just the way things are"
Yeah, here in Tampa, 'Tis mostly true. BUT.."It's 5-O'Clock Somewhere" generated its BMI Writer $230K in Airplay royalties for 4 weeks at #1 and the ASCAP Guy got $200K. You CAN "Make a Living" from THAT, Amigos.
So..being a Businessman..first-&-foremost...&..seeing my Clock Biz tumbling with The Recession..I hadda figure out where my TIME was best-spent. Now I LOVE Tampa's JPF Chapter/Still LOVE Tampa Bay..Hell, I've lived here since 1973/raised my kids here/expect to die here, too. But How DO Ya Make a "Living" in the Music Business?
I decided 3 yrs ago to focus on The-Great-SONG to make "An Inroads"..since currently I got no Time to Perform/I'm already gettin' Long-In-The-Tooth.
Here's URLs for 2 that might have a chance in the Label-Distributed Market, Jerry...& there'll be more-&-more MP3s at JPF's MP3 Board (I'll post 2 for THERE, too) as I co- with "Inside-Connected" Composers.
1) "It's OK to Cry"..Jami Asselin..ilike.com (Branson Gal Artist...it'll be on her 2nd CD..since she & Dad-Manager-Publisher decided her 1st'd be "Self-Penned".) Co-ed with Andy K, I'll add. Airplayed already on some Christian Stations out-westerly.
2) "Still Coming Back From The War"..Mike Dunbar...Soundclick.com (So-Far..Mike's Vox/Music/Production) 'Nam War's 50th Anniversary's less than 5 years away. I've penned a full CD's worth of songs/might try One Last "Me" CD...anyways..finally SOME help from the NashCats getting some Songs Going There...and...
3) Meanwhile, At JPF's MP3 Boards: Re-Opening some Old L.A. Channels with "Let's Take The Time"...Some SERIOUS R&B...Sung by Robert Pickens...Music by Mark Kaufman (Both Fellow-JPFers)
4) and "Excitement!"...(Under the header "Our First Collaboration") Music by Danny De Can...who does Serious Movie Music/Finishing a Music Masters at Berklee. I've finally Found My Henry Mancini! (Needs a Singer..Volunteers?)
Bottom Line: You CAN Make a Living IN The Music Business IF You DON'T Have to "Be The Star". (It sure HELPS, of course...I'll grant you that!) And..if you DON'T focus on Tampa, too. (Sad to say...but...) (You'll STILL have TONS of "Dues to Pay"...but Hell, YOU picked MUSIC to fall in-love-with, didn't ya?)
I've always got some Words...if You Got Some Music...
& You Need THE SONG that Goes FURTHER-than-TAMPA...to get ya on that Big Journey To SOMEWHERE...JMO.
Best Wishes/Good Luck Amigo, Stan
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 613
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 613 |
Yes, it's theoretically possible. But I've never personally known anyone who has done it. On the other hand, I known a whole bunch of people who've tried and failed. And in some cases it screwed them up - made them dislike music, made them bitter, made them miss out on a career, made them want to put down their instrument. Years ago I was one of those people. When you attach your sense of self worth to your "art," and you don't make it, it can be a harsh reality to deal with.
If I had a point that I was trying to make, in my post, it was this - the "old ways" will not work here. You need to invent new ways AND you need to lower your expectations. You can maybe gain a following if you get creative, and you can maybe sell some CD's. In the Tampa area, that's about all you can hope for.
I'm with you on songwriting, though. If you want to make any money in music and you live here, you either need to play covers/give lessons/sell instruments, or you need to write music and get it placed. Which is very very hard to do.
And "5 O'Clock Somewhere" was written 7 years ago. It would be extremely difficult to get that kind of success in today's 2010 market. But despite this, I still agree that if you write a good enough song and the right people hear it and it somehow makes it out to the general public, there's definitely money to be made, and if you want to make money from original music, this is the most logical (and maybe only possible) route.
But if you're in music for fun, then probably all you want is for people to be sitting in seats and listening when you play. Doesn't seem like too much to ask for, yet we struggle with this. It's OK. It is what it is. Most important thing is to have fun. IMHO.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 679
Serious Contributor
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 679 |
You must play music for the love of music and to have fun.
Richard has it - no matter what 'scene' you're in....
It's certainly not easy whether you're trying to be discovered as a solo artist or band or try to have that great song picked up.
But it can be done. Can it be done from a local base? As far as from a solo artist/band standpoint I think at some point you do have to move a bigger 'scene'. But you can build your 'rep' here.
Richard mentioned Have Gun Will Travel. Those guys have a great local following, get good local press and plenty of airplay on MNF. They also have worked for those things and build on them. They not only tour in state but up the Northeast. They get radio play on many stations throughout the country. They also get good press on webzines and other publications.
They appear to have a good business sense based on a good product. Their CDs are filled with good songs, with good musicianship and the CDs sound and look good from a production standpoint. They have a professional product that competes with what the labels are putting out. That makes a big difference.
A lot of us want to play ball on a major league scale but we still operate with a little league mindset. For what you want to get out of it - you have to put into it.
Any scene is a little clique-esh - But you also have to get yourself involved in the scene to be involved. I certainly don't attend as many event as I should, but I do try to get out to some to be seen and make some contacts. Since I don't have a lot of extra time I try to make things like open mics and the songwriter's night at Tre Amici. I have met many talented individuals and made good contacts that have led to positive things through places like this...
Now, I'm not too acquainted with Jeremy's work. I know he's been around for awhile. I'm sure he works very hard at what he does. I know I've felt I should get more return on my investment at times but it doesn't always happen as quickly as I would like and I've voiced my displeasure at that before.
There isn't a magic potion for this - some people will have it happen for them and others won't - just the way it happens.
Steve V
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,524
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Stan; I am checking on a physical address to get your c'ds to so you can get some air play. I know musicians that are making a living playing music. They work their asses off and are playing cover's along with their originals. North 2 South are some of the better country writer's and they are playing disco,dance music & rock n roll just to keep playing. No one that I know of is just doing originals and making it. When I lived up north it was the same thing. People want to hear familiar music when they go to a venue. I wish you all the best!
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Joined: Feb 2004
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Stan; MTB - PO Box 11874 - St Pete 33733 My wife & I are travelling up the east coast heading for the Canadian Maritime. Current at a campsite in New Jersey. Finally found a little cooler weather. Slept without AC all night last night. We don't expect to be back in Florida until late July, so I won't be picking up any CD's at the post office until then.
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"If one man can do it, any man can do it. It is true. But the real question is, if one man did it, are you willing to do what it takes to do it as well?" –Brian Austin Whitney
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