So You Wanna Be a Rock Star?WHAT IS IT REALLY LIKE BEING A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN???

What people THINK it’s like being in a band…

But first…you have to know a LOT of things…

How to play music/sing

People to play with

Places to play

• Lessons? • Equipment

• What kind of music?• Will you write your own?

• Pay to play• Being paid by the venue

But if you can find all those things…

You could get to this:

So let’s start with the basics

What will you do?If you like to sing – SING!

If you play an instrument, keep playing it!

If you want to learn, ASK!

Who With?The best music is made by people who agree

Bandmates can be friends, or BECOME friends

Sometimes, new people bring something amazing to the group.

Where?Start at home!

Practice…practice…practice!

Don’t forget…it’s called the music BUSINESS

…SO DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE BUSINESS PART

If you have music, you have a product

To deliver the product, you need:

A way to get to the venue (a ride!!)

Instruments (which can cost as little as $20 at a garage sale, or $1000 for a very upscale keyboard or complete drum set)

A way to amplify the product (AKA…a sound system)

PS a Sound System can cost anywhere from $250-$THOUSANDS!!

THEN, if someone wants to hire your band, you need to figure out…

What do we need to bring

When do we need to be there

How long will we play music

And then….

You have to ask them to pay you

That’s how you become “professional”…you get paid to do it.

So, when I was in my first band

I didn’t know the people I was performing with (but they are my best friends now!)

I didn’t own an instrument, but needed to play one

I didn’t own a sound system, but they already did

So…..

I bought a microphone, stand, cable and some percussion instruments

I practiced my parts for several hours at home alone

I practiced 3-5 hours a week with the band

I played 5-8 shows a week

What a show day is like

You have to be there at least 3 hours early to set up.

Some things set up quickly, like a keyboard. Some things take an hour, like drums

You have to play for 2-4 hours (and usually there is a 30 minute break)

You have to stay after for at least an hour to break down

THAT’S 6-8 HOURS!

At the end of it…you may walk out with $200 for those 6-8 hours.

$200! That’s A BUNCHA MONEY!

Except that it isn’t, if you have to pay for a place to live, food, clothes, etc…which is why many musicians who are professionals also have other jobs

So what do you need?LET’S BRAINSTORM A BAND…