h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Sounding great is just dandy... I know a lot of -very- good bar bands. The point is, if they're not willing to make a committment to the band, then bar band is all they (and you, if you stay) will ever be.

(Not trying to be mean or anything, I just hate to see potential locked in a cage because of association, if you know what I mean.)

Can I say something nice for a change...?

MadMunk, what they tell you is true BUT... I assume that you are under 30(or else you look just GREAT at the mayor-site ) so take me :

I'm a 'little bit' over 30, like say the guys in Orbital are a bit over 30... I have played and played since I was 7. When I was 23 I had a band (Solid Air) that went just fine, good friends, etcetera. Thing is, I went to a recordingstudio and they wanted just me and my songs. No problem there but I had to set my priorities straight so I told the guys in the band that things like interviews would come first. One of them didn't agree so we split up(this was a trio). The singles I recorded didn't do much so in the end I concentrated on my 'real' job (in IT).

The last three years I have built my equipment up to a standard I never had before, I started to write songs influenced by people like Tricky, Massive Attack, LTJ Buckem, David Byrne, Orbital, Chemical Brothers...see what I'm getting at ? Completely new music for the most part and I feel like a bleedin' fish in the water. Turns out I was probably too early with what I did. Nowadays I have a duo(Jungle, Drum 'n Bass, that kind of stuff, you can't place us be it's definitely played live) and we are getting a GREAT response from the audience. And I'm basically playing the same kind of music I played 14 years ago !

It's only just begun ! Believe me !

So even if it is true that you should not entangle yourself in too many commitments, you CAN keep growing when you're over 30, music keeps you young. I'm only thankful that my fellowmen/women have grown up a little bit too.

France is one thing but if you're really good someone will ask you again. Better yet ; organize it yourself when you have the time. Just make sure that you DO make time. If I'd know what kind of music you make I might be able to get you some contacts in Holland.

TM(True Music)

On another note..
Support tours can be bloody awful things. Bands may like you when you support them and are a bit 'scared'. But when you start to get some confidence and a good act you'll notice you're playing at half the volume of the main band, never seem to get time to do a soundcheck and bits of your equipment start disappearing
I'm not saying all main bands are this petty. Just 85-90% of them.
I reckon you should get a good act together and leap fully-formed Gomez-like into the wider world in a few years. Oasis knew all about supporting other bands so they didn't do it - Noel Gallagher had been a roadie for Inspiral Carpets - so they worked on a shedload of songs, got their s**t together in rehearsals and then never looked back. Awful third album, but, do you get my drift?

I fully agree to one of your statements : Support-acts are no way to start a career. In the seventies with Thin Lizzy as support act to Queen it might have amounted to something but nowadays...

Wowww.... wait.... cool down now people.... i'm 15.... i'm WAY to young to be thinking about a CAREER! Okay, yeah, in an ideal world, supporting isn't very good, but realistically, it's a way of exposing yourself to an audience greater than your current fanbase (which, for us, right now, is nil + a few friends). You see my point? Most of the band are still at school, with plans for the future, and it's pretty unlikely that if i ever do make it BIG (and i will, you mark my words....) then it won't be with this band..... however, it does provide me with a lot of experience in the area, and is a hellofalotof fun

Well you passed the first test...sorry MM I forgot you're still a whippersnapper. It was all this talk of European tours and stuff. Excuse my jaded opinions and instead have a happy fish

Me thinks MM started with the French-tour thingy and all that...
I'd personally record a cd and distribute a limited number of copies to "important(duh)" people and to bars to get gigs and all.
Hell of a lot easier and cheaper that doing a support-act tour of the French countryside, I mean the French and modern music ???

Take it away Marie Antoinette...

*chuckles* Yes, I concede.

It'd be pretty hard to convince parents to allow a French tour at this time, too.

Attention all researchers !!!
This is a shameless plug !!

http://www.h2g2.com/forumframe.cgi?forum=12367&thread=23407

Maybe someone has any ideas about this legend ???

CU,

TM.

..une...deux...trois....quatre...take iet avay....

Hey, full circle! Via 3 forums! I've never done that before!

'sus

*cockney* It's wot we're 'ere for...

What? Cockney??

'sus

ehhh???????????/

Yeah Guv', Cockney... Vhy zoo U ask..?

Like concorde.

But slightly less French

Righto !

Leftu ?

I don't know, did you ??

TM

I'm not entirely sure........