Local music scenes (seeking advice)

[whiteysax]

I'm preparing to make a big move and pursue life on the stage. I was almost set to head out to Chicago, but was given some varying points of view about different areas as well as Chicago.
maybe you guys can give me some advice...
I'm trying to research the local music scene/musical opportunities in different metro areas. Can anyone suggest anything? Or give me some insight into the city you might live near (preferably in the NE or Midwest... NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc...)

I'm sure NYC is a great choice... but I want a place with the right opportunities that isn't going to fade in a year.
Thanks guys!

[pauly8509]

Chicago is nice, and believe it or not, down here in Champaign the indie music scene is ridiculous. It's incredibly easy to play at the Canopy Club, where people like Victor Wooten, The Wailers, Jack Johnson, Pete Yorn and other big namers play. I just got my cousin's band a gig there in February. Besides that place, there are tons of places that host local music, and in the fall they've got the Pygmalion music fest, headlined this year by Of Montreal and Murder by Death. Opening for these bands throughout the week though are all local bands. It's pretty sweet down here, I'm always occupied.

[chr35919]

^yeah, champaign is great.

I'm from boston and am going to school down here.

However, I wouldn't ever want to live here permanently. No offense to life long dwellers, but any coast is better than no coast.

[whiteysax]

^yeah, champaign is great.

I'm from boston and am going to school down here.

However, I wouldn't ever want to live here permanently. No offense to life long dwellers, but any coast is better than no coast.how is the scene in Boston?

[jk333]

Its fine, (boston), but not great. New York is prefered, for sure... I haven't heard chicago and Ny compared but their definetly your best two bets for the midwest and northeast.

i mean, michael tucker is one of the fastest rising jazz players around right now, especially for the sax, and he's from the boston scene, but he got lucky... well, or he's just that good... whatever, the point is, your better off in NY or Chicago b/c there's a bigger scene, you can make it in Boston but its just harder there's not as many gigs.

This comes from what i've seen living here as well as my cousins band who is based out of new orleans, and my friend who went to berklee.

[AFurth]

Well I can tell you from experience about the Chicago and Boston scenes. In Chicago, you'll definately have more opportunities... becuase there's more demand for music (with the larger area and population). however, in boston you're more likely to get a gig at a good place (clubs like the paradise lounge or the middle-east are tough to book) that national bands have run through.

I like the Boston scene, but its dominated by college-aged bands... Berklee kids especially... its got lots of potential, but doesn't blow me away. Chicago, on the other hand... there are so many bars/clubs/pubs/music cafes/etc. that there always seems to be a gig to be had.

I'm sure NYC is the same way.

[Seanieb]

Any major city can be a good place to make a living at music. I quit my job in San Francisco about 6 months ago to pursuse music full time. I make my money by setting up weekly paying gigs at places in good locations (foot traffic) and developing the scene there, by playing and booking other talented acts. It gives the stability of money, networking, practice, references, etc. My advice is to pick a city, move close to where you want to target your venues. Buy a PA and get to know the management and ask them to play there. If they like it, then ask for money, if not ask for referals (the bar scene is a small one). Here I get 150-500/gig and play about 4 times per week (mostly at 2 venues and private events). All the venues I now play at, I played the 1st shows (3 max) for free drinks or dinner, and then started getting paid. Best way to do it, is to have the music from 9-12 in bars, and 7-10 in restaurants. Find other good singer/songwriters, that don't care about getting paid everytime, to play the gigs with you. Also, keep your eyes on Craigslist as venues will often post paying gigs there. I didn't quit my job until I had 3 gigs/week set up which took me about 6 months. So far, it has been a very fun time, but I drink way too much and sometimes I dread having to be in a bar, again, playing to a forgein crowd. It is a grind, but I have improved a lot since I quit and spend a lot more time writing. Be ready to feel the good and the bad of being in music full time. The money is always tight and girls always loose haha jk. I havn't heard your voice, but if you sing, I reccomend seeing a vocal coach on a regular basis. Vocal health is everything. Hope this was helpful, it worked for me.

[whiteysax]

Its fine, (boston), but not great. New York is prefered, for sure... I haven't heard chicago and Ny compared but their definetly your best two bets for the midwest and northeast.

i mean, michael tucker is one of the fastest rising jazz players around right now, especially for the sax, and he's from the boston scene, but he got lucky... well, or he's just that good... whatever, the point is, your better off in NY or Chicago b/c there's a bigger scene, you can make it in Boston but its just harder there's not as many gigs.

This comes from what i've seen living here as well as my cousins band who is based out of new orleans, and my friend who went to berklee.thanks man... i'm really leaning toward NYC

Any major city can be a good place to make a living at music. I quit my job in San Francisco about 6 months ago to pursuse music full time. I make my money by setting up weekly paying gigs at places in good locations (foot traffic) and developing the scene there, by playing and booking other talented acts. It gives the stability of money, networking, practice, references, etc. My advice is to pick a city, move close to where you want to target your venues. Buy a PA and get to know the management and ask them to play there. If they like it, then ask for money, if not ask for referals (the bar scene is a small one). Here I get 150-500/gig and play about 4 times per week (mostly at 2 venues and private events). All the venues I now play at, I played the 1st shows (3 max) for free drinks or dinner, and then started getting paid. Best way to do it, is to have the music from 9-12 in bars, and 7-10 in restaurants. Find other good singer/songwriters, that don't care about getting paid everytime, to play the gigs with you. Also, keep your eyes on Craigslist as venues will often post paying gigs there. I didn't quit my job until I had 3 gigs/week set up which took me about 6 months. So far, it has been a very fun time, but I drink way too much and sometimes I dread having to be in a bar, again, playing to a forgein crowd. It is a grind, but I have improved a lot since I quit and spend a lot more time writing. Be ready to feel the good and the bad of being in music full time. The money is always tight and girls always loose haha jk. I havn't heard your voice, but if you sing, I reccomend seeing a vocal coach on a regular basis. Vocal health is everything. Hope this was helpful, it worked for me.
well i went to college for music... i'm just tired of teaching it... i've always wanted to make a living on the stage... but i'm not a solo act. I'm a sax player... I can't just find venues to play... i have to find bands to play with. And I don't have the means to be a solo act... although if i had that money, i could be one of a kind... with a synth board, pedals, and the right electronic equipment, i could be like Tim Reynolds, but with a sax... (i believe Brecker has done this). This is why i'm very interested in teh local music scene, cause i need to find bands looking for horn players or looking for people wanting to start a band. I found one guy looking for almost exactly the type of group I want to be part of... hopefully I hear back from him..

[mavonw]

I just moved back to indy from Nashville, TN after living there for six months. I am back looking for a career either in Indy or Nashville (just doing the job search from indy). Nashville is definitely not all country. The country is downtown at the tourist spots and at open mics. There are plenty of clubs, big and small, that have rock music.

The only thing, everybody is involved with music in some way shape or form and it creates, to me at least, a competitive environment which I don't like. Music should be cooperative, not competitive. The town is also focused on music as a business rather than just music itself and playing music.

There is plenty to do during the week and weekend as far as music, plenty of places to go and see talented acts. You are bound to meet plenty of talented people who are involved with music and also just like to have a good time.

You are also bound to meet people much older than you, who are in the business, who like to act as mentors and just simply help you and to get where you want to get.

And...Maybe the main point..as far as moving somewhere for music, I have continued to question that and question myself for partly doing that with my move to Nashville. I did it just because I wanted to experience something new after I graduated but music was in the back of my mind as well. I just don't think you can plan out a career in music unless you are extremely talented (which you might be), like you study guitar at belmont or burkley..or something of that nature. One of my best friends from Nashville studys at Belmont, he is one of their top guitarist. He will have a career in music one way or the other. As far as moving somewhere strictly for music, I am not to sure. You just can't plan out a career in music if you are just an "ordinary" singer/songwriter (which everybody is to begin with). At one point, I thought about all of the bands that I am a fan of and I thought to myself "where did they get there start?" Maybe do that, evaluate your situation, and then think if it is worth it to move somewhere for music. I got a lot out of this clip from "before the music dies." I think dave says here what I am trying to get across here. Anyways, hope this helps somewhat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ8O9HASsc4

Mark

[Seanieb]

thanks man... i'm really leaning toward NYC


well i went to college for music... i'm just tired of teaching it... i've always wanted to make a living on the stage... but i'm not a solo act. I'm a sax player... I can't just find venues to play... i have to find bands to play with. And I don't have the means to be a solo act... although if i had that money, i could be one of a kind... with a synth board, pedals, and the right electronic equipment, i could be like Tim Reynolds, but with a sax... (i believe Brecker has done this). This is why i'm very interested in teh local music scene, cause i need to find bands looking for horn players or looking for people wanting to start a band. I found one guy looking for almost exactly the type of group I want to be part of... hopefully I hear back from him..

I guess I should have paid more attention to your screen name :-) Best of luck to ya

[saxman1083]

If you can't get a gig in NYC, you can't play. And you can play...so...put two and two together.

Oh, and the offer still stands to come and guest on a few DMB tribute shows if you are in the area!! Jeff Coffin style...except with a little more Whitey in it :lol

[whiteysax]

I guess I should have paid more attention to your screen name :-) Best of luck to yathanks man

If you can't get a gig in NYC, you can't play. And you can play...so...put two and two together.

Oh, and the offer still stands to come and guest on a few DMB tribute shows if you are in the area!! Jeff Coffin style...except with a little more Whitey in it :loljhaha... thanks man... if i were Jeff Coffin, i wouldn't need to move to a big city... the damn city would move to me!

[whiteysax]

I just moved back to indy from Nashville, TN after living there for six months. I am back looking for a career either in Indy or Nashville (just doing the job search from indy). Nashville is definitely not all country. The country is downtown at the tourist spots and at open mics. There are plenty of clubs, big and small, that have rock music.

The only thing, everybody is involved with music in some way shape or form and it creates, to me at least, a competitive environment which I don't like. Music should be cooperative, not competitive. The town is also focused on music as a business rather than just music itself and playing music.

There is plenty to do during the week and weekend as far as music, plenty of places to go and see talented acts. You are bound to meet plenty of talented people who are involved with music and also just like to have a good time.

You are also bound to meet people much older than you, who are in the business, who like to act as mentors and just simply help you and to get where you want to get.

And...Maybe the main point..as far as moving somewhere for music, I have continued to question that and question myself for partly doing that with my move to Nashville. I did it just because I wanted to experience something new after I graduated but music was in the back of my mind as well. I just don't think you can plan out a career in music unless you are extremely talented (which you might be), like you study guitar at belmont or burkley..or something of that nature. One of my best friends from Nashville studys at Belmont, he is one of their top guitarist. He will have a career in music one way or the other. As far as moving somewhere strictly for music, I am not to sure. You just can't plan out a career in music if you are just an "ordinary" singer/songwriter (which everybody is to begin with). At one point, I thought about all of the bands that I am a fan of and I thought to myself "where did they get there start?" Maybe do that, evaluate your situation, and then think if it is worth it to move somewhere for music. I got a lot out of this clip from "before the music dies." I think dave says here what I am trying to get across here. Anyways, hope this helps somewhat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ8O9HASsc4

Markwell i am by no means a top 10 sax player. but i do what i do well and have a diverse talent with regard to music... playing several different instruments, writing, arranging, jazz, classical, etc etc... the problem with that is that I'm not a virtuoso at any one thing... i'm just pretty good at a whole bunch of things. I almost wish I would have abandoned classical or jazz at one point and focused on the other... spent less time worrying about being able to make my way through the clarinet and flute parts and just get that much better at sax... I'm fully aware that I could fail miserably in the city... but if i don't try, I'll beat myself up over it forever... i think we all get to that point with some aspect of our lives...