Any of you perform at private parties , wedding etc? I have some questions!

Piing said:
Jamming with others is always a good thing.

Why sell the AX8 to get the AC10/15/30? What is your current monitor system for the AX8?

Have you already played gigs?

Do you have a band for this project, or plan to find one, or play a solo act?
Click to expand...

I've decided not to get an ac15/30.

I'm going to learn a mix of songs so I'm more marketable. :)
 
Last edited:
yek said:
Well, I'm hesitant to post this, and I mean no disrespect, but presets do not ensure audience appreciation. Guitar and vocals skills do. Ask yourself if you're ready.
Click to expand...
Hey Yek!

To a large extent I agree with you, especially when the presets are for lead guitar work -- take Kirk Hammett in Metallica for instance.

However, if you look at a band like U2 the Edge's guitar playing for many songs is super simplistic (he's a minimalist player) , it's the effects (presets in this case) that make all the difference to getting his sound.

In some way The Edge has been criticized for being a guitar effects peddler instead of a real guitarist in many ways.

Still it didn't stop him for creating a distinct sound that never gets boring because of the wide variety of effects.

So for some bands and songs presets make a huge difference. Of course if you muck up notes and don't practice you don't score points with the audience. Still with less than a year experience it's possible to play some songs just as good as The Edge if you have an FAS system with loaded effects.
 
Last edited:
Yes. Get out there and try both ways — pure U2 and other stuff. See what flies for your audience, and what you enjoy playing the most (as opposed to what you’re used to playing).

As a side benefit, you’ll evolve beyond ideas like using pickup type for volume control. :cool:
 
You know when all is said and done I am ready to develop songs from various artists or just one.

But that is not the real matter.

The real matter people should focus on is what they are good at doing and are interested in doing.

In the end the best guitarists will be the ones who keep playing their instruments into their golden years.

So pick music YOU enjoy learning and performing... trying to only please others will be a detriment to your long term progress as a musician.
 
If you're interested in doing private events, it's NECESSARY to play what they want to hear. They're hiring you to play things they'd like to hear. If they want only U2, then great. But if they want a variety, then you need to do a variety. That's the blessing/curse of private events: you usually make more money, but you're locked into their needs and schedule.

Unless you're in a scenario where you're playing a specific artist tribute, or you're playing for musicians, (virtually) no one will give a second thought to what your preset sounds like. So don't expect that killer preset(s) will carry the show - it won't work. Unless you're doing instrumentals, the vocals and overall stage presence are the main things that people respond to.

As you mention, find a niche that clicks with you and inspires you and hopefully your joy will come through in your performance. People connect with the way an artist/band makes them feel, even above what they're hearing. Give them fun and joy and you can't lose.
 
CodePoet said:
If you're interested in doing private events, it's NECESSARY to play what they want to hear. They're hiring you to play things they'd like to hear. If they want only U2, then great. But if they want a variety, then you need to do a variety. That's the blessing/curse of private events: you usually make more money, but you're locked into their needs and schedule.

Unless you're in a scenario where you're playing a specific artist tribute, or you're playing for musicians, (virtually) no one will give a second thought to what your preset sounds like. So don't expect that killer preset(s) will carry the show - it won't work. Unless you're doing instrumentals, the vocals and overall stage presence are the main things that people respond to.

As you mention, find a niche that clicks with you and inspires you and hopefully your joy will come through in your performance. People connect with the way an artist/band makes them feel, even above what they're hearing. Give them fun and joy and you can't lose.
Click to expand...
Yes I'm only doing instrumentals. Either various arists (Like 20 instrumentals 12 artists), one artist (20 instrumentals), or orginal instrumental music I create in the style of several artists. For the latter I was thinking three big names for my original creations--- The Edge, Hendrix, and Slash. Do you think an audience appreciate original instrumental creations in the style of other artists or would they rather just hear covers of the artists?
 
dsouza said:
Yes I'm only doing instrumentals. Either various arists (Like 20 instrumentals 12 artists), one artist (20 instrumentals), or orginal instrumental music I create in the style of several artists. For the latter I was thinking three big names for my original creations--- The Edge, Hendrix, and Slash. Do you think an audience appreciate original instrumental creations in the style of other artists or would they rather just hear covers of the artists?
Click to expand...
If they came to see YOU, bought a ticket for YOUR show, then they know who you are and what you do, and they came for that. They want to see what YOU bring, whatever it is.

If their friend's sister is getting married, and they came out to have a good time, they don't care about you, TBH. They want to have a good time with their friends, dance, talk, drink, get lucky maybe, yadda. You're not the center of their night. They want you to be an entertaining background for their party. It's unlikely they want to go on an exploratory journey with you. They have no relationship whatsoever to your tones or effects, as you can tell by the number of acoustic guitarists and piano players who do this kind of work.

Harsh maybe, but that's how it is.

Says me, and I'm nobody.
 
@Dave Merrill tells it like it is above.

dsouza said:
Yes I'm only doing instrumentals. Either various arists (Like 20 instrumentals 12 artists), one artist (20 instrumentals), or orginal instrumental music I create in the style of several artists. For the latter I was thinking three big names for my original creations--- The Edge, Hendrix, and Slash. Do you think an audience appreciate original instrumental creations in the style of other artists or would they rather just hear covers of the artists?
Click to expand...

If it's more background music then perhaps originals could work. Otherwise, most people like to hear what they know at an event. Like Dave says above, they're not there to see you or hear your originals. If you want to try originals, work some in the set along with the covers. Play some gigs, see what works, and hone it in from there. That's the best way to figure it out. Just do it!
 
any discussion about hypothetical experiences can go on and on forever.

an open mic or some type of live performance is immediately more valuable than pages of forum text about hypotheticals. it will be challenging, it will be difficult. but we all went through it.
 
dsouza said:
The real matter people should focus on is what they are good at doing and are interested in doing.
Click to expand...
The hard truth is that public performance is a compromise between what you want and what the audience wants. You’re there to serve the audience, not the other way around.

dsouza said:
In the end the best guitarists will be the ones who keep playing their instruments into their golden years.
Click to expand...
The best guitarists will be the ones who continue to hone their craft. If they’re lucky, and their bodies cooperate, they’ll keep playing into their golden years.

dsouza said:
So pick music YOU enjoy learning and performing... trying to only please others will be a detriment to your long term progress as a musician.
Click to expand...
Definitely pick music you enjoy. But if you open yourself up to the preferences of others, you’ll get more opportunities to play, and you’ll stretch your art and improve your skill and musicianship.
 
chris said:
any discussion about hypothetical experiences can go on and on forever.

an open mic or some type of live performance is immediately more valuable than pages of forum text about hypotheticals. it will be challenging, it will be difficult. but we all went through it.
Click to expand...
From the few live performances I did I was told I'm keeping rock alive and my producer whose in California (I'm in Toronto Canada) told me its better in my case to focus on u2 because A) It's specialized and B) A wide range of people like U2 C) I play it better than anything else as I've been playing only U2 for 13 years now, and grew up since 17 listening to them all the time.

Who will get paid more a specialist (like a Surgeon) or a general practioner with wide range (like a family doctor)? Who will have a harder time finding jobs? I kinda figure the specialist will get paid more because few people possess his specilized skill, but he will have to work much harder to find jobs/gigs.

Open mic is great... People tell me I should stick to doing what I love. As I do it better. And if people like what I love they hire me and I ace it. If they even hate what I love they don't hire me and I wave bye bye and move on to the next candidate.

I really don't want to cater to other people or do special favors for them etc. I want to get in , play, get out.
 
dsouza said:
From the few live performances I did I was told I'm keeping rock alive and my producer whose in California (I'm in Toronto Canada) told me its better in my case to focus on u2 because A) It's specialized and B) A wide range of people like U2 C) I play it better than anything else as I've been playing only U2 for 13 years now, and grew up since 17 listening to them all the time.

Who will get paid more a specialist (like a Surgeon) or a general practioner with wide range (like a family doctor)? Who will have a harder time finding jobs? I kinda figure the specialist will get paid more because few people possess his specilized skill, but he will have to work much harder to find jobs/gigs.

Open mic is great... People tell me I should stick to doing what I love. As I do it better. And if people like what I love they hire me and I ace it. If they even hate what I love they don't hire me and I wave bye bye and move on to the next candidate.
Click to expand...
you often compare music to other industries. as a hypothetical, it can make sense.

the moment you actually try to do what you want, you'll have your answers that others know from experience. in general the comparisons you make don't actually work out that way.

if you want to be a U2 guitar-only cover person, go for it. is there demand for that? you'll have to find out by trying to do it somewhere.

music is not like other industries. someone on stage playing the guitar-only parts of U2 perfectly does not mean people in the audience will say "wow he played the U2 guitar-only parts perfectly." they will react to how the music and performer makes them feel in the moment. music isn't a checklist, it's an experience and a feeling.
 
@chris nailed it. The market for guitar-only U2 covers on YouTube is pretty much limited to your fellow guitarists, You won’t find many of those in a live audience.

Consider hooking up with other musicians. If you think it’s fun to cover a well-known band by yourself, try doing it with a band. That’s a whole ‘nother level of fun. :cool:
 
Rex said:
@chris nailed it. The market for guitar-only U2 covers on YouTube is pretty much limited to your fellow guitarists, You won’t find many of those in a live audience.

Consider hooking up with other musicians. If you think it’s fun to cover a well-known band by yourself, try doing it with a band. That’s a whole ‘nother level of fun. :cool:
Click to expand...
Kinda like starting a U2 tribute band?
That’s a great idea but I’d first like to record my set list. About 25 instrumentals. It will take me several years to build enough material. Most bands make dick all dividing the nights money up. I’d rather be a solo guitarist.

I know this one producer in Toronto personally. He gets people experience playing by booking venues and taking a cut. He lets you work with a team of artist who are doing the same thing. If one performer craps out he has others that night to carry the show.

It’s different from open mic. You get paid right away. He’s booked people in groups to go out to venues and he’s booked great performers at bigger auditoriums in Toronto.
 
Last edited:
dsouza said:
Kinda like starting a U2 tribute band?
That’s a great idea but I’d first like to record my set list. About 25 instrumentals. It will take me several years to build enough material. Most bands make dick all dividing the nights money up. I’d rather be a solo guitarist.

I know this one producer in Toronto personally. He gets people experience playing by booking venues and taking a cut. He lets you work with a team of artist who are doing the same thing. If one performer craps out he has others that night to carry the show.

It’s different from open mic. You get paid right away. He’s booked people in groups to go out to venues and he’s booked great performers at bigger auditoriums in Toronto.
Click to expand...
go get booked. try a gig!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom