Pulse Eternal
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9/6/2007 4:23:10 PM
---- Updated 9/6/2007 4:27:55 PM
Pub carpet, ash tray hair and free beer!
A recent post here on IAC brought back memories of dingy, cigarette filled pub gigs to pissed audiences looking to 'pick up' who really wouldn't know who you were tomorrow let alone next week..... and the smell of pub carpet at 3am when you are rolling up beer soaked leads, getting sticky black shit mixed with broken glass all over your hands and picking pieces of gaffa tape with the same ugly concoction from your shoes..... blah.
Then there's the insipid, stale stench of your clothes and hair when you wake up at 1pm the next day....yeck!!
.....and the days of playing for a slab of beer through a shitty PA with blown horns, one foldback wedge working and a couple of par cans with one colour gel if you are lucky just to 'get known'. Heck, you might even be lucky enough to find an SM58 without a crushed head that actually works, if you can find the mic kit!
If you were really lucky, you'd get a cut of the door sales provided you attracted enough people. Usually though, your guest list and the pub regulars were the majority of your audience...and the pub regulars had been there since sound check making smartass comments about counting past two!
The pub owners really knew what they were doing getting basically free entertainment for their drinkers who didn't give a toss what the band actually sounded like anyway!!
Funny enough, they are actually fond memories of innocent times with big dreams of the 'rock star' life!!
I was even in a band that made it to the next step and started doing regional tours around the state. We had our own 'band van' and had progressed to wireless systems to eliminate the '3am black hand syndrome'!! We had also found joy with some of the larger FM radio stations and actually had air play of our original songs! Things were looking up. We were gathering a following. We had a manager. We recorded in professional studios. We played some cool festivals and we even got known for our 30 minute prog rock style improvised journeys with write ups in local music mags comparing us to Pink Floyd!!
Then, the inevitable happened. The bass player and the lead guitarist ended up in pointless ego fights and the drummer got the shits and quit!!!
Anyway, what I am leading to is how much this pales in significance to the opportunities we now have at our disposal as indie artists. We have equipment available to us that allows us to create (in the right hands) the same sonic quality as the major studios and it is not a massive investment. The most significant tool we have though is the internet and the global networking opportunities this presents.
One of the most exciting musical networking and recognition tools we have in my opinion is right here on IAC and people are taking notice! I have noticed that some of the 'label artists' are now finding their way here. Clearly, their record companies know this is not something to ignore and my bet is they are starting to feel a little worried about losing their control over the recognition of artists. About time I say!!!
I know I am seriously excited about the future of my musical possibilities now and I get the feeling I am not alone!
.....oh, and I am so glad they have finally banned smoking in pubs! No more ash tray hair the next day!
SuperPuss
=^.^=
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Tony Vani and Debbie Hoskin
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9/6/2007 8:05:56 PM
SuperPuss...you've got such a wonderful positive outlook........I'm sure that your attitude (and talent) is what got you to the top as an athlete and your music will reach the same heights before long. Go SuperPuss. I elect SuperPuss to the front page!!!!!!
And I couldn't agree more about the smoking. Lots of people were quite angry in Ontario, Canada about the smoking ban. I have quite enjoyed coming home from gigs not smelling like an ashtray, not feeling hungover from the toxins in the air, swollen glands and sounding like Lucille Ball at age 70. deb
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Pulse Eternal
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9/8/2007 7:00:42 AM
---- Updated 9/8/2007 7:02:51 AM
Deb,
Thank you so much for your compliments and support. LOL about "Lucille Ball at age 70"!!! :-D
I have some pretty big things planned for both my music and my strongwoman stuff. I'm hoping to set some new Guiness Book of Records strength feats and also aiming for some new national and international records in my next competition. :-)
Of course, all my musical adventures will be made known right here on IAC.
Dan,
That made me LOL too !!!!!
Carl,
I TOTALLY agree with you! I am really looking forward to getting started on our musical journey together too. I know we are going to make a mark on this world before we leave :-)
SuperPuss
=^.^=
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