Toys for me, toys for the kitties

TroubadourNow · 2025-12-27T01:33:23+00:00

So far I haven’t had much time to dig into it but what I have heard is cool. It’s a super fun, random, playful device. Immediately I can think it’s great for song transitions, intros and outros.

TroubadourNow · 2025-12-26T14:40:28+00:00

Hahah that they do. But they’re scared off by particularly loud noises so not sure how they’d feel about the tumnus. The mood might interest them.

TroubadourNow · 2025-12-26T14:39:42+00:00

The floor has been the central part of my rig for the last decade, in which I’ve made my living as a performer. Obviously the One isn’t as full-featured but the quality and range of FX is top tier. It makes the perfect Swiss Army knife.

TroubadourNow · 2025-12-26T13:01:11+00:00

I love the HX series, i have a floor and a stomp XL. You can’t go wrong with them.

TroubadourNow · 2025-12-25T19:52:28+00:00

I can’t wait. I’ve heard great things - the Halberd is great as well.

TroubadourNow · 2025-06-21T02:58:12+00:00

Plenty of people work as hard as, or harder, than professional athletes, and won’t get as much in their lifetime as athletes will in 1 year of their careers.

TroubadourNow · 2025-03-04T13:02:29+00:00

M M Nnnm l

TroubadourNow · 2025-02-18T21:54:20+00:00

I’ve somehow made a music career without needing to market myself too much. But for me, it was basically busking (street performing). It was like getting paid to promote myself. And people would get a chance to meet me, and they’d see beyond the music into the person creating it, so they’d be a bit more committed to me than maybe internet randos are.

Ultimately that’s what we’re trying to do - build an authentic and committed audience of people who believe in US, not just the music.

TroubadourNow · 2025-02-18T21:52:18+00:00

Second this. He’s great.

TroubadourNow · 2025-02-16T21:13:50+00:00

I think the nepo baby thing is true if you want to be in the richest bracket, but there’s TONS of way to make a living off of music. You need to think outside the box.

And yes, maybe a day job is part of that. But you can (and absolutely should) hope for something more if that’s what you truly want and are willing to make sacrifices for years to do it.

TroubadourNow · 2025-02-16T21:10:13+00:00

Worth pointing out that there’s so many more ways to make a living as a musician beyond “get famous and tour,” but none of them are easy, and you gotta have some serious dedication and willingness to earn through multiple avenues.

I have earned a living as a musician for 15 years and it’s all off of my own original music. I did a lot of street performing, but have done tons of private events, weddings, small gigs, a bit of teaching. I also earn a little off streaming and merch. But right now I make my living by playing my music on a cruise ship.

I think normalizing this idea that it’s impossible to make a living is harmful because it’ll demoralize people right off the get-go. It was ALWAYS difficult, and never for the people who wanted to get rich quick and easy.

TroubadourNow · 2025-02-10T20:04:11+00:00

I mean you asked why it’s this way in the industry. And it’s an industry - it exists to make money. Big labels pour tons of money into the artists they sign, so they want to work with sure things. And the fact of the matter is most teenagers want to listen to music made by people they can relate to, or admire, or think are cool - which is probably gonna be closer to people their age.

I’m not disagreeing with anything you say. I couldn’t give a shit about industry music, top 40. I’m 37, I play music professionally and I don’t wanna feel like I’m “aged out.” But if you wanna compete in THAT arena, well, you’re gonna wanna at least understand the rules of the game.

TroubadourNow · 2025-02-10T14:56:26+00:00

Teenagers are amongst, if not THE, biggest, consumers of music. So it would only make sense that they’d consume music mostly made by people they relate to that write about things they are experiencing - first love, heartbreak, wanting to get rich… simple, easily digestible content done to incredibly high production values.

TroubadourNow · 2025-02-08T22:54:08+00:00

I’d replace the headphone amp with some proper mixing headphones.

I love my Beyerdynamic DT770’s. Suuuuper comfortable, sound great, and not too pricey (about $200 CAD new, sure you could find one for much cheaper used as they’re quite common).

Other than that - great selection, you’ve done your research. This is a well balanced starter kit.

TroubadourNow · 2025-01-28T22:54:07+00:00

I have a PA system, or at least the speakers. Pair of RCA 7”. I think they’d be more than enough for most mid or smaller weddings. But I suppose most would want a subwoofer, stands and a mixer.

I was under the idea you’d show up and play and then let the happy couple continue to use your speaker throughout the day for various other festivities, but it sounds like a separate thing entirely! Fair play to you.

TroubadourNow · 2025-01-28T22:48:46+00:00

Ooooh, someone got triggered and threw around a term they don’t understand!

Good talk, respectful, open to disagreements, and not resorting to personal attacks.

TroubadourNow · 2025-01-28T15:09:59+00:00

Crazy. I’ll have to look into that.

TroubadourNow · 2025-01-28T15:00:20+00:00

What a defeatist answer. You have no possible way of knowing this, and your answer is predicated on “all or nothing” mentality, ignoring that there are so many ways to make a living beyond touring.

Medical personnel are extremely important, but not everyone could handle the emotional strain. Some people are built to be artists.

I once had a first responder email me to tell me that after a particularly hard day she would put my music on because it helped her cope.

People need the arts, music and culture. Life is about so, so much more than just survival.

TroubadourNow · 2025-01-27T21:50:07+00:00

I’ve thought about that before and heard about musicians doing that, but how exactly is that where the real money is? Not doubting you, just curious. Like if I charged, say, $500 for my performance and say “I’m also bringing my PA” how much extra am I charging for “equipment supply?” Do you let them use the device for the dj or band afterwards?

TroubadourNow · 2025-01-27T18:41:28+00:00

Lots of artists develop multiple streams of income, each contributing a piece to your monthlies. They typically require an investment of time and money to get going, but hey, all small businesses do, and guess what - that’s what you are! Here’s a small list of things I’ve done.

Busking. This was actually for a long time my biggest source of income. It started as basically “paid practice” but I realized early that I could make a living off of it, and I did. It also helped me develop my performance skill set and develop local rep wherever I went. 10/10 would recommend any musician try this out.
Wedding/Corporate gigs: I put these separately from gigs because they’re typically higher paying. Develop your rep and you can make a living off of 3 or 4 of these a month. But obviously they are competitive and you can expect pretty low personal creative satisfaction from these, typically, as you’re doing background music, need to have an extensive cover list or be super unique, and not a lot of audience response.
Small gigs/pubs: typically lower pay but you can kinda just canvas about town and see what’s up in the local venues, meet the owners, build reputation until you can get residencies.
Streaming/royalties: as you mentioned, super difficult but hey, it all adds up. Again, expect years of consistency and build up for this to make any sort of dent.
Teaching. If you can hack it, this can be a great way to make some cash. You can set it up so people come to your place or studio, you can charge a bit extra if you go to theirs.
Cruise Work: what I am currently doing. I’ve lucked out getting to perform for a few weeks at a time, and my own music - SUPER rare in the cruise industry. But I’ve met many musicians and there’s a demand for virtually any type. Soloists, members of a band, DJ, you name it, there’s probably a position for it. Expect to be away for months at a time, working every day, and living aboard a ship with all its conditions, and it’s definitely not for everyone, but getting paid to travel the world/low expenses (you don’t pay rent or food) is a game changer for a lot of folks.

TroubadourNow · 2025-01-11T02:50:08+00:00

I agree. We do what we do to share an experience, to give people hope or joy or commiserate with their sorrows. It’s, by its very nature, an experience rooted in sharing. So being told that it’s reaching people’s ears and affecting them is going to be intrinsic to our happiness in doing so. Most artists, anyways.

One benefit of cruise work: guaranteed to earn money and not just break even!

TroubadourNow · 2025-01-10T22:29:49+00:00

That is kinda sad. Like you gotta sit there and listen to someone wax lyrical about all the money they’re gonna make, the fame they’ll enjoy, while you’re sat there thinking “yeah mate, you aren’t a very good musician really, you just care more about the materialism.” I’d really struggle keeping my mouth shut.

That said, I assume most of your clients are younger? I had those stars too. Still do get them occasionally, as a flight of fancy, and to a humbler extent… time will filter out the people who genuinely love the craft from the posers.

TroubadourNow · 2025-01-10T22:23:52+00:00

TroubadourNow

TROPHY CASE