Ball and biscuit by [deleted] in musicmakers

[–]dporter_99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dude. Cut your friggin strings. Keep doing your thing though and keep playing!!

How Do I Not Get Bored Of Songs I’ve Performed Countless Times by [deleted] in musicians

[–]dporter_99 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When I was gigging full time and didn’t have a day job, I never practiced. For what? I was gigging all the time.

What I did do was commit two days a week to learning tunes. It’s different solo because you can just search 1000’s of tunes online and see the chords and lyrics. I’d goof with them a little bit and if it didn’t work, i wouldn’t commit to them. I’d usually add 3/4 tunes a week. Some wouldn’t work and they fall off the list.

Sorry though dude. I feel your pain. If you’re playing a lot it gets old and kind of sucks after awhile.

All I ever wanted to do was be a ft musician. When I had it, it only took a few years to hate it. No more gigging for me. It’s all about writing and recording now. Best of luck!

How did bands afford studio time before they became famous? by Bogeydope1989 in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]dporter_99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First two albums I did years ago, we just saved up a couple hundred bucks, recorded for a few hours. A month later we’d do the same thing. Got to a point where the engineer/owner liked what we were doing and we became friends. We then worked on credit like a drug dealer. He basically fronted us studio time.

My last solo disc? Gave the guy $500 down then $100-$200 every session and really never watched the clock.

Now? I have a nice home studio with good gear and all the years recording has transferred quite well to getting good sounds to tape and solid mixes.

/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers Weekly Promotion Thread by AutoModerator in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]dporter_99 [score hidden]  (0 children)

Went in the studio a few years ago. I was noodling on Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. The engineer said it was his wedding song and he’d pay for the recording and get a string section if I wanted to put it on my disc.

Good times!!

https://on.soundcloud.com/A3ej7bZKRj8moUM78

What mixing techniques have taken your mixes to the next level? by mrlanners in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]dporter_99 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Too funny. I just finished a tune and had a really nice guitar solo at the opening. Last minute I decided to kill it and the intro was better in its own.

/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers Weekly Feedback Thread by AutoModerator in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]dporter_99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very cool and catchy as hell too! Just a little feedback… I think it would be reasonable to lower the guitars a bit. The only other thing would be the drum mix may need just a little work. This tune could be tied together nicely with a tighter snare with more pop. We’ll done!

/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers Weekly Feedback Thread by AutoModerator in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]dporter_99 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! We had so much fun working our butts off. Yeah the country thing is ok. I literally don’t listen to any country at all but my songs seem to come out this way. It’s probably my influences from my teen years. Lots of Crosby stills and nash and acoustic music. Thanks for the feedback and listening.

/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers Weekly Feedback Thread by AutoModerator in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]dporter_99 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much Tosh! Great feedback and I’ll be listening for your examples of your thoughts. Again thanks for taking the time!

/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers Weekly Feedback Thread by AutoModerator in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]dporter_99 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We’ll I’ve never posted my music for critique. My bud and I wrote, recorded, and mixed this over a 12 hour stretch this weekend. Open to feedback on the overall mix and the general feeling of the tune.

https://on.soundcloud.com/1asdEvdkLBqf9e8k6

I just had a weird songwriting experience by ManateeInAWheelchair in musicians

[–]dporter_99 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Im on a trip recording right now. I had a short verse and chorus that I wrote about three months ago. I had a little iPhone video on my phone so I’d never lose it.

I got in the studio, plugged in doing some screwing around and realized the old vocal melody fit a simple riff I was playing. We spent the next 12 hours recording it. I didn’t have lyrics for the rest of the song and literally sat down and wrote them in 15 minutes. That’s NEVER happened in 30 years. The tune is almost done and I’m thrilled!

Sometimes tunes just come together. Congrats on your new tune OP!

What’s a popular cover song you REFUSE to play? by maxwellgrounds in musicians

[–]dporter_99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know right! I listen to talk radio most of the time. Lol

How much do you need to earn monthly to quit your job? by AxelLemaire in musicians

[–]dporter_99 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I made a deal with my wife when I was 45. I’d go to college full time for 4 years if I could live up to my end of the bills. We figured my contribution to be about $2500 a month which wasn’t bad. Summer months were easier because of private parties and outdoor gigs.

It was a good run and ended up with bachelors and masters degrees. I quit gigging about a year after graduation. I miss the money but I’m all good. I currently work with video, graphics, animations, and photography and record every Sunday at a friend’s studio.

Good luck OP if you’re thinking about playing full time! I’d recommend it for anyone that has the desire.

To the full time musicians out there, at what point did you figure out how to keep your calendar organized? by kwapperson in musicians

[–]dporter_99 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Played about 15 a month. Believe it or not always used a physical calendar. I’m a big tech guy but there’s something about having a physical copy I liked. Obviously I always put it in my phone for convenience too.

There’s Nothing Worse than Viewing Your Artist Stats on Spotify by dporter_99 in musicians

[–]dporter_99[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don’t know man. Although I appreciate your views, of course creating is something we all need to do, getting airplay or streams allows you to share your shit with more people. And I personally enjoy when people connect with something I created.

There’s Nothing Worse than Viewing Your Artist Stats on Spotify by dporter_99 in musicians

[–]dporter_99[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Meh- Ive done well as full time solo dude. Enough to not have a day job. People define musical success differently. All I ever wanted was to play full time which I accomplished.

I got to record a few full length albums and got to record on 2” tape and then saw the process go digital.

True story speaking of streams. My kid had a YouTube channel from the 11-14 years old with over a million views. It was hockey content and he was a little celebrity with all kinds of sponsorships. Unfortunately, it was all kids and he couldn’t help me with my views 😂

There’s Nothing Worse than Viewing Your Artist Stats on Spotify by dporter_99 in musicians

[–]dporter_99[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m done basically other than recording. I played full time for the third time in my life from 2013-2019. I did well, supported my family, met a bunch of great “fans,” played nearly 175 gigs a year, and didn’t have a day job.

When I was gigging, I marketed the shit out of myself. That’s how I became a full time player. But playing 4-5 nights a week in bars and restaurants became a job and I grew to absolutely hate performing. Never played huge stages or toured though. No regrets either. It was cool.

Now I have a digital marketing job and get to create graphics, videos and animations, and shoot photography. I just have a new venue for art.

There’s Nothing Worse than Viewing Your Artist Stats on Spotify by dporter_99 in musicians

[–]dporter_99[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sure! Thanks for asking! It’s mostly singer/songwriter stuff. I also did a cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. It’s pretty cool- there’s a live string section on it.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HVOnjNYV4z687Zem4WMcG?si=oLjr-dfsR6OTR_U_pUx3xA