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OK..after talking to John about going full-time guitar....it got me thinking....
Who on the Foro get's first prize for doing the LEAST amount of work for the MAXIMUM amount of time?
I mean by "work"....going into an office, hospital or factory or full-time education, or being self-employed in anything other than playing guitar for a living?
I think I managed to dodge work for just over a year...but that was living off savings and then a bit of Social Security....but I wasn't getting paid for playing, so that doesn't count!
RE: The least shall come first! (in reply to Ron.M)
quote:
Come on you long-hair, hippie wastrels...
You'd laugh if you saw my hair now, too
Four months and counting!
I think Ricardo, Jason, Henik and Todd (with the recent exception) have always played guitar for a living, haven't they? Flo's up there too now, I think.
Let's hear it for not working!
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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things
RE: The least shall come first! (in reply to Ron.M)
I could tell you......but my lawyer advises me not to. Suffice to say that moving to Spain allowed me to free up a lot of time from the dirty 4 lettered "W" word.
RE: The least shall come first! (in reply to Pimientito)
teaching steel string guitar to teenagers and kids has given me alot in return but not much more time, but i dont consider guitar teaching "work" and get alot of satisfaction when my students come along.
i got a 6 yr old to play "frere jacques" and "wish you a merry christmas" yesterday without any duff notes and it was a very happy moment for me to see them make the "jump" after so much effort.
RE: The least shall come first! (in reply to henrym3483)
A splendid deed Henry,
Did you go through his pockets for any money afterwards?
If not, you're not a true professional and thus disqualified.
Philanthropy is not the sign of a professional player in this contest....in fact, if you were, you could be had up for bringing the profession into disrepute.
RE: The least shall come first! (in reply to henrym3483)
quote:
i dont consider guitar teaching "work"
Try teaching the same thing every two weeks to a woman in her house while her 7-year-old is running around screaming in the same room, I'm sure you'll see it differently
_____________________________
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things
RE: The least shall come first! (in reply to henrym3483)
quote:
A splendid deed Henry,
Did you go through his pockets for any money afterwards?
If not, you're not a true professional and thus disqualified.
id hardly say so, i charge the going rate but some of my other friends who gig and teach usually charge double what i do because they are seen as the professionals
quote:
Try teaching the same thing every two weeks to a woman in her house while her 7-year-old is running around screaming in the same room, I'm sure you'll see it differently
ah john, you need to relax and not let such little things bother you.
RE: The least shall come first! (in reply to Ron.M)
It wasn't flamenco and I wasn't a hippie so I don't know if it counts!? But in my youth I very much lived the rock roll life style. 16 years in total.
7 years skint 1989 - 1996 self employed musician (making no money looking for a record deal, on the dole) 9 years earning 1996- 2005 self employed musician with a deal, selling records and making a decent living.
Now I've given up the teenage dream for others. I love flamenco for that- the older you are, the more you've lived, the better. It can express all aspects of the human condition not just the angry young man.
Posts: 15824
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: The least shall come first! (in reply to Ron.M)
I had rock band in high school that played a few paid gigs in 1991. Did some jazz gigs in college. Only really job I had was selling fireworks in the summer breaks, but I brought my guitar to the stand of course.
Since graduation 1997, only flamenco guitar and selective private teaching at home. I have long hair too. My wife is a flamenco dancer and does not have a day job either.
RE: The least shall come first! (in reply to henrym3483)
quote:
dont consider guitar teaching "work"
well, do you have a hundred students in groups of 3 or 4? that realy getts the better of you sometimes......
somewhere along the line i just figured that hardly anyone get´s to be a rock n roll star or "big shot" playing music so teaching the guitar is perfect compromise.
you could work at a factory or some supermarket....and i´d end up killing people if i had to do that
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This is hard stuff! Don't give up... And don't make it a race. Enjoy the ray of sunshine that comes with every new step in knowledge.
RE: The least shall come first! (in reply to Ron.M)
I always worked 40-50 hours a week, and am studying for my MCSE, so finding time for flamenco was difficult. But then the recession kicked in and I was put down to 32 hours a week, meaning I got Fridays off. Since then I have been playing much more guitar (and for some reason studying less) and I find that the more I play, the more I play. I loved my Friday guitar marathons...
I now have some pretty heavy projects at work and have been given the opportunity to work as many hours as I need. To start off with I thought "great", as my bank balance was getting a bit worse for wear, but now, after the experience of a four day work week, I am starting to wonder what's really important. Less money and more guitar, or more money and less guitar?
Fact is, I don't get any negative feelings about career-related stuff. I've been trying to get another job, and failed, and it bounces off me. But I get angsty if I miss a days guitar practice. I probably should have gone through this when I was 20, not 36, but that's life I suppose. I still dream of a lengthy flamenco pilgrimage in Spain - living cheaply and playing, absorbing, playing, absorbing...
RE: The least shall come first! (in reply to Ron.M)
Ron, I have to quote Dire Straits inorder to properly answer your question:
Now look at them yo-yo's that's the way you do it You play the guitar on the MTV That ain't workin' that's the way you do it Money for nothin' and chicks for free Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it Lemme tell ya them guys ain't dumb Maybe get a blister on your little finger Maybe get a blister on your thumb
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