Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
RE: Would you leave your job...? (in reply to Guest)
Lionel, I'm not much older than you so I can relate to those "thoughts", but really, you need to smarten up. I live in the states and can tell you that you do not need to be in Spain to learn flamenco(it wouldn't hurt though).
I'm half Spanish and visit family in Spain every year, so I got a good start . But I taught myself flamenco and I live in the dirdy dirdy south baby! Just so you won't think I'm talking out of my ass, snoop around and find a clip or two that I've posted, I'm not a complete hack preachin' here. Sounds absurd to say, but you have to find flamenco in youself first.
I love Spain, but it is not a magical place, no place is; trust me. I'm a scientist, but it doesn't mean that I can't play and explore flamenco. Keep your job and buy a nice guitar(or ten).
RE: Would you leave your job...? (in reply to ykabban)
Jeez, If you guys are in your very early twenties and earning up to $200,000 a year, I'd say take a good holiday in Spain every Summer, (Ricardo only goes once a year for a week or two and it seems to be doing him some good) and BANK the rest!! Invest well, buy Encuento stuff in the meantime and retire to Spain for good when you're 30 and play professionally for the rest of your lives!
RE: Would you leave your job...? (in reply to ykabban)
Actually your chances are better outside of Spain, I think. Although foreigner guitarists are generally accepted, I don't know if most of us would have a chance there. There's a lot more demand outside of Spain.
Keep in mind you have to find contact with the people there, too. It's not like you just go into any cave in Andalucia, say "Qué pasa?" and there's a bunch of flamenco musicians waiting for you. I've heard meeting people there can be difficult, but with your Spanish skills, I'm sure you have a better chance.
To the other extreme, I've been to Spain, played at the beach and never met a flamenco there, so it could be I'm writing a bunch of BS here...
RE: Would you leave your job...? (in reply to ykabban)
Depends on what you mean by Pro.
Anybody can take lessons for a couple of years, then go play at wedding receptions and restraunt gigs. So yeah, thats entriely feesible.
But that gets old fast, and eventually becomes as big of a soul sucker as working for Exxon. You're a prisoner. Trust me, been there. You could teach... eh, not a big fan of that either. I dont think you'd like it. To really make money, you have to take on people who suck the life out of you. (at least in my exp )
If you're talking about going to Spain, trying to find the next Cameron, and going on to world class playing, well, im not sure you're really aware of what that would require. I dont think you can just wake up one day, and decide to be naturally gifted/talented.. You either are, or you're not. You'll have to figure that out. I think you have the desire, and desire is a big ingredient in this recipe.
As for myself, i am happy cause i get to play as much as i want. That is all i ever really wanted. I dont have what it takes to go to Spain and do it for real, and that doesnt bother me.
Playing guitar makes me happy, and i get to do it alot, the end....
Maybe you simply need a job that gives you more practice hours. How important is money to you?? That's the big question!
RE: Would you leave your job...? (in reply to ykabban)
quote:
Playing guitar makes me happy, and i get to do it alot, the end....
This is where I want to be. We're in the process of 'simplifying', but it's going to take a couple of years.
I'm currently working about 48-60hrs/wk, so I feel your pain, Lionel. I get home, and all I want to do is sleep. I usually get about 30minutes worth of practice after work. I try to wake up early and get 1-2 hrs before work, but find it difficult to be consistent.
RE: Would you leave your job...? (in reply to John O.)
quote:
It's not like you just go into any cave in Andalucia, say "Qué pasa?" and there's a bunch of flamenco musicians waiting for you.
LOL!
This made me think of a Jason Webster/ Monty Python type fantasy scene..
Seeker, guitar case in hand approaches cave and shouts, "Hola...any Flamencos in there?". Voice from inside cave, "Sí...what you want?"
Seeker: "I come from a land far away to play professional Flamenco guitar with you." Voice: "You got a guitarra?" Seeker:"Yeah." Voice: "OK...you're hired, only we don't pay much..only 1000 Euros a week...is that OK?". Seeker: "S'pose so." Voice: "You know the compás?" Seeker: "Well, I know a couple of pieces from the Juan Martin book.." Voice: "No importa...we will show you the secrets of true Gitano style Flamenco." Seeker: "OK" Voice: " Bien...Juanita will show you to where you will stay and after you have freshened up, you join us for some food and wine and then we have a family juerga, yeah?" Seeker: "OK"
Maybe we could each take turns at adding the next paragraph and together we could write a joint Forum Flamenco Fantasy novel?
RE: Would you leave your job...? (in reply to Ron.M)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Ron.M Seeker, guitar case in hand approaches cave and shouts, "Hola...any Flamencos in there?". Voice from inside cave, "Sí...what you want?"
I was waiting for the bit where the tiny white rabbit flies out of the cave and clamps its teeth round the throat of the tocaor...
Printable Version
. But I taught myself flamenco and I live in the dirdy dirdy south baby! Just so you won't think I'm talking out of my ass, snoop around and find a clip or two that I've posted, I'm not a complete hack preachin' here. Sounds absurd to say, but you have to find flamenco in youself first. 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread