What are the different ways to "make it" as a guitarist?

[7thSon]

I've read a couple of things here and elsewhere about people feeling finished at 27-28, and a sentiment of if you haven't made it in music by somewhere around then you never will.

I don't think I necessarily believe that, I suppose it comes down to the law of diminishing returns - the older you get the less attractive/relevant you become to younger audiences, so the less likely that you can "make it".

Obviously there's other factors involved, e.g what "making it" means to you personally, the particular kinds of people who make up certain audiences, and the correlation between age and required talent, which I guess if you come out favourably on that equation you can be ahead of the curve for your particular age.

But it did get me wondering about what specifically are the different routes, both realistic and highly unlikely one can take to "making it", and also how those routes themselves are affected by age?

[dave_mc]

i'm not sure of the wisdom in asking people who haven't made it how to make it :lol: (certainly in my case, anyway)

[FELINEGUITARS]

The finished by 27 thing only applies to the pop world and a world controlled by record companies  etc
they think that to make it you have to have teenage heartthrob status

BUT the record companies are in serious trouble  and risk not being around for much longer

And maybe if music goes back to being something you listen to rather than WATCH on MTV or whatever then age and looks aren't as important as talent, musicianship and taste

By 27 your pathway into life is only just beginning and although you may have learnt a fair bit you will learn so much more in the years that follow

To MAKE it as a guitarist requires you to write something that lots of people like and/or have developed a playing style/prowess that makes for a popular showman. This isn't necessarily restricted by age IMO.

However being a starving musician with a mortgage and family responsibilities can lose it's charm after a certain age if no pathway opens up for you.

[Tellboy]

Spot on Jonathan !!

[7thSon]

Good points. Though I don't think there will be any shift away from our ever increasingly visual culture in the forseeable future.

I've heard people claim there's something of a resurgence in live music now, and I guess with internet/social networking and other distribution channels there's definitely more chances for live acts to sustain a loyal following outside of the golden ticket type of record deal with a major label.

But is that really achievable as a career (i.e no day job whatsoever, just touring/record sales/sponsorships and clinics/public appearances) for a NEW independent artist/band who found that success "later" (>27), rather than old bands established in a different era (while they were young) being able to continue to sustain themselves outside of the mainstream. Can anyone name an example?

[gordiji]

if 'making it' means becoming rich and possibly famous this i think is becoming harder.guitarists have a long shelf
life once established as artists or session players.
if you mean 'masterring' your craft as a player this is always possible and will always be inwardly rewarding if your
head's 'right'
being reasonably good, enjoying playing and practicing And making a living is still possible.
i would call someone who does 2 days labouring and gigs 5 times a week managing to make a living successful.

[Dmoney]

im going to say getting there as an individual (no day job, touring etc...) is different to doing those things as a band.
I have friends who tour all year almost. They aren't rolling in money on any level. It's either being lucky, in the right place at the right time, or putting in some serious effort. I know good bad that could have been totally overlooked if they hadn't of worked, and I know complete pastiches of bands playing terrible music that worked hard, still sound terrible, but play music full time.

you could probably make a living touring in a good tribute act, would be easier in the beginning than a band playing original stuff anyway I guess.

[Matt77]

If you are willing to play covers in hotels for a living and end up playing 3 sets a night 6 nights a week, there's a lot of work in  the middle east.

Is that making it though?
I can think of worse jobs

[Nadz1lla]

Musicians in Cruise Ship bands are absolutely rolling in it. It's certainly something to think about as an alternative to "making it" in the more popular branches of the music industry.

[HTH AMPS]

I'm 35 now, and any thoughts of 'making it' have long since passed - I had my moment between 2000 - 2004 when my band were kicking arse, but it never quite got us signed (various reasons including serious health ones eventually split us up).

I've only just joined a wedding/function band that caters for rock fans who want a band at their wedding/function - we're making £100 a night each.  Can't really complain - could double my current wages if we gigged five nights a week.

People often say it would be cr@p gigging music you don't like for a living, but I'd rather do that than slave away at a day-job I didn't like for a living and having to toe the line.

[dave_mc]

yeah, wedding bands seem to be rolling in it. one of my sister's friends is getting married and the "band" they hired (it's not even a band, it's like a guitarist and a keyboardist o_O ) is costing a couple of grand. Maybe 4 grand (i forget the exact number, but when I heard it I was like "woah!"). EDIT: now obviously you're going to have expenses (though would they have any more expenses than we have, in terms of music gear? :lol: ), and there's a lot of pressure to be good (you don't want to ruin someone's big day) etc., but i think they're in a lot of demand, too.

[Roobubba]

I really don't know how you regard 'making it'.

If by 'making it', you mean becoming a house-hold name, an SRV, Yngwie, Dimebag - whoever you want - then that probably only comes with the careful positioning of great talent to the public eye.

If you mean 'rolling in cash', the above probably achieves that goal, but in that case the cash is mainly a bonus. If you mean earning a living, it really seems that playing in a covers band is the way to make a living for the majority of musicians in our fields.

If you mean 'getting a contract' - I suspect that's more a case of who you know rather than what or how you play, but is certainly linked to how much effort you put into your own promotion.

Perhaps you need to define 'Make it'?

[HTH AMPS]

I'm not the OP, but 'making it' as a guitarist to me simply entails being able to make a living from it - always has been.

With a mix of wedding/function gigs, my pub rock band and HTH AMPS, I'm hoping to 'make it' within the next 18 months.