How many pro musicians here?

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In the early '90s I was gigging, teaching, and contracted with a studio. I made enough for a single guy to have an apartment, eat, etc - then I got married, had a child, and developed some hand problems. I went on to be a paramedic and banker. So I was a "pro" for about 3-4 years. C'est la vie!

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I am an amateur singer and text writer. So far no one has reported would be willing to pay me for music, that will probably have his reasons ;o)
The music makes me great fun and I enjoy the freedom to make musical what I want ;)

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Je n'ai aucune formation musicale a part avoir gratté deux ou trois accord tout seul dans ma jeunesse; jeunesse qui n'a pas duré longtemps . . . .
Vers trente ans je me suis joint a deux musiciens, amateurs comme moi et d'autres sont venu se joindre à nous jusqu'a former un groupe. Je n'étais pas très bob guitariste, loin s'en faut, mais j'ai pu faire de la guitare, de la basse, les claviers et le chant ainsi que la composition et les textes des chanson et du coup, bien qu'étant mauvais; j'étais quand même l'un des leaders du groupe. J'ai composé et mis en place des morceaux avec jusqu'a huit musiciens sur scène !
L'aventure a duré une bonne dizaine d'années puis je lme suis lassé !
J'ai rejoint un copain qui faisait du spectacle de rue avec une drôle de machine et vous avez bien du nous voir; nous sommes allés sur quatres des cinq continentss mais je n'étais pas la en tant qu'artiste mais en tant que Président de cette compagnie !
J'ai fait aussi, parrallèlement de la photo; une dizainr d'expo à mon actif . . . J'ai photographié beaucoup de filles . . . . nues !
Puis la maladie a finit par prendre le dessus le 11 octobre 2000 suivit d'une looooooongue descente aux enfers . . .
J'ai fait un peu de sax jusqu'a la greffe et après je n'ai pas pu reprendre. Longue convalescence. Réapprendre à marcher puis, 6 mois plus tard chute dans l'escalier. 6 mois au lit puis réapprendre a remarcher puis le crabe : Opération, chimio, éventratio, réopération . . .. récupération

En mars 2015 je sors du tunnel. J'avais fait un peu d'harmonica mais je tournai en rond avec cet instrument et je ne savais plus trop quoi jouer . ..
Et je tombe sur WIKILOOPS et la je découvre un monde ou toutes sortes de gens font toutes sortes de choses et même parfois assez éloignées des choses trop standartisées!

Moi qui me sentais toujours un peu, a part, un peu, décalés, je trouve ici des choses qui me correspondent tout à fait et je me sems bien, vraiment bien !

Et si vous saviez comme c'est BON de sentir VIVANT après 15 ans dans cet espèce de couloir de la mort !

C'EST VACHEMENT BIEN D'ÊTRE VIVANT, VACHEMENT !
Bon, j'ai fait simple hein sinon je faisais un roman !


Traduction par GOOGLE
I have no musical training apart from having scratched two or three chords alone in my youth; Youth that did not last long. . . .
Around thirty years old I joined two musicians, amateurs like me and others came to join us until forming a group. I was not very bob guitarist, far from it, but I was able to do guitar, bass, keyboards and vocals as well as the composition and texts of the song and the blow, Being bad; I was still one of the leaders of the group. I composed and put up pieces with up to eight musicians on stage!
The adventure lasted a good ten years and then I am tired!
I joined a boyfriend who was doing a street show with a funny machine and you must have seen us; We went on four of the five continents but I was not there as an artist but as president of this company!
I also did, parallel to the photo; A dozen expo to my credit. . . I photographed a lot of girls. . . . Naked!
Then the disease finally took over on October 11, 2000 followed by a looooooongu descent into hell. . .
I made a little sax until the transplant and afterwards I could not resume. Long convalescence. Relearn to walk then, 6 months later fall down the stairs. 6 months in bed then relearn to observe then the crab: Operation, chemo, ventratio, reoperation. . .. recovery

In March 2015 I leave the tunnel. I had done a bit of harmonica but I turned in circles with this instrument and I did not know what to play. ..
And I come across WIKILOOPS and I discover a world where all kinds of people do all sorts of things and even sometimes far enough away from things too standardized!

Me who always felt a little, apart, a little, shifted, I find here things that fit me completely and I sems well, really good!

And if you knew how good it is to feel LIVING after 15 years in this kind of death row!

THIS IS VACERMENT WELL TO BE LIVING, COW!
Well, I did simple huh otherwise I was making a novel!

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when i learn to play,.................... i'll be an amateur.

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The concept here at Wiki is to have fun, so I think it doesn’t matter if you’re a pro or an amateur.
However, a pro is likely to have lesser fun than an amateur cause he’s/she’s used to higher standards.

Is that so?

I’m a pro so what am I doing here than anyway?

Well, Wiki gives me a change to let my mind and inspiration run free, without the boundaries to write music that fits the expectations of the client.
I feel a kind of satisfaction when I make a full orchestration for someone’s song, so he/she can hear what a beauty he/she has written, not that my contribution matches the high standards of a commercial recording here in my home studio, but it gives an idea, and it pleases the author of the song.
I learned a lot ‘bout music in my life, but I’m still interested in the different angle other people look at music and make music, good or bad. I’ve been a music teacher for more than 30 years so that explains.

What makes me a pro, my degrees at the Conservatory? writing music for film,musicals,bands,singers,orchestra’s….?,recording sessions in Belgium and abroad?(next month in Nashville),my nomination for awards in different country’s for a soundtrack I did?

I have to say I feel sometimes very humble when I hear what some “amateurs “upload here on Wiki, knowing that they even make a financial contribution to get they’re music heard.

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I am definitely an amateur, self taught and play by ear. I contribute more with my lyrics than my guitar (and if you have ever heard me play, you would be glad I do more lyrics than guitar :D). I think everyone would like to make the big bucks and support themselves with what they love to do, but if I never make a dime off my music, that is fine with me. To me there is no better payback than to touch someone in a positive way with what I do. It is just about the music, the creativity and the learning to get even better that keeps me motivated and continuing to try :)

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I find the definition of 'pro' interesting. Pro just means 'making a living'. Isn't necessarily an indicator of quality or ability!! But I completely understand most peoples' use to mean 'high-quality'.

I was a pro player in the '90s. I really wanted to make a living from something I enjoy. But that living (and equally, luck) just didn't happen in the end and the constant treadmill of teaching to make ends meet ground me down and I packed it in. I stopped playing for a few years in the late '90s/2000s and got a job in programming instead.

These days (20 years later!), playing in bands (and the odd 'professional' engagement), doing Wikiloops, etc., I find my playing quality and attitude is superior to what it was in those days. Some of this could be put down to just being older and wiser, but I found my time off from playing undid a lot of my technical training and, on returning to playing, allowed me to focus on being part of the music rather than just a drummer out to impress for his next gig. I was a far more precise drummer in those days but I prefer just running with the music, any sloppiness made up for by focussing on making it feel good instead.

The training's still there, but it's secondary to making good music for me these days. Ironically, I've had far more work recently through not being a pro because local/function bands find it hard to find a drummer who is able to stand in with no rehearsal at the last minute for a £50 gig. I'm happy to do that because the money no longer matters - I'm just happy to be gigging.

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I was lucky enough and am old enough to be a "Pro bass player in the sixties,I was in semi-pro bands playing pubs/clubs/dives from 16 to 19,when I turned full time pro, Spent most of my time in crappy vans, gigs from one end of the country to the other end daily,not much fun!. I was in the original liverpool cavern agency,played there loads of times,played on the same nights with many "Stars" before they hit the big-time,such as Eric Clapton ,Rod Stewart,rolling stones the Beatles etc.In those days we were gigging 7 days a week,and up to 3 bookings a day, doing lunch-time sessions in the cavern,doing another club early evening then back to the cavern for a late spot.
Went to Hamburg Star club for a Month, Had to play solid 4 hours a night, spread over 12hrs, the Club was open 6pm til 6am every night, great fun but totally Knackering,you could be on first 6pm then 12,then 3am then do last spot at 5am!!good job I was only 19!.Played there with many star bands,one was Joey Dee and the starligters, with Jimi Hendrix on guitar when he was just a backing guitarist.Came back from hamburg and we signed with a Shark of a London Agent who worked us to death for 6 months, Went to Spain then playing in a night club on the beach, Paradise!!! lived in the club, all meals and drinks included, did 3 30 minutes a night-wonderful!!, this was Spain before the tourist boom. I think we were the first band to play there.I think the amount of payed gigs I played in total would be way over a thousand and still finished broke, but it was a great experience.

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I knew that you were a star petebass.

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You should write a book Pete, that sounds so cool what you did :)

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Hey Pete, amazing post man!!

I’m a freak for the history of pop music, and since you were around at the time… you’re the guy I wane talk to :)
To my knowledge, Jimi played with Little Richard around September ’64, then he left Richard in the mid –sixties (’65) to join Joey’s band.

But to my knowledge Joey toured Europe in November ’63, would this mean that Jimi played with Joey even in November ’63 before he joined Richard’s band in ’64?

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Hi Fanne it was December 63 when we were there,usually 3 bands playing per night and then "Star acts as well.Joey Dee's band was one of them,probably had a beer with Jimi we all used to go to the bar right next to the Star Club,in between spot on stage.We also played in other parts of Germany,as part of a star Club venture.We opened for the Kinks too,we did most of our set to a rousing chorus of "we want the Kinks" so not all good times Ha!!!

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And then the Kinks played "where have all the good times gone":) :) no, that could n't, that song was written later....wish I was there Pete! wish I was there....

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Great story, Pete!

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Hey Pete, sorry to bother you again but I just can’t let go :)
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You haven’t told us which band you played in.

You are not Peter Cliff who played bass with the Cruiserd? or Peter Hollis who played bass with the Cheynes? probably not ‘cause they both had their base in londen area.
I understand you were a part of the Mersey scene, Pete Clarke from the Escorts? maybe the Advocats?, the Sobells? the Georgians?

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Cool story, Pete - I work in Liverpool, so know the Cavern well, though never been good enough to play there! Must have been a fantastic, exciting time.

Really cool to hear everybody's stories. I think one thing is clear - pro, amateur, beginner or experienced, what people love most of all is playing music and that is what counts. And I'm all for that - nowhere else gives you the chance to rub shoulders with so many different musicians, talented in their own individual ways.

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Hi Fanne, no I was in a band called the Kubas,I was in it about 3yrs,when I left Roy Morris(lead guitar) and Stu leathwood(guitar/vocals) went on to form the Koobas with Keith Ellis(bass) and Tony Riley(drums), they had a fair bit of success, signed by Brian Epstein,toured with the Beatles, hendrix etc.theres a lot of stuff and tracks of them on youtube. When they split up, Keith Ellis went on to play with vander graaf generator spooky tooth,juicy lucy, boxer,backed Bobbie whitlock, and he died while playing for Iron butterfly in Germany in 1978.
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Hi Dan The original Cavern was over the Road from were it is now, think it was demolished about 1970,was just a grotty mucky cellar with a great atmosphere,was a scary place to play when you were new there, the girls used to put about six rows of seats in front of the stage to watch the bands, and If they did'nt like you there would just be a deathly silence,But it was great once you got known.

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The Kubas! That’s a cultband! I even got their “Take me for a little while “record.

I got some Spooky tooth and juicy lucy records too, and maybe I saw Stu in person, cause I went to an Iron Butterfly concert in the mid ‘70ties.

You played the Cavern in Matthew street, did you played “the Jacaranda” too? it was, I believe, in Steel street and the walls where painted by Stu Sutcliffe.
Have you ever had an after-drink in the Blue Angel Club? just across the road? I’m told one time they had a bull-fighting with baby bulls there!:)
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There must have been hundreds of bands in Liverpool at the time, playing in The Iron Door, The Mardi Gras, The Beachcomber…what a time, What happened to real pop music?

It may have been for a band not that much fun at the time, but they sure where pioneers and had a great deal to do with how popmusic now sounds.
Everyone is talking ‘bout the blues and Gospel as the great ancestors of popmusic, but the Beatmusic from the early 60ties was that even important.

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Played the mardi Gras, Iron door, downbeat,loads of times,dont remember playing the jacaranda or blue angel.but then we played at so many clubs in liverpool, and all the suberbs had big ballroom venues that had bands on too.

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