Paid your dues?????

[SurrealMcCoyJazz]

We've all heard talk about someone that has "paid their dues" in the music business world. But, for all practical purposes; what is your definition of this?

 

Do you feel that this aspect has/hasn't applied to you as a pianist/keyboardist? If so, in what way?

 

I'm trying to determine the degree of this statement (phrase) as just being overly "broad" or specific to a career 'milestone'.

 

In other words.................. have you................."paid your dues"?????

 

Surreal

[Steve LeBlanc]

I feel that I "paid my dues" and then some but it's really all relative to who you work with or want to work with.

 

At a Karaoke bar I imagine you've paid your dues when you've sung through more than half the catalog of tunes, been booed off stage AND had the crowd on it's feet a few times.

 

It's a very broad phrase that is only important to some people in some places.

 

This is another one of those questions where the answer could just be...if you have to ask you don't really have any reason to know that answer.

 

[SurrealMcCoyJazz]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve LeBlanc:

I feel that I "paid my dues" and then some but it's really all relative to who you work with or want to work with.

 

At a Karaoke bar I imagine you've paid your dues when you've sung through more than half the catalog of tunes, been booed off stage AND had the crowd on it's feet a few times.

 

It's a very broad phrase that is only important to some people in some places.

 

This is another one of those questions where the answer could just be...if you have to ask you don't really have any reason to know that answer.

 

[Rick K.]

I don't think I've even come close to having 'paid my dues'. I have tons to learn, new techniques to master, more people to play for, and more gear to get...I don't think I'll ever have paid my dues.

 

Rick

[marino]

It depends. If you refer purely to music, I feel I still have lots of things to learn. As a musician, even if you've found your own voice, you keep making discoveries if you're an open person.

 

If you're talking about the biz (a very different thing) oh yes, I've paid my own dues and a few more. In fact, just being a working musicians makes you pay dues all your life, unless you become a very highly successful figure. I've played every conceivable venue, from dirty bars to big stages with huge audiences; from little theaters to temples of classical music (I'll write a book sometimes! ). About 7/8 years ago I started to make choices in order to avoid doing thing I don't like anymore; now, I can say that I've succeeded, more or less. I'm still doing a few *different* things, but I like that, and I like all the things I do. It's just a matter of chice! I've found that to pursue success at all costs, I would have to give up what I consider good music. As Joe Zawinul told me once, "You only have one life - now make your choices."

 

Carlo

[SurrealMcCoyJazz]

Thanks guys........very well put, Marino.....

 

My intent was geared toward the buisness aspect of music.

As musicians, hopefully we continue to embrace new ideas and experiences......growth..........

 

It is sometimes frustrating to explain to my students why I can't just play Jazz all the time (for a living).

It doesn't make sense to them why I take Pop gigs for much more money than I make doing what I love (solo Jazz piano).

I try to explain that there are "compromises" in many aspects of life, especially in the music business world.

 

I must continue to "pay my dues".

 

Surreal