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how can i put my self out there?


sister_in_zion

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Im a female singer song writer, I've been told im pretty good but that remains to be seen! How do i get gigs and how do i get taken sereously as an artist . there is a big thing where people have the habbit of stereotyping women in music, i want to do this for the rest of my life even if it means being skint. i don't want fame i don't want fortune all i want is respect! is that so much of a tall order??(

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Im a female singer song writer' date=' I've been told im pretty good but that remains to be seen! How do i get gigs and how do i get taken sereously as an artist . there is a big thing where people have the habbit of stereotyping women in music, i want to do this for the rest of my life even if it means being skint. i don't want fame i don't want fortune all i want is respect! is that so much of a tall order??([/quote']

Get down to one of the open nights at either Drummonds or the Moorings, if you play guitar you are sorted, get up there and play, if not, find someone who can play music on the guitar. Vocals and accoustic are the best way of hearing how good a singer really is...once you've proved that you can get whatever sort of backing band you want, tell all the folk at the jam night that you are going to be having your own gig soon....blag a support slot somehow based on the strength that everyone loved you at the jam night and wants to see your live set, bash outa quick demo CD to give away for free at the first gig, keep plugging away, keep up the solo accoustic stints at jam nights, bash out full band gigs at weekends to bigger crowds, try and get some gigs out of aberdeen, save up some cash, put it where your mouth is, where you go from there....who knows? But it could be fun.....

Thats a theory anyway....8)

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It is not a tall order at all, but the majority of singer-songwriters looking for a career are totally unrealistic about the amount of effort, work, talent and dedication required.

Most are completely convinced that they do not need singing lessons, music lessons and the like. Not for them the confines of using a metronome and playing scales. Dance lessons? Body building and fitness programme? The truth is that most would-be stars shrink in horror when they see what is required to become a successful stage and recording act.

Britney Spears, Avril Lavine and Shania Twain may appear to be 'The Girl Next door' but they are all good musicians who have done more or less nothing else since they were eight or even earlier.

This may sound somewhat negative and actually, the path to fame and fortune is not as hard or as hit-and-miss as most people would imagine. It does mean genuine commitment, just as any other profession. Just as nobody became a medical specialist, a lawyer or a construction engineer in their spare time, so the hopeful rock-star will never be able to become a rock-star on weekends.

But I wish you the best of luck and remember to keep gigging. My advice for success in music? Don't give it a go, give it everything you've got!

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also, making use of sites like this to make contact with other people doing similar thngs to you could be ideal for getting out of town gigs, once things start going well.

and keep us all updated on your progress so we know when we can come and see you. or alternatively, just not go and then pretend we did and slag u off ;)

spoons

/x

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Dance lessons? Body building and fitness programme?

I get the impression you're slightly detached from the musical reality that 99% of this site's users are in.

Not that I've got anything against personal fitness but I'd put money on the fact that none of this site's users are ever going to be faced with Louis Walsh demanding they lose weight before their next appearance on Dick and Dom.

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Im a female singer song writer' date=' I've been told im pretty good but that remains to be seen! How do i get gigs and how do i get taken sereously as an artist . there is a big thing where people have the habbit of stereotyping women in music, i want to do this for the rest of my life even if it means being skint. i don't want fame i don't want fortune all i want is respect! is that so much of a tall order??([/quote']

What styles do you sing?

mike

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I agree with keilan's advice....open mikes are a great starter. I'd been home-recording for decades, but open mikes at Drakes 3 years ago gave me the confidence to play live, and introduced me to lots of supportive folks, some of whom ended up playing alongside me.

Dunno about fitness trainers etc unless you're aiming for fleeting but lucrative pop fame. Serious singer/songwriters aren't known for their pecs or looks........just their ability.

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Open mic nights are a great idea, Drummonds, the moorings and the globe all do them, as probably do many more pubs about Aberdeen. A great idea to get yourself onfront of peolpe and used to playing properly

Also try talking to the owners of some of the local venues, I know when my band were looking for gigs we got in touch with people like Lava paul and the guys in Drakes, told them a bit about us and what we sound like, and if there were any support slots available we could fill, things like a well done demo or the like can really help there too, luckily we got a few gigs first (a new bands night at drummonds for example) which helped us a bit for getting another couple of shows.

David

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Guest DustyDeviada

Dunno about fitness trainers etc unless you're aiming for fleeting but lucrative pop fame. Serious singer/songwriters aren't known for their pecs or looks........just their ability.

Aye right, as if the audience at a Kitchen Cynics gig is there for the music and not the eye candy. ;)

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  • 2 weeks later...
They've maybe heard about the time Mike was rubbing his manboobs over the back wall at the Tunnels' date=' while I played 'Gently Johnny' from the Wicker Man! Many women became moist, apparently (although I reckon they were pissing themselves with laughter!)[/quote']

This is just so wrong from someone who used to teach you art! lol!

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  • 3 weeks later...

thanx

This is just so wrong from someone who used to teach you art! lol!

I used to go to drakes before it closed, i have been down to Drummonds a few times. the moorings aint an option i dont gig on Sundays(religous reasons)

All your advice was bonzer!

I have some guitar grades i went to college for a bit had to give it up cos of health. had a voice coach for two years as a teenager, I play kind of in a suzane vega/tracey chapman style so i have been told. i Don't like to say really i just write what i know.

i will make up my own jenre Aberd-emo! what ya think?

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It is not a tall order at all' date=' but the majority of singer-songwriters looking for a career are totally unrealistic about the amount of effort, work, talent and dedication required.

Most are completely convinced that they do not need singing lessons, music lessons and the like. Not for them the confines of using a metronome and playing scales. Dance lessons? Body building and fitness programme? The truth is that most would-be stars shrink in horror when they see what is required to become a successful stage and recording act.

Britney Spears, Avril Lavine and Shania Twain may appear to be 'The Girl Next door' but they are all good musicians who have done more or less nothing else since they were eight or even earlier.

This may sound somewhat negative and actually, the path to fame and fortune is not as hard or as hit-and-miss as most people would imagine. It does mean genuine commitment, just as any other profession. Just as nobody became a medical specialist, a lawyer or a construction engineer in their spare time, so the hopeful rock-star will never be able to become a rock-star on weekends.

But I wish you the best of luck and remember to keep gigging. My advice for success in music? Don't give it a go, give it everything you've got![/quote']

Tak about getting the wrong end of the stick.

Tho surely this is a piss take?

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sounds interesting... i hear theres an open mic night down at the aberdeen union bar on thursday nights now on south college street down from estaminet and across from mealmarket flats' date=' i havent checked it out yet but if ur gonna play at some point giv me a shout and i'll come watch ya, danny.[/quote']

That's Littlejohn Street, isn't South College Street the one that runs from Bridge Street past the railway arches?

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Nah...I only started due to getting drunk with the Iditarod in Oct 2002, and agreeing to support them. It was only when I sobered up I remembered I'd never actually played live,....so open mikes it was. I can still recall how scared I was at Drakes the first time I got up to play..my hands were shaking so much I couldn't fingerpick at all!!!!

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