Category: Musicians

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Boneheads Musicians

Even God bounces a check now and then…

Remember this post I made giving you 4 reasons to stay out of the recording business? I have another reason.

I just did a gig for the Marshales Assembly of God Church here in town. They were desperate to get a bunch of discs done before their choir went “on tour.” I really helped these guys turn a terrible recording and graphics nightmare into a marketable product they could sell at their gigs. I put in a ton of extra time at no charge (God, do I get credit for that later?).

So I’m checking out my business account online to see if I have any dough and guess what? Their freaking check bounced. Just great. How tough are times when even God bounces a check on you?

That isn’t the end of the story either. I called “Pastor Raymond” about the check and he told me I could run it through again because the money is there. OK great. One problem: my bank (Wells Fargo) has lost the check.

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Musicians Recording

Feel sorry for these guys

I got a call from a desperate band manager yesterday. They were recording in another “new” studio in town. Great, another shitty studio to compete with…

They wanted to pull the project and finish it somewhere else because the band “didn’t like the engineer.” It’s hard to get a quality album or recording done when there is tension between the engineer and the musicians.

I inquired about what the status of their recording was and what format it was recorded in. He couldn’t tell me what format so I couldn’t be sure if I could help them. Then he said something that shocked me: “All we have left to record is the drums.”

It was at this point that I realized their recording is probably bad. I informed him that typically the drums were the first thing to be recorded and you’re putting the cart in front of the horse. I pointed out that I had doubts about the studio and engineer they’re working with if the last thing they need to do is the drums.

He said “yeah, and he’s now saying the drum tracks are going to cost another $1200 than he originally quoted us.” These poor guys. They not only spend a bunch of dough for an obviously shitty studio and engineer, now they’re bait and switch victims that will have to fork out another $1200 to get their bad recording done…

Then again, it may be their fault for trying to save a buck by going to the “cheaper” studio to begin with…

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Boneheads Musicians

American Idol Forum

Are you an American Idol fan? I’m not. Watching that show brings back nightmares of late night sessions with terrible singers…

But if you ARE an American Idol fan and want to get together for discussions and chat with other AI fans, go here: Idol Me.

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Musicians Random

Garage Spin

Hey I just added Garage Spin to my blog roll. It’s a cool new indie and music blog.

Here’s their description:

“Garage band buzz. Music technology and indie music promotion blog.”

They have to get a blogroll and put PSB in it though.

Drop by and check it out. And tell them Pro Sound Blog sent you…

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Gigs Musicians

I met John Doe last night!

Last night my pal Matt and I checked out the John Doe show. If you don’t know who John Doe is, then shame on you. He’s the bass player & male singer for one of the greatest bands in history: X

X was the original punk band. With killer tunes like “Los Angeles” and “Johnny Hit and Run Pauline” X was the anti disco, anti 80’s band.

I could go on about X forever.

So John Doe’s solo act was in town last night. We sat down at the table in the club and I saw a friend of mine named John (of course). I shook John’s hand and said hi to him and his wife. Then my pal Matt nudges me and looks over saying “dude, there’s John.” I say yeah, so what? “Dude, there’s John.” Yes man, I just shook his hand and said hello, what’s your problem? “Dude, there’s John” and he points and another guy sitting WITH my friend John…. It’s John Doe himself! I was sitting next to him and didn’t even know it!

So we shot the shit with JD for about an hour while his opening band played. The opening band was just his band, without him… Cool.

John’s show was stellar. He is SUCH a good song writer. His melodies and chord progressions are so amazing and original, just like they were in X. His voice is perfect….

Whatever “it” is, JD has it. Most good bands have a member in the band that has “it.” In X, JD was just one of four people who had “it.” I can only hope that a little tiny bit of “it” was transferred from John to me when I shook his hand…