How to join a financially succesful band?

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sicbeing

sicbeing

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So I've been playing electrical guitar now since I was around 12 years old (I'm currecntly 21). On top of that, I've been playing around with music for a couple years with different things, such as the Fruityloops program, and a little bit of practicing trying to understand how to play the piano.

I've been in a band before, when I was in high school. I wasn't considered great by any means as a guitar player, but I did play lead in the band and was able to conjour up some interesting things musically.

I understand what it takes to create music and to work with others as a band, practicing, playing, comprimizing, and etc.

What I want to do is look into getting professional guitar and music lessons sometime after christmas and start getting into the idea of being in a professional band more seriously. The only thing is, I don't know what I should do first. Should I join / start an oddball band of goofies and just start playing and try to get noticed, only to get signed for another band? Is it all just luck, or can I look at this from a business perspective?

I'm currently in college, should I try and take some music classes as electives if possible?

Any suggestions would be apprectiated. I won't take things said here so seriously, but I'd like to hear any random opinions on the subject.

Thanks!
 
Well there's two routes, I think.

One is join a band and make it big with them, or become friends with a big band and perhaps join them

The other is to become a session/touring guitarist and work your way into the band that way.

But ultimatley, it's extremely difficult, and you've got to be very talented.
 
Or:

Start your own band (With musicians, not just friends)

Hit the clubs, bars, and try to open for bigger local bands.

Basically whore your band in the biggest city around you, and see if you get noticed by a label, etc. Still not easy to get in that way, but more practical then joining an already successful band.
 
Get musically trained. You HAVE to know what they're talking about if they say something like, the key's all wrong, let's move it up to F, or hey, throw a 7th in there to modulate into the new key.

There are no successful hobby musicians. Period.

As for the original question, a financially successful band is not gonna take a complete unknown and say, "Hey, come on up and play, we'll see how ya do!" People in the music world know each other. They know who plays studio tracks on whose records. They know who leads for who on tour. There is no joining up and riding along if you haven't paid your dues.

People who "have played for years" and are "ready to make it big" are less than a dime a dozen. How many wanna-be movie stars, singers, musicians, basketball players, and the like are out there, anyway? If you don't have the skills and the knowledge, you don't have a chance.

Skills come with knowledge. Get trained!!!

Not as electives. If you want to do this, it HAS to be what you do.

If it's a hobby, than stay electives, play with local bands, but don't expect any "big breaks."
 
I understand that fact and I do plan on getting a guitar trainer after xmas break if I have the time with school. It's just so expensive. I know how to play fast, maybe not 100% clean, and I don't really know modes or many scales.

Thanks.
 
I guess you need to define what "Financially successful" means to you.

To me, being financially successful is playing music, getting paid, and having fun...and getting a tax brake from the gear I buy. If my enjoyment of playing music pays for itself, I define that as being financially successful. For the record, I won't be quiting my day job any time soon.
 
I meant being able to make a living out of it. And yes, back up plans for any lifestyle or career choice is wise
 

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