Ken Byng wrote:
Chris
I wouldn't scoff at your assessment of youth being an advantage for musicians in Nashville to fit in with an image requirement. You are spot on - it's the name of the game in some quarters. Thank goodness for the likes of George Strait, Merle Haggard and many others who see musicianship as a prerequisite of being a band member than a youthful image. What happens in the image outfits when that goes? Do you get cast aside for a younger person. Yup!
I would personally be more inclined to watch a show that contains great players than pretty ones. To be both is extremely rare and unlikely. I am an old guy who will be 60 this year. I still enjoy playing live after 40 odd years, but I would hang up my picks tomorrow if the music scene in England hinged around age. Thankfully it doesn't in the field that I play in.
Finally, many of the best players that I saw in Nashville last year in the main will never see 50 again. They also weren't playing in pop/rock bands that pertains to be country music these days.
Ken, I totally agree with what you're saying. I'd rather listen and see Merle and his band over Kenny Chesney any day. I just get the impression that Jamie is after a gig with a new country act, and stands a better chance as a younger man in shape. Unlike Chesney and that crowd, I don't think Merle is trying to attract 20-year old girls to his show. Not that he'd turn them away......
Thats the plan, hopefully get with a young up and coming act, I know it wont be easy and things dont happen over night too.
I played a Wyoming state fair and the bass player was from nashville he said the same thing, that I had the image which the younger band want plus im from the UK "The Military Look" ?!?!?
But I guess im gonna find out for myself !
Thanks to all that are supporting me !
Mullen Guitars, Little Walter Amps, Benado Effects, D'Addario Strings
You'll find that having a Brummy accent has the opposite effect to what is has in England. Americans seem to be fascinated with it.
Just don't sing a Brum version of C&W: it'll never catch on....
What am I saying ? If you make Brum Country popular all us Brummies will be right there waiting in the wings....
I just wanted to add my own observations real quick. I think you guys might have a slightly skewed impression of what most touring acts are looking for. My experience is that very few touring acts (I'll say 15%) are all that concerned about having super young players. What they want are good/great players, who are consistent, and have good attitudes. Believe me, there are plenty of stylists in town who will turn your image around with just a quick visit to Green Hills mall. I just turned 29 the other day, and I am one of the younger touring musicians that I know. The majority of the guys I know that are playing on the road are in their 30's or 40's. Actually, I know quite a few in their 50's, and a couple in their 60's. The reason for that is that most of the guys that are playing with artists had years of playing in bars, paying their dues, working their way up the ladder, building a reputation, etc, before they found their way into the circle of guys who are working consistently. It's a big buddy system. I get calls for gigs very regularly. I recommend friends of mine who need the work. It's my hope that one day when I am looking, someone will return the favor.
Anyway, don't let anybody on here discourage you from what you wanna do Jamie. I moved here when I was 19, and have been very blessed over the last 10 years to play with some amazing artists. Quite a few of them are musical heroes of mine.
There IS a lot of competition in Nashville for sure, but I'll put it like this. It's like any other town, multiplied my 1000. There are some great players, and a lot of not so great players. From what I have seen on here, you certainly don't fall into the not so great category. So, come in on, the water's fine. I'd love to meet you and do what I can to help you out if you're interested.
I used to speak like that till I went to Exeter University. I came back with a Brummy-cum-Devonshire burr. Of course, I've had 29 years of California to knock the Brum out of me since then. My family have noticed that I speak American and Brummy as two different languages, and my word usage changes depending on who I'm talking to. I can be taking business calls in my office all day, then suddenly I'll get a call from a friend in Birmingham and my workmates think I'm speaking a foreign language.
My experience with touring acts has been about the same as Travis although in different scenes.
My suggestion on how to make it as a full time player is not to worry about career moves and who is up and coming and all that. Try to keep the fun part in mind and take the money when its there. You can't really plan out or manipulate events to be successful in music as far as I can tell. But if you give yourself to it fully and love what you do the money seems to show up. You can feel it when the music is real and has something for you. That's where success hides in my experience.
I hope Nashville is the place to be. My son just moved his studio to Springville. He's been tracking and mastering in Franklin and Nashville for several years. He been mostly recording Contemporary Christian but is planning on some Southern Gospel. I've been throwing some names at him from the Nashville area for steel guitar.
Jamie,
I don't know if anybody mentioned this or not but we drive on the right over here. LOL, Big yuk. Be careful!! Before you step off that curb make sure you look LEFT, because that's where the cars are coming from. Your mind is geared to look to the right but you got to remember to look LEFT. If you're not careful you'll step off the curb right into a car. That would ruin the whole Nashville trip. Visiting the Bahamas a couple of years ago I did the opposite and was fortunate not to have injured myself. Come over and enjoy yourself. We're glad to have you.
Steve Branscom wrote:...we drive on the right over here...
So that's where I'm going wrong. In all reality, Jamie, if you can survive the one-way traffic scheme in Birmingham you can survive anywhere. At least most of the roads in Nashville cross at right-angles.
Having driven fifteen years on the left, followed by thirty years on the right, I'm now equally dangerous on either side of the road.
Finally made it, doing some work with Georgette at the moment in, so first trip to Nashville will be the 13th !!! So far its great, it is such a great place to be.
Mullen Guitars, Little Walter Amps, Benado Effects, D'Addario Strings
Unlike Chesney and that crowd, I don't think Merle is trying to attract 20-year old girls to his show. Not that he'd turn them away...... 
