dand666

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1439651992' post='2844700'] I find the daily grind pretty unbearable & think "F**k this!" several dozen times a day. I would do this whether I played an instrument or not though so I don't think that's got anything to do with it in my case. [/quote] That's what I thought. So i quit my job and have been a full time musician since, have not looked back one bit. Off on another contract in Sept, so things are going well. Perseverance is all it takes.

Jeez. I just bought a new lightweight Aguilar setup. Makes life so much easier and the tone is superb.

[quote name='casapete' timestamp='1437055597' post='2823230'] With respect to some of the posts above, the paid up mortgage scenario is something people in the UK seem to strive for all their lives. Being happy in who you are and what you do is often overlooked just to call a tiny piece of the country your own. In Europe and the US this scenario is frequently not the be-all and end-all for people from all walks of life. Just sayin..... [/quote] This. I left a well paid office job, just after I got my degree in Computer Science to further my career in music. I was 24. Now I'm working on cruise ships, seeing the world and getting paid for it. Best thing I ever did. Try not to think about everyone else and what they're doing. Plenty of time for that. Personally I couldn't handle the office environment. Now I spend my days on a beach and in the evening playing some sweet music. Life's what you make it. Music is hard work, but the old cliche of having to never work a day in your life if you love your job is true. Your 22, give it a go for a few years, if you don't like it. Plenty of time to to change.

Not quite sure why most of you aren't on an agency. We start at £1000 and that goes up depending on its location. We get fully booked in all of our available dates. Bands are in!

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1433335348' post='2790169'] How do you do this? I find that those pesky muscles will memorise things whether you want them to or not! [/quote] Nashville number system really. You'll find that naturally you will fall into muscle memory, but I guess the main thing is remembering the roots and key of the song then you're fine.

The main thing for me is to try and not learn by muscle memory. Recently we had to do 'Rock-e-oke' on our last cruise, and occasionally members of the audience would like the key changed (or start singing, then stop and ask for a key change >.<). Was really hard for me as I've learnt all my songs as muscle memory and moving them became a pain. So now all the songs I learn I'm trying a different technique.

Currently working on a ship in the states, some really good stuff over here, insanely cheap as well. Might get myself a Aguilar head, the bass amps on board the ships are terrible, and they are around £80 cheaper over here. Also there are some great small music shops with really great boutique pedals, worth buying and selling them as soon as you get back!

We took 2 extra guitars in the Hold on Alsaka Airlines and Iceland Air and they didnt charge us for either! All worked out fine.

Has anyone flown with Icelandair or Alaska Airlines?

Cheat sheets all the way. I've just learnt 100 songs in around 3 days. All using my iPad and chord sheets and the good old Nashville Number System. Lead lines I Just need to keep going over. Flying out to LA next week so they've all gotta be down >.<

Hugely underrated. What a voice that man had!

[quote name='AndyBob09' timestamp='1418257744' post='2628633'] What's your ship? I was out this year on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas and hope to be away again very soon. I just need to sort it out with my agent. It's £100 for the C1/D visa needed for a ship, yes. Royal Caribbean reimbursed my visa cost though ($160) when I was onboard. But yeah, to the OP, the only way you'd get away with your tour on a tourist visa would be to not take any gear with you and just say you're travelling with friends when you get to customs. But f*** that. [/quote] Its a princess one. I've got the itinerary somewhere so I'll let you know! Yeah I need to fill out a DS160 form first on-line, then take that to the interview.

I actually need to get a Visa sorted asap as I'm due to be flying out for a cruise contract in Jan. I've been told i need to call the embassy in London and get it arranged asap! About £100 I think.

I use a hercules ipad stand and that attaches to my mic stand. After just coming off a cruise ship for the last 2 months, we play over 250 songs, and I just don't know all of them off by heart. In a pub, 2 hour set no one should need them. But if you are playing every single night for up to 5 hours a night, I think it's ok to have chord charts..

Like John Decon, he's amazing at note placement and playing just what fits.

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1416782448' post='2613608'] The horns will love you for that [/quote] Just a 5 piece so no problems with that. With the Db I just play the Octave and no one is any the wiser.

Just get the rest of the band to play it in E? Easier for everyone, especially in a live situation.

We started about 3 years ago. First year it was playing pubs, charity gigs, the occasional birthday and basically anywhere we can get our name about! It took a while to get the gigs, we had to record a video an sync it up with some tracks. It didn't cost too much, mates rates e.t.c. 2nd year, we joined an agency, probably the biggest in the UK. Due to us playing just 50's, 60's and 70's we were a little niche therefore we soon got booked up for weddings, and ended up being booked for the entire year throughout the weekends. For this we used the same cheap video! 3rd year is where we are at now, currently on a ship in the North Sea, and heading to LA in Jan for the big cruise ships in America. It all starts from playing the pubs, the sh*tty clubs and the charity gigs. So just get your head down, learn as many songs as you can and play as many gigs as you can. Biggest tip I can give you is you need to get on an agency. You will get experience in playing high end corporate events and weddings, and you get paid soooo much more, as well as the fun of learning new songs for first dances e.t.c Keep at it dude.

We have to look smart each night, and our singer has to look 'glam' whatever that means... I think i have posted about them before, but we always based our look on Vintage Trouble. Looking sexy but with class lol

I and 3 members of my band use Set List Maker. Great app and we use it every single night on the ship.