Grom on the biz

The unsung heroes...

2009-08-22T11:35:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone...back again. This time a little less cynical and more nostalgic than usual.

I would like to talk about what I call 'the unsung heroes'. These, in my opinion, are the people that DON'T end up "making it" (whatever that may mean...) in the music industry.
I don't mean the ones that disappear off the radar because they suck...I mean the ones that are great people, great players and have everything going for them...but they just never get their break.

Since my move to Los Angeles from Europe 3 years ago...I've met many of these people...and for some reason, I always liked them a lot more than the ones that either "made it" or pretend they've "made it".

I have always been more intrigued by the life stories of those that moved to LA, didn't get their break although they deserved it, and then moved on to other lives. What are these people doing now ? What jobs do they have ? How do they sustain themselves and their families, if any...?
Questions, of which answers I find more interesting and touching than "how did he become big ? Who is he playing with now ?" etc...

What I feel it comes down to is "reality" and "life". These are the "real" stories...the stories that most of us find ourselves in more than the 1% that "makes it"....

With this phrase, I would like to kick off my analysis of "reality" vs. "fantasy".

Any musician that moves to LA, especially now, immediately starts getting the 'lesson' that "to make it", you have to sacrifice, give everything you have, eat mustard sandwiches for years, live in a studio apt. with 10 roommates, ride a bike because you can't afford a car, forget health insurance and hope nothing happens to you...play all day and party all night to 'meet people'...do what you must...then one day, you will get your break if you try hard enough....you'll get an audition, be noticed in a bar with a cover band...and become a rock star.

This is all very poetic and glorious...and we all like to hear about the "success stories". Often, people that do this until they are 50, are seen as "courageous" and "ballsy"..."these guys have the balls to sacrifice and keep pounding at it" is a phrase that I often hear...

Thus said, I want to branch into 2 discussions here :

1. Unfortunately, as 'eye of the tiger' glorious 'rock star' little story may sound appealing and wonderful...because it is what everyone that moves here strives for and make-believe is a big part of all struggling musicians in LA...but reality, is very different and a lot less glorious and honorable.

Instead of struggling mustard sandwich eating, broken pinto driving, shithole apt. living, awesome and glorious street fighting musicians...I have almost only encountered SUGAR BABIES in Los Angeles.
20-28 year old people that like to pretend they are 'living the life' but with someone else's money. More often than not, the so called 'struggling musicians' you meet in LA are rich kids sent to Hollywood by their parents after they stamped their feet about wanting to be rock stars. People sleeping all morning, jamming all day and partying all night...7 days a week...without the pressure of LIFE on them at all...Mommy and Daddy pay for the bills and the rent...if I need cash, I make a phone call...or they go to expensive music schools, wonderful but financially unreachable for these 'struggling musicians' without Mom and Pop paying the $6K a quarter fees...then there's the ones that move from abroad...now we're talking plane tickets, visa expenses...the bill adds up.

Do you guys think these 'struggling musicians' are paying this themselves, with their hard-earned sweated back breaking dirty jobs ? I don't think so...
...and although we all like to believe the glorious story of the street-fighting "don't stop believing" kid that moves from South Detroit (remember Journey...) and "makes it" after years of sacrifice...the reality of Los Angeles is VERY DIFFERENT.

As of 2009, this city is the sandy playground for rich kids sent by their mummy and daddy to become rock stars...

Then, aside from the ones mooching off their parents, you have the ones (even more dishonorable...) that mooch off their girlfriends!

The sad ending to this 1st analysis is, that these are indeed the ones that end up "making it"...that get the gigs sooner or later...just because they can afford the time to hang-out, jam all day and go to parties every night...it's a mere mathematical rule of probability more than anything else.

This is why, and there are tons of success examples that prove my point here, I am less interested and less intrigued by these people's stories...

So, the question to ask one's self here is : "do these people REALLY have balls and are really sacrificing and courageous, earning what they achieve ?"

...please don't make the evidently easy mistake to think "I know people that really busted their ass and made it"...of course...there are exceptions to EVERY rule...but that's exactly what those are...EXCEPTIONS...the RULE, is another one.

2.This moves us to the 2nd discussion...
Balls...courage...sacrifice...

This one will be short. Does it really take more courage and balls, to live in a make-believe dream with someone else's cash ? ...or is it more courageous, sacrificing and takes more balls, to face reality, face one's responsibilities and give-up a dream...with one's head up high ?

What takes more balls ? Again...

- Living in a make-believe dream without really having any responsibilities and pressure from life ? Having 'fun'...(which transaltes to...I got the gigs because I could play all day, party all night and meet a lot of people...because I didn't have to get a full time job)

Or...

- FACING reality, coming to terms with it, facing one's responsibilities as an adult and accepting to give-up a dream ? (which translates into going out into the real world with a job to make your living, support yourself and your family (if that applies) with pride...often resulting in a missed music career).

I think the answer to this question is really evident...

Who is more respectable ? Who deserves a pat on the back the most ?

..this is why, I raise my chalice in honor of all those great players, great people, honorable guys, REAL adults...that despite having all the ducks in line to "make it" in the music industry, have fallen off the map because they HAD to face-reality and embrace their responsibilities...because in the end, reality, is always better than fantasy.

...here's to you, the unsung heroes...

Grom

Craigslist bonanza...

2009-03-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

As per my first Blog, which followed the splendid introduction...
Here is an example of EXACTLY what I am talking about, courtesy of my good friend Dan who pointed it out to me...

This is a post that can be found currently on Craigslist 'Gig classifieds' :

"Looking for a drummer who can tour for the complete month of May. The tour is already booked. No pay obviously as this is an indie DIY band but a chance to be in a legit project. We'll start with the tour and see where it goes. The style is indie/pop folk. Email me for more info.

thanks. "

For now...I'm gonna just say "no comment".
I'll let your own intelligent brains figure out my thoughts...

Notice the exquisitely insignificant use of the word "legit"...

What I will do is dwell deeper into this and try to get some more info from these fantastically bright and smashing lads....

I will then be posting the entire thread for your educational purposes...and as proof of what I have been saying throughout my blog so far.

And yet again...the eternal question is re-iterated...."Since when have people started working for money ??"

Peace...

Beware : Craigslist

2009-03-05T10:55:00.001-08:00

Here is the first of my posts...
Craigslist. For those who don;t know, Craigslist is the number 1 site for classifieds and ads. Young musicians often use it to look for gigs and bands...

Here' the real deal.

----------------------

So, you want a PRO drummer? (Los Angeles and Big Cities Everywhere!)

You'll find ads just like this all over CraigsList and other websites:

WANTED: Kick-ass drummer!! Must have pro gear and dependable ride. Must be available to rehearse at least 3 nights per week. Professional attitude, awesome chops, and the right look a must. We are a pro rock band with label interest, a new CD and gigs lined up. We just parted ways with our drummer and need a replacement ASAP. SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY!

Let's break this ad down.

WANTED: Kick-ass drummer!! Must have pro gear and dependable ride. This should be a given. Nobody wants a lame drummer, or a drummer with horrible gear, no gear at all, or no transportation. I know those drummers are out there, as I was one of them back in 1986. It was more work, but the rest of the band pulled together to make sure there was a kit in the house. I just got myself to the rehearsals and performances.

So far, they're not telling us much.

Must be available to rehearse at least 3 nights per week. Three nights per week is a lot of time to invest in rehearsal. Musicians who are good do not need this much band rehearsal. As a musician, regardless of the instrument, I rehearse on my own at least every other day. Also, I rehearse with my bands once per week. A band that is gigging steadily only needs to rehearse either once per week or whenever they're adding a new song or changing something about their show. Yes, the show needs to be rehearsed as well.

Professional attitude, awesome chops, and the right look a must. Again, this doesn't tell us too much. Posters of ads like this typically include their look, influences, and so on. Make sure you have what they want, if you are really interested. Read on.

We are a pro rock band with label interest, a new CD and gigs lined up. They might be a rock band, and they might have a CD, but that's it. Ask them for a gig schedule and chances are good that you won't get one. Mention of "label interest" is just to get the inexperienced musicians excited. If a label is interested, they sign the act. End of discussion. This is just a carrot to stick in front of your face in order to get you excited so that you'll join their band without asking questions or negotiating your position.

We just parted ways with our drummer and need a replacement ASAP. This is where things get touchy. A band that is in this situation (combined with label interest, new CD, and other things) probably let their current drummer go. This happens when the band starts to talk about money. They think that if they fire the drummer (the one who wrote the parts for the songs and played on the recordings), they can potentially have a bigger cut at the end. It is perceived that the drummer doesn't write music, so (s)he shouldn't get writing credits. This couldn't be further from the truth, as the drummer writes his or her part to fit the song and deliver it in an appropriate manner. Bands like this are looking for a rube to work for cheap or free.

SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY! I have always been amused by this. Even if you really want "serious" inquiries only, you'll still get lots of undesirables responding.

Now, here is what these bands are not thinking about.

Most bands that are playing (at a minimum) the local circuit are not doing it for their health. They want to make a living making music. And if they don't have to pay one of the members, all the better. I have seen it time and time again, where a band will play a gig, and then only one or two members collect the money and keep it quiet. They will do this behind the drummer's back (or any other member who is being ripped off), and then be a "bro" to the person's face.

I recently encountered a 17-piece band where only THREE members are being paid. Why? In this situation, the 3 members are being paid because they no only fulfill needed positions, but they won't do it for free.

If you are a drummer, and you want to make a living playing drums, then you need to start charging.

How do you do this?

My favorite approach is to audition first, and then discuss money later. I doesn't matter if it's just gas money to get to rehearsals and $100 per gig, it still has to be discussed. What you cannot do is join a band and then start demanding money later. It won't happen.

There is a phrase out there that is thrown around. That phrase is "music business." While people will talk about the "music" aspect of it all, they will more than likely neglect the "business" aspect. Truth be told, music comprises about 20% of the "music business." The rest is pure business.

Sure, that band needs a drummer. You know what you bring to the table. Do you know what THEY bring to the table for YOU? Discuss it and negotiate before joining. You'll be glad you did.

BANDS, if you need a drummer, consider the following:

Consider what's in it for THEM: Sure, you need a drummer to record, gig and find success. Are you planning on ripping them off, or throwing them in the garbage when another drummer shows up? How would YOU feel if someone did this to YOU? Have consideration for your fellow musicians. It's a small world, and everyone knows everyone. Your reputation will precede you. Move forward with caution.

Make an offer: Maybe you can't afford to pay a drummer. Offer them a piece of the action. Have a contract available and ready. Or offer them something else. Maybe the drummer you are hiring just wants a place to hit the skins after hours. Offer them a key to the lockout and a schedule of available times where they can do their thing. Sometimes a barter like this will work.

Remember that auditions go both ways: You and your band are not the end-all to the world of bands. It's another opportunity, or maybe a flash in the pan. Or maybe nothing. Be humble and remember that this band member you're auditioning (regardless of instrument) is showing up to help you. If they don't like you or your music, they will pass.

Be fair and honest: Again, your reputation precedes you and word gets around. If you are not paying anyone in the band, or if you're paying some but not all, then you're asking for trouble. There are special circumstances. But generally, take care of these people. After all, you're building your success upon their backs and they don't stand to make what the project owner/leader will rake in. As the old music biz saying goes, pay your acts enough that they don't ask questions.

Have some questions ready: Is this drummer a pro or a hobbyist? Do they have a day job, or are they depending on money from gigs to survive? Prepare a list of questions to ask them. The person auditioning should also prepare questions. Getting these answers will ensure that you're getting the right person for the job. Even if they are amazing, it would stink if they left because the manager at their day job decided to transfer them to a different city.

Be professional: Make sure you're prepared. Send them material ahead of time. Show up early and be prepared for their arrival. Get to the point when having discussions or making requests. Don't whisper with existing band mates or create a hostile environment, unless you want them to walk out. Remember that "pro" is short for "professional."

Remember that the phrase "music business" contains the word "business": You consider yourself and your band to be "pro?" Are you interested in getting into the music business? Be prepared to talk business. Drummers must beware of situations where the band leader, lawyer or manager says things like, "You worry about the music part, and let me take care of the business part." What this means is that you can make music, and the other party will make themselves rich. Do business with each other in the same way that you do business with everyone else.

What does "Pro" mean?: The word "Pro" is short for "Professional." If you are not paying, then you are not worthy of having a professional associated with your project.

Finally, a note to all the drummers out there.

When you jump into a series of gigs for free, you're undermining your own future. If everybody is willing to put it out there for free, then nobody's going to make anything of it. Sure, I know you have to take risks, especially with start-ups. If you're starting your own band and trying to make something of it, then that's one thing.

It's another thing, however, when you go joining band after band, lugging gear around, expending, gas, money, time and expertise into "pro situations" where they're not paying anyone.

If you are entering into a pro situation, then you should be entering a situation where you are paid.

If you are not getting paid, you are not a pro. You are also not a hired gun.

If you are not on the songwriting credits, publishing, etc., then you are not a band member.

If you are showing up and playing for free with no promises, then you are a hobbyist who does it for fun, an amateur, or you're trying to make it with your band (whatever that means to you). Do not label yourself or your situation as pro. You can have a professional attitude, but you are not a pro.

When I play, I do it for pay, for a cut of the action, to promote my own music, or to do a favor for a close friend who needs drummer help. The last thing I'm ever going to do is run around wasting every resource in my life to help out someone who does not have my best interests at heart. You will know what I mean if you ever end up in a band, and the leader openly admits that if an agent was interested in him/her, but not the band, he/she would bail out in a heartbeat and fend for themselves.

It's time for YOU to fend for YOURSELF.

DRUMMERS! Just say NO to playing free gigs for bands that are not paying you, or in bands where you have no vested interested. You've worked hard to acquire your talents. Stand up for yourselves!

The intro...

2009-03-05T10:28:00.000-08:00

So...
Let me cut to the chase and introduce myself, as well as explaining why and what brought me to open this blog.

Without a tone of arrogance, I am simply one in a million who are in my same shoes, I am a professional drummer who has done it all. Been there done that...the international tours, the records released, the interviews, the videos, VJ and host for a TV channel, awards,...etc...etc...

I'm not gonna waste your time talking about me, so here's my site if you want to know what I've done and where I've been : WWW.GROMDRUMS.COM

Fact is, those who know me are bored to death of hearing this, I have developed a love/hate relationship with the music business...NOT music....music and drums I LOVE fully...it's unfortunately...the biz, the entourage that makes me wanna puke...

Despite having "done it all", I found myself at almost 30 not even being able to make a "decent" living..."decent"...not "great".

While everyone around me could afford health insurance, dinners with their girlfriends, a decent car, vacations...I was bum broke with family and relatives screaming down my neck on how I had to wake up and mature.

So...I moved to LA....to try and step things up in the "opportunity and chances" zone.
Not much has changed honestly, in 3 years...things have happened, don't get me wrong...recordings, sessions, shows, clinics...friendships...but the payoff is always platonic...for those of you who don;t know what "platonic" means here is the dictionary definition :

Associated to the Greek philosopher PLATO. purely spiritual; free from sensual/material desire,
theories, ideals, glory.

Obviously...in this world, we do not live of glory and satisfaction...ideals don't pay the bills and buy you food that won't kill you by 40.

basically...the business is border line disgusting. LA reeks of people (can they even be called that ?) that thrive on other humans' desperation and dreams...often breaking them.
Time wasters, flakes, thieves, con artists, scammers...you name it. All in the music business and all while keeping a nice straight smile.

LA does have more opportunity, definitely. But the thing i miss about home, is that there...shit stank ! Here...it doesn't ! So you regularly step on it.

As Hunter S. Thompson said :

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench; a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side..."

It was the friends that I have in this city, the real ones...that understand what I have to say and see beyond the tip of their nose, that pushed me to start this sympathetically jaded blog.

You see...when you move to LA and you're not from here, you can take two paths...
Either you become like them...full of s&%#...or, you become like me...jaded and cynical.
There is no middle ground...with time, you'll be either one or the other.

So...this blog is born with the intention, as often as I can...to help newcomers open their eyes and avoid stepping on that s&%! that doesn't stink.
For fun....
and for me to use catharsis as a method of internal liberation...

Here's the definition of catharsis :
discharge of pent-up emotions so as to result in the alleviation of symptoms or the permanent relief of the condition. The purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, esp. through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music.

So...enjoy and feel free to insult me...

Grom
www.grodmrums.com
www.myspace.com/gromdrums