At the Crossroad
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| #1
Phil Frazier Newbie Posts: 20 |
posted 04-24-2001 06:22 PM
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I am ready to tour again. Only little prob. is no band, no tour support, I was just talkin' with one of my daughters who told me that she knows that I am aware of what I have to do. Yeah, maybe I am but doing it is where I am swirlin' around. Perhaps, I am putting up my own barriers. I feel that I don't want to try to get a drummer, bass player, guitarist, perhaps pianist and start from the bottom-again. Maybe, I am ego trippin' in the regard that I don't feel that the above average level of musicianship that is required to play my songs will be available on spec. They will want to be paid. I just can't envision starting at the bottom of the local club food chain-again. The last time I palyed live about two years ago- solo- I got an Indie Recording Label offer after my set. It was such a lame offer that I declined. No money, just free studio time and no promo or distro. Yet, a restrictive Contract. Another dreamer. The only way I see it now is to obtain a label deal. Now that is problematic due to my age. I am 50+. Shit, that blows my mind, seeing it in print. I am 100% sure that I can deliver the songs, as well as ever. My live performance abilites have usually been praised. I have absolute confidence in my material. Out of 60 from aorund 300 songs that I have chosen, I know I can put together a strong set or two. Yeah, it is perhaps a bit strange that I am writing this because I'm spozed to be a guy that his shit together. I guess I am venting,. I feel fairly comfortable here.. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #2
KennyLee Guru Posts: 1875 |
posted 04-24-2001 06:37 PM
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quote: Well, we are here for you, Phil. I live in the Nashville area, where great sidemen can be found on every street corner. Sometimes, they even work on spec. But generally they work for very reasonable fees. Putting together a tour is all done on the front end, to me. I will book the work. Knowing that once the work is booked, and I have a budget, I can get some good sidemen. If it the tour doesn't come together on the front end, Phil? Then you do not want to do the tour. Worry about the band after you see what kind of schedule you've got lined up. If you've got a good schedule? Then you can sell that to the prospective band members. [image not archived] See what I mean about the front end vs. the back end, Phil? ------------------ [This message has been edited by KennyLee (edited 04-24-2001).] IP: Logged |
| #3
notesleb Guru Posts: 614 |
posted 04-24-2001 06:59 PM
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No wonder people rush to the backend without fully considering the front. Indeed your pictures do inspire intelligent thought IP: Logged |
| #4
Phil Frazier Newbie Posts: 20 |
posted 04-24-2001 07:25 PM
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HAHA I need a rodie like that. Yeah, a long time ago I booked a Canandian tour. B-level. Country Covers & Rockabilly with no band. I got a live recording, not actually, as I recorded "live" & put club noizes in later. hehe Got some guys to pose for a photo, wrote up a "Bio" & song list. Got three offers from booking agencies out of the Midwest. Once I got the offers I put a free ad in a local zine & had musicians fill out a questionaire, then I picked a few to auditon . Got this all together iin two weeks. The drummer flaked out 4 days before the tour. Lucky for me he had transcribed the songs in drmr. notations. We a bass payer, who could sing lead as well as b/u, found another drmr that could read and off we went. My goal right now is a Euro tour which would entail some flight cash. I could prolly pick up a drummer & bass player over there. That's all I really need because I can play guitar fairly well. I have done this before. Well, not a Euro tour but I have played many gigs in Germany because my father, an Army man was stationed there. I know the equip. situation would have to be ironed out, as well. I really, really don't want to do the DYI. A booking Agent is paramount.. A Euro. label would be ideal .. Another dilemma I am mullin' over is the genre'. I am seriously thinking Country/Blues, which is my next CD- "This and That". The Rock thing is just out of my age group marketing wise. I sorta envision a semi- Lyle Lovette sort of genre'. There is no way I would do a T-40 country thing. See, in my area C&W bands are required to do 95% Covers to get any gigs. I could be playing bass in a group like that & make $600 a wk. but I just don't have the mindset for that . It's just too depressing. I was in a band that played 6 nights a wk., same bar for 3 months. No more, thanks! I do appreciate your input. Here's my view. The people I have been compared to sell at least 100K CDs per release. If I can find a label I truely believe that my material could sell at least 50K per release. I have done the basic math on the gross & the Net. I feel that what I have to offer would definetly net any label a nice profit. At this time, I just can't envision any other alternative than a label deal for what I want to do. You wish to get into to the actual numbers? I am open to it. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #5
Phil Frazier Newbie Posts: 20 |
posted 04-24-2001 07:27 PM
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At $10 per CD- 50K is $500K Gross. Think about the Net. No- not the Internet. [This message has been edited by Phil Frazier (edited 04-24-2001).] IP: Logged |
| #6
KennyLee Guru Posts: 1875 |
posted 04-24-2001 07:27 PM
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quote: Well, stephen. Do we really want to discuss music and art with someone that does not appreciate beauty? I think not. As far as these pictures inspiring intelligent thought? I know they do. Because ever since I started playing music, I have found that I am much more creative and inspired if a pretty woman, such as those depicted, is in the audience. That doesn't mean I'm going to sleep with her (darn it). Just that she inspires me. I have observed the same sort of inspiration and creativity from other musicians as well. Layla, for example, was inspired by Eric Clapton's Muse of the time. She also happened to be George Harrison's wife at the time. But artists many times don't worry about that little detail. When inspired. Toto's biggest hit, Rosanna, was inspired by the actress and hot babe known as Rosanna Arquette. No Rosanna, no hit song. John Lennon and Yoko? Hey! I don't wanna go there. Anyhow, history shows that great art and thought is inspired. Examples abound.
[image not archived] Hmmmm. Could be. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #7
KennyLee Guru Posts: 1875 |
posted 04-24-2001 07:41 PM
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quote: Well, Phil, it sounds like the numbers are still speculative, at this point in time. You will end up with a list of bookings. And a budget. So you will know what you have to offer. Which is, of course, the hardest part for most of us. Having experience at this sort of thing means that getting the band together, while troublesome, is not that difficult. Europe? Can get tricky. All the road signs aren't in English, you know. I have turned down several European tours, myself. I have a hard time just getting to Birmingham, Alabama or Memphis, TN. Making the gig, making some money and getting back home can be a struggle even in the good old USA. So, I'm still working on making North America aware of my wonderfullness. There's a lot of Nashville musicians with European tour horror stories. Too little money, things didn't work out, and you are an ocean away from home. And I don't see why you have a problem with country, Phil. It has it good points. As you can see. [image not archived] Ride 'em cowboy. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #8
Phil Frazier Newbie Posts: 20 |
posted 04-24-2001 08:22 PM
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I don't have a problem with country at all. Just don't want to be in a cover band deal is all. At one ime I advertised in an Austin Tx. zine as bassisit/vocalist. Got a couple of offers but the ended up being way too flakey. Yeah, I do have a sight edge regarding Germany, I sort of speak the language and can understand it even more so. Yeah, it's risky to tour in Euro. & that is precisely why I am seeking a label deal and a booking agency. The numbers I am referring to are the possible CD sale ones. I have a lot of confidence that if a label were pushing my CD that a profit would defently be made. Even at $1 per CD for me I am not adverse to considering a label deal. There is also the mechanical royalties & merchandising to consider. I am not lookin' to be a "famous" star or to become rich. A moderate return would be fine. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #9
KennyLee Guru Posts: 1875 |
posted 04-24-2001 09:22 PM
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quote: What a lot of people in Nashville have done is to LEASE your work for 5 years. I leased two songs from BLUES PARTY and made a few grand. It was on the EVEN MORE WHISKEY BLUES compilation on TAXIM RECORDS in Germany. But I still retained ownership of all my material. But, yeah, your options are many and varied. And you've got to do a lot of the set-up work yourself, Phil. There's no way around that. Even if you get on a label, they are going to expect you to grunt through the details. As far as Europe goes, the best road stories I have heard are from the Scandanavian countries. Something about legalized pot and prostitution that the musicians really really liked. And then there are the beautiful blondes. [image not archived] ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #10
KennyLee Guru Posts: 1875 |
posted 04-24-2001 09:33 PM
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quote: YAAAOOW!! Cool deal, Stephen. You ain't kidding about the quality. I would be proud, too. [image not archived] Whoa, baby! Very inspirational. I can see I have been preaching to the choir, so to speak. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #11
Phil Frazier Newbie Posts: 20 |
posted 04-24-2001 10:32 PM
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Yup, Stephen, be proud. The choir is singing sweetly. Yow! Scandanavia is da place, allright. Kenny, I just knew you would steer me in the right direction. Thank you bro. I have been researching the Euro Labels. One of the reasons I put my material on Besonic is to gain more notice in Europe. I am convinced that what I do will be well received there. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #12
KennyLee Guru Posts: 1875 |
posted 04-24-2001 10:48 PM
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quote: Glad I could help. What was it made up your mind? Was it the legalized pot? Or the legalized prostitution? Or the beautiful blondes? [image not archived] ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #13
Phil Frazier Newbie Posts: 20 |
posted 04-24-2001 11:56 PM
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The whole pkg. Plus I know a guy that is from Sweden, who digs my music. You may know him too. Galmin? ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #14
KennyLee Guru Posts: 1875 |
posted 04-25-2001 12:35 AM
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quote: Yes, I believe I have conversed with Galmin somewhere. Kinda talked like he'd benn using some of that legalized pot though. You might want to budget for motel rooms, just in case. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #15
dustyw1 Guru Posts: 567 |
posted 04-25-2001 12:50 PM
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KennyLee said: quote: Whoa! That's the kind of deal I've been looking for. How does a guy get in the runnin' for somethin' like that? See, I'm like Phil in a way (hard to believe, ain't it?) cause I don't wanna be a jukebox any more. Been there and done that for 40 years. Now, I'd like to try workin' on my songwriting and seein' if I could sell some of that (or lease). Dusty ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #16
KennyLee Guru Posts: 1875 |
posted 04-25-2001 02:53 PM
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quote: My deal was set up by Fred James, who writes blues songs for people like Johnny Winter (Illustrated Man) and has an outfit called Bluesland Productions. But that is blues. For country, I don't know. I first heard about this from a country songwriter who did it and was referred to Fred for blues. All of his labels were traditional blues, except for TAXIM. When the next compilation came up he put me on it. BLUES PARTY is the opening cut. Probably, there are one or two companies in Nashville that do this for people. I'll see if I can find out. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #17
Phil Frazier Newbie Posts: 20 |
posted 04-25-2001 04:51 PM
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Hell yeah, Kenny. I have quite a few Blues tunes & Country. If ya want I can do this this da old fashioned way & send you a tape. My next CD has several straight up Blues songs, as well. Please, hook me up too. Dusty, If we made a list, which would be tedious, of our simillarities & differences, I am sure that our similarities would be a much longer one. Let's just try to work on helping each other. I am much more interested in that . ------------------ [This message has been edited by Phil Frazier (edited 04-25-2001).] IP: Logged |
| #18
KennyLee Guru Posts: 1875 |
posted 04-25-2001 07:04 PM
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OK, guys, I will check around. But, I must state in advance, that I am not in the promoting business like, say, David Hooper. And while I have aquired a leasing deal for myself, and while I am aware of deals for others, I haven't spent a lot of time there. My guy was reputable and did a good deal for me. But I can't vouch for any other deals of this type. All I can do is make you aware that this option exists. In other words, I ain't charging yo' ass, so don't count on me. Speaking of ass. [image not archived] This is just a free sample. She charges for the rest. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #19
Phil Frazier Newbie Posts: 20 |
posted 04-25-2001 07:31 PM
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Fair enuff, man. I appreciate what you can can steer my way & as you prolly know I can read Contracts fairly well. Believe it or not I have turned down quite a few. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #20
Keiphus Newbie Posts: 6 |
posted 04-25-2001 11:20 PM
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quote: *All* roads lead to Memphis, Kenny. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #21
KennyLee Guru Posts: 1875 |
posted 04-25-2001 11:40 PM
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quote: It's a long dry spell between Nashville and Jackson, Keiphus. And a longer wet spell between Nashville and Europe. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #22
Keiphus Newbie Posts: 6 |
posted 04-26-2001 01:29 PM
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Very, very true. Not something I have to worry about...I just kick it around Memphis' outskirts. There's plenty of folks there that want to hear our stuff. As long as it's Skynyrd, the Allmans or Molly Hatchett. ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #23
dustyw1 Guru Posts: 567 |
posted 04-26-2001 02:12 PM
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KennyLee said: quote: No problem, KL. I can cover these and a few other genres as well (doing some interesting things with classic rock instrumentals these days). quote: Hell, KL, feel free to take a little. Would 10% be any incentive to do whatever? Not trying to insult you or anything but I know how much work it can be, dealing with business types and all and I'm not shy about paying for it as long as I don't have to come up with the $$ ahead of time  Anyway, paid or free it's all appreciated. Thanks, Kenny. Dusty ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #24
dustyw1 Guru Posts: 567 |
posted 04-27-2001 07:16 PM
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Btw, Phil, I'm also open to any offers for publishing or recording my songs. While I don't know if I'll ever be doing much as a performing artist again I'd sure like to get my songwriting career kick-started. Have you ever done anything with representing that kind of artist? I'm open to any reasonable percentage deal since I can't be there on the spot to do the legwork. Let me know. (this offer also goes for anybody else reading this who might be able to help in some way) Dusty ------------------ IP: Logged |
| #25
Phil Frazier Newbie Posts: 20 |
posted 04-27-2001 09:18 PM
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Sorry, Dusty, I have never had any luck placing songs. I have sent out stuff for years. I did get a couple of person to person offers of cash for several of my songs around $6K in today's money but the catch was the people wanted to put their name on the songs I turned that down & am not regretting that. Gettin' songs placed is almost impossible, unless one is in that inner circle. A lot of wheelin' & dealin' goes on behind the scene. There are literaly thousands of publishing companies but most of them are useless. The ones that can place songs usually don't pay any attention to newcomers unless they are connected to a heavyweight. In short, I can't help out with that. I have found some Euro. Labels & emailed them. I will do more searchin' and bust my butt to see if I can get a deal in Europe. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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