Chris Brooks

Things I want for every guitar player.

Chris

January 02, 2012

Things I want for every guitar player:

I want you to start on a crappy guitar, but be so happy you have one that you don’t realise for a couple of years.

I want your first band to suck, but that you won’t know it at first because you’re having too much fun.

I want you to be frustrated with your progress, but get regular breakthroughs that keep you motivated.

I want you to fail a few auditions horribly, and learn from each one.

I want you to struggle to find decent band members, or venues that will give you a shot.

I want you to make mistakes in front of a live audience that make you want to practise the second you get home.

I want you to record yourself, and be surprised that your tone and vibrato aren’t as good as you thought they were.

I want you to think you’re awesome occasionally, but be humbled by better players often.

I want you to get paid badly for gigs, or not paid at all, and get a sharper business sense as you go.

I want you to design a really bad website for yourself.

I want you to have to beg, cheat and steal for every fan you have.

I want you to struggle to pay for every piece of gear you have whilst doctors and lawyers play rigs you could never afford.

I want you to advertise a gig, pound the pavement, throw your money into it, and still only have 10 people show up, then do it all again next week/month/year.

If you’re still going at this point, I want you to have all the success in the world. I know you will have earned it.

Chris Brooks

www.chrisbrooks.com

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Chris Brooks is a working guitarist from Sydney, Australia. His latest album is entitled "The Axis of All Things", available from www.chrisbrooks.com and all good digital retailers.

Comments

2012-01-03 04:04:13

Chris Did you just copy and paste my life's efforts in music?

- Scotty_B

2012-01-03 03:14:03

Hey Chris, You missed a few vital bits:- "I want you to get your instruments stolen so you can no longer practise,perform or play venues for sometime......" "I want you to work another job to pay for all the online companies you have music up on and to pay for producers,publicists,musos,recordings and gear and of course the divorce proceedings" "I want your mate to say Love your music mate keep up the great work after 10 years of trying to get there" Thanks Chris, Mark G

- Mark G

2012-01-03 00:21:14

I agree on everything you wrote Chris...and I totally understand it. My first guitar was so crappy it wouldn't even stay tuned, but I loved it for years. I failed to play with bands, I either found folks too good for me, or more lame than me, but never good FOR me. I tried doing a couple of gigs in front of public...the first one was a pathetic experience (but the rest of the band walked out at the last minute, and I stayed, at least), the second was a good feeling *for me*. I recorded stuff, and discovered I had to do it 10000 times better just to reach the "decent" level. I quickly understood I was never going to become a musician, applied myself to other things, am perfectly fine with my job and family and children. My guitar has remained a close friend, but I am sorry I am not up to the level she deserves; yet I don't have the mass to keep playing and improving the way I should... And, finally, now I have the money to afford good gear, I refrain from buying all marvels I see around as I know, the feeling wouldn't be right, and you got to deserve the guitar you play. Music and sports maybe are good equalizers...no matter how much you have and who you know, if you don't apply the right amount of effort and fatigue, you don't get anywhere. a.

- Alberto