Marty,

How many good musicians end up going to waste?

I used to be in a band with some friends, and while it was fun, everything was just mediocre. This always bothered me. I took it too seriously because I know the drummer and I could come up with something that people would enjoy around the world, but we could have never done it because the other two friends in the band were not good enough. The only real chemistry was between myself and the drummer.

It's been a few years since the band broke up and every time I see the drummer now, it's like seeing an x-girlfriend that hasn't let go. I know he dreams to collaborate with me in music again. The problem is, I don't want him to think that our old band is getting back together and things will be like how there were in high school and college, etc. I wouldn't want to get involved in something unless we give it 200%, and actually make it something really special, which we could do. We are both technically proficient with our instruments and when we write together, the end result, especially now that we've matured would be great.

To put it into perspective for you, imagine yourself collaborating with Ron Jarzombek. I mean with writing, doing it 50/50. You're both very proficient at what you do, and you both have unique sounding material. You've proven that you can write or play pretty much anything, as he has. But he's more into coming up with wacky and insane sounding patterns of notes, whereas your recent works have a more modern edge. So if the two of you worked together, it could be wacky and crazy, but also it could be grounded, because you can write stuff that most people "get" and like.

It's the same way with me and this other dude. My stuff is kinda hard to grasp sometimes, but he can write music that everyone can get into and it still sounds unique. We also both can write great melodies. I truly believe, that if we got together with a couple other local musicians that I know, who are very good, we could put something together that people would really enjoy, all around the world.

But there are a lot of problems with that. As you know, you really have to drop everything and be willing to make large sacrifices to make it in music. I would have to ask all these guys to do that. This would be really hard especially for me. I am married now and have two young daughters. I have a good career in engineering that's really taking off. We've accustomed ourselves to a standard of living that would not be possible if I drop everything and pursue a career in music. My biggest concern though, is that it would be so hard on my family. I love them to death and want them to be happy, and I want to be a good husband and father.

How many musicians end up going to waste because of a situation like this? Any advice on what to do?

grrrr.....I can't sleep.

Anyway, cheers,

Steve

[you really have to drop everything and be willing to make large sacrifices to make it in music. ]
Welcome to rock and roll, my friend.
[How many musicians end up going to waste because of a situation like this? ]
I hardly call having a wonderful wife and two lovely daughters going to waste.
You mean as a musician, right? Everybody makes contributions to the world in different ways. It takes a whole lot of non-musical b.s. to get your music enjoyed by the public. That`s where all the sacrifices come in. There are tons of guys who play wonderfully in the garage, but are they willing to do the endless amount of b.s. to get to the point where they can drive around in a broken down van in the snow with a bunch of potheads for no money-and like it? The music biz is not really for the practical people who wind up getting good jobs, it`s more for people who are not willing to do anything else. But the music you make is not a waste, you can stil give pleasure to those around you with it. Good Q!