Got this settlement sheet the other week for a show I did not book myself, we were asked to jump on the bill by another band. $150 in marketing expenses? Yeah I'm going to need to see what you did because I've learned to spot a built in a crowd over the years and there wasn't anyone there except for people the bands brought.

This has to be unique right? I can't say Ive ever experienced these costs being put onto the musicians before.

Help me settle a bet with my bartender, someone left this at my venue. What the hell could it possibly be for?? After trying out a bunch of different positions, I think this is its intended placement, but it’s got this weird little 70’ angle that protrudes at the top, making it impossible for something to lay flat.

He thinks that it’s some kind of footstool but the angle is all wrong and has no support, I think it’s for some kind of like, foot powered hurdy gurdy or some obscure instrument. Figured I’d ask the widest cross section of musicians because I’ve worked in music for ten years and I’ve never seen this lol

In my 15-20s I had a band, where I carried big weight (in the beginning most of songwriting and org, then mostly org and some chunk of songwriting) and it was overall a very nice experience. But I had to move to another country, so we recorded last songs and I moved.

Now I am in my 30s and don't think I have enough energy to carry the band, but I am a decent guitar and bass player, so I thought I would join a band, and so far it is a mildly disappointing experience. But again, maybe it's my personality, that is the problem, and either I change/adopt, or stop trying.

First band: I joined the band, something like pop punk, and it was led by 2 dudes essentially, one (guitarist) writes "chords", and the vocalist, which was writing lyrics and melody (essentially he was the author of the music). In the beginning the vibe was ok, but it got worse when I was asking (as lightly and politely as I could) to check tuning from time to time, because I clearly heard things out of tune. The worst offender (leader guitarist) gave me weird looks. Then in some songs, some chords clearly clashed with the melody (he liked pulling something like Abm13 while melody had no notes front there, lot of sus chords etc), and tried to come up with some, that would support melody better - he was very defensive and very unwilling to even listen to how it sounds. On one rehearsal I brought a couple of my songs (full songs, not only chord progressions which he was doing), The band was excited to take them and work on them, but he again was very bitter and left passive-agressive comments. I thought it would not end well long term and quit.

Second: dude told me he is gathering the indie band, that he is very creative and has a lot of ready songs to work on. I specifically asked does he means melody and lyrics, he said yes. Then there was couple of rehearsals of jamming and noodling (he very much enjoys noodling) and he expected vocalist, which can sing, but has no experience writing songs, to "be more brave and creative" - i.e. write melodies and lyrics. When I confronted the dude, he said oh, sorry, I probably misused some words, did I say I have songs? Oh no, I have just riffs, in the previous band everyone was doing only their part! Of course that was it for me, I referred the vocalist to a cover band I knew, he is doing great there

Third: cover band. They don't care, don't practice, and have weird excuses to not go to rehearsals. Like, "oh no, I already had plans to go out with my friends to the park". Not left yet, but probably soon.

Fourth: rapcore. The founder dude is very behind on lyrics, we even rehearsing once a week can assemble 2-3 ideas on the spot, in a month he wrote 1 text. I understand it takes time to write decent lyrics, it's fine, however he encourages us to meet more often (twice a week) for lounger sessions (3 hours), also come to his house to jam and try out ideas. Which I find a waste of time, since we play decent, can come up with arrangements quicker than he can come up with lyrics, and increasing time spent together won't yield much. Not even raising this, as ya know "killing vibes" again.

Not even mentioning 5 other bands, where in the first rehearsal it was clear we don't match. With these I thought there's hope.

I signed up to music school, to learn theory better, and learn basic piano. And honestly oftentimes when it's time for me to go to rehearsal, I am thinking that I would much rather stay home and record something in repear.

But maybe it's all me and instead I need therapy.

I've recently joined this thread so I hope this is OK to post.

I've been working professionally in music for almost 6 years. Producing, writing, and artist. I've had some modest success- some viral posts, decent social media, and at one point reached 700K monthly listeners. Now I've leveled out at around 100K. I release from time to time and I get good playlisting.

I have a publishing deal, a pending indie label deal, and have had some syncs. From the outside looking in, a lot have assumed I've "made it." My social media also makes it look that way.

But as all of us know, despite this, the money and lifestyle is not stable at all. Budgets are smaller. Everywhere I look I see AI. Tours are expensive. And now that I've seen firsthand what it takes to REALLY break an artist, and how many pieces need to go right, and how many people are involved... I don't think it's for me. I never cared to be a big artist anyway. I just wanted to release good music and stream well enough to make a decent living. But that's starting to feel impossible.

Even the massively successful people that I know and work with are extremely concerned about the future of this industry. And I'm at that weird point where I'm successful enough that I can't get a "normal" job without basically having to quit music. But if I keep going and it doesn't work out, then I'll be 30 soon, broke, and that scares me. I have great friends outside of music but I don't have a life at all. There's no time for that. But, I've been in this boat of "momentum is building, just hold on a bit longer!" For the last two years. It's getting exhausting.

I'm not sure what to do. I am one of those people who formed my entire identity around music. I have great work ethic, I have hobbies and interests, I'd survive. But the fact that I'm even writing a post like this scares me. I never thought this would even cross my mind. Is this what burnout feels like?

So I guess I'm looking for advice, feedback, or any of your personal experiences on surviving in this industry. Should I stick it out for another year even though it's costing me peace of mind, money, and precious time?

TL;DR
I'm at a turning point in my career, I'm debating leaving, but I'm not sure if this is just burnout or fear talking.

I'm a studio-only artist. I don't perform live or maintain a front-facing persona. I like being anonymous! But, i keep getting branded as Ai although I use NO Ai in my process. Also, my voice doesn't sound anywhere as good as those Ai voices. Just wondering if anybody else has had this happen...?

I'm 15 and want to be some sort of musician when I'm older. I play bass guitar and piano and after school I plan to go to the sydney conservatorium of music to get a bachelor of music in performance (for bass guitar) so I can do weddings, sessions, private tuition etc. I was wondering what other people's path after high school was involving a career in music. Is there anything apart from getting a good HSC mark and perfecting my instrument that I could do now to help myself in the future? What part time job did you have starting out to support you? What is the best way to have a consistent pay every week (I assume private tuition but I'm not sure about other things)?

Currently writing this from my mom’s crib, don’t really know where to start but we‘ll see where this goes. I currently hate the place where my life is. I wake up every day and I feel such strong dread to be. I’m broke, I live at my mom’s, and I feel chronically lonely. Im working on an album rn but it’s taking forever to finish, and I’ve heard it so much that I hate it and I think it sucks and I wanna throw it in the trash.

I feel like I have no avenue to start my life. Im from NYC and I have pretty much no hobbies cuz I can’t afford them. I’m lucky to be working an internship within music on the business side which is cool, but I can’t take a job with the company cuz I have to finish college first. And of course afterwards I gotta worry about an unfathomable amount of student loans that I have to pay off, so I feel like my salary wouldn’t even matter. I’m like banking on a massive artist career, which I know is peak stupid and I’m not delusional I just genuinely feel like I have no other choice.

Im also stupidly anxious when it comes to talking to people. Like I look at myself in the mirror and I feel ugly and dumb and boring and I feel like no one wants to talk to someone like me I guess. Like I can’t even look people in the eye. And what am I supposed to say anyways? Like I’m a broke rapper who lives with his mom and has nothing else to offer. I can’t convince myself that that’s someone who would be of interest to anyone.

I’ve thought that maybe what I’m trying to do is just a horrible idea, and I should just put the pen down. Like honestly I wish that I could be a doctor or a businessman or a lawyer. But the thing is I physically cannot do anything other than music. I’m too ADHD to do anything with organization and just too dumb to do smart people shit. And I can’t even really transition to a different type of musician cuz my piano skills are only really good enough to play my own songs.

Im not gonna act like it’s all piss bottles n shitcakes, one of my friends has a sickass studio that’s a fun hangout spot and all of my friends are really cool and do a bunch of really cool things (music and outside of music). A lot of the time though I can’t afford or don’t have the creativity to do the cool stuff that they do, and even when we do hang I always feel like I wanna run away after. Like when are these people gonna drop me for being a bum. I literally sat in the middle of Houston St with a chopped cheese in hand and just cried after a session. Like shit really is that deep.

Idk. I just feel like society hates people like me. Honestly I’m starting to hate people like me. Idk if any of you guys have been in this situation when u were 22 but if you have some advice I’d love it.

Band based in the La area around whittier maywood downey. Any basisst looking to be dedicated to a band hmu my band just dropped a project and were looking to go all in on live shows, touring and writing

We play a mixture of sludge, hardcore, and powerviolence LMK ASAP

My instagram @hum4nt3rr0r
I can send our ep thru messages

I'm about to release this track and wanted to get one last round of feedback before I do mainly on the mix and master

So, I accidentally dropped my bass clarinet as I was going to grab the case, the case wasn’t full closed and my parts fell.

Now my lower joint pads won’t close fully. But I figured out what was the culprit but I’m not sure how to fix it, considering that I have a tool “box”

Anyone who knows how to fix instruments would you say I can fix it at home given the tools I have? My instrument is expensive and I don’t believe I can afford extra payments at the moment.

Title pretty much says it all. I’m having all 4 wisdom teeth removed along with 2 root canals. Being a vocalist, obviously I have my reservations. Is there anything I should do? Anything I shouldn’t? I’m genuinely freaked, and I’ve heard stories of people who had the surgery and ended up unable to return to pre-op voice. :,)

edit: for whatever reason, me asking this question triggered the asshole brigade, so to clarify; i have an issue that causes poor, prolonged healing. However, even if that wasn’t the case, all i wanted to know was if anyone had advice post op. swelling, ET tubes, and teeth removal can mess with your sound. as musicians, i would think y’all would understand how sensitive sound is. good lord.

If this isn’t welcome, you are free to delete it, but there is a drummer, great studio drummer and instructor, who is at risk of losing his Achilles tendon. This is how he makes a living. If you are able to spread the word or donate, it is very much appreciated.

I see a bunch of people on TT singing with their friends using bandlab and they sound amazing, I get so jealous cuz honestly if love to have a group like that but all the singing groups I've been to, either have;

Hella young ppl like below 15

Don't know what bandlab is

Are using the first mic that was ever created like ever

Are tone deaf (and trust me, I'm the last person to ever get on anyone regarding their singing, I love music. But I truly mean like deadass singing the melody of twinkle twinkle lil star to Olivia Rodrigos Driver license, and not hearing that the two are completely different)

Know nothing about singing just likes how it sounds when all put together (WHICH IS KINDA SOMETIMES OKAY! Unless it falls onto my last point.)

Or completely ghost after showing interest in a collaboration.

Like I get it we're all busy but don't show interest in something you can't commit to. I won't have u working hours on a song, if there's an issue I'll let you know. But hopefully you'd be able to pick that up yourself yk. I hate deconstructive feedback, idc what the reason is ur a total asshole if u bash anyone trying to sing, that's awful.

But I DO love constructive criticism and support it 100% PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO BETTER, I LOVE TS.

But let me get back to the point.

I really want to have a singing group that we can sing and post TT and insta covers of. I want people to hear how awesome we all sound.

SO.

Pls hmu if you wanna join! It's a insta group I'd be making so just 9 more people! ( I think the max is 10).

RULES:

Must be over 18

Must know how to use bandlab

Must have a good mic

Accents are obviously so okay! And not everyone in the group has to sing everything. Obviously you have to sing sometimes bc if it's 1 song outta the 20 we did in the space of 2 or 3 months then, you're just taking up space and will be removed, simple as that.

Yes, it's just for fun but obviously we wanna sound good! No, money is not included 💀💀😭 and YES I would like this to be an ongoing basis type of thing.

And another thing, I actually hope we can like... Become friends? 😭 it would be so weird singing like it's a job, hello?💀

So hmu pls!

I’ll preface this by saying I’m an ok singer. But for some reason when I play a b7 my voice just can never hit it, any advice? It would be appreciated

Lately I get compared to Olivia Rodrigo multiple times daily online. It's kind of making me lose my mind a little because I'm just a brunette girl (at most maybe we dress similar?). I'm worried it'll affect people listening to my own music and taking me seriously.
Our music doesn't sound alike. I was curious and listened to her music and to me she's very pop and I'm more alternative/rock.
My worst fear is people will think I'm copying her or something but I've made music for most of my life and have always looked the way I do. Is this a valid concern or does anyone have a better perspective for looking at this or maybe even taking advantage of it?

if i even produce a song how would i even reach the traction and make myself somewhere............. I WANNA BUILT A CAREER IN IT PLS HELP