Holding On To Your Dreams

I am a cliche, I am very much aware of this.

Just like so many of you on these pages, I was destined to change the world with my profoundly new and different axe-slinging skills when I was in high school. I couldn't play to save my life, but that did not seem to be more than a detail that would work itself out later. Bottom line was: I was the best thing to happen to rock since Jimmy Page, it was just that no one else realized that yet.

So now I'm 23. I'm typing this article from behind a desk in an office building somewhere in Amsterdam, and I can't seem to shake the feeling that this is not how life looks for mr Page. And somehow, I feel that this is where the majority of us ends up, and it seems to be kind of hard to escape from the jaws of mediocrity.

So what should I have done? What can I do now?

I know what I should have done: practice!!! When I was in high school, I thought the fact that I looked amazingly cool with my guitar around my neck was enough, and videogames did not point out my deficiencies as much as trying to comp Slash in November Rain. In no way is musical proficiency a promise of succes, but it is a key trait that will help you make an impression. It will help you if you can run some licks from Beethoven's 9th when you audition for that hip-hop gig: You'll stick out. People tend to forget that one of the best ways to get into professional musicianship is landing a gig with some other band than your own. For this kind of audition it is very useful to be able to show a little more than the fact that you can play their three-chord crap. Other bands want their guitar players to be Steve Vai without the ability to speak or voice an opinion. Just get in, then work towards earning your place in the group.

Second thing you're gonna need is heart. There is no way this thing is just going to 'happen' for you and your band just cause you think you are decent and your mom says she likes your music. There is no limit to the amount of effort and dissappointment you'll have to go through before you'll even get so much as a decent gig. Then, when it looks like something is happening, hold on for all that you're worth. Big chance is that your band members won't have this drive. Kick them the hell out! You'll find like-minded people in due time. If you want to get anywhere in music, don't waste your time with people that can't come to practice because their girlfriend wants them to watch CSI with them. I learned this the hard way, and due to my trust in humanity I had it proven to be true a couple of times over.

The last thing: Be patient. There is a good chance you don't know any music-scene big shots or record execs that went to college with your pops, so you'll have to wait it out. What worked for me was the fact that I had a job selling guitars for a long time. I met people that could do stuff for me if I rubbed them the right way, and I could have taken it someplace cool. It was a good way of staying in touch with the 'scene' if you could call it that, and it also was a steady income.

But I lacked the heart, I decided I'll first get my degree, then try again. There's is a very good chance it won't happen to me again, however, and that is why I'm writing down what I've learned. I will try next year, though.

In no way do I want to come across as some kind of expert or 'insider', but I wish someone had kicked my ass into gear when I was 14. I hope some of you do have it in you and will find a way to crack the protective shell that the music biz has created for itself.

Stay true to the dream,

-Maxx

Comments

[Freepower]

good, but lacking in advice...

[KENZI]

good article and i'm glad i can learn from you.

[Apokryphos]

Great article, it's motivating. Good Job.~

~Casey

[5150man]

you got something against CSI you loser??
lol just kidding

[Guitar_Guy00001]

damn good article I'm gonna go practice!!!..

[Tchort]

well the article was good, 4 stars, but do you actually think that this will help anyone after they had read these exact same things in about a billion different articles all over guitar websites? I know it is hard to be original, but musicians of all people have to be creative....

[falloutboy106]

i agree with freepower, there isnt much stuff that actually tells us anything useful, but its good, and well written

[monkeyman4jesus]

Nice insparational, but no advice. :-(

[generoustofault]

this article awoke something inside me.ive been thinking about quiting songwriting and guitar, and concentrating more on my career, reality, thing like that.there is no set reality, no order in which things should work.it all depends on if we have enough patience to sculp our own realities into what we think it should be.oh yeah, great article by the way.

[rubysoho8779]

i liked this, it made me think about what people have been telling me. they ask me what i want to do after high school, and i say i wanna be in a band, and they say yea but more realistically, what do you want to do after high school. everybodys so focused on growing up, getting money and being stable. nobody remembers when they were a kid and they wanted to be an astronaut, a baseball player, or in some of our cases, a rock star. thanks for the kick in the ass that you didnt get!

[demonic_fishie]

"Stay true to the dream"

Forever, man. Hang on to it, and I hope you get your break next year. Thank you for making me reflect on what i've actually achieved.

[toha33]

nice artice...your advice is geat man

[Burbinski]

i have trouble getting my ass into gear. thanks for the inspiration man

[fieldyfan16]

good article makes me want to go pratice and get my ass into gear
~Dustin

[thedankle]

so far all I've heard is great article.....I cant lie, it is very motivational....thanx

[Spanner]

Sniff.. I know how you feel man (tears), I am just like you, my heart for music died a long time a go and I really regret not getting more into it, and more fun out of it, because guitar playing was the one thing that kept me out of depression (sniff)

[lacey_the_crazy]

Good article, 4 stars for sure. I'd say thanks for the inspiration, etc, but it's been said. Good stuff!

[monkeyspks]

I guess 3 stars, didn't do anything for me.

[dancing_jesus]

you rock man-a lot of people have potential but lack inspiration-this is a good place to find it

[atm_sk8er]

do you actually think that this will help anyone after they had read these exact same things in about a billion different articles all over guitar websites? I know it is hard to be original, but musicians of all people have to be creative....

it wasnt supposto be that, its good motavation. good article

[pistols]

Good article. Especially the last lines. If I get famous, I want to do so by reviving the true and better form of punk rock-British punk.

[jklsadj;sadjfak]

ya, my problem is that im happy sitting around all day playing green day covers. too lazy to learn theory, and i always get sidetracked with some easy song when im trying to learn a hard solo or something.

[kbass9267]

It has a good message, but anybody knows that. Of course if you dont practice and go 2 college not focusing on your music, u wont have a career in it

1 star. bad.

spam deleted.

[armadillo]

i'm glad you made this mistakes so it can save us time

[milk_it_good]

Basically, if you are lacking the heart and initiative, then it can't be your destiny. When you find your true passion, everything else becomes obsolete. Trust me, you'll know the feeling. Don't try too hard to force yourself into becoming your ideal guitar idol. It should come naturally.

[Kadaj]

i know a pub where robert plant goes? does that count as me knowing musical big shots? lmao

[armadillo]

23 it's not to late to still give a shot at rock stardom

that friggin Tom Morello RATM was made it when he was like what..26? 27? and still he manage to get a degree from them Havards

[Emenius Sleepus]

well everyone's diferent,.. you can have bands while you're still in college. lol and I"m lucky cuz my g/f likes guitarists so she comes to rehearsals rather than watch CSI

[GNRobsessed013]

Woahh. that like, really made me want to try harder instead of like give up. thats some awesome writing.

[zepp_headcrunge]

not to meny people can be via or page

[Skywalker_90]

I just play CSI in the background at rehersals that way everyone in the band can stay intelligent hahaha

[God withus]

Well, its not too late to give up your dream of being the next guitar hero. I dont know if it could ever be too late.

[Underhander]

good article man, very motivational

[pytolk]

Woah!!! Dude that was so emotional... i almost want to quit my job and just hang out with people like you who love music but cant seem to focus. Thanks for the crack in the shell. Now i can break free

[stumaster18]

***...exactly how I am. I am in love with music, but I can't find anyone else who loves music as much as me around here. it really sucks. I am going to try t find those people, and ***, hopefully start a revolution lol..

[joyful womble]

[dash_right]

not bad but no real advise

[death_soul]

atm_sk8er:
do you actually think that this will help anyone after they had read these exact same things in about a billion different articles all over guitar websites? I know it is hard to be original, but musicians of all people have to be creative....

it wasnt supposto be that, its good motavation. good article


im agree with that but it was a good article man.

[axeslinger01]

this was good, my band members lack drive but i cant find anybuddy better (sigh)

[TanyaE]

Hey!Great article,I know exactly what you mean!Music is my life even though i am 15 but i just can't get enough of it like many others!I practice guitar hour after hour everyday but the problem is I can't find people around here who want the dream as bad as me.Your article's very inspirational,thx!Tanya.

[TanyaE]

Hey!This was a gr8 article!I know exactly what you mean!Music is my life I practice guitar hour after hour but the problem is I can't find anybody who wants the dream as bad as I do!Don't giv up and goodluck!Your article was very inspirational,thx!Tanya.

[TanyaE]

Oh Yeah,Goodluck and Don't giv up!

[azkonceptz]

freepower are u freaking stupid? If your looking for advice than it is not to give up. but this article wasnt advice, its just someones perspective on the shit that he thought u might wanna know.

[Valkyrie]

Very good article. I totally agree.

[Strat_Monkey]

damn good article I'm gonna go practice!!!..

damn good article I'm gonna go fire my bassist!!!..

[MRTOEHEADJR]

makes me wanna cry lol

[ThEbLaCkRoSe]

Dude...I know I'm going to sound gay saying this, but man...that really had an impact on me. I think I'm going to print this out and put it on my wall or wherever when I get discouraged.

This letter came in right on time, too. I was frustrated as hell and I was thinking about really giving up. But not now. Thanks Maxx. You changed my life.

[maxxxisgod]

@ ThEblaCkRoSe:
Dude, seriously. Maybe I should have put something in there about having some balls as well. Haha. But seriously; thanks for the comment, nice to know people read it.

Maxx.

[The_New_Slash]

Ill better start practise hard cause im 15 already!!:S

[Bulletbass man]

Tchort:
well the article was good, 4 stars, but do you actually think that this will help anyone after they
had read these exact same things in about a billion different articles all over guitar websites? I know it is hard to be original, but musicians of all people have to be creative....

this is the best advice on this page. All the greats are the ones who were creative. All the best bands are the ones who made something new or rejuvaneted the old in thier creative way.

[Busby]

All I need is some mates to rock out with, I don't care if i'm famous or not, I just wanna play some good toons with some good people, and that article made me wanna rock out with my c**k out, haha joke.

[sk8erchyk]

Bottom line was: I was the best thing to happen to rock since Jimmy Page

im sorry that was a bit concieted

[sk8erchyk]

i'm glad you made this mistakes so it can save us time

harsh man harsh...

[sk8erchyk]

good article tho thx :

[daronfan]

The article is inspiring. I hope become a good guitar player, well I do play my guitar for atleast 6-7 hours everyday so.

[Nirvana_RATM2]

THANKS DUDE. Im doing it right now

SLASH , PAGE , PERRY , HENDRIX , IOMMI

your basic rock warfare im learnin. Im 14 and im getting EVERYONE into rock n roll , no matter what. I feel the dream and i have faith im kicking my ass in gear as we speak...im goin be famous and i wont ever think i cant. There is no doubt in my mind that god put me on here to rock....I can justfy this in anyway...I dont care if ppl think that its some crappy dream , or chances are not good...Im willing to take that change the risk , and that my friends is rock n roll.

[floyd_rose]

yeah.. liked the article... got really inspired...

Now I just need to get the rest of my band to get their ass into gear...

[Lyf]

Thank god I'm barley 13 and practice every night for a few hours.
But seriously, it's always motivating to hear how it fails and what you can end up like. [Haha, office personel]
Thanks for the insight.

[Rickydicky2004]

I am in the same boat, sitting behind a desk dreaming of what could have been. Someday perhaps!! Someday

[ProjectDark]

Great atricle even though your title looked like you were going to give advice LOL. I like how you were honest in saying that the dream probaly will not happen to most of us youngn's and it is insipiring for some to hear of your failure but i like you have come to realize that i will probaly never live the rockstar dream but im just happy being a musician hobbiest.

[Tempus]

You made my night man. \m/ NEVER give up the dream. \m/

[Greenday4Life]

sk8erchyk wrote:

Bottom line was: I was the best thing to happen to rock since Jimmy Page


im sorry that was a bit concieted

Are you dumb? You completely missed the point of the article.