Author Topic: 12. Goals and aspirations (Read 9446 times)

SlideMeister · « **on:** December 09, 2011, 12:36:46 AM »

Okay kids, we're almost done here

Where do you intend to go with your Chromatic playing?

1. Play for your own enjoyment?

or

2. Take the instrument to a professional level.

No discussion, joosta answer the questch!

@ge

wolfman · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2011, 12:41:17 AM »

1.For me

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2011, 01:47:51 AM »

2. I'm already playing the instrument as part of my professional appearances--although I am not selling myself as a chromatic harmonica player, it gets used at every available opportunity.

Grizzly · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2011, 07:32:10 AM »

Are those really the only two choices? I play for my own enjoyment, but I really get some kicks playing in public. Professional level? Not hardly; but that's a good standard to aim for. If by professional you mean make my living at it? No way. Very, very few achieve that.

Tom

rusty · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2011, 06:42:12 AM »

world domination is my goal

but getting paid would ruin a good hobby. That's called work

jimgrant · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2011, 10:37:40 AM »

#1 - I play for my enjoyment and sometimes get paid for it. I haven't enough raw talent to consider being a professional; besides that sounds too much like work and I've given that up!!.

John Broecker · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2011, 11:09:35 AM »

Hello, A.J., Prime Minister of the Slide Harp.

I've always played for my own enjoyment, and have performed a few harmonica gigs for pay, as a result of someone hearing me play, or word of mouth.

In my other musical careers, the same philosophy has awarded me a pro percussionist career, pro music instructor career, and semi-pro music author carreer.

Just by playing for my own enjoyment. The rest will follow.

Happy Holidays

John Broecker

Bluesy · « **Reply #7 on:** December 10, 2011, 01:13:10 PM »

Carnegie Hall.

(I actually did play at Carnegie Hall once . . . . but they threw me out of my seat.)

Comet Dye/ (serious answer later)

mikesmics · « **Reply #8 on:** December 10, 2011, 09:58:47 PM »

Just for me. Nobody else wants to hear $:-\$

Scotty · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2011, 11:06:52 PM »

There's a 3rd choice in my book - to play for 'others' who just might find it fun. Hopefully to be good enough one of these days to entertain on a more casual basis: nursing homes, veterans hospitals and the like. Certainly not 'professional', though.

Elizabeth (a/k/a Scotty)

McManus · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2011, 08:38:13 AM »

I play for my own enjoyment; and the enjoyment of my grandchildren, who love to dance and sing when I play--then join in with the harmonicas and noisemakers that I keep in the office for them. Together we are the sum of "make a joyful noise".

Jimbo · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2011, 02:24:14 PM »

Here is my answer @ge!!! #2 Jimbo or James M. German (FEW WORDS AMAZING!!!Z0

RolandTumbler · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2011, 02:54:48 PM »

Playing gigs now on suck-harp and a little in a mannered Blues style on Chromatic, but I'd like to eventually transition to playing some Jazz gigs on Chromatic harmonica.

wotmoniker · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2011, 07:05:57 PM »

Primarily for my own enjoyment. But that enjoyment will be the greater when I can play a few tunes well enough to be able to respond entertainingly when someone says, "Give us a tune, then..."

Luke · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2011, 10:12:56 PM »

Take it to a professional level but just for my own enjoyment.

draak13 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 12, 2011, 12:15:52 AM »

Most of the time for me it is 1.

At other times it is 1.

When there are friends and/or family there, it is 1.

Sander · « **Reply #16 on:** December 15, 2011, 03:06:29 PM »

Philos · « **Reply #17 on:** December 15, 2011, 04:19:34 PM »

I have a goal with my playing. It sort of sits in between the 2 options.

A local pub/hotel/bar near me has an 'open mic night' once a month. My goal is to get up there and blast out a couple of tunes maybe with a drummer doing a basic beat. This one has been on the burner for about 18 months now, ha.

Also in my area is a group who meets once a week for a jam session. Another goal is to go along, take the axe, and check it out. Again this has been on the burner for a while now too.

I won't truly be happy until I get up there at the open mic night though....

Grizzly · « **Reply #18 on:** December 15, 2011, 05:22:39 PM »

Philos: a bit of advice I was given many years ago. If you wait until you're GOOD enough, you never do it. You only have to be good ENOUGH.

Another piece of advice given to my (now) wife at an open mic: go do it. Nobody's got a gun, they won't shoot you.

We both benefitted greatly from that advice.

Tom

Gary Richardson · « **Reply #19 on:** December 15, 2011, 10:14:43 PM »

SlideMeister · « **Reply #20 on:** December 15, 2011, 10:26:12 PM »

For the first fifty years, I thought 1, and for the next 50, I'm thinkin' maybe 2

(nothin like an old fart, professional Chromatic player, eh?)

Philos · « **Reply #21 on:** December 17, 2011, 05:33:14 PM »

Thanks Tom,

Very good advice. It is my goal to get up there and play at the open mic. One tune, that's all I want to play for starters. I need to get back to picking a tune, practising and then doin' it! I've got to get my focus back on that task alone.

I know I can do it! Golly, years ago when I used to play electric bass, I played in front of 13,000 people.! I had a absolute ball!

Phil

rootboy · « **Reply #22 on:** December 17, 2011, 10:08:10 PM »

I already play for my own enjoyment, and hope to gig soon's I can.-Greg

SlideMeister · « **Reply #23 on:** December 21, 2011, 12:35:37 AM »

Author Topic: 12. Goals and aspirations (Read 9446 times)

rusty

Bluesy

mikesmics

Jimbo

RolandTumbler

wotmoniker

Luke

Sander

Philos

Philos