I'm 34, and still plugging away on the tunes.

I'm not an amateur, and have been signed before.(We got out of the deal)

Am I delusional in thinking I can still get signed, have a career in music at 34(almost 35), or should I start to think about another career path??

See, I probably won't ever give up, but I want to know what you feel about this, and do you know anyone who's got a deal later in life and been very successful??

I kinda feel like I'm right in the middle now, and want to hear other musician's opinions on this.

Thanks.

no, but look at bukowski!

Dont ever give up!

Yes. You are too old. The adult diapers, the viagra for the groupies, the hip replacement... it's all too much to bear for an elder like yourself.

Leave music to the kids, so we can get more Britneys, Justins, oo ooo - and that Lizzie Mcguire - THAT was some talent!!

your never too old for the New Funk Order!

http://newfunkorder.com

All jokes aside, I just went to a music business seminar last month and yes, in the US 18 is too old. For real, someone said that. BUT indie labels don't care how old you are. Also, it's only like that in the US. The rest of the world doesn't care how old you are or what you look like. They actually care a little more about the music.

Now, as far as getting signed, is it really necessary? If you could make a living and pay your rent with your music, would that be enough? Or do you want to be on MTV and all that? The radio? It's all BS right now you know... It's paid by middlemen that are sent from the record company. It's basically paid advertising.

Have you heard of Jana Stanfield? She wrote a book called The Musician's Guide to Making & Selling Your Own CDs & Cassettes. She brings home $30,000 a year with her music.
http://www.amazon.com/exe...e&n=507846
You can click on the book and read some of the pages. The book also mentions Ani Difranco, who did the mail order thing with her cds for a looong time.


Check out the calendar section of her website; she goes all over the world, doing her thing. http://www.janastanfield.com/

Another cool book is How to Make and Sell Your Own Recordings by Diane Sward Rapaport. Lots more info in this book, and a forward by Lorena Mckennet who was basically a successful business woman with her music before she got signed. http://www.amazon.com/exe...s&n=507846

The way I see it, you're creating a homemade product and you can sell it. It could be cookies, pizzas, friendship bracelets or cds. But if you don't want to deal with the business side, well that's another thing. Hope this helps.

Vina, you're awesome.


As for the original post, you're as old as you feel and if you don't feel the music anymore, stop playing it.

If getting signed is your big concern, people feel the music when you do and if it's good then you will get "signed". whatever that means in todays music industry


I'm a spelling jackass - edit
[This message was edited Tue Dec 9 7:33:40 PST 2003 by Slave2daGroove]

Slave2daGroove said:

Yeah, but I ain't no Britney Spears...

Join us at the NFO! Any age is never too old.


Peace,
JD

You can do your thing. The critical part at our age (I'm barreling into 39) is your ability to keep it up... touring, playing, pimping yourself etc, even within just one city. Here in ATL, I'm playing 2-4 times a week, just supporting someone else.

If I was trying to keep this up, running my OWN band, it would definitely wear thin after 6 months. I did some research last year on getting a deal thru some local indie labels, and they're not interested unless you're pushing the record at gigs constantly. No reason to make a run of 1000 records if you're going to take 2 years to sell them.

So, ask YOURSELF, do you have the energy to pimp yourself during the day, and go out and gig at night? It's EASIEST/safest if you do the whole thing yourself, but it involves a TON of organizational skizzles - accounting, booking, doing radio interviews, sending out press releases to press, etc. I know a few folks my age that pull it off, but it's a scary proposition.

A very close friend just had emergency surgery, and he's a pro drummer. No insurance, and it'll take 3 months to recover. So here he is, two weeks ago, gigging 6 nights a week, this week, $80,000 in the hole over at the hospital, and no income for 3 months.

That right there gives me reason to rethink the ambitious musician track. I'm just happy to do it as a hobby. If I sell a song to somebody, excellent. But even that - I'm dragging ass on pimping my songs. I've got 2 labels waiting for songs for their artists, and I'm just too damn busy to burn a frickin CD for them. How lame is that?

A good quick way to make money with one of your tracks is to sell it to a movie soundtrack. At that same music business seminar I went to, I learned that even if 10 seconds of your song is featured in a movie, you can make $80,000. Period. Something like that. I may have to edit when I get home and check my notes again. Another idea is to write the theme song for a sitcom. Imagine the possiblilites if it's a hit and gets aired all over the world. Watch those royalty checks come in! Do a google search for music licensing.

My point is, there are tons of ways to make money with your music. Anything can happen. You just gotta be ready.

VinaBlue said:

Dang Vina. So I'm reading this thread top to bottom and after reading your posts, I ain't got nothing else to say.

oh wait a minute..

Are you single?

marcdeondotcom said:

Depends...





We can have a musical marriage if you don't mind sharing me with manki and funkaholic1972...

vina blue.


what can i say.. your one of the best team players in this event. if there is anything we can do especially 4 u let us know.

Electric Purple,
prince

and the rest of the crew @ The Download Society

ElectricPurple said:

Thanks! You guys do some SERIOUS self-promotion. Much props. My ONLY problem is that my music isn't ready, IMO. I think it needs to be produced a lil mo betta before I start using all this knowledge I've accumulated...

sensitivemthrfker said:

Never give up. If the music is truly in you, you will find contentment and doors WILL open. My childhood dreams of filling stadiums and arenas are long gone but I look back on my career and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Could still happen.. who knows?

Think of Tina Turner, she was like 44 or something when she made her big comeback.

otan said:

Otan, I can't believe this! I've been quiet reading all the funnky musicians takes on things on here, including yourself, and I come across this? You are literally sitting on a chance that many wish they could even blow hot air by, but not making a move because of being too damn busy?! Wow...sorry, dawg, had to vent on that one.

Seriously, I write and produce songs, but have not pimped myself out enough to even come across those leads you have. Could you do one favor and DO something with them please!!!?!?

xpsiter said:

you know how it is. I'll write something fantastic (like the collaboration with 2Funky) and it's just amazing (to ME, at least) and as soon as I find someone asking for a copy, I'll burn one for them, and then I'll write something else, and scrap the original disc... and then get torn over which songs to give to them...

and then 3 weeks have gone by, and I wonder, "is it too late to contact that producer? will he say, 'you snooze you lose'?" at which point, I stop working at it.

My wife nudges me all the time to get together a disc of just 4 songs and have 4 copies with me at all times. I should. Really.

So, okay. I will. I'll make it my goal to get the discs together and get them out to folks this weekend.

Just as soon as I finish SuperMario 64. That game just frickin ROCKS!

VinaBlue said:

See - THAT is exactly the attitude I have - my stuff is okay, but, it really needs more work. So I sit on these songs instead of getting them out to folks. But, in the books that I've read about selling songs, the focus is on the SONGS, NOT on the production - the books and articles are always saying, if you're selling your SONGS, don't worry about the production or sound quality. Worry about the lyrics, the chords, the melody.

A good song will shine, even it it's recorded on a 20-year old answering machine.

Wow, this whole thread makes me want a group hug! hehe :+) I just have to say, you guys are all very cool! I think it's great all the support we get around here. :+)

For the question. Well, I guess it depends on what type of label you're going for and maybe even a little of what genre you're doing. I know of a few artist that didn't "make it" til their 30's doing more "adult" material. I think you still have a good shot at making a pretty nice living doing music, label or not.

On what I feel is a realistic note... Yes, releasing your own MUSIC sounds easy but it's not. hehe The biggest problem is promotion and then after that it's $$$! I won't even get started on that because I'm sure you all know what I mean. Sadly that's what the music industry is about. (note...industry, not the art of MUSIC! hehe) MUSIC as a business is about who does the best "PR" and has the biggest budget. It sucks and drives me crazy. I have considered doing more with my record label but it's already expensive enough releasing my own projects! I also on top of that have to buy equipment for my studio, pay bills and try to have some $$ left over to enjoy things. hehe

K, I'm taking this exit ramp now and I'll end my vent. hehe I just know you guys would understand how frustrating it is. :+) Take care everybody and best of luck in life and in MUSIC!

otan said:

otan said:

That's the spirit!! Best of luck with doing it too, really.

otan said:

I've never really looked at it that way. too much of a perfectionist in me, so I lose inspiration on my myriad of unfinished ideas. That's why the only way anyone has heard my material is by accidentally hearing it in the background while on the phone with them.

Bootsinox said:

I'm 41 and I am gonna try till I die

Thankyou to everyone for the words of support and enthusiasm for this thing we just have to do. It is much appreciated, and so cool to have others on this site to share their side of things. I'm inspired again!!!

I gotta go record some tracks now!!

Peace.

sensitivemthrfker said:

sensitivemthrfker said:

No I don't think that ur 2 old 2 get signed. However it depends upon what sort of company ur lookin' 2 sign u. Its most likely a specialist label would sign u rather than a huge company like Warners, EMI, BMG etc. Specialist labels or independants r always lookin' 4 new talent and I don't think age matters 2 them @ all, what matters is talent.

Every1 knows that image sells records 2day and this is why major record labels sign acts with little or no talent just 2 make a quick profit cuz the singer can b marketed on his/her image.

However, I think the music industry is in a desperate situation @ the moment as there r no real major acts that r sellin' like they used 2, they r 2 busy focusing on profit.

I think u should take in2 account other possibilities with gettin' ur music 2 people. Market urself and ur music and see if u can attract interest.

BlaqueKnight said:

my thoughts too - thanks for putting them into words. + quoting Sting, who recently said, "Music is its own Reward!" i find myself repeating that over and over and over . . . so even though the masses may not be hearing my music - i'm still getting inner enjoyment from each piece i create ~ even when the production is less than desirable or it's just a diddy. so i say, just keep on keeping on!!!