The WAKE UP CALL many great musicians will have to face!

Summary

The story follows a guitarist who started playing in their early teens, inspired by Guitar Hero and quickly excelling in real guitar. After joining bands and sharpening their skills, they audition for a well-known band but are ultimately rejected, not for lack of skill, but for image and connections. This realization prompts the guitarist to rethink their approach to success, deciding to focus on not just technical proficiency but also creativity, networking, and stage presence, vowing to become a more well-rounded and sought-after musician.

Takeaways

• 🎸 A young person starts playing guitar, inspired by a relative or Guitar Hero, and picks it up quickly.
• 🎶 They progress rapidly from beginner riffs to advanced metal songs within a year, impressing friends and peers.
• 🎤 After rejecting an opportunity to join a cover band, they finally join a progressive metal band with peers, showcasing their skills.
• 🌟 The band enjoys success for several years, but eventually, members start leaving due to life circumstances, leading the guitarist to look for new opportunities.
• 🎵 They receive an audition offer from an established band, 'Zaap Dingbats,' blending Led Zeppelin's music style with Queen's vocals.
• 😲 At the audition, they face tough competition, including a Viking-like guitarist, a stylish female guitarist, and others.
• 🎧 The audition goes well, but they are rejected, and it’s revealed that the Viking guitarist was chosen for his on-stage look and image rather than musical skill.
• 😔 The rejection highlights how factors beyond skill—like appearance and connections—play a role in band selection, frustrating the guitarist.
• 🎤 The guitarist realizes they need to focus not just on technical skills but also on areas like vocals, style, and networking.
• 🔥 Motivated to become a more well-rounded musician, they start working on songwriting, improvisation, and building connections in the local music scene.

Q & A

What motivated the person to start learning guitar?

The person was motivated to start learning guitar in their early teens, possibly inspired by a cool relative or playing Guitar Hero, which gave them a head start in understanding rhythm and coordination.

How did the person progress in their guitar skills so quickly?

The person quickly advanced by watching YouTube tutorials, learning riffs they liked, and signing up for an online guitar course that helped with music theory and technique.

Why did the person initially decline joining the cover band of older musicians?

The person declined the offer to join the cover band because they were more focused on developing their skills in metal music, which the cover band’s classic rock style didn’t align with.

How did the person's experience in a progressive metal band affect their development as a musician?

Playing in the progressive metal band allowed the person to fully utilize their skills and gain experience performing at various shows, contributing to both their personal growth and the band's success over a span of seven years.

What caused the progressive metal band to fall apart?

The band began to fall apart as members' personal lives changed—one got married, and another had legal issues. These factors led to the eventual dissolution of the band.

What was the person's reaction upon being invited to audition for the more established band, Zaap Dingbats?

The person was excited and saw the audition as a big break, particularly because Zaap Dingbats was a popular band with a unique mix of Led Zeppelin and Queen influences.

Why did the person ultimately not get the gig with Zaap Dingbats despite performing well?

Despite performing well during the audition, the person didn’t get the gig because the band prioritized factors like image and networking connections over technical skill. The person who got the spot, Bjorn, had a strong stage presence, while the runner-up, Beth, had valuable industry connections.

How did the feedback from the band's manager change the person's perspective on being in a band?

The manager’s feedback made the person realize that being in a band requires more than just playing skills; qualities like image, networking, and versatility (such as singing and improvising) are also crucial.

What steps did the person decide to take after not getting the spot in the band?

After the rejection, the person decided to work on improving their overall value as a musician by taking vocal lessons, updating their wardrobe, focusing on songwriting, and networking within the local music community.

What is the person's long-term outlook after reflecting on their experience with Zaap Dingbats?

The person is motivated to become a more well-rounded musician, confident that their improved skills and new approach will make them more competitive and lead to success in future auditions.