As a former band member I sometimes wonder whatever happened to all the musicians I've come into contact with over the years. My first business was a real-time cassette duplication company in Burbank, CA called ProSound Audio Labs. Our racks of 30 Nakamichi MR2B cassette decks
were kept busy with tons of L.A. metal and alternative bands. The walls had framed 8 x 10 photos of many clients, from rock heavyweights like Ronnie James Dio & Craig Goldy to friends in bands that let us duplicate their demos: The Miss Alans, Wednesday Week and Lost Luggage. From everyone I came in contact with I can name on one hand those who have made a career out of playing music.
Bass players always seemed to be the hardest to find but I had the privilege with working with three of the finest musicians and people out there: Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Heidi Rodewald and David Nolte. All are full time musicians still as far as I know. I have not spoken to Justin in at least 2 years but with all his gigs from Beck to IMA Robot and beyond I have no doubt he is a busy guy. He is someone who always had the right attitude and more talent than we deserved. Heidi is a great player and writer who is currently performing in the musical Passing Strange in NYC with Stew and company. She has always found a way to let music be her career. David is another guy who could do whatever was needed. He filled in on bass for us while we tried to replace our bass player who had quickly fled L.A. after deciding it was not his kind of place. David has traveled the world with the likes of David Gray & Ray Davies and odds are he is still doing music full-time.
Personally I made more money playing parties at Clemson University than slogging it out in the Los Angeles clubs. We were lucky enough to record two demos for A&M Records in studio C at A&M Studios; too bad we didn't make the cut. We had fun with Jonathan Anderle trying to get things going for us at the label but that record deal we were trying for did not happen in the end.
Bands starting out in 2007 seem to have more of a chance of getting heard with music production costs being lower and distribution via the web being limitless. The world of major record labels being the only source for large distribution has definitely changed along with recording budgets. An artist now can record a decent set of songs and actually make some money without going into a 10 year debt plan. I did a search at amazon.com for "music business" and the first page had 16 different books on succeeding in that industry, many of which deal with doing in on your own.
It would make a great book if somehow I could interview everyone I've met over the years who shared the same goal of music for a living.. I know there are some great stories out there. Odds are many are still involved somehow as producers, staff writers or teachers, etc. while others are 110% removed from that world. If days ever get longer than 24 hours maybe I'll take on that project....