Writer's block... Help, please!

[mrbassman]

Hey there...First a few facts about our band SPEEDZONE30:- we're not a so-called "Killer band". None of the band members is a professional musician and our solo performances could use a lot improvement- our discipline and professionalism on stage and before performing is very high: we need only 30 to 40 minutes for setting up our complete equipment and for the soundcheck- we're pulling a slowly but steadily growing audience- I'm in charge of almost 100% of the creative work (words, melodies, chords)- Our songs are simple but loaded with memorable hooksNow to my "problem":Recently me and my band had the great opportunity to play a supporting gig for one of the best upcoming bands of Ireland "The Frames" in a local club in western Austria. Their performance was marvellous and we did well, too.So I thought.Two days later in a big local newspaper our gig has been totally pulled to pieces. The writer specially picked on our "plane songwriting" and our "pretentious performance". Although the club owners were totally happy with the evening and we earned a lot of accolade - the event was sold out despite the fact that Sting(!) was performing the same evening 15 km away - this discouraged me so much that I'm totally stuck in a writer's block.How do you folks cope with something like that? How do get out when you're stuck and it feels like it doesn't have any sense?Greetz,Chris

[togaman]

Mr Bassman,Ouch....feel your pain. Try doing activities that you normally do not do. (Fishing, surfing, long drive, volunteer work etc.)Get your hands on classical (or other) fake book and play the chord progressions -- ignore the melody. You may stumble upon something and then change it up a bit. Melodys will come naturally over good progressions. Play it in your own style. Something new is bound to come out. Best!JWwww.myspace.com/deuxguitarviols

[mrbassman]

JW, thanks for your advise.I already thought about something like that. Since we're having 100°F today the plants on my balcony are in need of a little more care than usual About the classical thing: yesterday I ordered a few books mainly on songwriting and lyrics from Amazon and - guess what I found - a book called "J. S. Bach for electric bass".I immediately purchased that one as well and I'm looking forward to try the "Solfegetto" at 40 bpm Chris

[og]

Hey, Bassman! Them that can, do. Them that can't become critics. T'hell with the lot of 'em!

[edteja]

Well said, Old Goat!If the club owners were happy, the fans were happy, and you felt you did a good job, then sodemall!

[togaman]

Wouldn't it be great to hear the critics "Stellar" works and accomplishments? That way, we can attempt to jump as high as they have and do by their superior example! Now, if our heros chop us up to shreds, then we can cry. Otherwise, don't let the bastards get you down..After all, some of the greatest artists have taken hell from critics. Who is remembered? the critics or the artists? On the other hand, we can learn and grow to be better from it. Enjoy the Bach for Bass. I expect new songs will be inspired from it. You can not go wrong with Bach's chord progressions.D---D/F#---Bm---Bm/A---G---E/G#---A---A/G---F#m---Am/E---B7/Eb--Em---Em/D---A7/C#---A7 :I one of my faves "Air"Let it inspire some of your own! Cheers,Jonathan 2GV www.myspace.com/deuxguitarviols

[mrbassman]

togaman you say it!The crux is: this newspaper is part of the company where I work! I talked to the chief journalist of the culture department about this critique and she said that this writing fella is a total professional.She also said that he's playing an instrument... uhm... well... I guess that 25% of the people in my country do that and as long as he's not teaching at university that's absolutely no benchmark...Perhaps I should post a picture of this guy at the entrance of the clubs we're playing and brief the security staff not to let him in

[og]

Opinions are like assholes--everybody has one. It doesn't make a rat's ass if he plays virtuoso kazoo for Julliard, it's still his opinion. I'm a whole lot more concerned about the opinions of the people who are paying to hear my songs (not many, yet, but I'm tryin'). If you just keep doing well, he'll either join the bandwagon or shut up. As togaman said, "Don't let the bastards wear you down".

[mrbassman]

Well, my writer's block seems to be over. Two new songs on the last weekend...And I've got quite good news to tell after last weekend. I phoned my old drummer I played with 10 years ago. He's a professional jazz drummer but he makes a living by playing in Country-Bands. He's deep into producing and publishing (what I actually didn't know) and he offered me a partnership for writing and composing songs to cut with artists he's working with.Although I'm more into Rock and Pop I had ten years of musical education in Austrian style Country/Folk music. I made quite good money with it. We'll see if it works...The Austrian Country/Folk in fact isn't the same as what Americans would define as Country but the target audience is of a similar profile. And this IS the type of music where the money is. Hardly any Austrian got rich and famous by producing Pop or Rock. Well, except Falco perhaps...

[edteja]

Good news for you. It is always fun to stretch out into other styles anyway. And if you can make some money, open some doors....Congratulations.