Heading to Nashville

[JBOWLES]

I am a guitar and bass player with a little experience on mandolin and dobro. I am mainly a blues/alt-country player with a little bluegrass in there too. Vocals are not my favorite thing to do, but I can front a show when needed.

My day job is not my choice of career and I am very ready to go another route. I'm 32 with a wife and 4 year old son that are behind me more than I could ever dream.

That being said, I have been seriously considering going to Nashville full time and quitting my day job in January. We live about an hour and a half from Nashville now so the drive is minimal. I have a limited amount of contacts and a handful of hopeful situations for bands and fill-in gig opportunities.

I am not wanting to make it big, strike it rich or anything of the sort. My main intention is to merely do what I love and not be financially destitute in the process. My wife makes more than I do now by a few $ per hour so I'm not leaving them with nothing if I don't show a profit for a while. Bills are minimal and I don't need any more gear to make this work.

My question to you all is more ideas on making the decision to follow a dream than should I do it or not. Any input would be great though.

I'm putting my heart on the line here and opening myself up to y'all which is very rare for me in any facet, on or offline. Thank you all for reading this and I am truly grateful for any advice pro or con; it means a lot to me either way.

[yark14]

Go for it. You are still relatively young. As long as your family supports you, what do you have to lose?

I'm in a similar situation. I'm about to move from Iowa to Texas. Mine isn't really musical, but educational as I will go to U of Texas for grad school. But if something comes along musically I won't ignore it....I'm keeping a few guitars and keyboards.

Good luck. "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right."

[gypsyseven]

Do it... its worth a try!
As long as your family is behind you nothing can go wrong, nothing.
Good luck and live your dream!

[HOBBSTER01]

In this economy?
You want to give up your day job?
Considering Nashville is loaded with fantastic musicians who have tried (and failed) I think it is a foolish decision.
Following you heart is not always the right answer.
You have a child to think about who in the next couple years is gonna need you to be financially responsible when he or she starts a formal education.
Not to mention you are 32 years old.
Nashville is becoming a young mans' game more and more these days.
If you wanna be a guitar hero, do it in Nashville on weekends and see what the future holds.
Quitting your job to try and make it in Nashville is an extremely foolish decision.
Pay your weekend dues first.
As a former Nashville player I offer this advice.
I would love to see you make it.
But it is extremely unlikely you will given the amount of people I know (seasoned established players) who are begging for studio and road work.

[Durtdog]

Lots of VERY talented musicians starving in Nashville right now.
And I mean scary talented. I see them all the time.

[musicmatty]

A tough decision..your heart tells you one thing your head another and everyone else chimes in to split the 2 even more

I agree with the Hobb post above. Unless you have someone who can afford to pay your way with tons of cash for you to explore..it probably wouldn't be the prudent thing to do. Of all the success stories of folks who had nothing and made it there...there has to be many many more who didn't ..and even killed themselves because of financial ruin/stress

There was some young kid on here about 2yrs ago who did the same thing...however, he had Brent Mason helping him out ...I got the feelin that he wasn't living a very plush life at all down there and haven't heard anything about how he is doing now

[TeleTim911]

All I can say is good luck to you, you apparently know what you're getting into, and if your family is supportive then that's all that matters....because when Momma ain't happy, ain't no one happy, know what I mean?

Good luck with it.

[GigsbyBoyUK]

Are you already a gigging player with lots of experience? If not, this sounds a bit foolish. Even if you are, I'd try to build links and get work BEFORE giving up the day job. I'd give that advice to anyone looking to go self-employed in any line of work.

What's the big deal with Nashville anyway? It may be much easier to make a living (or something as a step to that) closer to where you live now. Why not try that?

[JBOWLES]

I can honestly say that I'm really impressed with all your replies! I can somewhat agree with everything posted, and that explains the indecision I'm feeling. I won't talk theology at all, but I will say I feel led to do this. It's just not clear enough yet to know if it's just my feelings or not.

Music where I live now is pretty well non-existent. There are very few bands and even fewer places to play. I realize that I'm not a chickin' pickin' prodigy and I'm not 19 anymore. I am not upset at all about either. I do what I do and am pretty good at it. I know I'll never make the top 50 session players, nor will I ever get a gig backing some huge icon that requires virtuosity in every aspect of a guitar. What I have to offer is a solid rhythm, good lead work, really good bass playing, and backing/lead vocals. I'm not looking to become a millionaire with a guitar. I'm just looking to make a living doing what I love. I don't want to be someone that always wonders "what if." I just want to try.

[HOBBSTER01]

Originally Posted by musicmatty

A tough decision..your heart tells you one thing your head another and everyone else chimes in to split the 2 even more

I agree with the Hobb post above. Unless you have someone who can afford to pay your way with tons of cash for you to explore..it probably wouldn't be the prudent thing to do. Of all the success stories of folks who had nothing and made it there...there has to be many many more who didn't ..and even killed themselves because of financial ruin/stress

There was some young kid on here about 2yrs ago who did the same thing...however, he had Brent Mason helping him out ...I got the feelin that he wasn't living a very plush life at all down there and haven't heard anything about how he is doing now

If you are referring to Sol Philcox, last I heard he was on the road with Jake Owen.

[musicmatty]

Your desire sounds like the auto bio song Tom T. Hall wrote about himself. Not alway's a plush ride but it is what it is. Good luck in your travels

[robt57]

They eat their young down there, and bury outsiders... ;)


Best to you on your endeavor and path!

[Mjark]

Some of the best guitarists in the world play for tips on Lower Broadway.

But it's lonely at sundown in Nashville
That's when beaten souls start to weep
Each evening at sundown in Nashville
They sweep broken dreams off the street

- Dwayne Warwick

[toddfan]

do you "write" music?

The guy that sang lead, and wrote, for the band I used to play in did that exact same thing..

From the little I know, he never really attained any more "success", nor did he really "play" anymore than he did when he lived "here".

Now, he is back in town, still doing the same thing.

That being said, he has a very supportive wife/family...and, from all appearances is very happy.

....maybe there IS something to be said for living your life doing what you love.

Me...I could never have done that....just not in my "nature" to have that much uncertainty in my day to day life.

[McGlamRock]

Originally Posted by robt57

They eat their young down there, and bury outsiders... ;)


Best to you on your endeavor and path!

+1 I hear it's a tough town. I say hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

[SiennaBurst50]

I wouldn't recommend it unless your wife makes more than enough to support the entire family.

The talented musicians starving comment is very true. Very true.

I've been unemployed since graduation, I can't imagine someone giving up a job to try and get by on music at this point. Sure aint working out for me.

[Old Cane]

If you like crunchy peanutbutter you need to get used to creamy. It spreads thinner. Pine Floats and wish sandwiches are popular with guitar players around here. And trust me, not everybody wants to supersize it but everybody does want fries with that. Make sure your front seat reclines or you'll never get a good nights sleep.

Now that I've got that out of the way, I can say I never worried about it. I moved here with a job and publishing deal. You need lots of contacts. I would never have moved here to try to find work. Since you are that close get here, get to know some people and get a job happeneing before you consider quitting your day job and a move. And you really don't need to move here as long as you can here to get on the bus during a snowstorm. They're rare enough. Get to be a familiar face at some of the jams but they are all on weekenights.

And now that I've gotten that out of the way, middle TN is a great place to live and raise a family. If you really want to move somewhere I'd come here just for that.

[musicmatty]

speaking of Snow storms....damn good thing we are playin our halloween gig tonite, the weather service is calling for a major snow storm here after midnight into tomorrow afternoon This is somewhat rare for our area..I can only remember one snow storm this early on Veterans day 1986 or 87 Non the less..not surprised with all the weird happings of late with the earthquakes we've had and several Blizzards in the last 3yrs

I hope everyone who is playin this weekend has a great time....see ya on the flip as I get ready for our nite out

[String Tree]

Everybody I know that has gone there has the same thing to say about Nash Vegas: If they didn't ask you to come there to work, don't go.

Have a back-up (pack-up) plan in place before you get there.

Fortune favors the bold and, punishes the foolish.

Hope you make a hunnerd bucks. :)

[Joe-Bob]

Originally Posted by JBOWLES

My main intention is to merely do what I love and not be financially destitute in the process.

Originally Posted by JBOWLES

I'm not looking to become a millionaire with a guitar. I'm just looking to make a living doing what I love. I don't want to be someone that always wonders "what if." I just want to try.

You should plan on being destitute. Sorry, but it would be prudent.


You said your wife makes more than you; fine, but will your plan work if you make zero income for the next year? Two years?

If not, then you need to re-work your plan.

I understand you don't want to go through life wondering "What if?", but that ship has already sailed! You have a small child to care for, and that is your primary responsibility for the next 14 years.