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This is a photo of a woman who is super rare in the world of musicians. Even after telling her that music is my #1 priority, she accepts it and doesn’t put up any fight and for that I have fallen even more in love with her
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"Don’t be a woman that needs a man, be a woman that a man needs."
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Sad
I am very sad at the moment. Many artists I have grown up with, whose music I have analyzed, studied and listened to all my life, are passing away. I don’t know these people personally but I do know they were my best friends through the words they sang and from the harmony they gave me in my life. The recent coma that Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees has really sent me into overdrive with emotions. I just feel so much for this man and his family. I really hurt for them. I hurt for the end of another great group. I cry because they have made some of the best music that could have been made and artists like this passing is one less amazing musician here on Earth.
I do not love the music of today. Sure, it’s great when you’re in a car or a club and things of that nature, but it doesn’t hit me like the music of say, the Bee Gees or any of the other classics. It is why I am not in a band today. I know I can never match or even come close to finding the magic formula of guys to make such inspiring timeless songs. So, instead, I much rather stick to making my own music, even then, not 100% happy with the results… but it’s closer than what I think I could attain from a band of (). This is a battle within myself that will never end, never cease to quite. I think about it 24hrs a day and it keeps me awake at night.Alright, back to the main point. I do not take to Death very well. I don’t think anyone does. I was even starring at a roach that I sprayed and I starred at him for a long time, thinking to myself. I know, crazy but I couldn’t help it. Ever since that day, I’ve been sort of not myself. I miss my friends. My friends that I listened to everyday for hours on end till today. Elvis, Carl Wilson, John Lennon, Andy Gibb, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Michael Hossack, (drummer for the The Doobie Brothers), Dick Clark, David Jones, AMy Whinehouse, John Walker, Rob Grill, Elvis, God so many more. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I have always battled with mortality, thought I got a handle on it but now it’s reminding me more each day.
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something different
Can a man change overnight? In the blink of eye, can one match the convictions of his thoughts and desires. Can one become so tired of what he is, close his eyes and wake up to what he used to be? Can you re-invent yourself in 24hrs without people thinking something is wrong with you? Will others question your motives? Must you even have a motive? Can I lay to rest a burden that I could never answer by simply turning a cheek? I’ve looked one way, may I please look the other?
Can we all stop for a second a look at what we have. Can we stop making fun and poking at those that are happy? Let’s stop swimming in the shallows and venture into the deep. Let’s stop noticing others and start looking at ourselves. I’m obviously not happy with who I am or maybe I am just tired but I am yerning for an escape.
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Marketing yourself is hard…
And I didn’t think I would say this, but it’s even harder trying to get your facebook friends to do something in of itself. I produced a remix for my favorite band, and I have an opportunity at getting the single released on iTunes but I don’t think it’s going to happen by votes alone. There are some with 400+ votes because they have facebook friends that actually make sure they complete a task that is requested. I’m at 67 votes when really, if all my friends and associates would have voted, I’d be close to like 800. I don’t think I’m entering another competition where it’s based on a voting system like that anymore….it’s not fair and it messes with your mind. I’ve turned on my facebook friends, upset at them and I admit, it was immature but frustration builds and explodes. Luckily, for us humans…most times, we can put the pieces back together. I have put myself back together, remembering why I do this in the first place…For enjoyment. You always have to remember why you love it so much. Not for the fame, the money, or whatever. God, that is so hard to say when I really have never had any of that. All I want are bragging rights and I can attain those. I have attained those. I have proof of my skills and talent and that’s all the bragging rights I need in a way.
If you would like to hear and maybe vote for my Remix entry, you can find it below. I am tired of begging people only to be disappointed in the end. Even trying to maintain composer, it eats away at you sort of.http://www.talenthouse.com/creativeinvites/preview/a47a17ff9824478e1239e27608008360/483
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My Band Experience Tips. Part 1
So i am done looking for bands to join. I am finished trying to form something. Everything had led to failure and dissapointment over a decade and enough is enough. I will continue to produce and get my studio tan on instead unless the drummer from Switchfoot suddenly quits ;)
For those that are lucky and still passionate enough to join or pursue such an endeavor, here are my tips and advice .
1. There needs to be one leader. Too many people calling the shots leads to nowhere and eventually break up. Voting systems suck when you’re a creative genius. Not impossible, but rare.
2. Sing without reverb when tracking unless you’re an acomplished singer. You wont be fooled into thinking your good.
3. Drink, smoke, and do drugs if you want your vocal chords to sound like shit
4. Don’t believe that you have to be single to play music, unless all you want to do is f*ck girls and catch std’s. There are good girls out there that understand and will tolerate your passion to play. In other words, live your life, not wait 27 years to change your mindset. However, finding a girl that is cool with your putting your instrument first priority wise is next to impossible oO
5. Hair doesn’t make the music. Some of my best works were done after I cut the nipple length “rockstar” locks. However, some form of uniqueness does help. I replaced it when facial hair :O
6. Spend a year finding the best mic positions and combinations if you don’t want to play and make music
7. Lyrics really don’t matter much anymore as long as you include the words “club, drank, drink, wasted, hands in the air, ass”
8. Musicians with no cars = headache for whomever is going to be picking him/her up. Usually with no gas money
9. Drums sound so much better when sampled. Especially in studios with a bed inside
10. Don’t be fooled into thinking Labels are the only way. DIY is the best approach these day. Dave Matthews proved it
11. Good songs will write themselves. Forcing a turd down the toilet is still playing with shit
12. If you have to use auto tune, make sure you do it so you sound like everyone else and lose your identity.
13. If you are a guitarist, don’t talk like you’re a drummer or expect the drummer to be cool with that
14. Pearl Exports tuned well with an excellent drummer will kick the ass out of a
DW Set with a shitty drummer
15. Learn music theory. Then break every rule in the book
16. If you hate being broke, don’t become a musician
17. If you hate being broke, don’t date a musician
18. Don’t set priorities super high at first. Build up one step at a time. This will lead to less disappointment when you can’t hit those high goals
19. Video yourself as much as possible and youtube it. Maybe you’ll get discovered. If you suck, you’ll make money off the ads and prob. still get famous
20. Egg Cartons do NOT have acoustically sound properties
21. Tune your room if you can. At worst, build your bass traps. Really, you can do it.
22. If you polish a turd well enough, you can convince people it’s high end chocolate. This offsets rule #11
23. Most people found on craigslist will disappoint you. Best bet is to go out and socially network in the scene.
24. Thrash metal, speed metal build arm/leg muscle, that’s it.
25. Wear hearing protection always, or you’ll regret it later.
26. Girls and guys in bands will lead to girls and guys in bands having sex with one another. Band breakup is inevitable
27. If you are OCD, don’t join a band
28. If you are a perfectionist, don’t join a band
29. If you sell yourself enough, even then they may never come
30. Build up a fanbase online before you book a gig. Build an ever bigger fanbase if you want to book a gig out of town
31. Ruin your chances of success by doing drugs. Do drugs when you make it, that way you’ll regret it even more when you fall
32. Look awesome when on and off stage.
33. If you post an ad on craigslist, please have links to demos and photos. A, “looking for drummer” ad does no good. I can not stand ads that say, “Hey, wanna join our band? We are looking to take over the world”. Yeah, so is everyone else. Put details and stop wasting everyone’s time
34. Four Leaf clovers does not bring musical luck
35. Have the mindset that everyone out there are sharks looking to bite you in the ass and wallet.
36. Copyright your songs. It’s not hard to do. If you don’t make it, maybe a rapper will sample your shit and you’ll then sue for lots o money :)
37. Trademark your name when you make it to the very big time. Don’t do this early on and spend a grand on it, only to lose it due to inexperience with the law
38. Buy the best music equipment you can so if you ever want to sell, you’ll make some money back
39. Give and take is necessary in bands. Accept that.
40. Learn to play to a click.
41. No one wants to see your facebook ad a million times a day promoting your shitty song. If it’s a good song, we tolerate it, if it’s a great song, we’ll promote it for you. Seriously, if you are only getting 1 like and no shares then take a hint. Good music will attract.
42. For the love of God, please show some energy on stage. People are paying money to see you. Make it worth their while.
43. Don’t try to compete with others. Do your own thing and stick to it. If you’re lucky enough, sometimes…people start doing what you do and another trend is born
45. Don’t pretend to know what you’re doing when you’re in the presence of someone who knows what they are doing.
46. Considering I haven’t “made it”, everything said above should be taken with a grain of salt because apparently I wasn’t doing something right.
Last but not least. Don’t ever give up unless you’re like me and have so much talent that you’re better off making something alone then waiting forever to get a bunch of strangers together to make something. And usually that something sucks unless the magic is there which is based on being the luckiest bastard of all time. Who knows, you may just be luckier than I was so good luck, have fun doing it, be safe.
-written from a very bitter one
RB.
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Over..
My band days are over. I have discovered that sitting behind a drumkit for an average band, with below average songs is something I can not settle for. My standards for music are so high that I have forced my thoughts into thinking that there isn’t anyone in this great city whom can produce what it is I am hearing. So I write by myself. Putting yourself in the middle of a group and splitting your opinion to say, one fourth, really is frustrating when you know that what it is we are all writing is total crap and will never be remembered forever. I guess you can call me picky, and I admit to that…however, I want to be remembered, not forgotten. I want the music I produce to leave an emotional impact, not emotionless.
I’ll hear new bands come out, “One Republic”, “The Script”, etc…and think to myself, “Wow, amazing musicians are still out there and every now and then, luck brings them all together pefectly to produce amazing, memorable songs”. However, most of those bands have been together for a long time, we only hear the hits. We don’t hear the arguments, the stresses, the fights, the dissapointments, the heartache.
I will probably come out of this un-fullfilled, lifelong dream, bitter and angry. I have already stopped watching any music channels, going to concerts and shifting my viewpoint towards people all-together. I need to stop questioning why it didn’t happen and start to understand why it did. I guess it didn’t happen because it was not meant to be. Maybe me writing and producing by myself is the real reason I am here so that’s where I am heading; actually have been heading there for almost 2 years now. I don’t think it’s any easier b/c since it’s all on me, I apply so much pressure to succeed that it overwhelms. I have never wanted something so bad in my entire life. I have paid my dues God, gone into debt, practiced and studied for the most part of my life, stood single to avoid distraction, avoided other hobbies and careers. I am fine with all that but eventually, it starts wearing on you. I need a break. I need a chance. I need someone out there to hear my songs. I’m trying, I really am trying but it seems like all I get in return are “not interested” or “not what we’re looking for” responses. Most of them are generic so it leaves me with little to go on.Please visit www.rockybourgoyne.com and pass the word to those that can get me where I want to be….where I need to be….where I deserve to be.
-RB
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Ads without Demos
You know…if you’re a musician, you really should have some samples of your work of a quick demo, especially if you’re a vocalist. Don’t place and AD and expect me to hear something by looking at your picture. FOr the love of God!
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I remember waking
To no muscles aching
Now I take meds
To stop my hands from shaking
I remember waking
Next To my healthy baby
Please take me Back
Back to youth,
Back To You
I’m simply going crazy -
"when the going gets tough, grow a thicker beard…"
Rocky Bourgoyne
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Sometimes at night i build houses made out of dreams with a 100 foot tall gate to keep out reality.
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"My heart is a stage that everyone has played on"
Rocky Bourgoyne
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Dream not come true *YET!
Oh my not so goodness. I dont know how many more times I can handle rejection from publishers. I don’t know if it’s thick skin I’m developing or if it’s the amount of dried blood building up on the outside. God sure knows how much I have poured into the project and my music. It’s not something I take very lightly at all. Generic responses just do not cut it. I understand they have a million tracks to listen to but if they only knew the amount of time, sweat, sacrifice these songs represent to me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve denied a someone because I was in the studio. It would just be nice to show them it wasn’t in vein. I am not a preacher but I’ll continue to preach how I will make it. I’m not a follower but I will follow in the dreams of others. I am not bitter but I am bitten. I am very grateful I have the resources to do it and if no one ever hears it, I’ll at least have the satisfaction of knowing I tried.
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"It isn’t what you are, it’s what you aren’t."
Rocky bourgoyne
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One day will be final
But right now this is my hour
Tik tok till my heart stops
