By Mark Grove
How I would promote unique players is first of all listen to them jamming with other players live. That gives me a feel for whether they are able to play with better players than themselves, or they're just going through the motions and just copying everyone else. I would also ask them what kind of rig they use as well. That tells me if they depend on the rig for creating their own sound or keeping it simple and creating their own sound and way of playing.
Sadly, most don't ever try or keep going enough to ever accomplish that end.
Also, the way they set up their guitar and amp tells me something as well. If the action on their guitar is so tight with standard tuning, and the amp is loud and muddy sounding, despite any unique playing ability, that means they never took the time to learn how to set up their rig their way so it reflects in their playing.
This is not intended to put down players, just my 2 cents on what players need to do.
So learn how to set up your rig correctly before you learn to play guys. It doesn't have to be perfect.
Okay, I would also start promoting a unique player by sending them to my friend and music consultant here at Canadian Guitar Player--Dee Curtis. Dee would school them in blues and how to really play your own way. If they had a hard time playing blues, especially slower blues, I don't think they should make the step up to any heavy metal, jazz or any other music until they master blues or at least have a handle on it.
Just my opinion.
Also, I would promote them by getting them session work with Dee and other local players on recording sessions--when they don't have to be all about chops as well. I would put them in situations where they will make mistakes--and have to play through those mistakes regardless.
I've left this for the last part on how to promote a unique player. I would start writing articles on this unique player and focus on doing pieces that talk about where his playing stems from, and how his guitar and rig fit into the picture and how his unique playing style makes other players be captivated by his different playing. As well as wanting to hang with this guy and want to play with him.
To promote this unique player further, I would do live interviews at his shows and get this unique player to interview great players of the past like this player. Especially blues cats. This type of cross promotion could help bring more fans who are real music lovers to this unique player as well. I would focus on one type of music for this player like blues and hard rock with a metal edge at the most. But if they have worked their ass off to get better, I would get them playing Jazz and Fusion type material as well.
Then I would make sure this player constantly writes songs and records a number of 3 or 4 song EP'S and continue to interview top players and eventually start his own successful band, with the help of Dee. By having this unique player interview top players all the time, he's learning and soaking up their knowledge and be in the public eye more than just playing.
At some point media like Guitar Player would take notice and want to interview this great player. When this unique player starts a band, I would get them to start interviewing bands they want to open for locally. This will help them and show other players they want to help, not just make money. Even unique players have to do media promotion. They could sell other bands CDS and open for bands for free. Yes free at first. Now, I talk about this a lot, that bands have to look for off the beaten path ways to make money. Book bands, sell music equipment you understand, interview bands, sell other players CDS, open for free until you're better.
But no matter how good a unique player is, they have to constantly practice, write songs, jam and help other musicians. And they would have to learn the business end as well. But they need to learn how to be a player who plays their own way, not copying note for note and thinking they're the best. Please be humble like one of the blues greats like my friend Dee, and "The Ice Man" Albert Collins. Just work your ass off and enjoy the spiritual benefit of being a unique player that plays your way.
That's how to promote a unique player guys.
How I would promote unique players is first of all listen to them jamming with other players live. That gives me a feel for whether they are able to play with better players than themselves, or they're just going through the motions and just copying everyone else. I would also ask them what kind of rig they use as well. That tells me if they depend on the rig for creating their own sound or keeping it simple and creating their own sound and way of playing.
Sadly, most don't ever try or keep going enough to ever accomplish that end.
Also, the way they set up their guitar and amp tells me something as well. If the action on their guitar is so tight with standard tuning, and the amp is loud and muddy sounding, despite any unique playing ability, that means they never took the time to learn how to set up their rig their way so it reflects in their playing.
This is not intended to put down players, just my 2 cents on what players need to do.
So learn how to set up your rig correctly before you learn to play guys. It doesn't have to be perfect.
Okay, I would also start promoting a unique player by sending them to my friend and music consultant here at Canadian Guitar Player--Dee Curtis. Dee would school them in blues and how to really play your own way. If they had a hard time playing blues, especially slower blues, I don't think they should make the step up to any heavy metal, jazz or any other music until they master blues or at least have a handle on it.
Just my opinion.
Also, I would promote them by getting them session work with Dee and other local players on recording sessions--when they don't have to be all about chops as well. I would put them in situations where they will make mistakes--and have to play through those mistakes regardless.
I've left this for the last part on how to promote a unique player. I would start writing articles on this unique player and focus on doing pieces that talk about where his playing stems from, and how his guitar and rig fit into the picture and how his unique playing style makes other players be captivated by his different playing. As well as wanting to hang with this guy and want to play with him.
To promote this unique player further, I would do live interviews at his shows and get this unique player to interview great players of the past like this player. Especially blues cats. This type of cross promotion could help bring more fans who are real music lovers to this unique player as well. I would focus on one type of music for this player like blues and hard rock with a metal edge at the most. But if they have worked their ass off to get better, I would get them playing Jazz and Fusion type material as well.
Then I would make sure this player constantly writes songs and records a number of 3 or 4 song EP'S and continue to interview top players and eventually start his own successful band, with the help of Dee. By having this unique player interview top players all the time, he's learning and soaking up their knowledge and be in the public eye more than just playing.
At some point media like Guitar Player would take notice and want to interview this great player. When this unique player starts a band, I would get them to start interviewing bands they want to open for locally. This will help them and show other players they want to help, not just make money. Even unique players have to do media promotion. They could sell other bands CDS and open for bands for free. Yes free at first. Now, I talk about this a lot, that bands have to look for off the beaten path ways to make money. Book bands, sell music equipment you understand, interview bands, sell other players CDS, open for free until you're better.
But no matter how good a unique player is, they have to constantly practice, write songs, jam and help other musicians. And they would have to learn the business end as well. But they need to learn how to be a player who plays their own way, not copying note for note and thinking they're the best. Please be humble like one of the blues greats like my friend Dee, and "The Ice Man" Albert Collins. Just work your ass off and enjoy the spiritual benefit of being a unique player that plays your way.
That's how to promote a unique player guys.
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