thesnoogster
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It's been ages since I've visited this site but I have an excuse! Since the last time I updated this thing, I've moved twice, quit my job, found a new job, crashed my computer, had a few dating catastrophies and forgot about Mog.com yet I still feel horrible and was excited when I remembered about its existance.
I finally started playing music with a few of my friends. For some reason, even though I've played in front of teachers, professors, judges, employers, etc for years, it is the hardest thing for me to play in front of my peers.
Also, I've given up my dream of moving to New York/Seattle/Portland and become a world-famous jazz musician. I think that's a bit silly now that I look back on it. I think I'm just turning into a big, pessimistic loser these days.
I think Sigur Ros makes some of the best music videos out there. I absolutely love them all..
I wish I could make a longer post but I'm off early. Daylight savings and all. Good day!
Alex.
So like I said in my first entry, I work at a hotel and most of the time I just stand around and people-watch. Well today I was doing just that when, "You Remind Me of Home" by Ben Gibbard played over our PA system. I was thrown off gaurd considering most of the time Musak only shuffles between Chopin, Cher and Billy Joel tracks (nothing against Billy Joel, I have to admit I've been a huge fan since I sang a rendition of "Downeaster Alexa" at my second grade talent show.) Regardless, I wanted to tell somone about the great new selection but alas, all of my co-workers are die hard Chopin/Cher/Billy Joel fans and had no idea what I was talking about. Sigh.
Working at a hotel I come across a LOT of strangers. I probably meet about 120-ish new people a day. Business types, prostitutes, rich wives wrapped in fur shawls who park their Hummers in our emergency lane to unload their 14 -or-so suitcases, parents throwing birthday parties, the Pistons, the Red Wings, the Lions.. and it's depressing how they're all the same. They all ask the same questions, tell the same stories and 90% of them, without fail, look over at our GUEST OF THE WEEK sign and joke, "Oooh how do you become guest of the week? Haha, do you have to suck up to the lovely front desk ladies?" (Wink, wink.)
Very clever sir, first time I've heard THAT one. So then I have to laugh like he's a real jokester and say, "Haha, no.. the managers choose that. But you can suck up to us anyway!" (Smile.)
It's sad that all I talk about here is my job. It's probably because I have to work hundreds of hours a week to pay off my student loans. I'm a music major, but there really aren't very many opportunities here in Detroit for a trumpet player so I hope to move soon. Somewhere where I can make a living with it, who knows where. A lot of people say Portland's the perfect place for me but I've never been there. In New York all I could really audition for would be Broadway and jazz. Sigh, any suggestions? Oh well, my shift's almost up.
Until next time,
Alex.
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Got any musically talented friends? You could start up locally and hit the smaller joints 'til you make it to gigs like the Magic Stick and St. Andrews, and beyond.
We don't really have that many hotels in Portland, but there is a coffee shop on almost every corner, so I guess you try to get a job at one of them.
I don't know, maybe there are some opportunities for a trumpet player here, but I've never seen any of them, which I guess makes sense since I'm not a trumpet player. I guess this isn't very helpful then, is it? Sorry.
I'd say that we have more hotels in Portland than we used to a little while ago, and it appears there are at least a few more on the way. And yes, there are... [ahem] ...a FEW coffee shops. Some better than others.
As for trumpet opportunities, what style do you want to play? If it's classical, there's the Oregon Symphony, of course, but also a number of smaller ensembles that seem to stay reasonably busy. For musical theatre, there are maybe three theatre companies that regularly mount musicals and use orchestras rather than just doing it all with a few keyboardists. In addition, I know of 3 or 4 high schools with sufficient drama budgets to hire musicians for their annual musicals; you'd just need to insinuate yourself into the network. Portland has a very active and nationally recognized jazz and blues scene, so there'd be no problem finding quality musicians to play with, and fun and welcoming jams to participate in. It's the money that you'd find lacking. In most cases, venue owners are not paying bands enough to afford horn sections. There's definitely work, depending on your focus, but probably not enough to quit your day job.
Hope this helps...
(...a 2nd-grader singing "Downeaster Alexa?" Did you even do that "ai yi yi eye oh" part?)
Comments
They're the only music videos I actually like.
I not only think they make decent music video's but they also make great music, cant forget that ;)