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Almost feel like giving up

Gabriel Perez

Campfire Attention Holder
  • Nov 11, 2019
    113
    207
    24
    Salt Lake City, UT
    open.spotify.com
    6
    Hi brothers and sisters, as you know I used to be a pretty much active member here but maybe you realised that these last days I kinda disappeared from the forums.
    I talked to my best friends here, they already know the shit I'm living but I think I should talk to you too. You guys are a 2nd family to me. I miss you guys. So here it goes:

    I've been with problems about how to be a guitar student and a school student. I'm in 11th grade in a science course, like the hardest year ever. My grades are REALLY bad, and, because of that my parents dont let me play as much as I want. They tell me to study all my free time and they only let me play at the end of the day for 30/40 minutes.

    They say that if I don't do better at school, they take my guitars with them...
    Last month they toke my guitars with them and they put them in a locked room and I didn't play for so long... They always say that I'm destroying my future when I'm practicing instead of studying. They say I'm stupid. They say I play bad. They say that there's too much good players on earth, so no one cares about me.

    They say if my grades keep bad they sell my guitars.

    I've been working hard to get better grades, I really am, but I can't. School is hard. Maths, chemistry... I can't do good....

    I don't wanna give up guys. I'm trying to play sweep picking 2nd etude. I'm trying, I don't know if I can. Music is my only passion, the only thing I care about and the only thing gives me joy. The only job I want. My dad wants me to be a doctor. My mum wants me to b a nurse. I want me in a good job with money. I don't care about that I want to make a living on music, you know? I'd love to have supportative parents, ID love to go to a music school

    I don't any live gigs to play. Don't have anyone to jam with. I'm alone in my room trying to understand chemistry formulas while I just can practice for 40 minutes. I want to practice for at least 4 hours, but I can't....

    I don't know. I don't wanna give up. I'll try to be back more active here as some time ago, maybe it helps me to don't give up... Miss this family, I love you so much.

    Did you have parents like mine when you were 16?
    Hey bud, it's going to turn out okay.

    I understand a lot of what you're going through. I'm sure a lot of us do. I haven't really read through the forum but I'm already sure of it. Maybe don't give up on guitar. We're still here for you. When I was 16 I went through something similar and it felt like it wasn't going to end. I'm 19 now, almost 20, and I am currently a guitar major in college. The best thing to do is to keep your support system close to you. This is going to be horrible, there isn't a need to make it less of what it is. But as long as you have a friend by your side everything is a little less daunting. And you have plenty of people ready to help you out and give support right here. Keep in touch and don't give up. There is always a rainbow at the end of every storm. You got this!

    P.S.
    Don't listen to your parents on being a bad guitarists, your instagram posts prove quite the opposite. And something some of my friends have done is start their majors in biology so that they go to the college they want and meet their parents' expectations but then since they're away they change their majors after a while. Not the best advice to take since it's me😅 but don't lose hope. Keep holding on. This stage of life doesn't last forever.
     

    Chris Johnston

    Music Theory Bragger
  • Nov 11, 2019
    759
    10
    1,883
    29
    North Ayrshire, Scotland
    14
    100% what @Ed Seith said on this one. Get as many Grades as you can! I wish I did.

    The following isn't meant to scare you or be doom and gloomy, just to offer an insight into Music as a real career - I'm about to harp on about money alot! :LOL::

    (Disclaimer: This is only my experience)

    I've been a Guitar Tutor/Weekend Entertainer/Band Member for the last 5 years. I love my jobs because no two days are the same and I get to do what I love for a living. However...- My income largely depends on my students wanting guitar lessons and showing up. Sometimes when you least expect it, someone leaves. There's been months recently where my income has drastically dropped by £100-£200 - last year it was right before Christmas. I get really nervous sometimes when I see a student possibly getting bored and I know I'm about to lose income.

    I have only one solid source of income (My weekend entertainer work) and that goes largely on rent and money that I need to put away for tax purposes. That solid source of income takes up all of my evenings and weekends too, so no time to socialize with my friends.

    My band is what I really enjoy though - but that generally costs more money than it makes and anything we make goes back into paying for our Merchandise/StudioTime/Rehearsals - The crazy thing is that we are doing well as an up and coming band, having been played on BBC Radio, played festivals etc - But there is very little money in it unless you're packing out big rooms & selling a lot of merch - It's a constant enjoyable but time consuming grind.


    Basically, don't let anything or anyone stop you from doing Music if it's your passion, but be mindful of the path that you're going to take and the challenges you might face as a result. Music is an amazing and rewarding career that makes you grow as a person, but it is not an easy career - Be prepared to wear many hats! :D
     
    • Love
    Reactions: Ed Seith

    Daniel Sobota

    Garage band Groupie
    Nov 11, 2019
    865
    902
    25
    Dubrovnik, Croatia
    3
    How to get your motivation back 101:

    Step 1: open twitter
    Step 2: see tweets from some douchebag singer in some random trend-hopping band praising the over usage of backing tracks in live rock/metal concerts
    Step 3: get mad and start playing because you don't want the music you're so passionate about to turn into fake BS

    I swear dudes, I'm pissed right now... We can't let this music decay because of people like this certain jackass. Everyone, grab your instruments and show 'em how it's done!
     
    Synner Endless Summer Collection

    Edward John

    New Student
    Nov 11, 2019
    782
    880
    24
    UK
    How to get your motivation back 101:

    Step 1: open twitter
    Step 2: see tweets from some douchebag singer in some random trend-hopping band praising the over usage of backing tracks in live rock/metal concerts
    Step 3: get mad and start playing because you don't want the music you're so passionate about to turn into fake BS

    I swear dudes, I'm pissed right now... We can't let this music decay because of people like this certain jackass. Everyone, grab your instruments and show 'em how it's done!
    Who is this exactly you are talking about Dan? That could be a ton of people. :)
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Ed Seith

    Edward John

    New Student
    Nov 11, 2019
    782
    880
    24
    UK
    How to get your motivation back 101:

    Step 1: open twitter
    Step 2: see tweets from some douchebag singer in some random trend-hopping band praising the over usage of backing tracks in live rock/metal concerts
    Step 3: get mad and start playing because you don't want the music you're so passionate about to turn into fake BS

    I swear dudes, I'm pissed right now... We can't let this music decay because of people like this certain jackass. Everyone, grab your instruments and show 'em how it's done!
    Hey, Dan, you a fan of Manowar? I feel like this is the perfect band to give Ronnie Radke a crash course in metal!
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Daniel Sobota

    Edward John

    New Student
    Nov 11, 2019
    782
    880
    24
    UK
    I am and have the "wimps and posers" ready for him.

    Oh and we are beefing on twitter btw. :D
    HAHAHAHAHA Laughing my ass off at this ass-hats twitter account. This dude is the definition of "poser metal". I've never even heard of his band before. I bet this is the type of dude that needs to tune his guitar to A# to write a riff! Man, got to get @Ed Seith in on this.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Daniel Sobota
    Synner Endless Summer Collection

    Daniel Sobota

    Garage band Groupie
    Nov 11, 2019
    865
    902
    25
    Dubrovnik, Croatia
    3
    HAHAHAHAHA Laughing my ass off at this ass-hats twitter account. This dude is the definition of "poser metal". I've never even heard of his band before. I bet this is the type of dude that needs to tune his guitar to A# to write a riff! Man, got to get @Ed Seith in on this.
    I bet Syn doesn't think of him... much.

    He's a known douchebag and wannabe. He threw a mic stand into the crowd and hurt a fan. Nobody really likes him but he always flexes "uuu I'm so rich and famous".

    First class idiot.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Edward John

    Edward John

    New Student
    Nov 11, 2019
    782
    880
    24
    UK
    I bet Syn doesn't think of him... much.

    He's a known douchebag and wannabe. He threw a mic stand into the crowd and hurt a fan. Nobody really likes him but he always flexes "uuu I'm so rich and famous".

    First class idiot.
    This dude isn't worth getting into a debate with, you can't reason with guys like that. I don't know who is more of idiot, this guy or his fans.
     

    Daniel Sobota

    Garage band Groupie
    Nov 11, 2019
    865
    902
    25
    Dubrovnik, Croatia
    3
    Escape the Fate I kinda like. Falling in Reverse is not good, and lyrically, even *I* think it's stupid and immature. Dude is THIRTY SIX and writes like that??
    I told him he doesn't get respected by proper musicians and his reply was "I live in a mansion and bang a WWE superstar" :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

    It's really late right now here in Croatia, but first thing in the morning I'm picking up my guitar and slaying it for hours. There is NO WAY I will let someone like that be the thing that represents our world.
     
    Synner Endless Summer Collection

    Calvin Phillips

    Music Theory Bragger
    Nov 11, 2019
    2,588
    1,988
    Escape the Fate I kinda like. Falling in Reverse is not good, and lyrically, even *I* think it's stupid and immature. Dude is THIRTY SIX and writes like that??
    I liked escape the fate until monte bros left. Thrasher isnt as groovy as monte was. Hes more poppy and I hate it. Ala simple chord based and not as much riff based.

    I'm hoping their new album isnt like the last...