Goals: Short/long term, circumstances, career, lifestyle etc

[willyz]

I think it's important to set goals and be ambitious while considering circumstances as well as how everything fits into your lifestyle.

As we all know, I'm very vocal with my playing in terms of sharing it and updating damn the near the whole world with what I'm doing. I think if you can write down and define goals, or put them online on the internet where things never go away, it aids you in staying on path and keeping your focus. Here's what my goals are overall- feel free to share your personal goals (if you wish) and utilize the thread to update and keep track of them.

I moved back to LA this past December. I'm currently on a two year plan, which ranges from financial goals, career goals, etc.

-I hate living with roommates. LA is more expensive than Austin (duh), and I much prefer living by myself. Working at Guitar Center and doing a bit of teaching is not enough in order to be able to afford to live in my own pad. I'm always applying to new day jobs and looking for a better opportunity financially. By December 2013 (when my current lease is up), my goal is to have a better paying 9-5 gig that allows me to cover all my expenses and afford a 1-bedroom or studio.

-One the same token, I'd like to be able to afford a practice space. Whenever Steve and I hang and shed, my ideas are there, but the execution of a lot of the more 'drummy' stuff isn't. It's like playing grooves- if you're playing with a good band more often than not your time and pocket is going to improve. If you're not able to work on the facility of the instrument then it's just not going to happen. So, at the start of next year I'd like to be able to swing the shed and be able to practice more.

-Networking, hanging with the right people, going to gigs, etc- again, revolves around money. You can't always get on the list for shows and if you're on a tight budget like I am, going out can be very expensive between cover, tickets, two-drink minimums, etc. The hang and being in a circle of players is huge, especially for finding auditions and work.

-I want to start my own band and be the bandleader. I know I've discussed this before but I've never been able to make it happen. I want it to become reality this year. There's a great singer at work that does the James Brown thing really well. I think funk music would be great for a party/wedding/working band, and throw in some Toto and Steely Dan stuff in for shits and giggles. That kind of music is stuff that you never really hear working bands play well. I know based off my time in Austin that if you play the tunes right you get people to dance. If people dance, you get work.

My ultimate two year plan is to achieve the lifestyle I found in Austin after four years but out here in LA- financially, the amount of playing I was doing, and living comfortably. Yes, it's a shorter amount of time to do it in, but that's why it's a goal.

You never know, I may reach that point out here and decide I enjoyed the lifestyle in Austin better- I may achieve it and seek out another place to do it in (New York, Nashville, Seattle/Portland, DC, Chicago etc). I don't want to think about "settling" until I'm 30. I turn 25 tomorrow and I really haven't been actively pursing my career that long (graduated high school in 2006, graduated from LAMA 2007, and moved to Austin in 2008). I've hardly scratched the surface and have a lot to do. Am I happy with where I've been, what I've seen and what I've done in the past 6 years? I don't know- because I'm hard on myself and have very high expectations. Have I done a lot more than most people? Maybe.

What are your goals? What do you want to accomplish?

[willyz]

Oh yeah. And I want to replace all my gear that was stolen.

Fucking thieves.

[Lucas Ives]

Roommates can indeed suck, but if your priority is getting better as a drummer you NEED a lockout. No compromises -- you need to be able to play for some amount of time, sometimes a lot of time, every day.

Here to the beginning of next year is a long time, a lot of shed time missed out on. Make it happen NOW.

My $.02,

[chris perra]

Yup. better to have a roommate and a shed than be by yourself and not be able to afford one...

Another thing you can try.. If they have music schools in L.A. Get job teaching there..
I'm talking about teaching kids at a music store type school not post secondary... Most of those places will let you practice mornings till early afternoon till students show up..

[willyz]

I've got two private students at the moment- a few more and I may be in a good position to get a lockout.

Got a job interview next week.

Things are in motion, you've just gotta stay positive and make things happen yourself.

[Tom Reschke]

Teaching is great. Do it as much as you can. It really makes you a better player, along with how good it feels to positively influence someone's life. Goals? Play with as many musicians as I can, learn, make some cash, and have a good time... All the time. AND, have fun while playing music. This is my biggest goal. Cheers!

[Paul Marangoni]

You don't need a lockout. They're all overpriced. You can rent a room WITH drums for $10 an hour during the day. I bring my own drums. Way cheaper than a lockout and sounds a million times better. Sure, it's a bit of a hassle hauling my gear, but it's a nice little workout too.

[Lucas Ives]

My lockout in the Bay Area is $275/month ... that means the break even point is around an hour a day at $10/hr, plus no surcharges for "peak hours" and I have my setup that I can just walk in and play (which is worth a lot to me)

These prices are similar to what I was paying in NYC and CT, too -- maybe things are crazy expensive in LA?

[Kurtis]

I love my lockout. It's my house. Just can't play when the wife and kids are in the house. Practicing 32nd note phrasings with flams. It's fun. Those are current goals. Next week it's all about intricate flam stick voicings around the kit. It's all about the flam. Always has been.

[Paul Marangoni]

maybe things are crazy expensive in LA?

They're expensive, and SHIT. 10 x 12 will cost about $400, and if anyone is in another room at the same time (even if it's not right next to you), you may as well go home. No isolation at all. No double doors. Low ceilings. Terrible or no parking. Major ripoff. Doesn't make any sense.