Quote:

Are people lining up to pay you to play YOUR songs?



They didn't line up to see me play covers either, so why would they?

Everybody reads SO much into my words.

I never said it doesn't take talent to play cover music.

I never said you can't do very well playing cover music.

I never said "the big ones" don't play other writer's music.

Yes, Sinatra sang songs written by the best composers. Yes you can make a decent living playing cover music. Yes, it takes a lot of work and talent to be good at it.

Do you not see the difference between standing in front of an 19 piece band in a tux singing A Foggy Day In London Town in a nice theater with tiered seating that has professional lighting with follow spot, and playing Freebird in a bar full of bikers?

If you don't see the difference, then I shouldn't be discussing this with you.

Yes, I prefer original bands to copy bands. I prefer to see musician who stretch themselves beyond listening to CDs all day and copying what they heard. I believe it takes a higher skill level to write GOOD songs. (And if I ever write one, I hope someone buys it and records it.) That being said, it would be the biggest rush ever to do that big band show in the tux and sing a night of Cole Porter and George Gershwin and Harold Arlen and Irving Berlin and Lerner and Lowe music. Would it work in The Saddlebag Bar where the bikers hang out? Of course not. So don't book The Saddlebag Bar! And that's where you get into love vs money. I also need to point out that I don't sing anywhere near close to well enough to pull that show off, but damn, I'd sure be willing to do it anyway. Even though I would not have written ONE of those songs..... there is a difference between classic songs written by revered composers and Billy Don't Be A Hero. Yes, they are both copying someone else's music, but to use examples like Mozart as "cover music" is just a ridiculous argument. I don't know a lot of bands playing Marriage of Figaro in a bar.