I didn’t know what to write this month, so I went back over my old columns, and one stuck out as being important to remember. I’ve seen a lot of groups break up, reform, then break up again. I’ve heard some great groups fall by the wayside because of arguments. I thought this might be a good time to repeat the column:
Being a professional - Some questions to ask yourself

When you decided to be a rock musician, you made a choice to enter a profession, whether you’re doing it for fun, as a hobby - or to hopefully make money at it and go on to stardom, million-selling albums and screaming fans all over the world. If you’re doing it for fun or as a hobby, enjoy yourself - it’s great fun. If you’re in it because you want to be a rock and roll star, this column is about the cost of joining the profession. How much is all that worth to you? Let’s find out.

The first price you pay is the time you spend learning to play your instrument. How much time are you willing to spend to get really good? How much more time to get really great? Are you willing to put in the kind of time that Andy Timmons puts into practicing? Are you good enough to get on stage with someone like Andy and jam at that level of musicianship?

The next cost in becoming a professional is the equipment. How much of your income are you willing to spend on getting the best equipment for your sound? Your needs may be as modest as a beat-up Ibenez through a Crate, or you might need a Jackson Randy Rhodes into a Marshall Anniversary stack and a wall of processors. Does your drumming demand that you get a DW 8-piece set with racks of custom Zildijin cymbals? How much are you willing to spend NOW to get the sound you need?

Next, comes your involvement with other people, the band. How much rehearsal time are you willing to put in? Are you just going to show up and play -or really get involved in where the band is headed? Are you 100% committed to the band’s success? Are you contributing new songs? Are you making every effort possible to get along with every other member of the group or are you just telling everybody how bad so and so is, and how you want to find a “real” group?

If the group is going to sound good, the group might have to share in the purchase of a P.A. system. Maybe you’re thinking, “Hey, I’m not gonna be with this group much longer anyway, so why should I contribute a whole bunch of money for a PA?” Are you going to tell the group you’re thinking of leaving, or are you just going to stall until you find a better group, and then simply quit?

If the group decides to do a demo, are you going to show up and play to make the band sound great, or are you planning to use the tape to show off what YOU can do? When you get gigs, are you there on time, are you ready to play… without an attitude? Did you tell everybody about where you’re playing and make them promise to show up? Or is that somebody else’s job? While you’re waiting to go on, are you dissing the other bands?

These are questions that have to be answered if you’re going to be a professional. Your answers aren’t important to me. They should be important to you. (Harvey Gerst), ITR Studios, http://ITRstudio. com