I Called It Quits Today After 7 Years:

Tuesday, I am meeting with the director of 'Rockstars of Tomorrow' in Rancho and talking about possibly doing some part time teaching for them. Nothing for sure, but it seems like a very cool thing where students are placed together into bands and they actually perform for their family members.

www.rockstarsoftomorrow.com

Rockstars of Tomorrow Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Rockstars of Tomorrow Rancho Cucamonga, California home page.
www.rockstarsoftomorrow.com www.rockstarsoftomorrow.com
 
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Start your YT ch, showing how to do things.

Ill be honest, I was sad when I read you were giving up… You have to remember we all are nobody, some are bit more famous than others.. Just because they are famous dose not mean they any better than any other people… most of the famous people are ass….


Remember what you done is tremendous work and you and your generation are hardworking people… hardworking people gove everything they got to whatever they do.

You have talent and Im sure many wish to have. Dont put yourself down, starting new parh its always scary but once get on it you will go with a flow.

You can put ad on local ads looking for band to join or start just for fun, to keep yours skills sharp and play song you want to play not once you have to play.


Man, in whatever you do, Im proud to call you brother and I’ll always have your back!
Cheer

Ramo
 
Ramo said:
Start your YT ch, showing how to do things.

Ill be honest, I was sad when I read you were giving up… You have to remember we all are nobody, some are bit more famous than others.. Just because they are famous dose not mean they any better than any other people… most of the famous people are ass….


Remember what you done is tremendous work and you and your generation are hardworking people… hardworking people gove everything they got to whatever they do.

You have talent and Im sure many wish to have. Dont put yourself down, starting new parh its always scary but once get on it you will go with a flow.

You can put ad on local ads looking for band to join or start just for fun, to keep yours skills sharp and play song you want to play not once you have to play.


Man, in whatever you do, Im proud to call you brother and I’ll always have your back!
Cheer

Ramo
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Thanks, Amigo....appreciated
 
Robert, good luck in whatever path you take!
i know you really go full throttle on anything you are involved in.
Maybe so much it takes a while to recognize the signs of burnout.

From what you have shared with us here, you have lived a very full and interesting life.
Keep enjoying what you love to do, but maybe stop and take a few more breaths in between?

Be well, be happy, my friend.
 
Robert Herndon said:
When our bassist died, in February 2019, we donated his stuff to Rockstars of Tomorrow in Norco, California.
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Umm...now is a good time to tell you I am starting up a new Rockstars of Tomorrow here in the midwest. I currently have no inventory. There is a young, middle-aged lady in the office today in need. If this tugs at your heartstrings, I can give you our shipping address to donate. Why give to @eSGEe when you can donate to a good cause, right?
 
Zzzzz said:
Umm...now is a good time to tell you I am starting up a new Rockstars of Tomorrow here in the midwest. I currently have no inventory. There is a young, middle-aged lady in the office today in need. If this tugs at your heartstrings, I can give you our shipping address to donate. Why give to @eSGEe when you can donate to a good cause, right?
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You are nothing, if not consistent, Lol.
 
Robert Herndon said:
Ok,

So i think it's time to stop supporting other musicians. I mean, yes, I enjoyed my work in the studio. It was my home. I knew my job and I did it well. It was comfortable...but I was only a name on a large stack of NDA's. A nobody. Zero. Nothing.

When you listen to the radio and ypu hear your playing, but you cannot claim it, you begin to feel alone and lost. I mean, yes, I agreed to that, but maybe, just maybe, I am good enough to h3adline???

I'm sorry...I guess I just feel like I need to say something..anything..like, "hey, I'm still here..remember me? The kid you picked on...the one you beat on? You know, my feelings mattered. I had dreams too. All I ever wanted was a chance to be something more than what you perceived of me...."

Maybe I...well....there's therapy near the bottom of this bottle...
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Yes! I, for one, enjoy listening to your clips. You sound great. Usually the humble musicians are the best. I wonder how many excellent musicians have never been heard because they remained true to themselves & refused to bow to the ones "in charge" of the music industry. Be true to yourself & do what you love! Maybe fame is just a hindrance to creativity after all?
 
Zzzzz said:
Umm...now is a good time to tell you I am starting up a new Rockstars of Tomorrow here in the midwest. I currently have no inventory. There is a young, middle-aged lady in the office today in need. If this tugs at your heartstrings, I can give you our shipping address to donate. Why give to @eSGEe when you can donate to a good cause, right?
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I think you've got competition, @eSGEe
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
Umm Robert, U better not be TOO dang AWOL,

I still need my bro to keep me inspired and to do all I can to help out from my humble abilities as well.

PS. Not to mention if a pair of Strat Necks need some attention, a package may make it's way to the other coast. If you would still be willing.
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I'm always available, my friend. Just hit me up.
 
I'm still under contract to 'Outfall' for the completion of their album and I still have some small royalties coming in from stuff I did years ago, so I'm not going to starve in the interim.

This morning was really great. I woke up about 2:30am and started drilling on hand synchronization exercises and Yngwie licks until 4:30, then went back to bed and woke up at 8:15am, had my usual coffee and toast and now I'm just chillin....
 
smitty_p said:
Wow, Robert, this is quite a change for you.

Though, I do think it’s best for you to step back and discover yourself. It may feel weird for awhile, given that your identity has pretty much been wrapped up in music for so long. But, changing course can be good.
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Mitch Pearrow SJMP said:
I agree with Smitty :cool:
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I don't think I have an identity outside of music...I'm not certain that I would want one. I do not associate with anyone outside of music and even then, I seldom interact with people outside my family circle.

I'm not like other people in that I couldn't really earn a living outside of music.

For most, music is just something fun to do, but for me, it's a way of life and it's been my only income source since 2011.

The only thing I'd ever done (besides music) was work as a police officer and I'm too old and impatient to do that anymore, notwithstanding that I really have no desire to work in that field (law) ever again.

My main goal, in "backing away", is to climb into my cocoon, immerse myself in speed exercises, and emerge a better, faster player. So, I'm still playing maniacally, but instead of playing covers, I'm learning new techniques.

Long terms goal is front my own band and stop being just a support musician.

Short term goal is finish my 8 song CD and get it on the market just to be able to say I finished that project.

I have a year left in my contract with Outfall and we have an album to complete, and I really like the guys in that band, so aside from a salary, I enjoy working with them too.

TBTH, the 4-5 night a week thing was exhilarating. I loved every minute of it, but when band politics began to form, it really was upsetting and I had invested so much time and effort into the band that I just couldn't contain my frustration that band members would allow personal issues to derail the band.

I went into this project (Bad Dog) with the outlook that this would eventually morph into my own band. This might seem selfish, but aside from that long-term goal, I gave everything to support it.

I would arrive at venues 4 hours early, make sure the stage was clean, setup my equipment and soundcheck it before anybody else arrived. When bandmates began rolling in, I was able to devote 100% of my time to helping set everything up.

I also kept all the guitars and amps running in the group.

Everyone in that band lived 15-20 minutes from the rehearsal space. I was driving 85 miles (one way) to rehearsal twice a week, plus paying a colleague $30.00/hour cash to cover the last 3.5 hours of my shift (each Monday and Friday) to give me enough time to make that 85 mile drive in traffic.

On rehearsal days, I was leaving Burbank or Hollywood (depending on assignment) at 1:30pm and rolling into rehearsal at between 5 and 6pm.

I'm pretty determined to get back into music, but this time, it's gonna have to be on my terms...
 
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chilipeppermaniac said:
I still don't see how Robert says he can't make money other than playing music.

Umm, Miltary, Car Mechanicing, Cop, Guitar Tech, and I am sure a few other jobs in his lifetime.
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Well, @chilipeppermaniac, TBTH....I made more money playing music than I ever made as a police officer or as a member of the U.S. Navy. I never wanted to do either job, but I needed medical benefits for my kids and retirement, so I did it.

I'm well past being able to do those jobs again age wise, and I really have no desire to do them.

I think, perhaps, for people who haven't earned a living in music, it's hard to truly describe just how much money is out there. Once you hook up with the Musician's Union, it doesn't take long before you have to turn the work down.
Somebody is literally recording something all the time.

I know people who play a 3 hour set for $100.00 and they earn it. But, I've made more than that in a couple of hours worth of studio time and earned it in a comfortable chair under the A/C.

My education consists of a GED. Let me tell you, that don't take you very far. But, in music, my previous project always opened a door for me and the cycle kept repeating itself.

For example, I'm still under contract to a band for another year, getting paid once a month. Not a bad deal.

Now, I'm 55 and have a GED. How much you think I could earn at Guitar Sinner???

I considered opening a guitar shop doing tech work, but TBTH, I don't see big money in that. What do you think???

A full setup down here in SoCal with new strings and a new nut install is $200.00.

In May of this year, you may recall our trip to the bay area. I got a text from a colleague. "Recording job in Petaluma. 2 days. $2,500.00. Accommodations and per diem included. R.U.N.???"

The last line means (Are You In???)

This is how things work once you get established, but most musicians never get into that circle, and maybe some don't want music to be a job....bit I wouldn't want to bust my ass all day loading trucks for Fed-Ex at $16.00/hour, then rush home, shower and drive to a gig and play for free...or play for $400 split 5 ways.

I much prefer, "Hey, Rob. Polaris wants a progressive rock backing track for a new snowmobile commercial. R.U.N.?"

I don't think I could ever say no to these kind of deals....
 
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