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Work As Musician in Canada!
Message Board > Controversy and Quarantine > Work As Musician in Canada!
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Flavio84
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Hi there!
I'm an italian bassist, and I'm sick of Italy!!
Let's start from the beginning.
I start to play bass in 1999, after a year of studying I was able to have gigs. Between 2000 and 2003 I was able to play 30 gigs a year (with 3 different bands), then many live-music pubs closed forever. Now, I had 30 gigs between 2003-2005. Now I'm 21 and I must think about my future. I cannot think about a music career in Italy, because being a musician is not a job here. This year the "incredible" italian government take a 40% cut on Art and Culture fund!! The only way to work as musician in Italy is sell your mother, work with mafia or stuff like "the vice-president of Sony is the cousin of the brother of the son of the nepew of my sister".
Now, I'm looking for something better, and I'm looking for Canada.
What about the music situation here? And what are the job opportunities for musicians (if there are job opporunities...)?
Thank you in advance, then sorry for my poor english!! - Fri, 9 Dec 2005 7:48am
Mr. Hell
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The only real way to make a living playing music in Canada is to be in a working cover band doing the bar circuits. Either that or join a band that is very popular and collect the money.
Sounds like you might be better off here with that tax from your government.
Good luck! - Fri, 9 Dec 2005 4:13pm
Flavio84
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Could it be so easy to work in Canada?
So, I can think to work lifetime with music?
And what about the indie situation there?
Sorry again for my english! - Sat, 10 Dec 2005 2:27am
Colin
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Theirs, little to no money in music.

So I would not come here expecting it to be some north-american music fantasy land.

I think the scene in italy is probly just as good as canada for money, probly more competition here though.

where in italy are you from?, I have family near firenze. - Sat, 10 Dec 2005 8:50pm
fly on the wall
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Depends on how you make your money. I think the habitat had thsi gig before - Sat, 10 Dec 2005 11:28pm
Flavio84
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Colin! I'm from Grosseto, 100 km far from Firenze! Ma mica sei un emigrato??
I don't think that Italy is similar to Canada musically speaking... For example, we don't have a musician association!
About making money, I would like have many gigs and, why not, work inside the music business. At last, I want to live decently with music! - Tue, 13 Dec 2005 4:31am
ML7Mike
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move to Sweden. Canadian Musician Associations take your money, not give. They also lobby for fun stuff like border tarrifs for broke bands which in turn create reciprocal tarrifs from the US side which has also gone security crazy in response to Canadas large population of white radical muslim garage bands trying to plot shows in garage's in the USA. At least in Europe you dont need to pay extra for 5 months worth of red tape to cross a border and play one show legally. - Wed, 14 Dec 2005 12:08pm
King Bong
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You can always get a Canada Council Grant to play music............um, if you happen to be a one-legged First nations Lesbian who's "set" consists of microphones on Her hair so the audience can listen to it grow for three hours. Hey, that's not bad.....I'm gonna send away for the forms right now! - Sat, 17 Dec 2005 12:14pm
_Griphin_
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Are you leaking us info about your new album?!? - Sun, 18 Dec 2005 12:29pm
Troutbreath
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SSHHHHHH!!!! - Sun, 18 Dec 2005 2:22pm
XY-CANADA
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Damn, where does a outa work two legged third nation metro sexual hurdy-gurdy man get a gig these days ? - Sun, 18 Dec 2005 5:50pm
Gman
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Whoa, bitter much folks?

Canada can be difficult if you want to play *original* music only - which is the same nearly anywhere.

If, however, you're looking for studio work or to play other folks' stuff, there's lots to do.

King Bong: Maybe you should try applying instead of frothing. It just makes you sound ignorant. The CC and Factor do not operate the way you assume they do. - Tue, 20 Dec 2005 3:00pm
Troutbreath
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Actually, I was referring to The Canada Council and yeah they do operate that way, having known some of the people that sit on the judging panels. (Don't you know who I am???) I try to have a certain sense of humour about the whole process, you should try the same. If we have learned nothing else from the Gomery Commission the whole process of awarding Government money for various projects from the Arts to public relations is just a joke. - Tue, 20 Dec 2005 9:01pm
Gman
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Yeah, by CC I meant Canada Council.

Sorry, if I do know who you are, I am not presently aware of it.

I'll parry your 'know some sitting judges' with 'know middle class white folk who have recieved grants.' In the 'validity of anecdotal evidence' rules, that makes it a draw.

As to 'humour', I kinda figured jokes involving the disabled, racism, and gender/ sexuality were passe. Perhaps you shall prove me wrong. - Tue, 20 Dec 2005 9:29pm
Troutbreath
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Back in the mid eighties I started what became the longest running public art display in Victoria (its still going although now it's over seen by the Community Arts Council) Because of my involvement in the Arts I was asked to be part of a Committee that would make recommendations to the Four core municipalities on the best way to support the Arts in this city. Myself and six other members of the Victoria Art community got together on our own time and drafted 17 recommendations which we presented to the four mayors sitting at the time. The mayors were very happy to get our suggestions and in order to see them put in place they created the position of "Arts manager", yet another level in bureaucracy and I'm still not exactly sure what the "Arts manager" does beside collect a nice fat pay cheque courtesy of our tax dollars. Thats just one anecdotal example. Want more?
I also work with the disabled and they have an even more viscous sense of humour about who they are than I do.
So let me get this straight, you actually think the CC is a wonderful and benevolent institution that only gives away money to the most deserving? - Tue, 20 Dec 2005 10:44pm
Gman
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That anecdote is not about the Canada Council.

I don't think you know what 'viscous' means. If you do then that's a pretty funny sentence.

So you feel comfortable making denegrating comments like these in front of the folks you work with? By 'who they are' do you mean disabled, or human beings? Indeed, the human condition is rife with examples of hilarity.

Why don't you tell me about the 'First Nations' and 'lesbian' folks you know who also enjoy hearing you mock them? You sound like a regular Andrew Dice Clay.

I think the Canada Council gives money to people who can submit a successful application.

I don't believe in 'wonderful and benevolent institutions' thanks. I live here on Earth, not in some freaky deaky doo da land filled with gumdrops and happy elves. - Tue, 20 Dec 2005 11:15pm
Troutbreath
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I don't believe in 'wonderful and benevolent institutions' thanks. I live here on Earth, not in some freaky deaky doo da land filled with gumdrops and happy elves.

Ummm......ya lost me. Did I say any thing about happy elves?

......way to argue a point Buttcrack - Wed, 21 Dec 2005 12:23am
Gman
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Zing. - Wed, 21 Dec 2005 8:16am
Troutbreath
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Zing?
Our Italian friend will no doubt be astonished at the level of discussion that takes place here.
Gman are you a member of the Hootchy Girls by any chance? - Wed, 21 Dec 2005 11:35am
Gman
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"Zing" is what you say to a particularily apt retort, though as you know, sarcasm is difficult to convey on the internets.

I'm not, no. - Wed, 21 Dec 2005 1:49pm
i'll cut you
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Noooo, don't stop! Keep zinging!!! - Sun, 1 Jan 2006 5:32pm
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