I Hate the Man Who Runs This Bar! [Paperback]

Eugene Chadbourne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1998

Have you ever been stiffed by a club owner? Gone on a disastrous tour? Ever been double-booked by a promoter? Consigned your CD release to the local record store only to find it no longer there and nobody knows where your money is? Eugene Chadbourne uses his hilarious sense of humor to deliver the truth about touring, making records, working with a band, getting a record deal, playing overseas and just about anything else you can think of. With no hype and no fluff, this essential guide is a must for real musicians who have decided to make a living doing what they love: playing music! No matter what style of music you play, no matter where you live, don't make playing music your life without this survival guide for real musicians!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Eugene Chadbourne will always be remembered for his sonic jazz experiments on stringed instruments (mainly electric guitar, sometimes banjo), that trademark electric rake of his, and his campy humor. (He's also the only musician playing today able to cover Nick Drake's melancholic "The Thoughts of Mary Jane" and turn it into an extended improvisation that borders on humorous.) I Hate the Man Who Runs This Bar!, Chadbourne's guidebook for fellow musicians, is nearly as funny, eccentric, and effective as the artist's vast musical output. Chadbourne describes his follies with various labels; offers inspirational advice on packaging, publishing, and getting gigs; and tries to shatter the myths of working for a major record label. Common sense reigns supreme, as does a DIY sensibility. Subtitled "The Survival Guide for Real Musicians," the book offers great insight into one of modern music's best minds and should provide plenty to think about for anyone serious about his or her music. Chadbourne's suggestions may not make your band famous, but they may make it infamous--a career choice that's worked for Chadbourne since the mid '70s. --Jason Verlinde

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Artistpro; 1 edition (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0918371198
• ISBN-13: 978-0918371195
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,334,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, so that's how it works..., August 10, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Chaville, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Hate the Man Who Runs This Bar! (Paperback)

You are not alone (sitting there in the darkness ... by yourself ... without anybody else ... misunderstood and maligned and malingering... not knowing where to turn or who to turn to ...) because Mr. Eugene Chadbourne is right there with you to show you the way!

No, he won't help you make a living by making music - but he'll explain why you aren't making a living. He won't stop you from being double-booked and left with no money in Our Town, Earth, Universe - but he'll help you deal with it (and ensure you turn it into a good road warrior story for your friends).

This is not the music publishing/A&R bible that will list every exec's name and phone number - those are out of date before they're printed. It's more like a fake book actually comprised of songs you would want to fake.

I wouldn't consider myself a real musician because I still rely on THE MAN to give me a paycheck. But this is Extremely well-written and Entertaining and informative and hearten! ing and concise. (Though I have to say that it's a bit pricey - but that's not a consideration when reviewing fine literature, is it?). For anyone who has/wants to record something or has/wants to perform in public - check this book out!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love This Book, June 6, 2005

By 

Lindsay Smith (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Hate the Man Who Runs This Bar! (Paperback)

I am a professional musician (note that I did not say "full time"), and this is my very favorite of all the books I own about the music business. This book inspires me when I'm happy to be a musician, encourages me when I feel like quitting music forever, makes me want to be a better musician, and makes me feel like I'm just as good as I need to be to just get out there and PLAY, already.

In short, I love this book. I would recommend it not just for musicians but for anyone who is engaged in a creative pursuit, knowing full well that it will never make him or her rich and famous - and that that's a GOOD thing.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is completely amazing for all free-thinkers., October 20, 1998

By 

Jason Quick([e-mail]) (Bowling Green, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Hate the Man Who Runs This Bar! (Paperback)

Mr. Chadbourne's book will scare many young musicians into to becoming record producers and it will inspire heartier souls into pursuing the career they have always wanted, that is, being a musician. This book contains stories of both fact and fiction that deal with different types of musicians in the wierd kinds of situations that musicians find themselves in. Especially insightful are the chapters that deal with the regular folk: Understanding the Non-Creative Mind, Chicken Public vs. the Avant-Garde, and True Happiness: The Flawed System That Destroys Weaker Minds. Mr. Chadbourne's insight on how to make a living playing music that nobody wants to hear is invaluble to musicians of all persuasions. This book should be in every gig bag of every music student in every school!