"We Are The Best In The World At We Do"

Date: Nov 16, 2009

Why don't alot of conjunto's last long anymore?

Date: Nov 16, 2009

Greed is the main reason. To many people now do it for the wrong reasons. It used to be about loving it and having a good time. Now alot (not all) of these young artists seemed consumed with money and fame.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

Ya alot of greedy musicans out there today. Sad to see, we need people who do it for the love not money.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

I agree very small are the numbers of musicans who play for the fun and love. Alot think their going to get rich and famous and it's ugly to see that. Greed and drugs have ruined conjunto.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

Ya sometimes heads of bands pay guys just whatever and don't realize you need to take care of your band.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

Conjunto music and bands don't pick up cause there is alot of greed and lies among bands nowadays.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

I got to see the D boyz yesterday and you could tell these guys had a good time. You don't see that to often nowadays. I saw a 361 band play here in Houston a few weeks ago, and was dissappointed with the guy's attitude. He seemed like he was doing us a favor by being there and displayed his arogant attitude. People like that with their attitudes have no buisness playing. Kudos to the D Boyz and the other like minded bands that do it for the pure love and fun.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

Ya money is a big issue nowadays. Groups forget were this all started, money is good but the fans and the music means more. To bad alot of groups don't see that.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

It's so true about the Greed the band leaders just care of them self. They get some what famous and don't what to share the money with the band members that helped them make it. They take all the credit and money with them. I know alot of band members that are great, but band leaders pay them 60 or 80 bucks at best 100 bucks a night and pocket 1000 to 2000 a night. Thats not right. They are a couple that still love conjunto music and treat there members better, but not to many sad but true.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

This industry is full of false lies, and hidden agendas. Very few people are trust worthy. If you find someone you trust in this buisness take care of them. To many people seem to paint pretty pictures with their fingers crossed behind their backs.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

Oh ya if you find someone who you trust take care of them. They are super rare!

Date: Nov 16, 2009

Yup some band leaders go for the cheapest musicans they can find to save a few bucks, in the end you get what you pay for. Musicans just ask for respect but alot of band leaders lack it.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

I can name you greedy band leader from 361 but i don't want to embarrass him, i still have faith he will open his eyes, before he loses his great musicans. We work hard to make him sound good, and he seems to treat us like dirt. Enough is enough!

Date: Nov 16, 2009

Ya i been part of like 4 bands and each time the band leader was not worth a F***, leaders act like one and take care of your men.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

Yup i agree alot of band leaders treat us (musicans) like trash and threaten to fire us if we complain. I am sick and tired of it. We need to make a stand, those guys would not be stars if it was not for us their backbones!

Date: Nov 16, 2009

most gigs our band leader charges like 2,000 and we get $60-$80 bucks! That's bull, but the laugh is on him when we dissappear when he needs us most. One weekend we gigged he made $5,000 and we made $120!!!

Date: Nov 16, 2009

damn i had no idea they really screwed you guys like this disbelief

Date: Nov 16, 2009

361 bands are the worst, and now their is a "new" producer out their feeding these bands lies making them think he is a "latin god" , man things in this industry are screwed up.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

Ya HHH it's getting bad. The industry as a whole needs an over hall. It has become corrupt, with lies, greed, drugs, jealousy ect..

Date: Nov 16, 2009

as a musican my self i agree with my brothers in music. band leaders treat musicans like garbage, and don't even see it. i see it all the time, the leader takes like 1,700 of the 2,000 and spread $300 between 3 guys, how is that right??? I have alot more to see on this subject. I will add more when i have more time. This is a great thread and one that is long overdue.

Date: Nov 16, 2009

The band members that get paid the 60 or 80 per night. And keep playing weekend after weekend these guys are the true Stars of are conjunto music staying alive, and play for the people out of Love for the music we Love to listen to cause of the best is still Conjunto!

Date: Nov 17, 2009

Ya lots of greedy band leaders out there and greedy managers/promoters. This buisness is all about who you can trust and who you can't. Too bad some people can't open their eyes and smell the coffee. Take care of those who take care of you.

Date: Nov 17, 2009

If only the musicians could play because they loved music and not for all the material issues like greediness or stardom which makes them think they have become better than the people who buy their CD's. I have gone to the Conjunto festival and the musicians act like they are bothered by the attendees or they play like they are inconvenienced. I love conjunto music because of the culture of hard working people and the love of the music.

Date: Nov 18, 2009

Sounds like someone is talking about Boni Mauricio and/or Mando Y La Venganza?

Date: Nov 18, 2009

Hi Raza
This is Isaac De Los Santos de Los Tremendos V . I actually have something to say about this. First of all you would be surprised how many people out there want you to play for free or for very little money out there. As musicians we dedicated our lives to learn a trade that is also something we love to do much like a doctor, lawyer or NFL Football player loves doing what they do. Its a craft and gift to be able to do what we do. I myself along with many others in la onda have taken the time to learn more about this craft by going to school and earning degrees to master this art form, others like Tony Saenz, Greg Paderes, George "Coco" Vasquez, Jesse Flores, and David Flores.... just to name a few have dedicated years... equivalent to doctorates degrees learning music from legends of conjunto music like Tony De La Rosa, Angel Flores, and Ruben Vela.

Its not easy for some band leaders when people don't want to pay and a lot of times this ends up happening. the worse thing is we have families and sometimes have to go elsewhere to find an income that will help defray the costs of raising our families... its just life.

I just DO NOT like the assumption that just because a musician wants to get paid for doing his thing means that he's greedy or an *******.... that is just a bunch of bull sh*t this, for many of us, is our job! YES we love to play music, YES we love being around all our fans.....BUT remember!!!!!! We ARE away from our families, We ARE missing important dates like birthdays, school musicals, sporting events and everything like that. and this IS our job. You wouldn't go to work for free would you? don't expect all musicians to be happy all the time when we have to go to a concerts where promoters pay very little or nothing and be away from our families.

Just Remember Musicians are human just like you, and just like you were going to have bad days and good days, there are good musicians and bad musicians.

Thank you for letting me speak my mind, I didnt intend to piss anybody off or belittle anyone i just wanted to give a musician and ex-band leaders point of view.

Isaac De Los Santos
Los Tremendos V

Date: Nov 18, 2009

As an ex-band leader myself, i thank Issac for speaking his mind. I will add that i played for a long time and as much fun as it was you simply can't live of music these days. It comes a time where you have to decide do i want to be a musican full-time and barely get by and support my family, or should i just get a real job and play for fun or part-time (weekends)? I chose to do if for fun and i find myself enjoying myself now more than when i did it for a living. Now adays if a gig is good, that's fine and dandy, but if it's slow, i don't worry about how i am going to pay the bills and i can still jam out and enjoy myself. In other words playing full-time is impossible these days. I agree with most people who say alot of musicans do it for the wrong reasons, once you start thinking about it as a buisness, instead of a hobby or for the sheer joy & love of it, than it's time to step away and get a real job and join the real world like me and countless others chose to do. Money comes and goes my friends, Love for your music, and your culture lasts forever.

Date: Nov 18, 2009

very well said Isaac, just one more thing that I wanted to point out, a few weeks ago people were talking about buying bootleg "Tremendos V" cd's , this is just another way of taking money out of these guys hands, I finally got my CD last night, proudly paid my 15.00 bucks for it, knowing that i got the finished product, not some bad copy that was floating around. Now, to all of those complaining about how bad that copy sounded.....GO GET THE REAL DEAL!!!!, CD is awesome!!!! Great job Isaac, David, Jerry, Mike, and Chuy.... there are few bands that sound just as good live, as on CD, but you guys have seemed to have mastered that art....keep up the good work, and see you guys next time you are in Houston....

Date: Nov 18, 2009

Well first of all i have never been a band leader,but if i was i think i wuld go by the golden rule cuz in reality there personally payin u good so ur guys wuld expect the same from u...I can say that ive had my bad times with sum bands in the past as far as money,showing up an finding out its 4 free..blah blah,blah....but i myself see it like this Karma Plays a big role in sum peoples life,an when she hits u,she hits u good for all that u have done wrong., I myself do work very hard for my family just to insure that all there bills an needs r paid for,before i go about my music...i love music i have been around sum of the, best musicians that have helped me get 2 where i am now,im not the best an ever will i think that cuz there is always sum 1 out there better then u..i do this for the love of it,not 4 the money, but will admit that it helps out with a bill or 2....i just think if u know ur gettin screwed,dnt be afraid 2 speak ur mind,step up an tell it like it is,especuialy if u have a family that awaits u every weekend 2 come home safe an sound,,i myself am not afraid to say what i have to say so for those of u who r sayin...i think its time we say something u shuld have done that along time ago,for sum it is a job an for sum its not regardless to say u still shuldnt let anyone play u for a fool!!!

Date: Nov 18, 2009

I like what Jason has to say, i am glad that most of these excellent musicans like Jason speak up. People like Jason make the big name conjuntos sound great! Great job Jason your an excellent musican and a true stand up guy.

Date: Nov 18, 2009

I play for a local band and in the begining everything was cool with pay. Everyone got treated fairy. As the band grew the band leader let it go to his head, to the point where he makes more and more money from private gigs and us his musicans still get the same pay as when we started. We bring it up to him and he just says i got equipment to buy sorry. I understand he has expenses, but come on a little raise from time to time would make us guys grateful. Instead he takes the extra money with sometimes is around $500-$800 and blows it on personal stuff like dates and so on.

Not all band leaders are like this guy, so musicans out their if your band leader takes care of you then return the favor and have his back. This is a good example of when a guy's head gets to big and he has the wrong people whispering in his ear. As for me i plan on hanging on a few more months than retiring and just working my normal job. People like this "Big Head" are bad for the industry and give good leaders a bad rep. disbelief

Date: Nov 18, 2009

Let me ask you band members something i am curious about. How do these bad leaders really see thier fans? Do they really care or is it just about the money for some? Thanks

Date: Nov 18, 2009

Well i can't speak for anyone else but my bandleader used to care what his fans thought. Now it's all changed. When we started gigging he was always friendly and wanted to be around the fans. Now intermission comes and he spends all his time outside on the phone, or hangingout only with the same people he hangs out with gig after gig. I can't honestly say if he cares for the fans or not, but if he does he does not show it, not like he used to anyways. Boy how things have changed for us, and changed for the worse cry

Date: Nov 18, 2009

Most care about the fans at the start, cause well you need to build a fanbase. As you get more popular you start to see fans as annoying and just want to finish your gig as soon as possible and go on to the next one. To alot of musicans it's all about getting paid. Sad but true

Date: Nov 18, 2009

Band leaders remember the guys making 60 or 80 bucks a night have family to support also. Some can not have good full time jobs back home, because the out of town trips and hours having to perform. They love conjunto music and are trying to also make it a full time job and are doing there part to keep conjunto music going. Thanks to all you guys that are there for the fans.

Date: Nov 18, 2009

I am one of those that support the Conjuntos, I pay for the CD's, and attend all the events like KEDA anniversary, the Shootouts,Etc. I feel the people support the musicians of conjunto but it seems the money for the gigs is not passed on by the promoters or coordinators to the band members. Maybe the band members need to be more involved with the arrangements and no one disagrees with you guys making a living but without the public it can not happen. I envy those like you that want to be the best and strive to do that. But remember without the public your dreams will not come true.