--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It took us two years to get our first…" description: "\"It took us two years to get our first real gig. That was a big dream. We ended up booking a lot of our own gigs and putting on a lot of our own shows. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ac/greg-ginn-18222_bigs_it-took-us-two-years-to-get-our-first-re_1125603.png" --- # It took us two years to get our first real gig. That was a… ![“It took us two years to get our first real gig. That was a big dream. We ended up booking a lot of our own gigs and putting on a lot of our own shows. We were trying to get our actual music across, trying to make a connection there.” quote by Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ac/greg-ginn-18222_bigs_it-took-us-two-years-to-get-our-first-re_1125603.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ac/greg-ginn-18222_bigs_it-took-us-two-years-to-get-our-first-re_1125603.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ac/greg-ginn-18222_bigs_it-took-us-two-years-to-get-our-first-re_1125603.png) > “It took us two years to get our first real gig. That was a big dream. We ended up booking a lot of our own gigs and putting on a lot of our own shows. We were trying to get our actual music across, trying to make a connection there.” [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Persistence and self‑initiative are essential to turning a big dream into reality, especially in creative fields. **In simple terms:** Hard work and DIY effort turn dreams into gigs. Key Takeaway Take charge of your own opportunities. Themes determination creativity DIY career music Mood motivated optimistic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - starting a band - organizing local shows - self‑releasing music Key Concepts entrepreneurship self‑promotion networking Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance DIY efforts with seeking external partnerships? - What resources can amplify your self‑promoted work? A Different Perspective Reliance on self‑booking can limit exposure without broader industry support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-dream/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ## Related quotes > [The first real gig I went to was Randy Crawford in 1980. Seeing a big star like that was just fantastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-walsh/the-first-real-gig-i-went-to-was-randy-crawford-in-1980-seeing-a-big/) [Bradley Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-walsh/) > [Someone once shouted: 'We know you're acting and this isn't real' at a gig in Cambridge. I was 25, playing a 50-year-old lounge singer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-demetriou/someone-once-shouted-we-know-you-re-acting-and-this-isn-t-real-at-a/) [Jamie Demetriou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-demetriou/) > [People from major labels were afraid to go to Black Flag gigs throughout most of the bands existence. They treated our gigs as something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/people-from-major-labels-were-afraid-to-go-to-black-flag-gigs/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [I think in my generation, when I came along in the early '60s, the type of music that was in vogue in society in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra-jr/i-think-in-my-generation-when-i-came-along-in-the-early-60s-the-type/) [Frank Sinatra Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra-jr/) > [It's just music. It's trying to play clean and looking for the pretty notes. The beat in a bop band is with the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/it-s-just-music-it-s-trying-to-play-clean-and-looking-for-the-pretty/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [I think that the thing is, all those years of creating music or trying to express something of a dark shadow, an existential angst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/i-think-that-the-thing-is-all-those-years-of-creating-music-or-trying/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [Music is a lens through which to see who we are. Every phrase of every piece of music is trying to tell a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/music-is-a-lens-through-which-to-see-who-we-are-every-phrase-of-every/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [For whatever reason, the success still blows my mind - that I'm able to talk to people about the music I've written. I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-bruno/for-whatever-reason-the-success-still-blows-my-mind-that-i-m-able-to/) [Aaron Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-bruno/) > [When you're a music director, you have people constantly sending you music and trying to get - I mean, I'm sure you have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baio/when-you-re-a-music-director-you-have-people-constantly-sending-you/) [Chris Baio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baio/) > [I think we get on with living our lives like everybody else does. Where we're at in music is trying to explain what's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gill/i-think-we-get-on-with-living-our-lives-like-everybody-else-does/) [Andy Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gill/) > [You see, pops, that's the kind of talk that's ruining the music. Everyone's trying to do something new, no one trying to learn the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/you-see-pops-that-s-the-kind-of-talk-that-s-ruining-the-music/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [How I set myself apart is by creating the sort of real and honest music, which is who I'm also trying to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bay/how-i-set-myself-apart-is-by-creating-the-sort-of-real-and-honest/) [James Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bay/) > [I just want to make that my life: recording music and trying to write a good song every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-granduciel/i-just-want-to-make-that-my-life-recording-music-and-trying-to-write/) [Adam Granduciel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-granduciel/) > [I've always gone back and forth between acting and music, but for music I'm not trying to be a pop star - I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-greenberg/i-ve-always-gone-back-and-forth-between-acting-and-music-but-for/) [Bryan Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-greenberg/) > [I think the music that speaks to me the most is music that is personal. And that's the music that I'm trying to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-think-the-music-that-speaks-to-me-the-most-is-music-that-is/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) ## More by Greg Ginn > [There's not much music I'll listen to if it doesn't have pretty heavy swing. Rhythm is so important. Punk rock would have more power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/there-s-not-much-music-i-ll-listen-to-if-it-doesn-t-have-pretty-heavy/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [It is a fact that each song an artist creates is unique and although fans tend to be loyal, ultimately the quality of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/it-is-a-fact-that-each-song-an-artist-creates-is-unique-and-although/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [There are several books out on punk history, but I haven't read any of them. I was there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/there-are-several-books-out-on-punk-history-but-i-haven-t-read-any-of/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [People from major labels were afraid to go to Black Flag gigs throughout most of the bands existence. They treated our gigs as something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/people-from-major-labels-were-afraid-to-go-to-black-flag-gigs/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [The public is usually slow to catch on to new things, and it's important that musicians stick to their guns and not look for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/the-public-is-usually-slow-to-catch-on-to-new-things-and-it-s/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [Black Flag was formed in 1977. We first recorded in 1978.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/black-flag-was-formed-in-1977-we-first-recorded-in-1978/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [I didn't have a lot of overtly political songs. I think it was more the actions of the group that were threatening to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/i-didn-t-have-a-lot-of-overtly-political-songs-i-think-it-was-more/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [I didn't want to wait around for some business entity to come around and give me money and tell me what to do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/i-didn-t-want-to-wait-around-for-some-business-entity-to-come-around/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [The small companies who feel that the majors are a threat, or are predators, will use that as an excuse for their eventual downfall.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/the-small-companies-who-feel-that-the-majors-are-a-threat-or-are/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [I had business experience. I had made my living designing and building electronic equipment. Basic business was not new to me, but the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/i-had-business-experience-i-had-made-my-living-designing-and-building/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [I listen to everything that comes in. I'm not real worried about demo sound quality. I can hear through that sort of thing. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/i-listen-to-everything-that-comes-in-i-m-not-real-worried-about-demo/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [As a label, you have to treat every group and every record as a unique entity. I think that that has been our success,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/as-a-label-you-have-to-treat-every-group-and-every-record-as-a-unique/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [Stores can be indifferent to something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/stores-can-be-indifferent-to-something-new/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [We've gotten involved in cat rescue we take them in and find homes for them. I've always loved cats. I saw how homeless cats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/we-ve-gotten-involved-in-cat-rescue-we-take-them-in-and-find-homes/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [I still think the best metal bands have a blues feel. The first Black Sabbath album is kind of a bludgeoning of blues. Deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/i-still-think-the-best-metal-bands-have-a-blues-feel-the-first-black/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) [Explore all 35 Greg Ginn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It took us two years to get our first real gig. That was a big dream. We ended up booking a lot of our own gigs and putting on a lot of our own shows. 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