[PHOTOSTORY 4: STRUGGLE] Breaking into the Music Scene

 By: Andy Cole

Friends Asa Hankinson, Joey Palmer, Connor Cross, and Seth Johnson (L-R) practice their set for their weekend performance. The group make up the band Space Gator and have been together as long as they've been at Georgia Southern, three years. 

The Space Gator logo is featured prominently on the face of their drum. Since their inception, they've played all across South Georgia, including downtown Savannah on numerous occasions. 

The group practices three hours, seven days a week inside Cross' garage outside of Statesboro. Being college students trying to make it in the entertainment industry, struggle is something they know well.

Bassist Johnson strums alongside his band mates during their daily practice. "It's my passion. I've been playing bass forever and when we found each other, it all just clicked," Johnson said. 

Johnson doesn't just play with Space Gator, he moves around playing for one band one night and another on the next. "Space Gator is my main band, but I have to play with others to make some extra money and continue to hone my craft," said Johnson. 

Connor Cross nails the vocals in their rendition of Ramblin' Man by the Allman Brothers. "I feel like we're out here all the time. It's tiring sometimes, but you've gotta struggle to one day succeed," Cross said.

Cross sings into his microphone they have setup in the rehearsal space. "I've been singing since I could talk," Cross said. "There's family videos of me somewhere just singing along."

Cross doesn't just sing, he also plays rhythm guitar for Space Gator. "To me, you can't just sing. I picked up guitar a couple years ago because I knew it would be critical for me to make it big," Cross said.

Joey Palmer plays drums for Space Gator. "My dad actually played drums in college, but didn't see it through. Going in, my dad encourage me to pick it up and I was kind of a natural," Palmer said. 

Palmer slams on his drum set with his sticks. "You wanna know about struggle? Try being a drummer that plays for hours every day. See how that treats your ears," Palmer explained. 

Asa Hankinson plays lead guitar for Space Gator. "In high school, I would go to school, then go right to work a minimum wage job, then I'd get off and go home and practice. It's takes a big commitment," said Hankinson.

Hankinson sets the tone for the rest of the band as lead guitarist. "I basically lay down the track for the rest of them to support. It's a team effort for sure," Hankinson said.

Hankinson has been strumming his guitar since he was 7 years old. "I remember the first time I got a guitar. My first one was from Santa. Oh I loved that thing, but this one's a little nicer," Hankinson said. 

Hankinson (left) and Palmer (right) communicate through glances and mouthing words. "Playing in a band is like playing a sport. You've got to work together and talk with each other," Palmer said. 

Cross (left) and Johnson (right) work together to make it through the set. "We first started opening for the opener at small bars around Statesboro. We weren't making any money," Johnson said. 

Johnson smiles at his bandmates after they successfully finish their set. "We still struggle every day to get more gigs. It's a dog eat dog world -- practice is what makes you strong. Only the strong survive," Johnson said. 

Johnson's girlfriend Hannah Scime joined the band for their rehearsal on this day. "I love listening and being a listening board. I'll tell them if it sounds crappy," Scime said. 

Space Gator is set to play at The Blue Room for their upcoming fall slate of concerts. "We love playing here, but obviously want more. It's not glamorous... right now. But it will be," Cross said. 

It's not always been easy, as evidence by their self-proclaimed monument to anger. "It was a really tough day. We had been practicing nonstop and just had a couple gigs cancel. Like Connor said, it's not always pretty," Palmer said. 

The band will continue practicing as long as they can play together. "It's tough, but we're gonna break through. We've got to, it's that 10,000 hours principle," Cross said.