practice VS. gigging

[lowendgenerator]

In my travels as a bass player, I have had the opportunity to gig a lot, and to go for long stretches without gigs. I have noticed that the more I gig, the less I practice. It got to the point where I wouldn't touch a bass all week, and then do my gig as usual. I'm fairly comfortable with my skill level, I have no desire to be the next virtuoso.

My question is this, is it normal to lay off the practice schedule to this extent when the gigs are steady? I don't feel remorse, should I?

[motleystew]

I'm right there with you. I am comfortable with my playing level on bass. I have played now for 20+ years and I have learned everything I want to know on the bass. I do not care for slap or tapping or Jazz or anything to "build my horizons" I play bass to be able to play Rock and Roll - simple as that. I want to be able to set in with some guys playing classic rock and hold a groove. I hate practicing on the bass. Period. I know this may sound lazy, but that's where I'm at. I play guitar as well, but as I am WANTING to expand my knowledge of that instrument, I actually enjoy practicing! I will not waste time practicing if I do not enjoy it.

[Bassbasixx]

Sounds pretty normal to me when i used to play out a lot and rehearse 2-3 a week I would get burnt. Now I am not playing out so I spend more time working on new chops and have more desire to play as much as i can.

[lowendgenerator]

Good call. I'm glad I'm not alone on this one. I also play guitar and drums, and I feel I need to practice more on those instruments to keep my skill level up.

[nysbob]

I'm not much of a practiser either, I must confess.

I've been playing for 38 years, 17 of them as a full timer.

I keep working to stretch myself as a player, but I do it on the gig. I try to do new things and push myself every time I pick the instrument up.

[phat daddy]

I keep a certain regimine that all my music teachers over the years have agreed on: Practice as you perform. This can mean many things, beginning with use the same techniques and licks in the rehearsal as you would in a show; in this case I apply it time scheduling practice: If I play 5 nights a week with a band then come up with a dry spell, I try to keep playing 5 nights a week on my own. Mind you I can't even claim to always hit this mark, but that becomes my aim.

I understand where everyone else on the thread is coming from, but I am a player interested in doing as many styles as I can become aquainted with, and do them well. I find myself always dashing into a new style, technique, lick and trick, or polishing well known tunes and styles as well as implementing new fills in old songs. As a result of these interests, if I don't spend ample time practicing I feel remorseful.

If you don't feel remorse, great, just own what you already do. That's totally cool IMO. I just hate the feeling of jumping into someone's jam and not knowing what to play. That's like the worst feeling amaginable for me. To each their own.

[Brittain]

To me it depends on how the last gig I played went, if it went well, I'd be revved up and want to practice, y'know, keep the swing up.

However if it was a bad gig (even if I played well but y'know, the crowd wasn't really big enough or the sound quality is poor, or if I have actually played badly =])I just can't pick me instrument up, it's like I loose all motivation, it takes about a week usually, then I'll get the bass craving and spend like, 5 or 6 hours in one sitting making up for the lack of play time.

[dvh]

I like expanding my knowledge so on nights with no gigs or rehearsals I work on theory stuff or licks I want to learn.

I actually don't enjoy that kind of practice but the motivation to learn more keeps me going. There's always room to add to one's knowledge and technique. YMMV.

[UncleBalsamic]

Sounds normal.

[Michael Case]

It all depends on what you want out of playing. If you're happy with your practice schedule then cool. Personally, I'd be worried about my muscles not being loose or my callouses getting soft and peeling. I'll skip a day or two of practice if I'm playing most nights of a week. When it's slow gigging, I hit the shed big time.

[The Golden Boy]

I've got a family, a job, and other responsibilities. Time for gigging is hard enough to schedule in- time for "practice" is a luxury I RARELY have.