WHY DO WE EVEN BOTHER??

Birdland11 · #1 04-05-2010, 10:59 PM

We all get that feeling when we are in a band sometimes, it couold be fleeting, it can sometimes last all night . You know what i mean, night after night same songs upon the same songs loading in loading out. Drunken obnoxious fools who dont even know what a bass is let alone hear it in the mix. But the show must go on right? So i was just curious what other people do when they feel like this. For me its when someone who really knows music compliments me. I try to remember 1 compliment about the bass is worth ten about the guitar..... ha ha

IntrepidCellist · #2 04-05-2010, 11:01 PM

I try to remember a great gig. There's a reason I love playing, and they can't all be perfect nights.

west*coast*bass · #3 04-05-2010, 11:07 PM

Why bother getting out of bed every morning? Life is hard...work, traffic, money, relationships... Do you need a compliment every day when you do something worthwhile?

Personally, there are no bad gigs...loading in and out is part of it. The songs are the same but the crowd isn't. Do what you do and have fun!

Russell foulkes · #4 04-06-2010, 05:47 AM

we had a problem similar to this.
basically,we were one step away from jacking it all in,just sacking the gig off,and driving home.
But i said to the guys
"what if,tomorrow,you suddenly couldnt play ever again?"
that seemed to do it.
and it went on to be a REALLY good gig!

DWBass · #5 04-06-2010, 05:55 AM

We do it because we just wanna play!

I will say this, I'm personally tired of not being able to play with 'better' musicians! Trying to put together bands is just tiring! Cats take forever to learn songs! Then they don't play them right! They lack groove/funk and aren't capable of going 'left' when it's called for! Always drama! Then the PA load ins and outs! Ugh! Part of me wants to pack it in and just record my own music! The other part is holding out for finding those 'right' musicians so the magic can happen!

I just gotta play!

BluesMan845 · #6 04-06-2010, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

We do it because we just wanna play!

I will say this, I'm personally tired of not being able to play with 'better' musicians! Trying to put together bands is just tiring! Cats take forever to learn songs! Then they don't play them right! They lack groove/funk and aren't capable of going 'left' when it's called for! Always drama! Then the PA load ins and outs! Ugh! Part of me wants to pack it in and just record my own music! The other part is holding out for finding those 'right' musicians so the magic can happen!

I just gotta play!

DW hit it ( almost ) on the head for me. I do play with talented musicians but... If and when I experience those moments of doubting that I want to continue playing in the current band ( note - I never doubt whether I want to continue playing live

) or I am confronted with that feeling of dread on gig night it can usually be traced to some dissatisfaction with some of my band mates and how they approach playing in a band.

Let's face it, sometimes being in a band is harder than being married, LOL!

If I could just clone myself as a drummer, singer and especially a guitar player - then everyone in the band would have the same, and correct

, opinions of what is:

the proper volume
an appropriate set list
a long enough solo
an acceptable gap between songs
good stage presence
an off color joke best kept off the microphone
the proper way to learn a song
the most number of bands you can whore yourself out to before you , well - become a whore!
on & on & on & on...

**zenrad** · #7 04-06-2010, 06:18 AM

I play because I have the mutant gene that causes me to want to play.

I always have said that music chose me, I did not choose music. The moments of bliss are worth the hardships.

Datsgor · #8 04-06-2010, 06:31 AM

For the great pay of coarse!

BluesMan845 · #9 04-06-2010, 06:31 AM

Forgot the whole purpose of the thread was why do we play... for me it's just something that has become a part of who I am. When I'm not in a band there is a hole in the spirit and that feeling that something is just not right in my world. Life's problems all seem a little easier to deal with after gig night

julieslick · #10 04-06-2010, 06:34 AM

My philosophy is that the bad moments in life allow you to REALLY appreciate the great ones. It's all relative...

Ezbass · #11 04-06-2010, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenrad

I play because I have the mutant gene that causes me to want to play.

Yeah why is that? I was just thinking before logging on about why I bother when it seems to be mostly grief, but whenever I'm not in a band I miss it. A most masochistic pass time for sure.

On the subject of better musos, I went to see, with a bunch of guys (including drummer) from my current band, an old drummer friend of mine that I was in a couple of bands with, play yesterday. Oh what a joy to hear someone who really knows how to use a kick drum! I was air plucking and (in my head at least

) really locking in. I can only hope that my current drummer noticed my serene look of longing and tightens up his act.

dougjwray · #12 04-06-2010, 06:43 AM

Jaco told me that when he was playing country club gigs as a teenager (doing "Proud Mary" for the 1,000th time, etc.), he'd spend the entire night using only the ring finger on his left hand to fret, in order to strengthen it.
In other words, you can always get something positive out of these gigs.

Zolbol · #13 04-06-2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

for me it's just something that has become a part of who I am. When I'm not in a band there is a hole in the spirit and that feeling that something is just not right in my world.

Bluesman hit the nail!!!

shaboda · #14 04-06-2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birdland11

We all get that feeling when we are in a band sometimes, it couold be fleeting, it can sometimes last all night . You know what i mean, night after night same songs upon the same songs loading in loading out. Drunken obnoxious fools who dont even know what a bass is let alone hear it in the mix. But the show must go on right? So i was just curious what other people do when they feel like this. For me its when someone who really knows music compliments me. I try to remember 1 compliment about the bass is worth ten about the guitar..... ha ha

I always hope someone will say something to me to change my mind from selling all my gear and taking up stamp collecting

tdub0199 · #15 04-06-2010, 06:48 AM

Guys I feel ya... my band has been looking for a drummer for quite some time and it is so frustrating... we have tried out 6 drummers in the last year and it's to the point now i just wanna lay my bass down and walk away from it.... but something will not allow me to do this, not sure what it is.... someone hit the nail on the head... Sometimes being in a band is harder than a marriage.... the drummers we tried out were either drunk when they showed up, drank all our whisky while they were there, couldn't get the changes in songs down after two or three nights of going over & over the same 4 songs all night.... had ego issues, wanted to make alot of money in an all original band... i could go on & on forever but I don't wanna bore you to death.... any way after all this.... I still have the passion in me to continue each and every night.... I will be burried w/ a bass in my casket and "Comfortably Numb" playing in the background....

Ric5 · #16 04-06-2010, 06:56 AM

I play for me. I play for my own satisfaction. Playing for people with substance abuse problems is not important to me.

It is interesting you brought up "Comfortably Numb" ... I saw Pink Floyd in the 70s. The band was good but it was a strange crowd. I never saw so many people so messed up on various substances. A lot of the people had no idea they were even at a concert. What's the point. I like to remember seeing a band.

blockinlay · #17 04-06-2010, 07:00 AM

Depressing first post!
Talk to the band if you're not happy.
When I'm in a funk, I remember that there's always someone who has it much much worse than me, and I should be VERY grateful for all I have.
Maybe you should try doing some volunteer work.

dpbass613 · #18 04-06-2010, 07:06 AM

I am fortunate enough to play with a bunch of different original bands, so the music is never the same, however there are some bands that I play with that I really just don't like the songs at all, but the pay is there.

So i always debate is it worth degrading my playing and what I would prefer to be doing just because it pays...

and then I get the compliment at the end of the night...that is the best the band has sounded and you are the only thing that has changed.

These guys typically use alot of fill in players based on who is available, one of which is one of my good friends, kind of how the gig got set up.

Kenner · #19 04-06-2010, 07:20 AM

I play cause I wanna play.

Any chance to hit the stage will be and is taken. I would play on stage 7 days a week for free just for the opportunity to make music.

I don't want to wake up on the "wrong side of the dirt" someday and it be too late to do it again.

just sayin......

MonetBass · #20 04-06-2010, 07:26 AM

You might THINK people don't notice the bass in songs, but if you stopped playing, I guarantee they'd think "Hey, something is missing here...".

Find a gig that makes you happy musically, whether that's another band, or doing sessions, or recording at home. Life is too short to spend time doing things that are simply irritating.