How do we fit it all in?

Lord Henry · #1 03-29-2006, 01:38 PM

This is a thread for those of use who are, just maybe, overdoing it a little. Juggling with one too many balls.

I, for my sins, have a full time job working for the UK government (at her majesty's pleasure, now that's a worrying thought). It's not to bad of a job. It keeps me interested. On top of that I, for some currrently unkown reason, decided that it would be a good idea to study law, so I'm at college seven hours a week and (let's be honest) maybe another ten hours of homework. Add to this crazy mix that I looooove playing that bass and you've got a twenty eight hour day right there. I'm currently getting in a good hour or so a day but I'd love to do more.

So how do you lot fit it all in? Be it job-college-bass, job-kids-bass, kids-kids-bass-kids. How do you cope with them 'I wish I had more time with that 4 (5, 6, whatever) string beauty' element?

NB - This thread is partly promted due to me getting cut to bits in a seminar last night thanks to abandoning all study in favour of a two and a half hour bass break down.

Stephen S · #2 03-29-2006, 10:14 PM

I'm working on fixing up two cars, remodeling, working 50-58 hours a week, have one month old son, and a fiance and I'm a full time college student( going for my BS in business management). Between all that I try to find a balance between guitar and bass practicing but I can never get enough practice time.

Kael · #3 03-29-2006, 10:31 PM

I play with three acts (about two or four gigs a week on average), work 40 to 50 hours a week, and attend the University of Oklahoma part time. I compensate by sleeping less and not having a personal life. Kinda sucks, but I like everything I do other than the "day job" which I have to help pay the bills. Just started the casino gig bit. It pays enough, and if it stays regular enough maybe I can quit the day job.

bassteban · #4 03-29-2006, 10:43 PM

I'm a stay-at-home dad(7, 4 & 9 mos), play 3-4 sets a week at Church(+2 hrs/wk rehearsal)& I'm the director of the 3-4 year old section of AWANA(a Biblical-based cub scout type club thingie), which eats up 2-3 hours each Thursday night. Being a part of the 10% that does 90% of the work, I often get roped into additional stuff, like Vacation Bible school, & I have spent a week in Mexico(building Churches, holding worship services in the Colonias & working at an orphanage)each of the last 4 years. I know a few folks who add being a full time student to nearly all the above. The dad thing is the absolute most time-consuming aspect by far. Most 'real' jobs end at some point each day, but mine goes on for 18-35 years...

Stephen S · #5 03-29-2006, 11:42 PM

Even with all the stress I wouldn't trade any of it in for anything else.

**cheezewiz** · #6 03-29-2006, 11:59 PM

Hmmm..good question.

I work my PIA cop job from 9pm to 7am Sunday through Wednesday. I coach my son's basketball team on
on Wednesday evenings. I usually have band rehearsal on Thursday evening. I work at a retail music store Fridays from 11am to 630pm, and gig an average of 3-4 times a month. I have a wife, and two kids at home (10 and 6), and between all this, I occasionally get time to sleep.

dirtgroove · #7 03-30-2006, 12:00 AM

Monday- Saturday morning,I teach at two different schools doing over 65hrs- not including marking time.

practice from 2-6 on Saturday.

I've also been gigging at least twice a week since January.

I'm very tired... ...very tired... ...very tired.

brothernewt · #8 03-30-2006, 01:02 AM

I work a stressfull government job... 7pm to 7am shift. I coach little leage for my 7yo's team... tue/thu 5 to 6 pm. on thursday i have rehearsal from 630 to 9pm (i have to adjust when the rolling schedule gets in the way). Gig about 2 to 4 times a month (usually out of town so it requires an overnight trip). Besides the 7yo, there's a 6 month old son and two teenage stepdaughters who need rides to the video store 'cause all they do is watch movies. My wife has a severe back injury so she's out of work. I have to pick up OT shifts whenever available to make ends meet, and she's pretty much as usefull as the 6month old now. I had to skip a pretty important gig this week due to it and assume I'll be fired for it... so I guess that clears up about 5 or 6 hours each week. Maybe I'll use that time to sleep.... or clean up after everyone else so they don't miss that important rerun of americas top model.

thanks for letting me vent!

DaftCat · #9 03-30-2006, 02:40 AM

I am semi-retired and play bass pretty much whenever I want. The con is I took years off instruments for about a decade.

I'm makin' up for lost time.

DCat,

woody357 · #10 03-30-2006, 06:30 AM

"How do we fit it all in? " I get asked this all the time. ô¿~

bmc · #11 03-30-2006, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brothernewt

stressfull government job... :

Isn't that an oxymoron?

Sundogue · #12 03-30-2006, 08:31 AM

I have my own business (my wife is a commercial artist and I'm a fine artist), I work a full time job (and then some) as a network admin. My wife also works another job from home so it's not like she can pick up the slack.

I play in two bands, I have four kids (one is my 10 month old daughter), my two sons are involved in sports and other activities, I'm remodelling my 100 year old house (one room at a time...and building a new art studio), I build RC scale warbirds (some for me...for competitions, some for others), I'm into astronomy (and I design and build custom telescope parts/cases/mounts)...

Hmmm, have I forgotten anything? Oh yeah, I practice my bass whenever I can and rehearse two times a week (once with each band). I'm still working on my own bass cabinets and building my own custom bass. I'm also a writer and my wife and I are writing a book together.

I'm not only burning the candle on both ends...but I think I have wicks lit all along the sides as well.

I just go with the flow, knowing I can't do it all, all the time. I look at it this way. I have a very full, satisfying life and I wouldn't want it any other way. I can't understand anyone who ever says they are bored. With so much one can do in life, how can anyone ever be bored?

Like my mother always says..."People who are bored are boring people."

bannedwit · #13 03-30-2006, 09:16 AM

It all pays off... Keep pushing through it. They make it hard for a reason. If you have the drive then you can do it. More $$$ = more bass equipment.

davetakis · #14 03-30-2006, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brothernewt

I work a stressfull government job... 7pm to 7am shift. I coach little leage for my 7yo's team... tue/thu 5 to 6 pm. on thursday i have rehearsal from 630 to 9pm (i have to adjust when the rolling schedule gets in the way). Gig about 2 to 4 times a month (usually out of town so it requires an overnight trip). Besides the 7yo, there's a 6 month old son and two teenage stepdaughters who need rides to the video store 'cause all they do is watch movies. My wife has a severe back injury so she's out of work. I have to pick up OT shifts whenever available to make ends meet, and she's pretty much as usefull as the 6month old now. I had to skip a pretty important gig this week due to it and assume I'll be fired for it... so I guess that clears up about 5 or 6 hours each week. Maybe I'll use that time to sleep.... or clean up after everyone else so they don't miss that important rerun of americas top model.

thanks for letting me vent!

belt to the backside of the stepdaughters and tell them to get to work around the house. tv in the attic until the household is running smoothly again. better yet, shoot the tv just like elvis did.

Edwcdc · #15 03-30-2006, 10:05 AM

I used to run around like crazy with two jobs, gigging on the weekends, trying to juggle a wife, a girlfriend, hockey, fishing, music, it just gets insane.
Honestly, I have slowed down a bit over the years. My job is no longer stressfull all the time. I work 9 hours a day. I gig maybe 3 times a month. I don't fish as much as I used to but I figure I won't always be able to play hockey and I don't know if I will always want to rock out, but when I start to slow down I will fish more.

**cheezewiz** · #16 03-30-2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmc

Isn't that an oxymoron?

No.

SteveC · #17 03-30-2006, 10:25 AM

If you want something to get done, assign/ask the busiest person you know. Seriously. Think about it. It's the honset truth.

txbasschik · #18 03-30-2006, 10:43 AM

I swear, I live on vitamin B12 and not enough sleep. I work a 40 hour week with a one hour commute, each way. I keep up with the schedules of a little girl, a teen boy who is an athlete (lots of football games and track meets), and a husband who drums not only for me band, but for another one. That band is becoming wildly popular, and is being asked to tour this summer.

I do my level best to get an hour of practice in, each day, but I don't, always. Sometimes, I get 15 or 30 minutes. Sometimes, I get no minutes.

I try hard to take good care of myself, so that I don't get sick and stove-up. I work out at least four times a week, either circuit training or hiking. I eat well, and take a full complement of vitamins daily. When I have a chance to get a good sleep, I do it.

Otherwise, my head would probably explode!

But I'd rather cut off my hands, than give up the bass.

Cherie

mothmonsterman · #19 03-30-2006, 03:04 PM

20 hrs school
40 hrs work
10 hrs band practice
as for getting around to play on my own, it's fairly difficult.