Anyone else feel playing live is a little overrated?

Depth_Charge · #1 06-15-2008, 05:44 PM

The band I put together 6 months ago to combat other people's bands not respecting my family and time commitments played our first show last Friday night.

4x45m sets, 15m breaks. 8-12am. Not including set up and tear down it was 4 hours of go go go LOL.

The night went really well. People were dancing and cheering and having a great time, the venue paid us immediately, plied us with free drinks and want us back to play more party shows.

Plus we got 2 contacts for private parties, so the gig was a great success, especially for arranging my first gig (I expected problems but the guys really pulled together and we really didn't have that many issues).

One thing I noticed as I was driving home, was that the whole "playing live" thing seemed a little overrated. Don't get me wrong playing live was a blast and I enjoyed it and felt a little guilty accepting so much money for the gig (we all got $150 after the sound guy was paid - there's 5 of us).

I almost felt like the high of playing didn't compensate for all the work getting the gig arranged, setting up gear, being "on" performance wise, then tearing down. Weird.

I dunno, maybe I was just really tired after playing and tearing down but did anyone else feel similar after their first few shows?

Matt Till · #2 06-15-2008, 05:46 PM

If your in music for the money, in 98% of musical settings, you will be miserable. And it will be exhausting, but if you feel those 4 hours you are playing to be worth it, that's what matters. If not, become a studio musician.

fourstringdrums · #3 06-15-2008, 05:47 PM

Nope. For me all the work and however the gig panned out is worth it...and my first real gig was at a dive where I got $25...and I spent half that in gas just getting there.

I don't really get a "high" while playing a gig or afterward, I just enjoying playing live for people. Playing for yourself just really gets old very quickly. You just have to make sure you're doing it for that reason, and not for the high, and for the money.

D.A.R.K. · #4 06-15-2008, 05:53 PM

i love playing live...
but i only play original material, i never play more than 1-1&1/2 hours max (if i have to do an encore)
and i usually get paid more than 150.00.
i try to cut out the bs gigs, that way it's always fun.

cheesemonkey · #5 06-15-2008, 05:56 PM

I've only played live once as a bassist... it was at a cajun resturaunt with some other bands from my middle school and my drummers dad's band... best night of my life though we only played one song... the adrenaline rush from playing live kept me in a great mood for days...

jdthecrazy · #6 06-15-2008, 06:02 PM

I love playing live. It's my favorite aspect of being a bassists. I have, however, played some crappy venues.

GianGian · #7 06-15-2008, 06:10 PM

I kind of feel the same. I have never felt a strong audience reaction or anything. I just play, feels pretty much like a rehearsal. But I hope to experience some better shows in the future. And do better performances.

A New Ocean · #8 06-15-2008, 06:26 PM

Its been a while since last I played on stage, and i miss it like nothing else in the world. May it be for the TV special my band did with tons of ppl watching or in a dingy dive bar with the sound guy and my mom being the major faces in the audience, i would never say no.

Spose it depends on your style of music, your crowd, and how you play as a bassist. And i guess if you reallly dig the live scene or if its just another gig for ya.

GianGian · #9 06-15-2008, 06:40 PM

Actually, I think that your enjoyment in playing depends on the audience reaction (or lack of).

BillMason · #10 06-15-2008, 07:25 PM

Was this your first gig? You may have been just overwhelmed by the work that was involved. The work part definitely sucks, but as you do it more often, it becomes less work, and more routine, so you can focus on the moment, the music, the girls in the audience, etc.

I love playing live, it's why I play.

bertbassplayer · #11 06-15-2008, 07:32 PM

9 times out of 10 I love playing live, just nothing like it... but yeah as it was said before, if your doing it for money it'll wear on you quick. The only times I don't really like playing live is if I'm dead sick or if it just seems like EVERYTHING goes wrong and the crowd is just not into it or... crowd is non existant, but I played one place that I swear they put us after this super hard screamo band where everyone in the crowd left except for the 20 people who drove a hour to come out to see us and we still had fun.

Lucas G · #12 06-15-2008, 07:37 PM

no way! playing live is what it's all about! granted, i play original material in sets no longer than an hour and a half, but i wouldn't trade it for anything! whether we are playing to two people or 200, playing stuff we wrote and having folks dig it is the best feeling i can think of.

bassfrenzie · #13 06-15-2008, 07:45 PM

Love live gigs.
I play in an aggressive blues/rock band, play a two nighter every two weeks & we kick the s#@t out of it every night.
Love the crowd loving it.
A blast. Gotta keep 'em dancing.

Fufumonakyla · #14 06-15-2008, 07:50 PM

Live is where its at. No doubt about it.....Just the Rush of being up on stage, especially when you are playing Metalcore, the crazy non-stop drums, the rediculous guitar, and the just as rediculous, follow exactly what the guitar does bass, while the screamer sounds like his throat is about to explode! When the crowd gets into it, its is increadible. last night for example.....there were like 5-10 people when we got on stage, but they got so into what we were playing, it made the memory of the crap show we played right before hand fade away. We didnt even get paid, and had to drive a really far distance in a huge gas guzzling van, but it was worth it!

and yeah, the work gets annoying.......i had to cary all the equipment up stairs to the van.....by myself......Two bass drums, a 4x12 guitar Cab, a 1x15 bass cab, and a 4x10 bass cab........but hey, think of it all as a warm up or little work out and it makes that sort of thing easier.

When it comes down to it, what makes a live show worth it, is how into it you get on stage(going crazy running around, headbanging, having your vocalist jump clear over your 5'11" body mid song, ripping into a heavy breakdown with no strap, while playing the next 4 1/2 minutes of a song without the strap aswell) and how into the songs the crowd gets(if they come up close, get in your face, talk to you mid song, give you hand shakes mid song{SO ANOYYING WHEN THAT HAPPENS!!!!} hardcore dancing! and all that good stuff) Just have Fun with it....treat it as a job until you get onstage, then, its strait up play time!

oh yeah, and its gotta be original stuff, otherwise its hard to get as into it. IMO

IanStephenson · #15 06-16-2008, 01:35 AM

If you don't play live what's the point? The whole point of practising, buying all the gear, reading bass forums etc etc is to actually get out and PLAY.

Sure it's hard work, and often the pay isn't worth it (was worth it this weekend for us - had one of our biggest paying gigs), but what else do you plan to do?

Sure you could just stay in your bedroom and play by yourself. Maybe you could even invite on of the guys round to help you out...

Playing live is what it's actuall FOR.

Ian

Stumbo · #16 06-16-2008, 01:52 AM

One thing I learned a long time ago, don't make decisions when you're tired.

Gordon of Eden · #17 06-16-2008, 02:00 AM

So the gig went well, the band sounded good, the people dug it, the club paid you promptly and well and wants you back, did I forget anything? Overrated? C'mon man who do you think we are? why are we here? We are the guys in the trenches making the machine groove. What could be better than standing back there by our friends the drummers, our tone is happening, your hands feel great, your groove is so far deep in the pocket that you're wearing a hole in it, your mind is in the zone and you can do no wrong. That is the thing that brings us there every night. and the nights when it all doesn't come together make us want to come back to get it right. no studio experience can match it. And sometimes you walk away with some gas money too!!!
Overrated? Not even close.
Don't do it if you don't enjoy it.
Sorry for the rant but it needed saying.

Tommyplaysbass · #18 06-16-2008, 02:00 AM

To be honest it's not like it was years ago as people enjoyed bands more and now it's like you're a jukebox.

rodl2005 · #19 06-16-2008, 02:36 AM

I see where U R comin from. But I LOVE doin it- or I wouldn't do it!!! I DEFINATELY aint worth the $$$$$ even if we DO often get $400 ea. AUS like OP. too!!!!!! But IMO/E it's "1st few gigs syndrome" all that work rehearsing, -getting band members, set lists, bookings, getting press kits etc, etc..... It DOES take a while for the band to 'settle' in & get a consistant LIVE sound too. Differing acoustics in venues etc... Takes a while for the band to get their sound dialled in.... BUT IMHO after U do!!! GREAT FUN!!! & 4 me, even IF the crowd are 'difficult' or not there.... we STILL have a blast - coz we dig making GREAT SOUNDS together!!!!!!!!!!!! What it's ALL ABOUT!! ;-)

Depth_Charge · #20 06-16-2008, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillMason

Was this your first gig? You may have been just overwhelmed by the work that was involved. The work part definitely sucks, but as you do it more often, it becomes less work, and more routine, so you can focus on the moment, the music, the girls in the audience, etc.

I love playing live, it's why I play.

Yes and no. I did play 2 shows as a backup bassist when I was 22 but those were just show up and plug into an existing setup, so no setting up. And it was head down and mosh metal and I did feel like I got a huge rush/high from playing live.

But at 35 this was my first time putting an act together, scoring a gig and working out the details, trusting my band mates with some details (sound guy and banner), setting up the stage etc and it's the only gig of the 3 where there was any real emotional investment, and maybe I was chasing a feeling I just won't get at 35.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon of Eden

So the gig went well, the band sounded good, the people dug it, the club paid you promptly and well and wants you back, did I forget anything? Overrated? C'mon man who do you think we are? why are we here? We are the guys in the trenches making the machine groove. What could be better than standing back there by our friends the drummers, our tone is happening, your hands feel great, your groove is so far deep in the pocket that you're wearing a hole in it, your mind is in the zone and you can do no wrong. That is the thing that brings us there every night. and the nights when it all doesn't come together make us want to come back to get it right. no studio experience can match it. And sometimes you walk away with some gas money too!!!
Overrated? Not even close.
Don't do it if you don't enjoy it.
Sorry for the rant but it needed saying.

No need to apologise...that opening sentence pretty much says it all and 3 days after the gig I'm still feeling good about it, and looking forward to the next.

I think I was just knackered on the night when I reflected on these feelings...