Dealing with the family...

[Luckie]

My family doesn't really understand my involvement in music. I'm sure many here can relate.
I snagged a last minute gig far from home, and my parents met halfway to hand off my guitar, a big favor to me which I appreciate very much.
But they didn't bring the case.
I love em just the same.

[pasta4lnch]

Ha! Was at least wrapped in a towel or something? Yeah, my fam is relatively the same. Though I gotta say my wife has amazing ears - If I point out something in a mix, she'll listen over and over again until she hears it. Amazing!

[Russell L]

Everytime I buy another piece of musical gear my wife wants to know when it will stop. Same reaction when I want another eyepiece for my telescope or doodad for my motorcycle. I don't get it.

[kuys]

My wife's a musician so she gets it for the most part. My parents after many years have come around and even encourage me from time to time.

[Bass Mule]

But the important part is that you got a gig. Alright Luckie!

[SoVeryTired]

It was my dad that made me spend so much on my first guitar!

[MatticusMania]

It started for me whan I was 10 years old. Going into middle school I wanted to take Band. I wanted to play drums, so I was going to sighn up for Beginning Percussion. "Now way" says my mom. She didnt want me banging on drums around the house. "Can't you play clarinet like your sister did?" So thats what I took, for a semester. My musical ambition had run dry.

Fast forward a few years. Now Im an awkward 15 year old with awkward 15 year old friends. One of whom plays the guitar. He had read some of my "poetry" and complimented it. We got together and wrote really bad metal songs. Family didnt take us so seriously.

A few years later, after the previous efforts disolved, I told my Dad I wanted to get a bass. For my 17th birthday my dad got me a chea bass and a cheap amp, and thats when the fire started. Whenever I was at home that thing was in my hands and I was learning something. The first venture was nothing too serious, but once we got our **** together, and played at the Whisky in Hollywood, my parents knew this wasnt just some casual ho hum pursuit. My dad more than Mom, really encouraged me. He had a friend at work in an AC/DC cover band (who I think I may have played with at some point, unbeknownst to me) and would relate to me, musically, any way he could.

All in all I think Ive gotten my parents out to maybe 2 of my shows, but theyve been supportive ever since they saw me take action and lead my own band at the age of 20, really making something of ourselves. I havent acheived great success or anything, but my family knows how much playing music and being a part of a good band means to me. They used to let us use their garage at least once a week, sometimes twice, for rehearsal. While it was a cramped space, it was certainly better than paying for studio time!

[pedroims]

Mom bought me a bass when I was 15, she is fine with my hobbie, she just does not want me doing drugs; wife does not bother how much I spend in gear, she just does not want me playing metal; Dad does not give a XXXX what I do on my free time, he just want me bringing the beacon to my family.

I consider myself very lucky.

[HeadyVan Halen]

They still say, "you still playing that long guitar..?" Yeah, mom it's a bass.."Oh, that's nice honey.."
Were opening for _________ this weekend..."Who? Do they play that rap music? Jiuf87 *&^ernjif idsrf8 ikh &*^$hdjy (Tries to rap).."

Yup, that's it. And they won't let us play unless we take at the very minimum 16 hits from the bong..it should be very exciting..

"That's nice dear.."

[Sizlack]

My dad's a musician, so he's very supportive, mom doesn't seem to care all that much, but she's ok with as I have an acutal job and just do music as a hobby. Which is the reason my parents divorced. Dad still only does the music thing and doesn't make much off of it, just enough to get by.
My wife knew what she was getting into before she married me, so she's ok with it as well...although I do get the occasional evil eye when I come home with a new toy.

[Luckie]

Originally Posted by Bass Mule

But the important part is that you got a gig. Alright Luckie!

Hah, just one, not paying.
It'll be fun though.

[Sneakypete]

After thirty-odd years of marriage my advice to younger chaps is to always be enthusiastic about anything your wife wants to buy. Never argue - always give in - and quickly. Seriously, most of them aren't stupid enough to expect new cars or houses all the time it's usually small stuff like shoes, curtains, garden furniture, clothes, handbags or whatever - you just nod approvingly and pay up. Most bass players aren't exactly hot on fashion and don't spend much trying to look good (as if!) so you build a reputation as being generous and unselfish. But then, with perfect bass-players timing, you strike hard - you say very little but manipulate the conversation until she says "Go on, it's about time you had something for yourself". Then look a a bit sheepish and say things like "Oh I don't know - it's a lot of money" Before you know it she'll be absolutely insisting that you have that new bass/amp/cab and best of all she thinks it's her idea!

[fhm555]

Originally Posted by Sneakypete

After thirty-odd years of marriage my advice to younger chaps is to always be enthusiastic about anything your wife wants to buy...

Funny you would mention this. Most all my gigging cash goes to wifey for mad money, and for some strange reason she's never had any heartburn over me buying gear. She even encourages me to buy new, saying I shouldn't be taking on other people's problems.

[Ubersheist]

Originally Posted by Luckie

My family doesn't really understand my involvement in music. I'm sure many here can relate.
I snagged a last minute gig far from home, and my parents met halfway to hand off my guitar, a big favor to me which I appreciate very much.
But they didn't bring the case.
I love em just the same.

That reminds me of one of my (many) pet peeves. When people want to help, they typically lean my bass up against a desk or a wall or whatever with the strings facing out. When I go to turn it around so whatever the bass is leaning up against is touching the strings (not the back of the neck), they always ask why. It seems to them that I wouldn't want to break or mess up the strings.

"Yes, but the strings aren't slick like the back. They can grab things and stop it from falling over. Also, I'd rather have a broken string or two then a massive gouge on the back of the neck if the bass does fall over. It's much easier and cheaper to replace a broken string then a gouged out neck!" They seem to understand after that.

[WilliamSandoval]

Back when I played guitar, my dad always told me I needed a giant Marshall stack.
(He loves Hendrix, and my middle name is Marshall)

Now that I play the bass, he still insists that I get a huge Marshall stack whether it's for a guitar or not.
(An amp is an amp to him)

I don't have the money to buy a huge stack, and neither does he. I think his childhood dream of a huge stack is poking through...

[matt descending]

Originally Posted by WilliamSandoval

Back when I played guitar, my dad always told me I needed a giant Marshall stack.
(He loves Hendrix, and my middle name is Marshall)

Now that I play the bass, he still insists that I get a huge Marshall stack whether it's for a guitar or not.
(An amp is an amp to him)

I don't have the money to buy a huge stack, and neither does he. I think his childhood dream of a huge stack is poking through...

You are in luck. Marshal makes bass amps and cabs. You would for sure be the only one around with a Marshal bass stack.

[Rockmusician]

My family has always been very supportive. There have never been any issues.

[MikeBass]

Originally Posted by Russell L

Everytime I buy another piece of musical gear my wife wants to know when it will stop. Same reaction when I want another eyepiece for my telescope or doodad for my motorcycle. I don't get it.

LOL!!!
Same with my wife......another bass, or a chrome bit for my V-Rod.....

[anderbass]

Originally Posted by Luckie

But they didn't bring the case.

Was your bass in its case at home?

Did you ask them to bring the case along too?

If not, that was totally your fault not theirs.

[palmann]

I don't think this post was about accusation. People with interrest would have brought the instrument *in* it's case just because they know that it's valuable and the case is there to protect it.

Gruesse, Pablo