• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Am I odd for not wanting to gig?

#21
I don't like to play live also.
I don't really know why. It always been like this, maybe I'm just lazy. It's not due to stage fright.
I think what I don't like is that I have to "perform". I need to look like I enjoy myself, smile and look like I have some fun and I don't like that. I just want to play music. I have as much stage presence as Bill Wyman! :)

Lately I don't even like to play in a band. Maybe I haven't found good band members.
I play at home, I do bass duets with my wife and it's really cool.
 
#24
I quit my gigging band last Febuary and am happy with my decision. Entertaining drunks and the load out at 1:00 am are no more.

I now play in church quite a bit each month and get my live playing fix this way. It is nice having quality musicians to play with at my church.
 
#26
knumbskull said:
a friend of mine is the same - he pointed out the endless waiting, the problems with kit transport and storage and security, the likelihood of not getting paid (as an originals band), the inevitable 9 gigs out of 10 where the crowd isn't as good or interested as you want, stage or front-of-house sound problems, rookie bands asking to borrow your stuff, drunks guys spilling beer on you and your stuff, having to get up for work the next day...

and I said, 'yes, but isn't it worth it?' and he agreed...
Click to expand...
I was sitting and talking with a friend of mine one time, and she was telling me about everything that went on at a somewhat challenging gig she had played. She said, "I don't know why I keep doing this; I never know what's going to happen or how it's going to turn out."

Then we looked at each other and busted out laughing.

The urge to play gigs is a lot like Gambler's Fever. If the result was always the same, it wouldn't be nearly so attractive.
 
#27
jp58 said:
I'm not really wanting to gig right now either. Education is the focal point in my life right now, and I don't have the 15-20 hours a week needed to get gig ready.
Click to expand...

We is in teh same boat! :D

It might sound somewhat stupid, but I find my bass playing/music composition to be analogous to meditation. It calms me down and perks me up when I'm down. As such, even when it comes to bass playing, bedroom 'meditation'/jamming with pals takes priority over doing gigs. I have done a few gigs but I'm happy on my own.
 
#30
Am I odd for not wanting to gig?

hmmm ... you don't want to load up your equipment into your car, then go set up in a dirty smelly bar, with bathrooms that aren't fit for a dog to use. Then play music for a bunch of people with substance abuse problems. Then when you want a drink they charge you the same price for 1 beer that you can go and buy a whole 6 pack somewhere else. Then the bar owner will sometimes try to screw you out of some of the money he owes you. Then when you do the math you realize when you include setup and tear down you are making a little more than minimum wage. Then you factor in equipment purchase you have gone in the hole. You get home and get to bed by 3 or 4 am. Hopefully your day job doesn't require you to get up at 5:30 am.

I can understand a reluctance to gig ...
 
#31
I love playing live in front of a crowd (I've only been in original bands, with a cover or 2 thrown in the set on occasion). The feeling is incredible, and I never want to give it up.

Unfortunately, its getting harder and harder to play out. Venues keep expecting us to bring out tons of people and the door/ticket prices keep rising. And to top that off, family and friends do get sick of coming out to see you as time goes on. Plus there's the obvious hassle of draggin out all your gear, and the pay to play nonsense.
 
#32
Ric5 said:
Am I odd for not wanting to gig?

...load up your equipment into your car, then go set up in a dirty smelly bar, with bathrooms that aren't fit for a dog to use. Then play music for a bunch of people with substance abuse problems. Then when you want a drink they charge you the same price for 1 beer that you can go and buy a whole 6 pack somewhere else. Then the bar owner will sometimes try to screw you out of some of the money he owes you. Then when you do the math you realize when you include setup and tear down you are making a little more than minimum wage. Then you factor in equipment purchase you have gone in the hole. You get home and get to bed by 3 or 4 am. Hopefully your day job doesn't require you to get up at 5:30 am.
Click to expand...

Yeah.... Ain't it grand? :D
 
#34
Can I assume that most people who have weighed in on this topic play in rock bands? Does anybody play in other genre situations/bands like Jazz, Bluegrass, Folk, Folk Blues?
 
#35
My band hasn't been out gigging yet, so I don't know if I'm going to end up agreeing with the OP. But I will say that I first picked up the bass about a year ago just for the fun of it... after a couple of months I started to feel it was lame and boring just to hang around my living room playing to myself, I should get some people to play with, found some over CL and it was "just to jam and we'll see how things go." Now it's "when are we going to start gigging?" and I'm getting impatient with the seemingly endless delays. I guess the point is that at each stage, I feel this drive to the next step, and it seems like the final step is to play for an audience.
 
#36
hrodbert696 said:
My band hasn't been out gigging yet, so I don't know if I'm going to end up agreeing with the OP. But I will say that I first picked up the bass about a year ago just for the fun of it... after a couple of months I started to feel it was lame and boring just to hang around my living room playing to myself, I should get some people to play with, found some over CL and it was "just to jam and we'll see how things go." Now it's "when are we going to start gigging?" and I'm getting impatient with the seemingly endless delays. I guess the point is that at each stage, I feel this drive to the next step, and it seems like the final step is to play for an audience.
Click to expand...
Someone's an eager beaver!

I'd been playing for about 8 years before my first gig, heh
 
#37
edspyhill01 said:
Can I assume that most people who have weighed in on this topic play in rock bands? Does anybody play in other genre situations/bands like Jazz, Bluegrass, Folk, Folk Blues?
Click to expand...

I only play Jazz now and I love gigging!

I must say - that I used to play in rock bands and it was a pain and the music got very boring!

Our band played at a festival on Saturday that was all rock bands apart from us and it brought back how boring the tunes were and particuarly the bass lines - one note for the verse - a slight variation in the chorus and back to the same note!! :hmm:

I love playing Jazz, as each tune is different and is never the same each time we play anyway - so our normal set includes tunes in 3/4, boss novas, funky tunes, spanish-style rhythms - lots of walking lines etc. etc. Lots of musical interest and players who are interesting in what they do on Sax,Trumpet, Piano etc.

There is so much more variety and it is always fun! :)

I feel that if people want to play only for themselves that's fine, but personally I wouldn't consider myself a musician unless I got "out there" and played for an audience.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back