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And so it goes ...

RustyAxe

RustyAxe

Jul 8, 2008
6,534
10,010
Connecticut
#1
At our last gig my classic country band was informed by the club that we will only play there once a month (we've been 2x/mo for the past 10 years!). Membership is down, attendance is down, revenues are down ... the same old line. They also wanted to cut our pay, which we refused ... we already play for peanuts. This meant cancelling three gigs for the rest of the year. Then they made a comment about slow response to their NYE party. We informed them that they booked us for NYE months ago, and we've turned down three NYE gigs since then, so we expect to be paid for NYE whether or not they host a party. That didn't sit well.

I get it, times are changing, and we in the band have been discussing the fact that this band is nearing the end of our shelf life (I've mentioned that here in the forum too). We do it because we like to get together to play (we don't rehearse), and some of us have long personal affiliations with the club. At 61, I'm the kid in the band! We do play other venues, but this club was a regular, easy, fun gig, and gave us 25-30 gigs a year.

I know I could put together a more marketable band with these guys, but I'd want to lose the current band leader who is decidedly the weak link, musically. He's been playing for 52 years, and though his chops and voice are fading ... I just can't do that to him, he'd be hurt and angry, and is too nice a guy to dirty-deal that way.

I'm not sure if I'll attempt to find a country band to join, or just continue with my other side projects (a country/Americana trio, and two singer/songwriter side-man gigs) and spend more time getting solo acoustic guitar singer/songwriter gigs lined up. I've been predominantly on bass for the past five years (that's where the money is, boys!), but my first love (and where my real talent lies, IMO) is finger style acoustic guitar and singing, and have a following. I suppose I'll have plenty of time to figure it out ... ;)
 
#5
It's hard to walk away from something so comfortable but it sounds like it is time for a change. If you aren't rehearsing, I assume you aren't working up new songs to play and, let's face it, hearing and playing the same song list can get monotonous.

As for the old friend, it seems like the writing is on the wall for the band. I wouldn't want to stop a friend from pursuing a new band if things aren't going to change in the current band. After 10 years of being together, ya'll have had a good run. Work up new material or move on.

Just my 2 cents.....
 
#6
LowNloud1 said:
It's hard to walk away from something so comfortable but it sounds like it is time for a change. If you aren't rehearsing, I assume you aren't working up new songs to play and, let's face it, hearing and playing the same song list can get monotonous.
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If having over 200 songs in active rotation is monotonous. The reason we don't rehearse is that we don't have to. The band has been around in one form or another for 50 years. I've only been with them on a permanent basis for five years.
 
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#8
DwaynieAD said:
That sounds like a great run man. I'd be sad to see it powering down, but that's probably better than it dying a slow cancerous death.
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Nothing unexpected ... and not quite dead yet ... ;) ... but I can hear the death rattle! No one is quitting ... we're gonna ride this horse till it drops, if for nothing else than old times sake. I just need to think more seriously about what I want to do next. I'm more inclined to pursue the music than I am to pursue the gigs, if ya know what I mean. I'll miss this gig though ... the $$$ bought lots of gear over the years, and now the cash cow is ailing.
 
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#9
UPDATE ... we played once in November, and again last night. The club made a new proposition ... they'll forego the dinner (it is/was a dinner/dance gig) and keep us on twice a month (like it used to be). It was a popular decision, and many people told us how glad they were about it. It's nice to be wanted! Funny thing is, we had an informal band meeting before the gig, and most of were sure we wouldn't be playing there for more than five more months! When the club president took the mic to announce the change, she started with "there will be a change", and turned to the band saying "I haven't talked to these guys yet" ... we rolled our eyes and prepared for the bad news ... we all thought either she was cancelling NYE or the end had finally come!

The only downside is that in the interim I booked a few dates that now conflict with the new schedule in January-March. I'll work it out.
 
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