Coronavirus lockdown insanity

[dkelley]

I should really be working on singing while playing, but I stopped working at it and just have been playing for fun, fixing up my main instruments and gear, and learning the details of the deeper bits of gear (like the Helix) that I picked up.

But yea, once I get back at it, my challenges with singing while playing, or actually with playing while singing lead, are going to be bothering me, and I'll be kicking myself for every day I spent on talkbass instead of practicing.

LoL

 

[Nebadon2000]

Not being a pessimist, just realistic.

Nah, your being pessimistic

 

[DigitalMan]

Well, I have spent every day working at my same job while watching people sit on unemployment because it paid more than actually working. So that drives me over the edge. Is that what you mean?
View attachment 3967059

The maximum unemployment benefit in Washington state is about $21K over 26 weeks, not accounting for the short-lived federal subsidy. I don't know a single person who would find that income level covered even their most basic expenses.

 

[Charlzm]

The last six months:

• my band's album got final mixes on every song
• the album was sent out for mastering (all but one song nailed down as of today)
• release date set
• marketing plan made and now underway
• we learned two covers in quarantine and I edited the videos for them
  
• we're generating non music video content to bridge the gaps between song releases
• I've been dragging every bass out and playing it, reacquainting myself with them
• sold one bass I just bought as I realized it wasn't doing anything new or better for me
• have prepped two pedals for sale
• am about to make an offer on an out-of-production bass head
• if I get that and am satisfied, selling off a combo amp (and possibly another bass head)
• learned what undervoltage (thanks to the power company) does to the amps I have
• written parts for new songs

 

[LBS-bass]

Much of it is about focusing on things that don't involve doing music with people in close quarters. Which reminds me that I need to check Fiverr because there's a keyboard player in the Ukraine that I was asking about doing some piano tracks for me.

And that's about how it's been, musically speaking. Moving farther away from music as a social thing, and much closer to music as a transaction. It has its plusses and minuses. Dealing with people in bands was always touchy. With COVID in the mix you suddenly find out who is emotionally stable enough to ride the wave and the answer to that is, not many. So you do it differently.

I don't think I'm close to the edge in any way except missing performance. I love to perform and it was worth dealing with the band headaches if the payoff was a show now and then. Now, nope. I will get back to that when it's time but I don't miss the hassles, otherwise.

 

[mark roberts]

OP's question is a good one, IMO.

Prior to the pandemic restrictions, and following formal retirement from my day job, 2/19/2020 after almost 38 years with the same company, I was positioning my equipment to accommodate the two different aspects of performance. I had "invested" in a rig that would suffice for vintage Rock cover band or originals and expanded on the other rig that I use for solo extended range bass performances as infrequently as they are available here in the area in which I live.
I am really very satisfied with both rigs as they took years of experimentation to come to this conclusion.

As an "old dude", but physically healthy, I am prepared for engagement in both realms.

The restrictions of the pandemic turn out to be oth a blessing and a curse.

Blessing:
I get to really spend some time practicing and working with my equipment. I get to take the time to recognize some things I would change and go about making the changes. All of the latter has mostly to do with my solo extended-range original material. It also allows appropriate breaks and proper warm-up so connecting tissue in my fretting hand has time to catch-up to the stress placed upon it. The benefit to my ensemble oriented contributions is that I work on quality of execution over content and readiness.


The bummer:
I'm 67, I have played bass for well over 50 years. I have hair (full head and facial), but it is "white". Though physically in decent condition for my age, I "look like" an "old dude". Trying to find band opportunities gets pretty thin. Most of the "established" like "old dudes" command the market and play in several bands (more than 3) doing similar music under different names. There isn't much available now for gigs due to the pandemic, and those that are end up being to preserve recognition (ie: exposure) rather than cover costs for the immediate performance. As you would expect, many prefer to play with others their own age and experience. Speaking of experience...

I have been very fortunate in my earlier years to play in bands where the members shared the ability to juggernaut their talents into results that seem to sound larger than expected. Improvisational talents were abound and the results were exciting. It seems more difficult now to find those kind of attributes in potential band mates.

I hope that all of you find ways to successfully navigate through the pandemic and the current market for live music. I hope the same for the venues and all related efforts.

 

[staurosjohn]

One of my groups is a 'Christian' band... so we were able to play- beginning in May... outside... distanced... Attenders, initially remained in cars- but, eventually, sat in lawn chairs, etc. I was serving (from Jan. til last week) as interim pastor at the church (on this property)- so, after the Pandemic began to close things, I got a 'crash-course' in video messages... which was very helpful/useful. I have purchased some a/v equip & plan to keep *that* going!!

 

[pcake]

i've always hated figs - go fig-ure

i've worked at home since 1996, so no difference there. my husband's been working at home since mid-march, which is nice for him. no drive to and from work, and he can eat whatever he wants for lunch.

i haven't gone more than 25 feet from my front door since march 13, and while i do miss going places and doing things, i've been getting in shape, building muscle and losing some weight. i lift and i use an exercise bike, sometimes do some other fitness stuff, as well. i got a couple pedals i've been playing with, and put a set of fender jazz pickups into a mikro - it sounds stupendous! and i've been playing my other guitars - i think i got my smallguitars.com MB2 bass early in the pandemic, and i've read a couple of series of books that were new to me.

my husband has been modding his 7 string guitar, modding my basses, both of which he's making pickguards for, he's been getting into remote control off road vehicles - the 1:14ish scale ones, and just modded one for the first time. he works out, plays guitar, plays some bass.

we have tense moments and sad moments, and we miss going out to do photography or spend the day at some of our local GCs and sam ash stores, but we're mostly doing okay.

 

[logdrum]

Our group did a re-org, so almost had to leave my company but I was internally job hunting for 10 weeks. Then I was also working on a open source ventilator project which was approved by FDA. I moved back to NM and gardened the whole spring and summer.

I always play music - I am fire-able by you bass players now because I practiced playing the trap-set again and the GAS purchase was a snare drum

 

[BOOG]

Drove/driving me over the edge as a result of the 'vid'???

this whole mask thing is absurd, and watching it become an overt symbolism of support / non-support to the relative political party and corresponding candidates

in other words, witnessing this virus being used for political gain / destruction is sickening and driving a lot of people over the edge.

 

[TerribleTim68]

The maximum unemployment benefit in Washington state is about $21K over 26 weeks, not accounting for the short-lived federal subsidy. I don't know a single person who would find that income level covered even their most basic expenses.

That is incorrect. That was the standard maximum amount. Now factor in the extra $600 per week.

 

[BOOG]

Not being able to coordinate schedules and an over abundance of caution has killed all chances of rehearsal/jam sessions.

 

[40Hz]

I basically went back to "college."

Subscribed to:

• The Great Courses Plus
• MasterClass
• Curiosity Channel

Bought a half dozen courses on:

• Udemy
• Coursera

Picked up:

• The Beato Book
• a bunch of lessons from Janek Gwizdala
• Some instructional DVDs from Homespun.com

And spend quality time over on Scott's Bass Academy.

Also built a few CBGs, did some writing on my scifi novel, built some electronics projects, built a new PC, did some bass mods, am most of the way through a new Telecaster parts build, and started teaching myself about tube amps.

Also started seriously exercising and paying much better attention to my health.

I'm pretty ok with my life right now. Figured I might as well put all that extra time to good use.

 

[alembicguy]

Nothing has changed. Job never slowed down and still able to pick up gigs when I want.

 

[DigitalMan]

That is incorrect. That was the standard maximum amount. Now factor in the extra $600 per week.

I did. The extra $600 week has been discontinued as I mentioned. That's about $9600 more from April through the end of July.

I think your comment is a political talking point. I doubt you can name three people and their occupations who choose to remain unemployed due to the windfall of unemployment money they're receiving.

 

[misterCRUSH]

I have a mental illness and have been on disability for the last 10 years. so the quarantine really didn't change much for me. I stay inside, keep to myself and play bass. As of lately i have been going through various channels to find the tone i have in my head. getting close i think....I spend my time recording my own pieces, as well as playing along with standard and modern jazz. Jazz is a big part of what i play. Oh i also avidly study theory.

 

[LBS-bass]

I have been very fortunate in my earlier years to play in bands where the members shared the ability to juggernaut their talents into results that seem to sound larger than expected. Improvisational talents were abound and the results were exciting. It seems more difficult now to find those kind of attributes in potential band mates.

And there it is. I'm not much younger than you but I do remember when being on the circuit required a certain baseline level of competency. Much has changed.

That being said, I know a few competent players who couldn't move past their local roots for a variety of reasons. You can find those sorts of players but you have to accept them, warts and all. There's a reason they didn't move forward, even when they had every chance.

And then there are those of us who put everything on pause in order to "do life" only to be surprised at what had become of live music when we finally returned to it.

All I can say is that those of us who have the ability to create something in spite of all of that should be depending more on each other and less on the "local scene" in order to create it.

 

[MustangWally]

Frankly I have no 'edge' issues to report. None.

Music: I got my tone down, really happy with my modified Mustang PJ into a Rumble 500. Not looking for a gig until we move next year, seems pointless and we are getting busy preparing for the move anyways.

Friends: OK, I do miss hanging out with them: my closest buddy has just had heart surgery again and we can only talk on the phone, his risk of infection (and not just the Wuhan Flu type) could have real bad consequences for a while yet. So yeah, I miss that but phone calls are better than nothing. We are all in the high-risk group due to our ages (all around 70) but we are all being careful.

Other: we drove from Texas to Oregon to meet our newest grand-daughter and then drove back after a few weeks. (And the kid is great!) We eat out from time to time, usually indoor dining (kinda warm for outdoor dining here). We ride our bikes, feed the ducks, all the usual things, we just wear masks when that is required/prudent otherwise life continues as usual.

If there is an edge to be driven over I can't see it from here.

 

[59jazz]

Yes to the figs, just bought a huge bag of figs at Costco......No summer gigs for me, so I should have been focusing on learning new music. Instead I've been busy liquidating instruments and parts. Last month I averaged 2-3 trips to the post office weekly. Also been setting up and repairing lots of instruments for local musicians.

 

[DigitalMan]

A friend's 16 yr old son who worked part time at a movie theater got his 600/wk bonus, in addition to the regular unemployment. Sweet gig - getting paid an extra $2400/mo to sit at home with mom and dad (who is self employed and NOT taking unemployment). Fortunately, my friend made his son be wise with it, but still. It was absurd that a certain political party wanted to pretend that people would't take advantage of that loophole and thus refused to fix it. But enough about that.

I'm sure that movie theater money qualified him for closer to the $200 minimum (plus $600) based on earning history, so that's $800 a week and now back to $200, if any. Also, I'm pretty sure most people not working at movie theaters this summer were doing so involuntarily since they were all closed. Finally, a kid working part time at a movie theater is not representative of gainful adult employment and is a really silly example to bring up to try and make a political point about how federal unemployment subsidies during COVID have created a lazy population of the willfully unemployed.