Did You Stop Gigging for a While and How Long?

[Gravedigger Dav]

It seems I see posts where some of us have had extended breaks in our gigging and I got to thinking about how common this is.
I started gigging in 1964 and was active through 1976. Then a bit of burn-out after being on the road for over a year with no break and other life events had my attention and I didn't go back to gigging until 1986. I'm still gigging now. Even my dad who was a gigging musician quit and for many years would not even listen to music. He went back to listening, but never gigged again.
I'd like to know if this has happened to you and a bit about why.

 

[bholder]

20 years gap from 20s to 40s, then another 20 year gap coming up to 65, still hoping to give it one last shot....

 

[2saddleslab]

The only gap in performing since July 4th 1986 was during COVID.

 

[MrLenny1]

I get burned out after 3-5 years then take a break. Most bands last about 3 years.
9 years was the longest break because the family needed help.
After Covid I said I'm done. ha, never say never. I'm now in a startup tribute band.
I'll see how long this one lasts. The music Biz is what kills it for me.

 

[MuseChaser]

Started working as a musician when I was 15. I'm 63 now, never stopped, and no plans to. Played trumpet gigs with broken ribs, piano and singing gigs with mono, strep throat, piano gig the day after cutting off the tip of my right thumb with a router (including part of the bone). I love playing. The longest I went without a gig was while recuperating from major heart surgery (after-effects from a birth defect VSD repaired when I was a child that finally caught up with me and needed addressing in my 50s). Even during Covid we found ways to make music for people.

 

[bassicmike]

Didn't really play at all in my 30s. Life, women, and all that.

But we were out at a club one night hearing a band, and I thought to myself why don't I do that anymore.

And here I am, 25 years later, waiting to do soundcheck .

 

[DWBass]

I stopped playing while I was teenager and in my 20's and 30's while I focused on sports. Quit sports at 40 and got back into playing in bands. So about 20 or so years break.

 

[SAlcott]

Covid pretty much put an end to my paid gigging life after 50+ years as a blue-collar bassist. Most of the venues where my main band played either went under or switched to smaller/younger groups that don't expect to get paid. My musical life these days consists of lessons and performing with community orchestras. It's pretty satisfying except for the schlepping.

 

[Ggaa]

Never stopped on purpose. After the second band I was in split, I ran sound for a year or so c.1980, until I got another bass gig. So I didn't play bass in a band for a year, but I had a gig. There was time off since then between bands(a very short otr truck driving career late '90s, and Covid) but was always trying to get a gig going again.

 

[pisces_bass]

Played originals from my teens through late 20’s. Hit burn out and took a break from music to pursue schooling in natural resources sciences. Then marriage, kids, house and a 60 hr/week career. Hit burnout at work in my mid-40’s and took a paycut for a 40 hr/week job that provided time for hobbies. Boom, back into music and gigs, this time around playing in a couple very different cover bands. It’s about priorities.

 

[zenrad]

I stopped gigging when my first son was born, I started again 15 years later and haven't stopped.

 

[J Wilson]

I walked away in 2008. Done. Finis.

I'd never go back. I'd never have the patience to deal with all of it, and the musical world I lived in is as long gone as steam locomotives and propellor piston engine airliners, so there's nothing to go back to anyway.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, I'd dropped out of working bands when I was in Grad School and when I wanted to spend more time at home with my family. Couple of years each time. I'd been playing bar gigs since the early 70's.

When COVID hit, I'd been playing for 15 years with the same BL. Nice band, good pay, no drama. I knew that he would want/need to be playing long before I was comfortable in getting out again, so I dropped out. I really thought I was done.

A couple years later things have opened back up and some old friends called me to fill in for a couple of gigs. Just like that I was back at it. I enjoy the music interaction and I realized that being in a band is part of an identity and comradery that I enjoy.
We're also usually done by 8:00.

 

[Pings Bass]

Quit trying to make a living with music when it came time to support a family. Never stopped making music. Got back into writing, arranging and recording after the kids grew up, but have little to no interest in gigging for peanuts.

 

[bassfran]

Yes, I quit my main band a couple years pre-Covid because it stopped being fun for me. I’m still friends with everyone but then I pivoted into some acting and performance work instead. Since that’s largely dried up now I’m working 2-4x a week again in an oldies band.

 

[FirewalZ]

I dropped out for about a decade between my 30’s and 40’s. Mostly to focus on my career, but also I had been in a long running cover band and it was no longer fun. I started back again around 2013 or so and have been going strong since.

 

[dc-upright]

I started gigging late 70s and mostly stopped in the eighties while I was raising my kids. Even then I played out a little bit!

starting gigging again in early 90s and have pretty much not stopped except Covid. Things are slower than they used to be but still at it!

 

[jimmydean]

Missed three years after a spinal injury and took off one year at the start of Covid . Thinking about shutting down live gigs for the rest of the year after next Saturday night ........can't decide what to do .

 

[Mastermold]

1992-2007 when I quit music and went off to grad school. Started up again in late 2007 until COVID. Since then it’s been sporadic but we’re still playing.

 

[Pilgrim]

I played through college, but then moved 800 miles away. Over the next 24 years I changed jobs, moved, got married and had two kids. Then my parents moved from the big country house into the house in town, and it was get it or lose it time. At age 47 I picked up most of the musical gear that was still at their home and took it to my home 2000 miles away.

Shortly after that I started practicing a bit again, then found a band to play with. I have played off and on since then, although at age 74 I'm currently on a year-long hiatus with no band.