- Jan 26, 2014
- 1,525
- 1,946
- Disclosures
- I teach lessons and perform live music in and around San Diego CA. Sometimes I even make money doing it!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Getting hurt in other activities (fear of)...
- Thread starter davy4575
- Start date
Another mountain biker and previously a road racer here. I've done more damage to my hands with yard work, building projects and slicing in the kitchen. Hand and arm injuries can happen any time, without warning.
These days, I curl a couple time a week, six months out of the year. I don't have to tell you what a risk that is.
Just live your life, be reasonably careful and stop worrying.
These days, I curl a couple time a week, six months out of the year. I don't have to tell you what a risk that is.
Just live your life, be reasonably careful and stop worrying.
I went out to practice with a church softball team once. First two hits to left field, I caught a 16 inch softball (brand new, rock hard Clincher, no gloves) line drive and semi-jammed my middle finger on my left hand both times. It healed in a few days, but I realized at that point it was either music (which I'm good at) or softball (which I suck at). So...music
Behold Madison Bumgardner.
All depends on what you like to do. I ride bicycle around, and I know I can mash up my hands pretty good doing it. Been doing that for 45 years and have been okay.
I rode motorcycles on the road for 40 years accident free, until I was knocked off by a car 18 months ago. Messed up my right hand & wrist pretty bad (also my foot, but don't use that for bass playing!). Had to change from finger style to pick due to damaged tendons, was able to play only a few gigs last year. Have now stopped riding!
I don't skateboard or train in martial arts anymore. A light fall or just a normal night of blocking punches and kicks with my forearms was jacking up my playing afterwards. Everyone said it'll get better eventually - they didn't play. I said, why, am I turning 18 again soon? I'm Benjamin Button over here??
I like playing, so I choose my extracurriculars carefully. Krav Maga is lots of fun, so is Skating down a flight of stairs, but playing guitar and bass whenever I like is much more fun. The best skaters I knew growing up don't skate anymore and they don't even play, they just say they can't afford the insurance anymore, I don't know why I would expect to be able do it when they could wipe the floor with me at my best.
Long story short - I don't live my life in fear, but I recognize that my decisions affect the likelihood of my success, whatever outcome I desire. If I want to be a musician, then turning my hand into a virtual steel hook for mountain climbing isn't in my best interest.
It also helps to have other musician friends- especially ones more successful than you. If you're signed, going on tour, etc. - You generally have a contract not to hurt yourself being an idiot. Plenty of fun stuff to do on Gods green earth.
RC Cars are an exhilarating thing to do and you won't get hurt unless you put your hand in the wheels - that actually does hurt quite a bit. And getting hit by one going off course hurts too- But its different.
I like playing, so I choose my extracurriculars carefully. Krav Maga is lots of fun, so is Skating down a flight of stairs, but playing guitar and bass whenever I like is much more fun. The best skaters I knew growing up don't skate anymore and they don't even play, they just say they can't afford the insurance anymore, I don't know why I would expect to be able do it when they could wipe the floor with me at my best.
Long story short - I don't live my life in fear, but I recognize that my decisions affect the likelihood of my success, whatever outcome I desire. If I want to be a musician, then turning my hand into a virtual steel hook for mountain climbing isn't in my best interest.
It also helps to have other musician friends- especially ones more successful than you. If you're signed, going on tour, etc. - You generally have a contract not to hurt yourself being an idiot. Plenty of fun stuff to do on Gods green earth.
RC Cars are an exhilarating thing to do and you won't get hurt unless you put your hand in the wheels - that actually does hurt quite a bit. And getting hit by one going off course hurts too- But its different.
Last edited:
My current "hobby": my parents farm has sat idle for years, and I'm working to clean it up and possibly do something with it down the road. I spend most of my free evenings/weekends with a chainsaw, an ax or on a tractor.
Music and working on the farm are both part of who I am. I exercise caution on the farm.
Music and working on the farm are both part of who I am. I exercise caution on the farm.
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
I'm in my 50s and still play full contact ice hockey and skate in pro-am leagues in the summer. You can't go into any sport worrying about injuries. If you do, you will probably get hurt. Over the years I have suffered 5 concussions, broke my nose 3 times, have had over 30 stitches in my chin and and another 25 over my left eye brow, broke the index finger on my left hand, fractured both thumbs, tore ligaments in my left thumb, dislocated both shoulders, separated my left AC joint, fractured my ribs, fractured my left shin, fractured my left ankle, have bone chips in both elbows, bruised a kidney, tore my quadricep, have had 2 surgeries on my left knee, 1 surgery on my right shoulder which required 4 screws to repair multiple tears in the rotator cuff, tears in the labrum, tears in the bursar, bone spurs and impingement of the bicep tendon and believe it or not, I actually enjoy hockey more than playing music. (I still have all my own teeth)
I used to play a ton of pickup basketball. Too many jammed fingers. Stopped when I started gigging full time
I remember a column in Guitar Player written by Zappa (or someone in his band). They were on tour and a few of the guys were playing softball.... and one of the guys broke his hand. He talked about the difficulty replacing a musician in his band on short notice. The column was called 'No Sports'... or something like that. It's been a long time ago & I've probably got things turned around... but I came away with the idea that you've got to take reasonable precautions in certain situations. .
D
Deleted member 165050
Guest
I work in a warehouse and I wear gloves at all times, even for the simplest of tasks. There's no big risk of severe injury, but we work with lots of pallets and boxes, many things that can give you cuts. Even a relatively small cut can make playing bass a nightmare. Especially on your index/middle fingertips!
I was performing a very simple task, placing boxes of bread on a pallet...one of the boxes had a flap of cardboard sticking out, and it cut me right on my right index fingertip where my fingerprint is. Barely even bled at all! Plucking was a nightmare for the next week.
Oddly enough, I still play basketball even after I've jammed/dislocated various fingers while playing
I was performing a very simple task, placing boxes of bread on a pallet...one of the boxes had a flap of cardboard sticking out, and it cut me right on my right index fingertip where my fingerprint is. Barely even bled at all! Plucking was a nightmare for the next week.
Oddly enough, I still play basketball even after I've jammed/dislocated various fingers while playing
I remember reading that one many many years ago. As I recall, Zappa did not allow any sports or 'risky' behaviour that could result in injury on tour after that incident. I seem to recall that after the accident the injured player was standing off in the wings rapidly pointing at a chart of notes/chords to indicate to the replacement what he should be playing.
I worked in the network end of IT. Constant cuts, scapes, and gouges ditzing with wiring, crawling around in service tunnels, and diving into the innards of servers, wiring panels and network gear. Cuts and burns are constant occurrences due to all the sharp edges and hot electronics. So much so that a tetanus shot is a must have if you're in that line of work.
Dinged up my hands many times. And many times played with an injury. You avoid it as best you can - and deal with it when you can't.
Dinged up my hands many times. And many times played with an injury. You avoid it as best you can - and deal with it when you can't.
If my adolesence didn't kill my wrist with repetitive motion issues.......nothing I do on the motor level or car is going to be a problem.
Guessing my right hand could cling to an aitcraft wing for an hour or two.
Bit of a funny story was when I first met my wife. She had booked the group into the club and I met her the first night we played there (it was a 5-night gig). At the time, she was a sky-diver and by the third night had pretty well talked me into jumping out of a perfectly good plane. Our band leader, the drummer, got wind of this and pulled me aside. He told me in no uncertain terms that I could not do that because there were four other people here whose livelihood depended upon me being healthy! So I didn't go jump out of a plane. Nonetheless, I convinced her to join me on the road and we've been married for 44-years now.
My most dangerous "other activity" is fly-fishing, and as long as I exercise good judgement when wading the rivers here in Washington state, that's not too life threatening.
My most dangerous "other activity" is fly-fishing, and as long as I exercise good judgement when wading the rivers here in Washington state, that's not too life threatening.
Worst and longest lasting most impactful injury to my playing I ever sustained was from doing the dishes. Broke a glass, grabbed it too quickly and severed the nerve and tendon in my left index finger - it will never be the same as it was. I've broken a bunch of bones, banged myself up pretty good over the years doing everything from motorcycling, mountain biking, rock climbing, playing football and rugby but it was the dishes that got me good!
Guess my point is, anything can get you at any time....best not to dwell on it.
Rugby.....Over 35s nowadays......Out of action from an Achilles tear playing indoor cricket (bloody non-contact sports!!)
Tell me about it. I have an injurie in my let hand. 10 stitches to be exact. Still playing thank God. But now I'm very aware of safety elements in work.
Last edited:
