How many TBers do not gig?

[tb-player]

I used to gig a lot more than I do now. I’ve toured, recorded, and done the local scene. These days, my life is more about family and running my business. I still take the opportunity to play out a few times a year with a singer/songwriter friend. I also might be good for once-a-year fill-in with a local jam band. I’ll also volunteer at a local church if they need me.

So right now, most of my bass playing is for me. I spend much of my bass time playing along with tracks or just working things out in the shed. And I really enjoy it. It fits my lifestyle.

Curious, how many TBers play their bass regularly, but never (or rarely) gig?

 

[TerribleTim68]

I stepped away from gigging and the entire band scene back in the mid 90s in an effort to get sober. I didn't even touch my bass for at least 15 years, it sat in the closet in the case. I dug it out a few years back now and started dinking around with it, then started adding to my collection again. I'm 49 in a couple months and really just don't have time to be joining a band and gigging again, so there's really no delusions to step back into that scene. I enjoy going to watch my old friends' bands play, but that's about it. In the "before days" I had started catching one live show a month, but that has stopped since the plague landed. Things just haven't opened back up enough around here for me to go back to that even.

So yeah, I currently own 7 basses, 6 guitars and 2 amps. I do not gig, have no plans to.

 

[Skeezix]

As I have said before, I have not played in public since 1980.

 

[bholder]

I haven't played an actual gig since the early-mid 90s. Have sat in at a few open mic sort of situations, but nothing I'd call a gig. Hoping to change that some day.

 

[Tanner5382]

No, quit years ago, and a couple of years ago I quit music all together. Recently decided to get back in to it so I have a bass on the way and need to get an amp. Probably will never gig again, but who knows if the right situation comes along.

 

[theduke1]

I am a performer I love being on stage
I am a lead singer, frontman, so giging is what I do
My main band plays 10/15 gigs a season May through October
I have a jam band that plays just for fun once a week and I play on our worship team
I have 5 basses, 4 bass rigs, full pa, monitors and LED stages lights
Rock on
Duke

 

[robd]

I am not much for gigging. Never have been. Don't understand the attraction... never did.

Only ever really did it because the other players in the bands I was in wanted to gig, so to play with the better musicians in the area, it was a necessary evil

Trying to form a band now and getting less than stellar players responding to my ads that say I'm not interested in gigging or if I don't mention it in the ad it's the first thing most people ask. Still want to play good music with good musicians... just don't want to do it in some dive bar for no money. Don't need an audience.

 

[bolophonic]

I haven’t gigged in a few years, but I plan to do it again someday.

 

[hbarcat]

Six.

 

[turf3]

I started playing in public for money at 17 and haven't stopped since (now 59). Have not played in public (except for a few bluegrass jams, but not gigs) since March 2020, but that long dry spell will end some day. While I love performing, it's not worth my life or my wife's life.

 

[LP Custom]

Gig-free since ’93.

 

[Gothic]

Last gig was January 2020 and I'd already got tired of the whole thing. Now I miss it. Go figure.
I don't gig but not by choice.

 

[mapleglo]

I'm off and on. I haven't gigged since the end of 2019, and that band crumbled under the weight of the pandemic. We had been gigging about twice a month. I'm in a new band now which I recently joined. I expect that in a few months, we'll be ready to gig, assuming it's safe. Frankly, it feels good to be playing with other people again, even if it's just in the practice space.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

I used to gig a lot more than I do now. I’ve toured, recorded, and done the local scene. These days, my life is more about family and running my business. I still take the opportunity to play out a few times a year with a singer/songwriter friend. I also might be good for once-a-year fill-in with a local jam band. I’ll also volunteer at a local church if they need me.

So right now, most of my bass playing is for me. I spend much of my bass time playing along with tracks or just working things out in the shed. And I really enjoy it. It fits my lifestyle.

Curious, how many TBers play their bass regularly, but never (or rarely) gig?

71 and retired but still love to play my bass.

 

[darwin-bass]

My gigs are the same as ever. Couple of times per month at church. 5 Songs, varying band members each time.

 

[The Owl]

Retired from live performing in 2011. I still compose and record.

 

[FishDub]

I did for many years but no more..I can never seem to find a few people to just jam and have fun at everyones convenience..Still have 4 basses though

 

[vvvmmm]

Six.

I believe the correct answer, as to everything, is 42.

 

[Scarysharkface]

I started playing in public for money at 17 and haven't stopped since (now 59). Have not played in public (except for a few bluegrass jams, but not gigs) since March 2020, but that long dry spell will end some day. While I love performing, it's not worth my life or my wife's life.

Pretty much exactly my situation. Replace bluegrass jams with jazz jams. I've got a jazz gig in a couple of weeks, but that's it. Nothing else on the books at this time. I look forward to gigging again though.

John

 

[Riff Ranger]

I love performing when I get the chance, but it has always been sporadic, and these days it takes a back seat to writing and recording, which in turn takes a back seat to my family. (Can you tell my mother drove a school bus for 40 years? ) I hope to perform the material I’m writing and recording live when it’s ready for the world and the world’s ready for it, but I have zero desire to tour. But never say never—I’m “only” 40