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How many TBers do not gig?

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#41
I've been a weekend warrior for several decades. After miserable 2020, I thought it might be all over. But starting in May, I've been pretty busy. And now I'm seriously thinking about giving it all up. I love to play, but a lot of the stuff around playing--driving in the middle of the night, hauling gear, etc.--is really starting to get me down. Tonight I'm playing a club in Connecticut, an hour's drive each way, plus an hour and a half for setup and probably an hour to load out, suddenly a 3-set gig becomes a 7-hour day. Just thinking about it makes me tired. Ain't getting any younger, either.
 
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#42
Gigged heavy, regional tours, recorded albums. Then I moved and found that I really enjoy going into my practice room, throwing on headphones, and playing whatever I want, however I want. No politics, no gear loading, no contracts, no traveling, no crowds. Do I miss it? Sometimes. But the part I miss is usually the 1-3 hours from starting the show to ending the show. Everything else... not really.
 
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#43
I haven't played a single gig since 2018. I restarted an originals band when our guitar player moved back to Brazil from Italy and we started rehearsing weekly by the end of 2018, perfecting our sound. Our first gig was supposed to be by February 2020, but it was rescheduled to a date that was supposed to be even better, in April. The pandemic hit Brazil by the middle of March.

We are recording an EP now to release it when things are ready to reopen.
 
#46
Bunk McNulty said:
I love to play, but a lot of the stuff around playing--driving in the middle of the night, hauling gear, etc.--is really starting to get me down. Tonight I'm playing a club in Connecticut, an hour's drive each way, plus an hour and a half for setup and probably an hour to load out, suddenly a 3-set gig becomes a 7-hour day.
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I have two sets tonight at a local club. We're splitting the bill with another band and going on first.

The BL is providing backline for both bands. He has a crappy Acoustic combo that I really hate playing through because it sounds awful. I talked with him about bringing my rig a few days ago but this morning I decided to just roll with his stuff.

Two reasons: My rig wasn't cheap and it wouldn't be impossible for some other bassist to blow up my cabinet by turning up too loud. Replacing the drivers in a custom cabinet would be expensive and I'm just not feeling that generous. The other reason is it ties me there all night. I don't mind sticking around to support the other band but sometimes there are reasons you don't want to stay for everything (too loud, bad sound, or just feeling tired).

So I'm doing what I would have never done before and taking the easy way, even though I know it means I'll sound like crap. I'm just getting to a place where it's all lost its meaning, frankly, because I know that at the end of the night everyone will be gushing about how good it was, when I will know that it wasn't. That's sad.
 
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#48
I gigged out extensively starting in the late 60's through the 80's and a few in the 90's. For over 20 years I made my living strictly by playing music as my job. Playing live, doing various recordings, and hitting the club scene. IOW I was a professional gigging bassist and vocalist. No major acts but plenty of "on the road" experience. Almost every state west of the Mississippi and 4 Canadian Provinces, in the winter too! I'm 69 and still can play, albeit a bit more laid back than in my youth. Physical issues aka arthritis make it impossible for me to have the flexibility I once had in my hands and fingers. I've just changed my style to make up for the physical aspects. Some who've known me for years say I'm actually a better and more seasoned player now that I lay back a bit than when I was younger. Even I admit it's possibly true.

I do miss playing live and know even at age 69 I could still gig if I wanted to, with "wanted to" being the important words in that statement. To be brutally frank and honest. I find I have little tolerance anymore for ego tripping musicians. Musicians who put their drinking and drug use before their playing. Plus most other stuff that seems to plague musicians. Another reason is that IMO it's almost impossible to make a living paying music nowadays, let alone even make enough to pay your expenses and equipment upkeep. It's sad that's how it is but as I always say "it is what it is". I recently was asked to play a gig where I was offered $100.00 for a four set gig. I told them I had to refuse because the pay wasn't enough. The guy who was putting the gig together said a hundred bucks was good money. I said maybe so but it's a 50 mile drive from my place. That's wear and tear on my vehicle. I have to load in my stuff (no biggie really) but it's still has to be moved. If I break a string it's 25 bucks for a new set. If I blow a speaker in my rig which uses Eminence co=axial 12" speakers with horns replacement cost is more than I would be getting paid. It all ads up. Some might say I was a dick for that but I don't care. There are some things that we as musicians do have control over, and that is how much we make for our talent, experience, and equipment.

Plus, IMO far too many players nowadays just sit at home and make videos of themselves playing along with a recording. Then they post it up on Social media and BAM they think they're stars. Sorry, but I don't consider that to be the same as actually playing with fellow musicians in a live situation, and before anyone starts flaming me. Please realize that I said it was inly "my opinion". YMMV and that's OK. You can go to any discussion thread here on TB read through and easily see who the experienced players are just by reading the comments. Don't get me wrong TB is still a valuable resource for players of all types and levels of playing but there's always a few who......... well you know.
 
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#50
Jon Lars said:
My last gig was at the Berkeley Keystone, opening for the Skeleton Crew /Fred Frith, 6/23/83.

I had a good couple years with my band, Pell Mell. Now I have retired after a long 37-year engineering career, and call myself a full-time musician again.
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Wow, I remember the Keystone Berkeley. I grew up in that town. I think the last show I saw there was The Uptones in maybe 1983(?)
 
#52
I got sick and tired of the band thing in the mid 2000s. Hosted an open mic for a few years starting in 2010. Played a few gigs at a couple hometown festivals in 2012ish and then a cancer benefit at an elks lodge in 2015.

Nothing since and no plans to try.

I just play for my cats in my bedroom now. One of them seems to like it and the other 2 are indifferent.

That's about a par ratio for the typical audience response from when I did gig. Guess we were mediocre.
 
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#55
My only "gig" is at church where I volunteer my services once every 3 to 4 weeks. I take it just as serious as when I was gigging throughout the 1970's and early 80's. I'm 68 and just have no desire to play other "gigs" any more. Been there, done that and that's nothing against others my age who still enjoy getting out there and playing on a regular basis. More power to ya, I say!!
 
#56
If you mean life before 2020, yes. If you mean for the last 18 months, outside of streaming, no. When things are rolling again, yes. I also do live Audio mixing, and it's the same- was supposed to start again next week, but that just got cancelled. Tough times.
 
#57
LBS-bass said:
I'm just getting to a place where it's all lost its meaning, frankly, because I know that at the end of the night everyone will be gushing about how good it was, when I will know that it wasn't. That's sad.
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Last Saturday night, at the end of the night, I saw my BL talking to a couple, and she waved me over. "These people think you're great." They went on about it for a while. All the while with me thinking about all the missed cues and flubs I'd made. So I said "Thank you!" again and again, trying to be sincere. Then went back to rolling up PA cables...
 
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#59
Haven't gigged since around 2002'ish. My last band practice studio was over an hour away from where I lived. Great band. Keyboardist was, however, a Paul Shaffer wannabe with a major diva complex. He also owned the studio and was the band leader. Anyway, I played the drums in the band. It was a real drag having to haul my kit back and forth just to put up with the drama. I had also gotten a fancy job that took a lot of time and effort.

While the idea of being in a band creeps back into my mind every here and there, I no longer have the energy or the desire to deal with drama. I'm happy to jam with my wife (drummer, singer) and son (super young and loves to sing along) regularly, I have no intentions of playing out. Also, I am in bed by 8:30pm every night. So I get tired just thinking about staying up late enough to make the downbeat of the first song.
 
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