How many TBers do not gig?

[rwkeating]

I haven't gigged for many years, but I play/practice practically everyday. I know folks that aren't interested in playing unless they can play in front of an audience. I don't feel that way. I hope to be able to play for the rest of my life even if no one ever hears me again. I can't stop the need to connect with music and my instruments. Music is in my DNA

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Anybody look into that "jam over the internet" thing? I don't know the product names, but there seem to be ways to jam over the internet, similar to a Zoom meeting.

I know latency is an issue, but maybe for folks with fiber internet, something is available?

With so many new, and experienced but frustrated musicians, it seems like something with potential: if latency can be overcome.

Virtual Jamming: The Latest Tools for Playing Together in Real Time | Acoustic Guitar

 

[brianrost]

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

This is pretty much where I'm at today. As long as I keep gigging I have regular opportunities to play with great musicians.

I'm not sure I ever seriously thought about being famous or making a living from music, I just thought it would be fun...and it is. Meeting women and taking massive amounts of drugs certainly crossed my mind as a teenager, though

 

[dusterdan70]

I don't gig, because I don't have time to practice, and I don't practice because I spend all my free time scrolling through here reading threads and finding cure for GAS. It's all TB's fault.

 

[Ostie]

This should be a poll so we can see the numbers. I’ve played gigs since I joined my first band in 1977. I’ll do it as long as I’m able.

 

[Sam Evans]

Gigging is pretty minimal for me the last few years (per year, just a few charities / fundraisers and maybe a wedding), and that's fine with me. I'm more into home recording, learning piano, jamming with the missuz (a drummer), etc.

 

[BluesWalker]

I took off a few years when I moved to San Diego, started back up in 2019 which was shut down by Covid in early 2020. Started up with a new band about 4 months ago; we’ve had 5 gigs the past two months with more coming up.

It was hard going without gigs. It took away motivation to pick up the bass.

 

[Sam Evans]

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.

On the bright side, it's a great reaction from a cat audience!

 

[buldog5151bass]

For me, the only reason to play bass is in a band.

 

[Chris Y]

No gigs for me these days, my last gig was back in 94 I think.
Played about a thousand gigs before that in a few different bands ranging from 3 piece to 12.
Stopped playing for 25 years and sold my old rig, I miss the 800RB and Musician tho.
Started again a few years ago and currently have the best gear I have ever had thanks to TB
Tried to get into the local scene but it seems no-one wants to play with an old has been.
I think i'm playing better now than when I was in my prime, and I'm happy to just keep plugging away until hopefully I find some likeminded old coots that want to rock and have fun without the ego's.

 

[JES]

Well, I gigged until Covid....

 

[shawshank72]

Covid ruined playing gigs.
Been almost 2 years now.
Did a couple hired studio gigs but no stages.

 

[postalflunkie]

My playing is for purely therapeutic/personal enjoyment purposes. The bass gives me a place to unwind after work or a chalange when I hear a song and want to learn it. I have a love for the bass and can't see myself ever not playing.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Covid ruined playing gigs.
Been almost 2 years now.
Did a couple hired studio gigs but no stages.

Yep. Bad time to stop drinking (which I did) and start playing again (which I did). At least the bass won't kill me...

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

I haven’t gigged in many, many years. I am too lazy to look for an opportunity and if one did arise, I doubt I would be interested in it. Jamming/playing originals might be fun but I am not sure it would be worth putting up with all the ego involved.

 

[svlilioukalani]

I love to preform. I am doing 2 or 3 shows a month now. Much less work out there since Covid.

 

[Sid Fang]

Anybody look into that "jam over the internet" thing? I don't know the product names, but there seem to be ways to jam over the internet, similar to a Zoom meeting.

I know latency is an issue, but maybe for folks with fiber internet, something is available?

With so many new, and experienced but frustrated musicians, it seems like something with potential: if latency can be overcome.

Virtual Jamming: The Latest Tools for Playing Together in Real Time | Acoustic Guitar

Before COVID, I had a monthly electronic music improv thing I participated in, not on bass but on synths. For COVID, we adopted a thing called NinJam, which is built into Reaper (but can also be run separately). It gets around the latency thing by operating as a sort of distributed loop. Everyone has “one” at the same time, with an audio/visual metronome option, but I’m playing in real time with what others played the previous time through the cycle. Most cycles are 16 or 32 beats, but they can be longer. Sounds awkward but actually works well for jamming on jazz/blues themes as well as electronica. I’ve had jams with people all over the world using it, some of which have been truly horrible but some of which have been up there among the best improv jams I’ve ever had.

Not the same as gigging, though.

 

[RandalPinkFloyd]

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.

Of course, that's the primary reason that many, if not most of us play. So yea, the response isn't going to be great.

 

[2112]

bout tree fiddy

 

[Alivefor5]

I’m 74, have played steadily since 1962. I gig most every weekend, usually both nights. I work with several bands, in bars, private parties, corporate functions, studio work, and occasionally in church. I schlepp modern lightweight gear in a comfortable car and don’t mind driving distances for good money. I love it all. I might think about cutting back when I turn 80.