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How often do you play out?

R

Russell L

Mar 5, 2011
5,620
1,363
Cayce, SC
#1
Gigs, rehearsals, jams, benefits, etc., whatever. If it means going out the door with all or part of your equipment then it's going out to play. Me, I've been lucky lately in these times when most are starving for somewhere to go play. This month I have five regular gigs (so far). Only two booked for October now, but that will change, I'm sure.

But, it's just as much work to go to all the 2-3-hour rehearsals and jams that I go to as it is to go play a gig. The fact that I am working with five different groups makes it even more time consuming. Last month I played out ten times. This month it will be twelve or more. Then, there is all the practicing I do alone at home, too (no wonder I had a sore finger the last few weeks).

Well, as grateful as I am for all these opportunities I have also begun to look forward to the days/nights when I don't have to go anywhere. It's been awhile since I've had that feeling, kinda like when I used to play for a living, way back. I was sitting out back the other night when I had nothing pressing, enjoying a peaceful evening with my telescope. The sky was clear and the air was real nice and cool for a change. Just me and the dog. No music, no pressure, just a "peaceful easy feeling." That was Friday. Then, it was four nights in a row starting Saturday.

But, that was good, too. I played well, made some dough, and came home feeling a different kind of satisfaction. Of course, being 62 now, I wonder how long I've got, ya know. Maybe I'll die onstage.:bassist:

So, what about ya'll, how much do you play out?
 
#2
Rehearsal twice a week @ 3-4 hrs a session. Local Gigs twice a month, rent a van, haul amps, drums, lights and all the other crap. We have not toured yet but that would br our the next step in the evolution.
 
#6
Russell L said:
Gigs, rehearsals, jams, benefits, etc., whatever. If it means going out the door with all or part of your equipment then it's going out to play. Me, I've been lucky lately in these times when most are starving for somewhere to go play. This month I have five regular gigs (so far). Only two booked for October now, but that will change, I'm sure.

But, it's just as much work to go to all the 2-3-hour rehearsals and jams that I go to as it is to go play a gig. The fact that I am working with five different groups makes it even more time consuming. Last month I played out ten times. This month it will be twelve or more. Then, there is all the practicing I do alone at home, too (no wonder I had a sore finger the last few weeks).

Well, as grateful as I am for all these opportunities I have also begun to look forward to the days/nights when I don't have to go anywhere. It's been awhile since I've had that feeling, kinda like when I used to play for a living, way back. I was sitting out back the other night when I had nothing pressing, enjoying a peaceful evening with my telescope. The sky was clear and the air was real nice and cool for a change. Just me and the dog. No music, no pressure, just a "peaceful easy feeling." That was Friday. Then, it was four nights in a row starting Saturday.

But, that was good, too. I played well, made some dough, and came home feeling a different kind of satisfaction.

So, what about ya'll, how much do you play out?
Click to expand...

About every 3 months or so. Mostly a "classic rock" jam with some very good friends I've known since I started playing. The guitar player was in my first band back in middle school.

Of course, being 62 now, I wonder how long I've got, ya know. Maybe I'll die onstage.:bassist:
Click to expand...

Vitamin B12 and D3 have given me a great boost in energy over the past few years. If you're not into it, it's something you may want to check out since you're putting out so much energy gigging/rehearsing. :)

Congrats on sticking with it! :bassist:
 
#7
My band practices once a week unless we have a conflict - we gig 4-6 times a year. We're not together with gigging as the goal - we're there to play music and enjoy each other's company. When we get the chance we'll play a gig, but we all have full-time jobs and we're not in it to gig or try to make money.

Like many bands, we have some turnover, and every time that happens it costs us a couple of months before we feel ready to gig again.
 
#8
4 to 6 gigs a month + 1 or 2 rehearsals per month. Add in personal practice is about all I want. While still doing the full time day job thing and getting ready to turn the big "55" (Denny's discount here I come ;))
 
#11
Hee, hee, I knew I wouldn't be alone. (Vitamin B12 and D3, huh? I'm getting some. Thanks, Stumbo). And yes, I have a full-time day job, too. Thing is, for the past while I've just been getting more and more calls, when just a couple of years ago I had very little to do. And, oddly,I've actually had to turn some down for a change, not because I was booked either, but rather because I needed to take a break. Will I ever stop? Dunno. I fantasize about retiring, but I know folks will still call, or someone will wanna jam, whatever, and I won't be able to say no. (I tried going to the blues jam one night and just listening. You know, sit with the wife, have a drink and sandwich. Oh no, no, they wouldn't leave me alone til I got up there and played most of the night).

I have a lot going on. One regular band and another starting up (priorites may switch). Then there's the jam at a friend's every Monday---and that is getting ready to take to the street. My old band keeps calling for me to fill in, and another band keeps asking, and now they wanna rehearse, too. Perhaps at some point something will fall off. That may be what I need, though. Keep going, but not a rat race.

Anyway, it's nice hearing ya'll's stories, too. Thanks for replying, everyone.
 
#14
I like to play (with others, whatever form it takes) once or twice per week, and gig once or twice per month. I don't really have time for more than that, but I get antsy if it's much less than that.

My regular band only does 6 to 8 shows per year, plus I like to play jazz which that band doesn't, so I always have a couple of side projects going on.
 
#15
Practice: 1 x week x three hours
Gig: I think we've averaged at least two x month for the year

Anyhow, enough that I am thoroughly enjoying having this and next week off. I have a reasonably demanding full-time day job and, as much as I love playing, having a little down is very welcome.
 
#16
Band practice once a week for a few hours about 35 minutes from home (if we have no gig scheduled that week). Classic rock bar gigs a couple times a month (typically an hour from home). Private lesson once a week 20 minutes away, plus two additional trips to the music school every week for daughter's drum lessons/band practice (the highlight of my week).

The thing that sucks is that I have a pretty nice band room in my basement, finished & carpeted with drums & PA already set up. However, the guys in my band like to toke it up, so they don't want to play at my place if my family is around. 9 out of 10 practices end up being at the singer's house. When I factor in the drive time and the drummer being chronically late, it gets to be a drag at times.
 
#17
Till our drummer wracked up his shoulder @ the end of July, we'd been able to schedule Friday nite, Saturday (frequently 2 shows) and Sundays twice a month on average. Prior to February, we'd been rehearsing 4 - 5 nights a week roughly 3 hours each since September 2011.

Tough to get everybody together since we're spread out across 4 states, so it's just simple ergonomics (and economics) that we plan rehearsal / book gig's in blocks where we know it's profitable to pull it all together.

All our bookings are currently on hold waiting for our drummer to recover, but I'd guess he's not gonna feel 100% even when they tell him he's healed. Anticipate some woodshedding till his chops are up to snuff again (Hell, for that matter, mine too. I've gotten lazy recently so I'm probably getting rusty too).

All have day jobs, so the gigs aren't life or death, but we do enjoy getting out and playing, so as soon as we're able, we will.
 
#19
Practice: 1x a week for 3-5 hours. This also includes
writing. We only play originals. I leave my equipment
in our rehearsal space so I don't have to lug anything
around. I will occasionally bring a bass or 2 extra with
me.

Gigs: 1 or 2 times a month but sometimes we only get in a
gig every month and a half. Most gigs have backlines but I
still try and use my own amp when possible.

We all have families and full time jobs so we are lucky
to get to play as much as we do.
 

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