Welcome djero44! Very good advice, and I am glad that this post gave you something to think about.
New nugget, or is it easter egg
Sometimes its just better to take a step back.
Everyone wants success. Everyone would love to be then next Rolling Stones, U2, Pearl Jam, Maroon 5, whatever. If we are serious, we pour our hearts, minds and souls into each and every project. We nuture and support it, build it like it was our only, best, child. We will selflessly and selfishly defend it until we finally are out of breath, worn, tired, a little crazy and hopelessly lost.
Every once and a while a good original band will take a day or two or three, and take a step back. First, take a break from the music and band mates to refresh and remember that you have a life and you actually are someone. And that there are other things that should have a level of importance in your life besides the music.
And at that point the band needs to take stock of where you are, where you are versus where you thought you'd be, are you going in the direction you thought and are you going to make your goal. And them ask yourself (yourselves) what if we just ended the band? What if we took the band in a totally different direction?
It is very hard to take a good, hard honest look without first getting away from the music and guys and refreshing yourself as a person. When you have done that, you can take a look at your band. I have many times lost sight of the goal just because I immersed my self worth and desire for success into every project/band. I was so invested in the band, in working the booking, touring, instrument care and song writing recording that I never took the time to ask, "How do you feel about your situation?" "Are you spending too much time on something that isn't going even close to a way you need to?"
We often will ride a band beyond the point of its extinction, because we cannot look at it objectively and say its time to retool or let it die. We cannot admit this, and we look at dissolving a band we have placed our heart, soul, blood sweat and tears into as a failure. It is nearly impossible at those points to remember that the Beatles did not form once and immediately and go on to be successful from there. They changed members, they merged members. They had different names.
I always remember the story about how Fred Smith left the original Blondie to join Television with Tom Verlaine. Television, while critically acclaimed, went nowhere. Blondie, well, we all know. But Blondie with Fred Smith could never have become the Blondie we all know. Crosby Stills Nash and Young are legendary. And to think, the Byrds and Buffaloe Springfield had to die for us to get CSNY.
Every once in a while, take a step back. Recharge your batteries and refresh your outlook on life. Reconnect with family and friends. Then take some time to look at your band from a distance. Ask yourself the questions. Once you answer them, you will know where to go. And most likely that will mean you are on the road to success.
