I’m Retiring

[JimmyM]

I love playing music, but I hate everything else involved. The driving, the flying, and especially dictator bandleaders with hair trigger tempers who pretend to have your best interests at heart, like the leader of the oldies band I was with for 20 years, Rocky and the Rollers. Horrible name, very angry person.

Two years ago I moved from Orlando to a small town in NC, and I have been threatening to get back out. But if I did, the drives for finding quality work would always be at least an hour, and mostly more. And no matter how quality the work is, it ends up being minimum wage with the driving. And I have no desire to fly at all anymore because the math works out to way less than minimum wage. Working at Piggly Wiggly a mile away pays better in the long run…not that I’m doing that

But the main reason is because sitting at home doing my own thing and relearning the drums is a lot more rewarding than being bossed around by cranky old farts. And let’s face it…music is a young person’s game unless you’re an old rock star.

So I’m retiring unless I get a great offer from the nicest people on earth and get paid much better than I did before. That means I’m retiring.

Swore I’d never retire, but I haven’t played in 2 years and don’t miss it. What I do love, however, is my new role as the town crazy cat lady. I have a lot of competition here, but a half grown kitten dropped 5 babies on my front porch last week out of nowhere, and I’m having way more fun than I have in a long time.

Giving up music will never be in the cards for me, but retirement can be pretty badass!

 

[waynobass]

…music is a young person’s game unless you’re an old rock star.

Incorrect.

What I do love, however, is my new role as the town crazy cat lady.

Correct.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

*holds envelope up to forehead*
Johnny Carson: "Piggly Wiggly"
*Opens envelope*
Johnny Carson: "Describe Kermit and Miss Piggy's wedding night"

 

[JimmyM]

*holds envelope up to forehead*
Johnny Carson: "Piggly Wiggly"
*Opens envelope*
Johnny Carson: "Describe Kermit and Miss Piggy's wedding night"

Kevnac The Incorrigible!

 

[Mighty Thumb]

NC is a great state to retire to. Mountains and ocean all in a days drive. And BBQ!

 

[JimmyM]

Incorrect.

You’re right. I should have said that trying to make a living out of music is a young person’s game. It can be done, but you hang by a thread the entire time, young or old, and I’m not willing to do it.

 

[JimmyM]

NC is a great state to retire to. Mountains and ocean all in a days drive. And BBQ!

I’m burned out on BBQ, but I do really enjoy it here.

 

[Timothy Brosnan]

Hey Jimmy, I don’t blame you one bit. I’ll always love music, but not dealing with the crappy business that goes with it.

Remember many years ago, one of the times you came to Hyannis, Massachusetts? You let me come in a bit early to take a look at the gear you were using that night. You prefaced it by saying “only if you promise not to laugh!” I said why would I laugh? You said because you were using your 200 dollar Danelectro reissue bass. I said I would laugh, except you get to play music for a living, while I sell car parts. You told me very honestly, “be glad you have a job! I hate this, and as soon as all these people die off, I’m done with it.”

Well Jimmy, you were right! I’m glad now that I never went into the pro ranks like you did. The local scene is bad enough-I can’t imagine going beyond that, and find myself hating it!

I haven’t played out in 2 years either. Going forward, I’m not joining bands anymore. I’ll do fill ins, if they’re not late night gigs, and I’m certainly not dealing with egos anymore!!

I’m just glad you’re happy where you are now. You’ve always been a great friend, I’m proud to know you!

 

[JimmyM]

Hey Jimmy, I don’t blame you one bit. I’ll always love music, but not dealing with the crappy business that goes with it.

Remember many years ago, one of the times you came to Hyannis, Massachusetts? You let me come in a bit early to take a look at the gear you were using that night. You prefaced it by saying “only if you promise not to laugh!” I said why would I laugh? You said because you were using your 200 dollar Danelectro reissue bass. I said I would laugh, except you get to play music for a living, while I sell car parts. You told me very honestly, “be glad you have a job! I hate this, and as soon as all these people die off, I’m done with it.”

Well Jimmy, you were right! I’m glad now that I never went into the pro ranks like you did. The local scene is bad enough-I can’t imagine going beyond that, and find myself hating it!

I haven’t played out in 2 years either. Going forward, I’m not joining bands anymore. I’ll do fill ins, if they’re not late night gigs, and I’m certainly not dealing with egos anymore!!

I’m just glad you’re happy where you are now. You’ve always been a great friend, I’m proud to know you!

You are a great and talented guy and I’m lucky to know you, too! And yes, I remember that. Glad I didn’t have to wait for everyone to die off, since they’re mostly still with us.

I will miss your hula hooping the most! Thx Tim!

 

[Jim C]

Good for you Jimmy! Ironically I'm doing a lot more music now that I retired from my straight job.
New band and back as a recording engineer in a buddy's busy home studio.

 

[Timothy Brosnan]

You are a great and talented guy and I’m lucky to know you, too! And yes, I remember that. Glad I didn’t have to wait for everyone to die off, since they’re mostly still with us.

I will miss your hula hooping the most! Thx Tim!

Hopefully that hula hooping experience didn’t harm you for life!!!

 

[bass player 53]

I totally hear ya…wait… lemme turn on the hearing aids first. Ok, where we we.
Best of luck.

 

[Lowbrow]

Same boat.
I started to like playing more once i dropped the 'career' aspiration -- enjoyed it more once I disconnected from the attitudes and indignities (quitting bands) and the physical wear-and-tear (sparing a lower back blown out by hauling '70s rigs).
I'll never stop playing for my own pleasure and continue interaction and collaboration through the internet-enabled recording project I've had going for a few years. A former cohort started hinting around recently in a 'get the band back together' kinda way, and I'm happy that I was repelled rather than attracted. It's far too easy to remember only the good aspects -- yet I'll hold on to those without risking renewed exposure to the downsides.

 

[SteveCS]

That means I’m retiring.

Congratulations on getting to a good place, Jimmy, and good luck with the drums Don't be a stranger!!

 

[Zooberwerx]

I’m burned out on BBQ, but I do really enjoy it here.

Plymouth is part of my old stomping grounds as my parents lived in "little" Washington. I always thought that "Acre Station Meat Farm" would be a great band name.

Next year will be the 30th anniversary of the "Band of Angels". Ten Plymouth HS band members were killed in a single accident July 1997.

Riis

 

[SactoBass]

@JimmyM Congrats on your retirement from that treadmill.

Question: will you continue to be active here on TB?

 

[jnewmark]

I'm in the same boat, Jimmy, pay is getting lower, gigs are getting scarce, and my back is saying, STOP! At 77, I have 55 years in of playing, but haven't played a gig in two years. I had a great run, no complaints, but now its time to stop and smell the roses, unless, of course, James Brown wakes up from the dead and offers me a gig!

 

[J Wilson]

'I love playing music, but I hate everything else involved.'

I know that feeling exactly.

When I got to the point where the idea of getting dressed, loading up, and going to stand in a dark room full of party-hardies with mostly clueless musicians on stage was just something I really, really dreaded, it was time for JW to hang up his guns. So I did.

I still play around the house when the notion strikes me, but I discovered so much I'd missed sleeping with a damn bass for all those years, the total preoccupation with it all. There's a whole world full of everything out there that doesn't care one bit about basses, amps, gigs, and staying current, and I missed out on so much.

Not any more. I've developed or rediscovered many things, and broadened myself. All Bass All the Time made JW a very dull boy in many ways.

And honestly, the musical ecosystem I came up, those styles of music and performance are as dead as propellor airliners and steam locomotives. I work around much younger people with their music playing, and it dawns on me why they think it's 'yacht rock', their music is so different, and frankly not for me. Time and taste have moved on as they should and always will. It's now someone else's musical time.

I always enjoyed your obviously paid-yer-dues advice and experience and wish you All the Best in your new life, you EARNED it.

JW

 

[GretschWretch]

Jimmy, while I sympathize with your situation I cannot completely agree. It appears that all of the tensions you describe can be attributed to your making music your vocation instead of your avocation. You lost the option of being able to set it down or take it up as you choose. I was forced to go the second option because I simply never was good enough to be a full pro. But I am plenty good enough to play the music I want to play in the venues I want to play in. In retrospect, that freedom has been a blessing.

In NC you should be able to find many small venues that offer live folk/Americana music. Two friends from a former band have recently formed an all acoustic banjo/bass/guitar/fiddle quartet. They gig at a local pizzaria on alternate Thursday nights for $50 per man plus tips. Many would turn up their noses at this level of compensation, but my friends play, seated, two one hour sets, the venue provides the chairs and the PA; there really is almost no load in, set up, tear down, and load out at all.

They are done by 8:00 pm, and the best part is that the longest commute for any of them is 30 minutes. There have to be situations like this in NC.

But if you are determined to retire, I will give you the same advice I give all my friends who are retiring: if time starts hanging heavy on your hands, a bass player can always find work.

 

[Bullitt5135]

Congrats. I recently “retired” from the grind of running sound for a wedding band myself. It was mostly fun while it lasted, but the burnout is definitely real. Not having the gig calendar constantly hanging over my head has been pretty liberating. Lately I’ve spent more money on golf than music gear, and I’ve actually been getting out to enjoy the local music scene and spend more time with friends.

The longer I’ve played in bands, the more respect I have for the dedication it takes to do it full-time. “Hanging on by a thread” is a pretty accurate description of a lot of the pro and semi-pro musicians I know. It’s truly a labor of love — for many of them, it’s not just what they do, it’s who they are. Even the guys who seem to have it all figured out are always hustling.

Hats off to you for such a long career.

All the best to you, Jimmy. You’re a legend on TB, and I’ve always appreciated your insight.