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I’m Retiring

#121
Bob_Ross said:
I retired almost two years ago ...and yet I think in these last six months I've had more gigs than I did in the previous two, three, maybe even five years!
The difference now is that, since I'm "retired" I don't have to take any/every gig that comes along...I can pick & choose and only accept the gigs that sound like fun. It's been absolutely liberating.

Yeah, don't stop playing music...but do stop working for a living. So long as your assets are in place, retirement is highly under-rated.
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When you say "retired" do you mean retired from your day job or retired from music?
 
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#122
Bob_Ross said:
I retired almost two years ago ...and yet I think in these last six months I've had more gigs than I did in the previous two, three, maybe even five years!
The difference now is that, since I'm "retired" I don't have to take any/every gig that comes along...I can pick & choose and only accept the gigs that sound like fun. It's been absolutely liberating.

Yeah, don't stop playing music...but do stop working for a living. So long as your assets are in place, retirement is highly under-rated.
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A point I have made many times on TB. If you don't depend on music for a living, you have options.
 
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#125
tris66 said:
Well, I assumed Rii would understand my weird sense of humor since it looks like his is far more advanced than mine. If his dog chases cars I can only assume he doesn't like the mailman, either. Better skip the snail mail invitations to the party that isn't happening. The party thing was a touch of a joke, too, but there is nothing wrong with a little celebration... not of the end, but what you've done so far. You are getting to choose when to step back unlike some of those guys on the drum forum who are falling apart from bashing on drums for decades.
Now you have all the time in the world to chase rings in snare drums and become crazy like a drummer... and a crazy cat lady to boot.
I think an Ampeg cat house to match your drums is in order. Pic is the best I could get free AI to do.
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Ooh! I would like one of them!
 
#126
tris66 said:
Retirement party when?
What band are you hiring?
I can't imagine a party filled with bass players....
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Sure you can!!!

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#128
Jimmy, congrats on retirement. I have the greatest respect for those who make, or have made, a living playing music. I know second-hand how difficult it is to be self-employed, and doing that in the music field only magnifies the difficulty. Of course the rewards can be tremendous... the personal satisfaction, if not the greenbacks! However there are of course frustrations, which seem to be proportional to the level of pay.

I'm lucky in that I live in a huge multi-metro area, which allows me to stay busy as weekend warrior. Mostly bar gigs so there isn't much glamour in it, but I get my $100 minimum, and more importantly, there's enough demand for bass players that I can easily avoid difficult personalities: if the band isn't fun, I will make myself unavailable when they call. I suppose the greatest trick I've learned after playing for half a century is managing the workload of numerous bands who play in various styles (outside of jazz). I'm also pleased with my ability to do short-notice subs if the music isn't too complex.

OTOH - I don't mean to diminish my abilities, but the bottom line is that I stay busy on weekends despite having terrible jazz chops, limited reading skill (Nashville numbers), practically zero vocal skill. So, I need to reemphasize the luck factor: I am definitely NOT qualified to be a full time pro. Again: greatest respect for you and others who have developed the hard and soft skills necessary to be a successful working pro.

P.S. Have fun with the cats! My ex-wife was a genuine crazy cat lady so I've had more than a lifetime's share, but I do miss them (a little bit).
 
#129
Gopherbassist said:
I'm in the exact opposite boat. I'm looking at middle age rushing up on me. My life kinda sucks. I have hated literally every job I've ever had. I'm looking at music and thinking "why haven't I ever made a go of this?"

If I venture out and don't make it, so what? That puts me in the same boat as 99.9% of everyone who has ever tried to have a job in entertainment.

If I get in to the grind and it turns out I hate it, well that leaves me right where I am now. What would I lose doing that?

And there's that teeny, tiny chance I could make a decent living and enjoy the work. It's more likely than winning the lottery, isn't it?
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well if you don't have anybody you have to support id say do it no question but if you have a family it makes it a little harder
 
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