Double Bass I gave up all my gigs.

[Rickett Customs]

Believe it or not Phil, seems like a good time for family. My gig time has only cut back slightly, however, I get more out of spending time with my son and wife, than I do gigs these days, especially since my son is 19months....

 

[damonsmith]

Breaks are nice, I didn't play out for a month last year and it was awesome. I prepared for a bit of downtime with my move to Houston, but my playing schedule has been full, but not overly full.
I love pulling back and just working on the music and enjoying life.

 

[Treyzer]

Aloha Phil,

Just read this whole thread; great insight and great stories from everyone.

It is almost a certainty that you won't regret your decision to stay home more. When our 1st boy Taylor was born, I had been touring probably 15 years or so. Turned out very quickly that I just couldn't stand to be gone on the road. I couldn't stand to miss watching and participating in his young life. Although it took me a few years to get off the road completely, it was the best decision I've ever made.
It completely changed our lifestyle and how I made a living but I've got no regrets.

Both of my boys are young men now and we have many stories to tell and lots of wonderful shared and treasured memories.

As for music, I ended up playing lots more of the music I loved and very little music just for the money. I also ended up concentrating on double bass which has also been a great blessing.

Wishing you all the best man.

T

 

[MR PC]

Yeah man, I heard this the other day.........."Don't live your life like you have a spare one in the trunk. This ain't no dress rehearsal, this is it".

Or something like that. Probably cliche'. Still, it rang true in the moment.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Right on, Phil. Your kid's only going to be this age once. I did something similar this year in blocking off all events on Tuesday and Thursday evenings so that I can spend those nights with my family. Best thing I've done in a long time.

 

[buddyro57]

The same thing is happening to me, its a long gradual process; the culmination of

1. The economy
2. My Carpal Tunnel
3. Me, being so old and grouchy on gigs that hardly anyone wants to be on a gig with me

However, since I have a "real job", I no longer have to take anything that rolls down the pike and it is liberating. I no longer:

1. Take bull---t gigs for no money
2. Tolerate surly country club managers who have 1/4 the education that I have- I tell them straight out that I would be perfectly happy to pack up and go home, and in fact would glady give up the paltry pay I am getting just for the simple pleasure of doing so.

Now I only take the gigs I want, and I am perfectly happy doing that. So, yes, there is music and freedom beyond the gigging years.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I can dig the need for a break, but I'm fortunate to have gigs that I enjoy and I'm just plain addicted to playing regularly, not to mention the money. With your full time day gig and youngster, Phil, I certainly understand what you are doing and commend you on setting priorities.

 

[arnoldschnitzer]

Taking a break from something you've done your entire adult life, and that you're good at, is both terrifying and liberating. I gave up gigging about ten years ago. For me there were three reasons: 1) I became a musician/composer/arranger as an outlet for creativity, but the gigs I had evolved into were not creative, but simply aural wallpaper for cocktails or socializing, and therefore frustrating and unrewarding. 2) I needed to sleep better and be more healthy--late nights were not conducive to feeling well or being able to work hard the next day (or be sociable with wife, kids, friends, etc). 3) My repair practice was thriving, yet I often found myself competing with my own clients for gigs, and that just felt wrong. I really enjoyed getting a few of my repair clients hooked-up for gigs when I quit.

The obvious question is: "Do I miss it?". The answer is; you bet your ass I miss the good stuff. The crappy gigs, the late nights, the smoke-breathing, the self-important ********; I don't miss them one bit.

Good luck, Phil. Metamorphosis is a wonderful thing.

 

[Marc Piane]

Word. Good luck Toadie.

 

[Michael Case]

Yeah I cut down on gigging in the past year and a half. When I left NYC and moved to Utah, the first thing I did was get crappy bar band gigs to survive. I got a job and saw I was unhappy playing the gigs I was playing and just ended it. I even stopped practicing for a while. I wanted more time with my wife and my Zen practice. I now take gigs that I want to play and enjoy playing again.

Good luck Toad!

 

[Paul Warburton]

I think you've made a good decision, Phil.
I used to have to do like some of the other guys......take every gig that came along for the bread. Now, it's only for the music. Just to test my decision, a couple weeks back I took a gig with some, uh.....some questionable players just because of the cash. No amount of bread is worth the crap that was happening in a three hour span.
I wish the best for you and the family.

 

[wes b]

I gigged w/ the same band for 12 years and then quit cold turkey. I needed a break and it felt great.

I took a year off and made a CD, and auditioned other projects at the same time.

I finally rejoined a group a year ago. I was looking for a group that was "solid", played music I liked, and only gigged 2X per month.

Sometimes we need to take time off and re-evaluate.

 

[Treyzer]

I used to have to do like some of the other guys......take every gig that came along for the bread. Now, it's only for the music.........I took a gig with some, uh.....some questionable players just because of the cash. No amount of bread is worth the crap that was happening in a three hour span.

Paul, you have a way with words!
+1 on that riff

 

[Don Higdon]

I prefer ballads over uptempo stuff, especially trying to play DB with my singing. It's a lot harder to do good DB playing on the front side of time in standards and stay singing on the back side than it was to play and sing rock tunes on the Electric Bass.

Whole nuther skill set.

 

[Uncletoad]

I spoke to a guitarist from one of the gigs I split from the other day. He was lamenting at how it was starting to sound like crap and the tempos were all over the place. Too loud, loosing it's dynamics. He said they don't have focus and he's having a hard time soloing.

He said "You are a very generous player. You make everyone on the gig sound better without ever drawing attention to yourself."

Nice compliment for an unemployed musician. One of the better ones I've gotten.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

I spoke to a guitarist from one of the gigs I split from the other day. He was lamenting at how it was starting to sound like crap and the tempos were all over the place. Too loud, loosing it's dynamics. He said they don't have focus and he's having a hard time soloing.

He said "You are a very generous player. You make everyone on the gig sound better without ever drawing attention to yourself."

Nice compliment for an unemployed musician. One of the better ones I've gotten.

What a nice thing to say! See, guitar players aren't all morons...

 

[Damon Rondeau]

He wants ya back, Unc. This is your moment of maximum leverage.

(But it sure is a damn nice compliment.)

 

[pbd]

you are not the first player to do this, taking a break can a very good thing and often bring you back a stronger player and better person

you only get your family once, don't miss it!

Todd

 

[Marc Piane]

I spoke to a guitarist from one of the gigs I split from the other day. He was lamenting at how it was starting to sound like crap and the tempos were all over the place. Too loud, loosing it's dynamics. He said they don't have focus and he's having a hard time soloing.

He said "You are a very generous player. You make everyone on the gig sound better without ever drawing attention to yourself."

Nice compliment for an unemployed musician. One of the better ones I've gotten.

Nice. That's one of my favorite compliments. I had someone in the audience once tell me "Man, I love your playing. You only play what's necessary to make the music feel good". I almost kissed him... too bad he wasn't a hot chick.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I spoke to a guitarist from one of the gigs I split from the other day. He was lamenting at how it was starting to sound like crap and the tempos were all over the place. Too loud, loosing it's dynamics. He said they don't have focus and he's having a hard time soloing.

He said "You are a very generous player. You make everyone on the gig sound better without ever drawing attention to yourself."

Nice compliment for an unemployed musician. One of the better ones I've gotten.

Very nice. The only compliments I like better are from audience members when they remark, "Band _____X is still good, but they sound a lot better when you're playing with them".

Sounds like you are finally getting appreciated, although a bit late. Abscess makes the fart go "Honda", dunnit?