Well... I finally tendered my resignation to the band. I had been weighing the decision for a while now and since we started getting even more popular and getting more and more offers to play, I just had to step aside and let them find someone who could be more available than I am.
Having kids, a wife getting back into a career and a busy job on my own, I just don't have the time to give anymore. Those weekends are getting to be precious and I was usually the one declining shows. I want them to be successful and I just don't have the love for it that they do. I enjoyed my time, but it became more of a hassle than something of enjoyment. I always felt that I could be better spending my time at home with my kids or wife after not seeing them all week due to work and their schedules.
So, I officially told them last night and it went about how I expected, two guys were understanding and wished me luck and the drummer (my best friend since 3rd grade) was supportive but more frustrated, which I knew would happen since he is the main promoter and guy that handles all the booking. He is also the one who would play 2 shows a night 7 nights a week and doesn't really have anything else in his life to keep him from doing so (grown kid, wife who'll tag along with him, work from home job, etc). They will be better off in the long run, even though I was a lead singing bass player, the rhythm guitar play sang half the songs and can do them all... there are plenty of better bassists than myself around the area and honestly due to my singing and playing, they will sound better with a dedicated bass player.
Just felt like sharing, it's a weird feeling not being in a band going forward, I have played with them the entire time I played bass. I actually started playing bass to help them out when their last guy left 4 years ago. I know I will still play at home, I enjoy playing a lot things outside of the genre we played live and I still play my guitar regularly too. I'll keep my chops up just incase I am needed for a sub sometime down the road.
Having kids, a wife getting back into a career and a busy job on my own, I just don't have the time to give anymore. Those weekends are getting to be precious and I was usually the one declining shows. I want them to be successful and I just don't have the love for it that they do. I enjoyed my time, but it became more of a hassle than something of enjoyment. I always felt that I could be better spending my time at home with my kids or wife after not seeing them all week due to work and their schedules.
So, I officially told them last night and it went about how I expected, two guys were understanding and wished me luck and the drummer (my best friend since 3rd grade) was supportive but more frustrated, which I knew would happen since he is the main promoter and guy that handles all the booking. He is also the one who would play 2 shows a night 7 nights a week and doesn't really have anything else in his life to keep him from doing so (grown kid, wife who'll tag along with him, work from home job, etc). They will be better off in the long run, even though I was a lead singing bass player, the rhythm guitar play sang half the songs and can do them all... there are plenty of better bassists than myself around the area and honestly due to my singing and playing, they will sound better with a dedicated bass player.
Just felt like sharing, it's a weird feeling not being in a band going forward, I have played with them the entire time I played bass. I actually started playing bass to help them out when their last guy left 4 years ago. I know I will still play at home, I enjoy playing a lot things outside of the genre we played live and I still play my guitar regularly too. I'll keep my chops up just incase I am needed for a sub sometime down the road.
