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Losing Interest

#41
So far I've built a bass from parts, Relined a case, learned another set of tunes, started reprogramming light shows...

If this doesn't end soon my wife is going to think I'm actually more than a dust cover for the couch.
 
#43
Killed_by_Death said:
My target is still the same, playing for my own amusement.
I'm also a recluse by nature, so staying at home is my thing!

I thought that Skid Row wrote this song about me:

Click to expand...

I agree! I'm a virtual recluse anyway. Staying home, no prob!! Already got a new original song underway! I would say plenty of time to practice, but now the kid's home all the time, and just heard moments ago the wife has been reduced to part time at work.
 
#44
I hear this loud and clear. As a 5 night a week gigging bass player in NYC, this downtime has completely changed daily life. It’s easy to get depressed and uninterested but we must use this downtime to practice, promote, work on websites, learn new instruments, new tunes, make new important connections online, try and book some work for the fall I hope! Right now I’m working on a multitrack recording playing bass, keys, drums, guitar and singing. Remember, necessity is the mother of invention!!
 
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#46
mikeluch said:
So due the the Covid -19 situation, all our gigs have been cancelled, particularly at a busy time here in FL for festivals etc.
I understand this is a necessary move and I am not the only one feeling the effects.
My point is that I have happily spent many hours practicing material and rehearsing with the band, and always looked forward to working on new songs.
I know it should be an opportunity to practice more as there is much empty time now that clubs, bars, restaurants and gathering are closed, but I am finding difficult to get motivated as the targets have been removed.
Wondering if others feel the same way or I am just nuts!
Click to expand...

You are not nuts. The rug has been swept out from under us, at least for the time being. It’s devastating. Playing music is a communal thing. Not knowing when we’ll be able to do that again is miserable. Whether or not it is also a source of income. However, as someone else mentioned, it’s not only a good time to be in the shed, it’s also a good time to think about writing and recording. Most song writing happens when one is alone, or a good part of it. Sure, it usually morphs once other people get involved, as it should. But now is a good time to take advantage of extra free time, if you have it. But don’t beat yourself up if you are not shedding the modes of melodic minor or nailing Portrait of Tracy. We all just took a serious gut punch. Making music might have to take a back seat to some other more fundamental human needs right now. (Though it’s also true that we need music more than ever).
 
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#48
Since I get the privilege of being the "sound guy" for my group, I've taken the downtime to converting us off of our trusty, old analogue sound system and standing up a Midas MR-18 with full compliment of IEMs and everything through FOH. It's a brave, new world for most of the band members.

Now that I have a ton of time to dive deeply into all of it, I can get it all stage-ready for the first opportunity (once the end-of-the-world comes or I get out of the bunker that is my studio). Plenty there to do!

I understand the need to have a target to shoot for, but the truth is that time will come and exercising diligence will have you at another level when you come out the other side. There's always room to improve, whether it's playing or otherwise.
 
#49
We've been working on a gig for a friend's birthday the past month or so, only to find out the club owners have canceled. It's been a lot of fun, though. It was going to be a sort of Last Waltz type of show. We've had 15-20 people come through to play on different songs. On the brightside, I learned a lot of new music, and got the opportunity to play with people I may not have had the chance to play with otherwise. It has been a pleasant experience, for the most part, and maybe we will only postpone the gig to a later date.
 
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#50
Hi,

I don't often post in this part of the forum but the few of you that know me know that I gig, A LOT. We've been known to work twelve to fifteen dates a month. I'm starting to get just a little stir crazy. ;)

I've been spending more time with my wife. She's pretty cool.

My daughter is coming home from university this weekend because it's been closed. We'll have lots of family game nights just like before she left.

I have a few books on my shelf that I haven't had time to read. Now perhaps I will.

I have some recording software and gear I can hook up to my newly built computer and get back into experimentation just for my own enjoyment.

I'll take a few (free) bass lessons online and practice with the built-in metronome in my Vox headphone amp.

I've got lots of material to learn for when we start gigging again. Shows for summer/fall are still being booked.

My daily routine hasn't changed much, still working full time, still exercising regularly, still enjoying good beer, etc.

I'm hoping and praying that we can start getting back to normal toward the end of May or first of June. In the meantime, keep calm and wash your hands. ;)


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
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#52
I'm not really losing interest is-so-much as I'm glad to take a break. We've been practicing or gigging nearly every week for the last 4 or 5 years. Some weeks we practice twice and then also have a gig. Since I'm the band leader/PA guy/Set up guy/social media and advertising guy/morale officer it's a lot of work. I do for the most part leave the selling to the other members of the band so I don't have to do that, just approve of the terms of the gigs.
 
#53
This really sucks and comes at a bad time for my lone current project that was just getting ready to play out.

I'm going to refocus on:
  1. fundamentals practice - 12 key scales and arpeggios all up and down the fingerboard. You can never do too much of this, and you can vary these exercises almost infinitely to avoid boredom.
  2. doing some arranging/writing/tracking. I've got a backlog of charts to update for the current project, and I've kind of let my composer side wither on the vine. Maybe I'll dust off some half-finished songs and finish them/track them for demos.
Walking away from music has never been an option for me; it's too integral to who I am. I spent 20 years raising a family with very little playing out, but I never stopped being a musician (even if that meant playing with the youth handbell choir at church).
 
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#54
mikeluch said:
So due the the Covid -19 situation, all our gigs have been cancelled, particularly at a busy time here in FL for festivals etc.
I understand this is a necessary move and I am not the only one feeling the effects.
My point is that I have happily spent many hours practicing material and rehearsing with the band, and always looked forward to working on new songs.
I know it should be an opportunity to practice more as there is much empty time now that clubs, bars, restaurants and gathering are closed, but I am finding difficult to get motivated as the targets have been removed.
Wondering if others feel the same way or I am just nuts!
Click to expand...

suggestion: start writing and recording originals..................
its not like you and I live in an area where there was a hotbed of musical excitement to begin with.......

my situation is different - i pretty much gigged for a living for decades: i slowly backed (and still slowly backing) away from the live part of my musical life several years ago, taking gigs here and there and less and less as time goes forward......i even changed careers

ive been getting a lot of personal and creative satisfaction just recording, often more than I get these days from gigging

maybe focus your attention that way for awhile until the crisis recedes
 
#55
I read a thread in Instruction on tuning in 5ths. Going to mess with that some.
Also practicing scales in positions I usually avoid.
I play fingerstyle 99% of the time, so going to focus on the plectrum.
General focus on technique, cleaner playing.

My cover band sent out a list of potential new songs. Already through that but learning a few others.

I still have a church gig, no pay but get to play with people. They are streaming the services so only the band will be there.

Also doing some overdue maintenance on a few basses at the bottom of the pile.
 
#57
mikeluch said:
So due the the Covid -19 situation, all our gigs have been cancelled, particularly at a busy time here in FL for festivals etc.
I understand this is a necessary move and I am not the only one feeling the effects.
My point is that I have happily spent many hours practicing material and rehearsing with the band, and always looked forward to working on new songs.
I know it should be an opportunity to practice more as there is much empty time now that clubs, bars, restaurants and gathering are closed, but I am finding difficult to get motivated as the targets have been removed.
Wondering if others feel the same way or I am just nuts!
Click to expand...
I feel exactly the same. I don't think you're nuts. We had a Euro tour in April that ended at big fest in London; all cancelled. I'm bummed and just don't have anything to play for. I'm sure I'll snap out of it. We do have album to finish writing, but we don't go into the studio until January, so no immediate boost to my motivation.
 
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#59
mikeluch said:
So due the the Covid -19 situation, all our gigs have been cancelled, particularly at a busy time here in FL for festivals etc.
I understand this is a necessary move and I am not the only one feeling the effects.
My point is that I have happily spent many hours practicing material and rehearsing with the band, and always looked forward to working on new songs.
I know it should be an opportunity to practice more as there is much empty time now that clubs, bars, restaurants and gathering are closed, but I am finding difficult to get motivated as the targets have been removed.
Wondering if others feel the same way or I am just nuts!
Click to expand...

Oh, Yeah! All our gigs Here in Central New York have been cancelled. Admit that I am much disappointed. I'm the oldest in the band; 67. So, my wife and I are taking the advice to limit/eliminate unnecessary social contact with others. For me that includes foregoing weekly basement band rehearsals. Younger guys still want to practice, but I've made a decision to protect myself and my wife. I don't see this situation getting better anytime soon in NY state, so am resigned to the likelihood of no band activities for many weeks...maybe 'till fall or beyond. Of course, this has put a damper on my enthusiasm...BIG TIME! But not getting into self-pity as a replacement for music. Am reinvigorating other activities that I CAN pursue. We're ok here, but so many others have to deal with much more serious challenges...loss of job, health issues....missing my music is nothing in comparison!
 
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#60
mikeluch said:
So due the the Covid -19 situation, all our gigs have been cancelled, particularly at a busy time here in FL for festivals etc.
I understand this is a necessary move and I am not the only one feeling the effects.
My point is that I have happily spent many hours practicing material and rehearsing with the band, and always looked forward to working on new songs.
I know it should be an opportunity to practice more as there is much empty time now that clubs, bars, restaurants and gathering are closed, but I am finding difficult to get motivated as the targets have been removed.
Wondering if others feel the same way or I am just nuts!
Click to expand...

Although my gigs are canceled, I still have a lot of recording work to do, and preparation is key. The nice thing about this quarantine is I finally have time to throughly think parts out, and or the time to review and correct. So I’m not board at all.
 

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