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Lost My Jones

#21
It's a long game. No reason not to take a minute off if you aren't feeling it. I've done that a few times in the last 30 years, mostly when my life obligations just didn't leave room for a gig schedule. The biggest issue to overcome was that my contact list got stale.

Maybe you'll come back to it. Maybe you won't. Either way, you'll probably have your head clear.
 
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#23
I'll jones enough for the both of us. I don't like most aspects of gigging other than the actually being on stage playing music part. But the feeling of sharing musical energy with an audience is something I cannot replace with anything else in my life.

My gig schedule is light these days (one or two a month) but it's enough to keep me feeling like my life as a wage slave is worth a damn.
 
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#24
You know when i was first starting out as a starry eyed guy in my first band I thought it could never get old. What you find from experience is it is a lot of work and sometimes it just doesnt all seem worth the effort.
Sure would be nice if it was 1987 again...
FOT9E98.jpg
 
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#25
Texan said:
I'm in the same hiatus mode. I don't miss it.

I have found that I enjoy just jamming with friends, with no aspirations of a functional band is incredibly fun. Kind of like it was in high school.
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Same for me. Plus the odd sub-in gig. I'm playing pedal steel wth my jammin' band, so developing my skill on that instrument at the same time. I do kind of cringe when they book a "gig" though. By "gig", I mean haul our equipment to a venue, play an opening set for a friend's band, have a couple of beers, go home with less money in my pocket than I arrived with.
 
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#27
Recently I have done front of house for three bands who have celebrated (??) forty years together. Hotel California (Eagles tribute)Blushing Brides (Stones), and The White (Led Zep). While they were excellent, and put on a great show, I could not help but wonder- 40 years- the same set list.....Would I go crazy. Yup. Gotta keep moving forward, but does that mean I should drop 'Willin' from my list. I still love that song. Hmmm...
 
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#31
Paulabass said:
Recently I have done front of house for three bands who have celebrated (??) forty years together. Hotel California (Eagles tribute)Blushing Brides (Stones), and The White (Led Zep). While they were excellent, and put on a great show, I could not help but wonder- 40 years- the same set list.....Would I go crazy. Yup. Gotta keep moving forward, but does that mean I should drop 'Willin' from my list. I still love that song. Hmmm...
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I was supposed to see the Brides this past weekend in Ottawa but I was sick! First time I saw those guys was around 1986. They were freaking loud! My friends reported that there were still as loud as they used to be.
 
#32
DirtDog said:
I was supposed to see the Brides this past weekend in Ottawa but I was sick! First time I saw those guys was around 1986. They were freaking loud! My friends reported that there were still as loud as they used to be.
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Both guitarist used Fender deluxes, and the bassist had a 2x10. Not too bad at all. As house tech, I don't put up with excess volume, and drop a plexi shield in front of any amp I deem too loud.
 
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#33
I walked away from a couple of lucrative gigs some 15 years ago because they took the fun and spiritual part of the music from me. The obligations were too demanding and the pay too low. I never had the luxury of accommodations that the OP listed but just the same - uncompensated servitude took a toll over a few years.

I quit but not for good. After a month off, I began looking for unusual projects to contribute to - some paid, some not - it didn't matter. Restoring the fun and spirit mattered. I learned a few new styles as a by-product which I want to believe made me a more well-rounded bassist. I've probably done this cycle 2-3 times.

When it begins to go sideways, my Spidey-sense takes notice and I keep on looking to see what's new and interesting. Recently, I've been doing more on-line collaboration with some folks that are songwriter/composer types and less of the load-in/setup/play/strike/load-out work. The goal for me is to keep playing. I still miss it whenever there's downtime; planned or unplanned. I'm not done playing yet.
 
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#35
DirtDog said:
I was supposed to see the Brides this past weekend in Ottawa but I was sick! First time I saw those guys was around 1986. They were freaking loud! My friends reported that there were still as loud as they used to be.
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I saw them a few years ago at the Brass Monkey. People were lined up out the door!

I was working at a downtown hotel in 1986 and the Blushing Brides stayed there. I think they played Barrymore’s.
 
#36
Bass Viking said:
I saw them a few years ago at the Brass Monkey. People were lined up out the door!

I was working at a downtown hotel in 1986 and the Blushing Brides stayed there. I think they played Barrymore’s.
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Yep - Barrymore's is where I saw them more than a few times in the mid to late '80s. Saw a lot acts there, actually. Always though that the Brides starting thier set with a recording of "Ride of the Valkyries" was pretty cool - in my 17-18 year old mind anyways.
 
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#37
THUNDERGODX said:
I recently left a band that had become a "no-fun obligation".
Even though it was a perfect situation in all but one aspect.
Massive PA, free equipment transportation, SOTA lights, a complete studio to practice in.
Talented, dedicated players.
Bleeding edge technology.
Hard to believe someone would be dissatisfied with that.

So- Without going into the reasons, which are stated in a different post on here, Im feeling surprised that, understandably, I not only dont miss the last band, but I also am not missing playing in general.

I have had spells of downtime before, but I would still have that "I'll be back" feeling in the back of my mind.

This time, Im not missing it. I havent picked up a bass since last August, the day of the fatal "missed the showtime" gig. 6 months. This after having been involved for over 50 years.

Now, when I come home on Friday evening, I think to myself, "Man, I'm glad i dont have to bounce back out in a big rush to set up, play material I dont even like, and then drive through the middle of the night to get back."

Maybe I'm done.
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Unfortunately, what you have is contagious. Caught it years ago when I was a fulltime musician.
Generally, people that continue this road do very little else, because 10pm to 2, and 8am to 5 lifestyles clash,
and one of them must eventually go or suffer.

10 to 2 lifestyle sucks as much as it is satisfying. 8 to 5 sucks as well but has consistent salary and benefits.
I do not miss the fulltime musician lifestyle at my age because I’ve been there, done that.
Besides, that’s a young man’s game unless that’s your only option.

The drummer I played with as a youngster is still fulltime and has done nothing else in life (not counting yardwork, busboy, etc.),
and he’s 10 years older than me, and I’m old.

Bluesman Clarence Gatemouth Brown once said, “I hate my job, but it’s one you can’t retire from”.
Long/Short, it’s nice to have other options, but unless you’re a special breed, it will get old, and I mean really old.

057912
 
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