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Motivation: Why do we do it?

#41
friskinator said:
Are any of you in the position of doing it strictly for a paycheck and not for the love of it? Sadly, that's where I've found myself in recent years. The passion faded a long time ago, and even though I still occasionally play gigs, they're only for the purpose of making some supplemental income. I often dread the process and can't wait for it to be over. I never touch my bass unless I need to prepare for a gig.
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Yeah for sure but (for me) it depends on the gig. If I'm hired to do some music that I don't care for, or to work with a dbag singer/songwriter that has more money than talent, then I'm absolutely only doing it for the scratch. Hell, I even feel that way sometimes when I'm working with my main acts which pay my bills - it depends on the day/week/month I've had and that I see coming up for me.

That said, I have a feeling that you still enjoy playing more than you're letting on. I mean, it's one thing to just not play but why even frequent a forum like this if you're truly not enjoying bass guitar at all?
 
#42
tb-player said:
Most players here have been paid to play. There's never anything wrong with receiving compensation for our hard work. But is that the only reason we play?
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Obviously the motivation to play music comes from our love of music. The motivation to play in public is to share that love with others, which comes back to us. The motivation to play professionally is different. Making a business of our love is a complicated, often difficult endeavor.

In your question I hear the implication, "why worry about the money?" But that's coming from a non-business perspective, as if it's 'just a hobby' for all of us. When I'm out on the stand helping another business make a profit, I expect the see a proportionate piece of that profit, and I don't think anyone need defend that. I also recognize that I'm part of a community of businesses providing this kind of service, and it's important that the market recognize the value of our labor so that we can continue to provide it, for us and for them. That's why we work to hold the line on pay, and if that seems like worrying too much about filthy lucre, I'm sorry.
 
#44
Victor Wooten says it best: Basically, everyone wants to be a musician but only those special and dedicated few among us actually do it.

As for why I play music, bass specifically... I've always been kinda socially awkward, but playing music and being on stage gives me a voice. It gives me a confidence and a presence I don't have anywhere else. It's been easier for me to socialize and make friends at shows than most anywhere else. When I'm playing my bass or performing on stage, I don't twitch, fidget, stumble on my words or pause awkwardly like I might do if having a face to face conversation with you.

When I retired from gigging/touring in 2015 and didn't touch my bass for 2 years, something felt missing from my life and I couldn't tell what it was. Then a dude in my bicycling club convinced me to jam with him and potentially play on some of his projects. I'm glad I did, because when I picked up my bass again, I realized that THAT was the missing piece in my life.
 
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#45
There are as many varied answers as there are bassists.

Playing live with competent musicians is kind of like a drug for me. In addition to that...
​
-I gig with my main band for a combination of the $ and enjoyment of the music (classic country and rock).
-I play on Sunday as an act of service and I enjoy the way gospel is slowly breaking me out of my usual music patterns.
 
#46
Bruiser Stone said:
When did it transform from passion to a service?
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Probably sometime within the last few years. I've been playing gigs since I was 15 (I'm 45 now), and I was in an original band that had some regional success (along with a major label deal) at at early age. Like most other original acts, we didn't get to the next level, and I started playing covers soon after for fun and money. It was good for awhile, but it became repetitious and uninspiring.

I don't have any desire to play originals again. Too much time and money invested for little reward, and I don't have any interest in writing songs or creativity. That's best left for the ones who are still passionate. To be honest, I don't even listen to music for pleasure anymore. Maybe once in awhile at the gym to get my energy flowing, but aside from that, never.

Why am I still on TalkBass? Great question! I still enjoy reading about gear, and it's sometimes interesting to hear about band management situations that people are currently going through. But overall, I came to the conclusion awhile back that I've lost the patience for looking for bands/dealing with band members/playing gigs/learning tunes/staying up late/etc. It just feels like it's not worth it anymore. Maybe I've grown out of it, and that's OK.
 
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#47
1. I love music and being able to just listen to music isn't enough.
2. I like being able to pull a show or a song off and watch people enjoy it
3. The camaraderie
4. Keeps me engaged and active socially and physically
5. It gets me out of the house on a regular basis
6. It's therapeutic, mostly
 
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#52
friskinator said:
Are any of you in the position of doing it strictly for a paycheck and not for the love of it? Sadly, that's where I've found myself in recent years. The passion faded a long time ago, and even though I still occasionally play gigs, they're only for the purpose of making some supplemental income.
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I don't know your situation at all. But the first thing I thought of is there are a lot of worse ways to make that extra income.

But if you dread it that much, maybe consider some other options. I just have a hard time imagining that gigs are that despicable to you, just my feelings on it. Is it just the process, or the particular musicians, or the genre of music? Just curious.
 
#53
For me, it's fun. I don't really care if I get paid, because the pay isn't that great. I also don't want to be used, so I won't do free gigs in bars unless there are unique circumstances. Even for non-profits, I check their financials. Oh sure, you want free entertainment but the CEO is making $500k. Nope.
 
#54
I started playing bass just for the though of it being cool and maybe pickup a few chicks while at it.
BUT after all these years I just enjoy playing and using the talent and gift was I given.
Of course making money helps but it isn't the main reason now.
 
#56
Dincrest said:
As for why I play music, bass specifically... I've always been kinda socially awkward, but playing music and being on stage gives me a voice. It gives me a confidence and a presence I don't have anywhere else. It's been easier for me to socialize and make friends at shows than most anywhere else. When I'm playing my bass or performing on stage, I don't twitch, fidget, stumble on my words or pause awkwardly like I might do if having a face to face conversation with you.
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Same here. I definitely have social anxiety issues - I'm pretty quiet outside my comfort zone, but for some reason music has become part of that comfort zone. I feel free to express myself using one of my life passions. That's pretty much what any art does - serves as a vehicle for self expression. Getting paid for it sometimes is just gravy.
 
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#57
friskinator said:
Probably sometime within the last few years. I've been playing gigs since I was 15 (I'm 45 now), and I was in an original band that had some regional success (along with a major label deal) at at early age. Like most other original acts, we didn't get to the next level, and I started playing covers soon after for fun and money. It was good for awhile, but it became repetitious and uninspiring.

I don't have any desire to play originals again. Too much time and money invested for little reward, and I don't have any interest in writing songs or creativity. That's best left for the ones who are still passionate. To be honest, I don't even listen to music for pleasure anymore. Maybe once in awhile at the gym to get my energy flowing, but aside from that, never.

Why am I still on TalkBass? Great question! I still enjoy reading about gear, and it's sometimes interesting to hear about band management situations that people are currently going through. But overall, I came to the conclusion awhile back that I've lost the patience for looking for bands/dealing with band members/playing gigs/learning tunes/staying up late/etc. It just feels like it's not worth it anymore. Maybe I've grown out of it, and that's OK.
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Thank you for your candid response. I think I can understand how that happens.
 
#58
Volker Kirstein said:
These days any joker with a phone/hd cam can be a pornographer
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in the old days: i made some good money at writing and playing (and recording) tracks for 'feature-length' porn movies. it made for 'interesting' "motivation." :D


per the OP: i grew up in a family of artist/musician types --- music was always magical to me in terms of its effect on people. it still is. "motivations" throughout my experience have included:
- money
- recognition
- fraternization/relationships
- chicks
- giving/charity
- creating
- fun
 
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#59
tb-player said:
why do you do what you do? What's your motivation for all the stuff that goes into playing bass?
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I've been learning to play music since I was eight years old, so the time I spend with my instrument is just something that, by now (I'm in my mid-thirties), feels like a part of me. There isn't really anything specific that motivates me, at least not consciously. There are times when I enjoy the sheer energy of playing with others, there are rainy Sunday afternoons when I find just moving my fingers up and down the fretboard soothing, and there are all those times in between.
 
#60
I play because I enjoy it and I make money. I would still play if I didn't make money but I refuse to do the typical 3 set per night for $100 bar gig. I will play benefits for free if it's for a good cause. I do music for several television shows. I enjoy the challenge because I never know what I'm going to be asked to play. Sometimes, we write on the fly or sometimes I have to come up with a bass line for something which is already written but I have never heard prior to arriving at the studio. The last band I was in played casinos and festivals. Usually a 60 to 90 set for at least $2,000 for the band, plus meals.
 

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