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Poll | How many TBers don't actively play bass?
- Thread starter tb-player
- Start date
Guilty as charged!!!!!!!!!
At age 72, my time spent bass playing is waning.
But bass is my #1 interest in life (outside of God, wife and family)
At age 72, my time spent bass playing is waning.
But bass is my #1 interest in life (outside of God, wife and family)
I'm currently in three bands (EB and DB). One is actually about gigs and money (and never rehearses... it's standards), the other two amount to weekly-regularly-scheduled social events that rarely take gigs and only if it seems it would be fun (one's mostly jazz, one's mostly classic rock-ish). I was serious and full-time (road-band that traveled continuously) for a decade+ a while back. I've had a few high-points, but the greatest long-term success has been that I still have a broad network of musician-type friends to stay busy (and having good times) with.
I am a multi-instrumentalist and I am serious about it. I think I am more of a composer at this point. Publicly -- I am a community musician, whether that's jamming, helping on musical projects or just a mid-pack gig fodder. The other day I had to play drums. Nothing complicated. Bandmates were happy. My internally my fulfillment is doing music I like.
I always play my bass. Bang for the sweat - bowing the Upright bass means musical muscles for electric bass and guitar are covered. I do not really have to practice guitar or electric bass.
There seems to be a unwritten quantitative expectation in TB that you are only worthy if you gig a lot.
I always play my bass. Bang for the sweat - bowing the Upright bass means musical muscles for electric bass and guitar are covered. I do not really have to practice guitar or electric bass.
There seems to be a unwritten quantitative expectation in TB that you are only worthy if you gig a lot.
The last time I played live was about 1986. After that, real life got in the way. A very small first house, a loving wife and our first pregnancy. I had to sell my bass gear to make room and go out into the real world and work. Gone are the days of gigging and holding a job down because something much more important is happening to me. Concentrate on bread winning instead.
25 years later I bought a bass again. No amp. 4 years after, I came on here and got struck by the modding bug. Have bought 6 more cheap basses and modded them. It's like a hobby to me. I just bedroom noodle now but love every moment. Family still together, daughter is a mean guitar playa, not much money but I love life and the basses
25 years later I bought a bass again. No amp. 4 years after, I came on here and got struck by the modding bug. Have bought 6 more cheap basses and modded them. It's like a hobby to me. I just bedroom noodle now but love every moment. Family still together, daughter is a mean guitar playa, not much money but I love life and the basses
I am also gigging regularly. Up here in the White Mountains of Arizona it a bit seasonal. All of my favorite outdoor venues are closed from late October to April. Some indoor places close during the winter as well but there are still enough to keep our chops up.
Purely into writing and recording for quite a while now. Not really interested in ever gigging again.
I started gigging in 1997 and I gigged pretty much every week from 1999-Covid. I stopped gigging because there's so few venues to play in my area now that the ones open now are really bad pay to play type situations. As in who plays what gigs isn't about being any good but rather who is willing to pay more. Still have all the bass gear I last gigged with but have focused more on recording since. I play bass up to 4 days a week. The other three I'm working 13 hour shifts at the hospital. If more venues open up I'd love to gig again but I'm not paying to play at clubs especially considering I see a lot musicians are much better off these days focusing on writing and social media than they are playing to the same audiences every weekend.
Every two to three weeks at church with 2 sets/services.
Fusion band on occasion, (when we have the time) Guitar, Drum Kit and Bass. Mix of fusion material and original.
3-5 Festivals per summer with Female singer/songwriter recording artist. Bass, Drums, electric guitarist, keys, and extra vocals. Tons of fun. Plenty of time in my basement rehearsal space woodshedding. All cool.
Wouldn`t mind some more local gigging opportunities, not interested in travel.
I checked gig casually although I don`t know that sums it up exactly.
Fusion band on occasion, (when we have the time) Guitar, Drum Kit and Bass. Mix of fusion material and original.
3-5 Festivals per summer with Female singer/songwriter recording artist. Bass, Drums, electric guitarist, keys, and extra vocals. Tons of fun. Plenty of time in my basement rehearsal space woodshedding. All cool.
Wouldn`t mind some more local gigging opportunities, not interested in travel.
I checked gig casually although I don`t know that sums it up exactly.
I voted gigging but I don't gig. I'm more than a casual weekend warrior. I work on music every day using all my tools, bass included.
My formerly gigging band is writing new material and we're making videos to go along with the new music.
I suppose that's a type of gig - but not one where I trade 8 hours on a Friday night to make $150 down at Dino's bar and grille.
My formerly gigging band is writing new material and we're making videos to go along with the new music.
I suppose that's a type of gig - but not one where I trade 8 hours on a Friday night to make $150 down at Dino's bar and grille.
I quit playing out about ten years ago, after living a great part of my life eating, sleeping obsessing, and being single-mindedly smitten with basses and playing.
The music I love(d) is now an oldies act for us AARP members, I have very little sympatico for today's music. The musical ecosystem I inhabited has gone the wind.
So a new generation and a new musical world is here in that I simply don't belong in, and that's how it ought to be.
I don't miss the bars or many of the massively-wrong egos I often had to play with.
I do play my old music at home when the notion strikes me. I do have a lot of experience, so I post here in TalkBass talking about the things I did and learned so maybe someone else can miss the speed bumps I often turned into ski jumps.
The music I love(d) is now an oldies act for us AARP members, I have very little sympatico for today's music. The musical ecosystem I inhabited has gone the wind.
So a new generation and a new musical world is here in that I simply don't belong in, and that's how it ought to be.
I don't miss the bars or many of the massively-wrong egos I often had to play with.
I do play my old music at home when the notion strikes me. I do have a lot of experience, so I post here in TalkBass talking about the things I did and learned so maybe someone else can miss the speed bumps I often turned into ski jumps.
Oh I'll NEVER sell any of the gear pending dire financial need!!
I've always had a simple rig for playing out unless it was an extended stay in which case more equipment made it to the venue, but I pretty much got it down to a single hand truck with pneumatic tires and a strap... it makes for a quick load in and load out, besides... drummers needs all the help they can get.
I also make sure the divas don't just walk out of the venue empty handed. But those are stories for another day.
I play only a handful of gigs per year, and they're relatively low-key shows through an adult band camp, but it's a blast. In fact, this past Thursday's show was one of the most fun sets I've ever played. This fits into my life much better than some earlier bands, particularly original bands, that involved lots of work, hustling for gigs, not making money, etc. I played out more frequently, but it was also more of a hassle, and we often played to very small audiences.
Even though I view myself as a bassist, when I don't have an active project on bass, I'm more likely to play guitar on my own time.
Even though I view myself as a bassist, when I don't have an active project on bass, I'm more likely to play guitar on my own time.
Still active but it is imposing a cost in other ways. My abilities have never been better. Enduring, and wanting to endure gigs (and all that a particular venue has in store) is the question now popping up.
I like performing with a live band tho' I've become quite studio-musician in my attitude. Meaning, I like making music in the moment but, the adulation of drunks, load-ins & outs, and overall business and argle-bargle of dealing with strangers to get to, and away from the stage has become tiresome.
Look for a thread about this soon.
Nothing wrong with drunks. I spent a good portion of my time out of my face on beer while gigging (Dutch Courage for the crowd otherwise I would have messed myself). You may think you are playing your best but they kept coming back,and that nailed it. Things were different then, now everyone has to be wholemeal. Not sayin' thats bad, but it ain't rock an roll.
I'm not inebriated when I play live. Compensation is too good. It's a physically enduring proposition at my age. Enduring everything a bar gig, some wedding and even civic gigs produce that has its effect on one's mentality, physicality, desire, and my TIME to perform in that environment. In my 60's and 30+ shows a year, no matter how well they're paying, is still demanding. Just considering eventual retirement from live playing.
I'm sorry but that's a bit sad.
Ms "forces" you to stop doing something you like in order to be happy herself?
I am by zero means any Prince Charming, my wife hates me at times but at least she's happy for me that I can do everything I like to do (guitar, bass, pinball and cars).
You should be playing man…
At least enjoying yourself a bit.
