Sometimes I get so discouraged...

Take a break, lock your gear in a closet. But don't sell. You'll just have to replace it. Most people with music in them come back sooner or later.

 

My thoughts exactly. Play at home alone, and learn new stuff, for instance, slapping really well. Knowing all your scales and how to use em and stuff. But nothing wrong with taking a break from it all, BUT DONT sell your stuff, you will return trust me.

 

+1. It is almost a certainty that you will regret selling. As others have said, take a break, even a non music one. Hopefully you will come back refreshed and ready to rock again.

 

I felt like that recently. I told my wife I was going to sell my gear and quit music. She said "Don't you dare".

 

I've felt the same way MANY times over the years and have done the not so smart move of selling off my gear. . .

Only to scramble to buy more gear again in the future, and, at times, regretting selling the gear I did because I couldn't replace it and had to buy something different.

Just take a break. Work on your chops, theory, technique. Learn some songs for fun, enjoy yourself playing music. Unfortunately, bands can be tiring and stressful (I just went through that. The "power struggle" thing you mentioned). But when it does work, it's great! It's hit or miss till it works out.

Best of luck!

 

Hand pick ppl form your own band slowly keep out the problematic ones unless their name starts with jac ends with o.

 

I feel like that all the time. I often get frustrated and think "my band will never make it, whats the point?!" I play for myself. Its a hobby. If I'm in a group, cool. If we cut a record, better. If we get some recognition, sweet. But I'm fine spending $1000s on bass gear just to noodle around in my room. Its what makes me happy.

 

What's your age ncapone?

For musicians this roughly goes:

25 and below: Musicians are erratic and don't seem to stick to their word.
25-35: Everyone seems to have a fcken different opinion from yours and insists on getting their way.
35-45: None of your musician friends have time for a band. Besides the occasional jams there's nothing going on.
45 plus: This is the good life. Musicians can afford their own stuff!

 

Lol but true.

 

Do you have some really good friends you know that also play music? Maybe just jam with them every once in a while and if that becomes a band, cool, if not, you still get to play music with some buddies and hang out... every probably wants to quit at some time, I think I've even heard that Jaco regretted getting into music, but you should really just have fun with it. Its not about becoming a rock star, its about playing music because thats what you love to do, or even if its just a side hobby and you enjoy doing it.

 

I almost quit and sold my gear. After I made the decision to quit, I got a huge break and it changed my music career for good.

Stick with it.

 

Sounds like you need to make better choices. BEFORE you join a band make an honest assessment of the situation. If there is too much drama, dunks, drugs, politics, just pass. In most cases it doesn't matter how good everybody is; if there is too much drama, it's going to fold.