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Thinking of hanging it up.

#62
I know this thread has been here for a long time, but in that time I have still been playing with the same band. Also another band as well, but I just feel like I don't want to play for awhile, I'm having zero fun. Has anyone gone through this before?
 
#63
Yeah, I'm going through some stuff now. Song choices, musicianship issues! It's bugging the hell outta me and I'm trying to hang in there but I'm so ready to bail! I don't want to hang it up just yet but I'll be keeping my eye out for other opportunities or I may just start a new band from the ground up!

I'm with you though!
 
#65
Twobass said:
I know this thread has been here for a long time, but in that time I have still been playing with the same band. Also another band as well, but I just feel like I don't want to play for awhile, I'm having zero fun. Has anyone gone through this before?
Click to expand...

Is it the bands and type of music you are playing the hang or are you just burnt out on playing and being in a band?

If its the band/music thing i have been there and left playing hard/classic rock for alt country, country and folk rock a few years back and love it since its my roots after all.

If you are burnt out over practice, band politics, late nights etc then take a break and see how you feel after awhile...charge the batteries so to speak. If you feel like going on after a break great if not time to move on.
 
#66
RexNFX79 said:
I got to that point several years ago and actually sold a lot of my gear. HUGE mistake. It only took a few months for me to really regret doing this. If I had it to do over, I would have just stepped away from playing in a band for a while until I got the urge again. I've also found that it's better to not play in a band that to play in one that you're not that into. This tends to lead to burnout and burnout for a band can sometimes be confused to burnout for the instrument. Get out of the band, step away for a while, and get into a band when you're sure it's something that you're into and really love. It's O.K. to be selective about what projects or bands you choose and if that means you go longer without playing with people, IMO, your better off. I hate to someone quit on something they love!
Click to expand...
I second that emotion. I've not played seriously for 2 or 3 years. In, fact, I've enjoyed practicing more lately...

But, I'm getting the itch to play again..

Take a break, if you don't rely on it financially.. but if you rely on it for money, you might be in the scenario where you need to separate your music from your cash flow in order to keep your love of music.
 
#67
Get yourself some recording gear...set up a home recording studio...and start making any kind of music that YOU enjoy. Have some of your friends(musicians) guest appear on your recodings. Re-make songs you like...write your own stuff...If your still into music... the possibilities are endless.
 
#68
Twobass said:
I've tried doing a search on this subject but I haven't found anything yet. The problem I have is I'm just not having any fun anymore, the cover band I'm in now thinks that 90's grunge is fun. Don't get me wrong I love listening that kind of music at home, but I hate playing it. I'm 40 and at this point in my life I want to enjoy playing, and I haven't enjoyed playing in years. It's getting to the point where I don't want to play anymore.

I just wanted to know if anyone else has gone through something like this, if so what did you do?
Click to expand...

erm.... find other people to play with? :bassist:
 
#69
bassbully said:
Is it the bands and type of music you are playing the hang or are you just burnt out on playing and being in a band?

If its the band/music thing i have been there and left playing hard/classic rock for alt country, country and folk rock a few years back and love it since its my roots after all.

If you are burnt out over practice, band politics, late nights etc then take a break and see how you feel after awhile...charge the batteries so to speak. If you feel like going on after a break great if not time to move on.
Click to expand...

Yes it is the type of music and I think that I'm burned out as well. All the band does is practice no shows lined up nothing, I like working towards a goal. I feel like I'm wasting my time just playing the same songs over and over, and I don't like the songs and I know other people wouldn't like them either. Like I said it's just not fun anymore.
 
#73
Go to a church with a really killing band, or go see some really killing Salsa music or go see a really killing Jazz group. Maybe dont rely on your own judgement either. Find out who the top guys in town are and ask them for live music recomendations. It sounds like you are a grown person who doesnt feel like they are playing music that challenges them. Nothing like getting your butt kicked to inspire you.
 
#75
I started playing about a year and half ago with the goal of playing in a church band. That's an admirable goal and I did it, but it turns out I enjoyed listening to the music more than I like playing it. After 7 months of weekly practices and Sunday services, I was really not enjoying it at all, and had even stopped playing during the week. I had to force myself to practice - and I felt trapped in the situation.

I left the band, and started learning to read music in bass lessons and some blues. It has totally changed the way I feel about playing bass. I don't even want to be in a band right now - treating the instrument and blues as an exercise in academics is fitting the bill just perfectly for now. Not sure when/if that will change - and I don't really care. I'm loving going home at night and playing my bass, even looking into some genres I had not considered before (country and folk). I remember now why I got into bass, and I'm good with where I am.

Think about it - but if you were drawn to the bass enough to start playing, you're probably just burnt on your current situation and not the bass. Think about what being a bass player means to you to enjoy it and make it happen.
 
#76
I go through phases where I don't like the music i'm playing. it's usually when i've had a long stretch of practicing, or recording, or playing gigs.

Since I know it's a temporary feeling, I try not to get caught up in it and play other music for awhile. I can see where frequent gigging like the guy who played 200 nights a year could never let you get away. But, if you are giging a more reasonable amount, try just playing other music except for the gigs.
 
#78
I have a question: If your band would play the tunes you want to play, would you stay?

Here's a thought:
1) Put together a songbook of tunes you'd like to play along with a collection of mp3's and charts/lyrics.
2) Let the guys in your band know how you feel. Get their take on it.
3) Show them your song book.

Either you'll stay or go. At least everything will be on the table and upfront. If you leave you'll have your song book available to start a band or find one that plays more of what you prefer.

I suggest in future bands that speaking up more about what you want as changes/discussions come about and leaving sooner if things don't go your way is better than waiting until your burned out.

Also, there are many ways to structure picking songs within a band. With a song selection method where one member is continually out voted, that's sure to lead to a situation such as yours.

Good luck.
 
#79
Stumbo said:
I have a question: If your band would play the tunes you want to play, would you stay?

Here's a thought:
1) Put together a songbook of tunes you'd like to play along with a collection of mp3's and charts/lyrics.
2) Let the guys in your band know how you feel. Get their take on it.
3) Show them your song book.

Either you'll stay or go. At least everything will be on the table and upfront. If you leave you'll have your song book available to start a band or find one that plays more of what you prefer.

I suggest in future bands that speaking up more about what you want as changes/discussions come about and leaving sooner if things don't go your way is better than waiting until your burned out.

Also, there are many ways to structure picking songs within a band. With a song selection method where one member is continually out voted, that's sure to lead to a situation such as yours.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Yea picking songs is not easy, I remember a band I was in I never got to pick any songs. It's very frustrating at times.
 
#80
As has been stated plenty, most of us go through this at one time or another during some point in our career. I did almost 2 years ago now. I got out. Took a short break until I couldn't stand it anymore, tried a few new bands. Had some fun doing something different, worked a slightly different market, in the end, I ended up full circle coming all the way back to the band I left in the 1st place that I had previously worked with for 10 years. I've been back 6 months, and we've never worked better. We even have a couple side projects with elements of the same band doing different genres of music from the full band. It's great. Only took me 18 months to realize how professional the band was in the 1st place and how well we work together as a unit.

Well that's the short of my story, but the lesson is the same. Take the break, move on if you need to, but don't sell the gear or the instruments. YOU WILL REGRET such a move. No doubt about it. You're a musician, plain and simple. You're paid to do what you love (most of the time anyway). Nothing short of family is better than that!

Good luck in whatever you decide, but I expect you'll be around awhile. If it's in the blood in the 1st place, you just can't shake it off. See you on the boards, and down the road!

Best,
Hammer
 

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