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What's your longest hiatus from playing?

#21
Texan said:
So, whats the longest that you have hung things up? Did a musical fasting help you?
Click to expand...

When I got married and gave up my music dreams back in 1997/1998, I sold all my gear. I didn't play a bass or any other musical instrument again until my separation (and eventual divorce) in early 2001. Been playing ever since.

So... about 3 to 3.5 years.

It was awful. Not only the worst time of my life personally, but that lack of an outlet for creativity was killing me inside. I feel my playing is more mature and less aggressive since I've picked it up again, but those are relative terms.
 
#22
8 years after my daughter was born. Bought a house, a car, went back to school, changed careers, etc. Came back to it after that, rusty, but it was still fun.

But it's been 3 years since my last band. A couple of false starts with other folks, but I find I'm very picky now about where and how I spend my musical energies. I haven't stopped playing this time though. I still love it, and realize that being in a band isn't necessarily required in order for me to enjoy music. I'll eventually find the right situation or create one.
 
#23
I put everything away when my fourth child was born in 1983. I was ready for a break anyway our band just floundered after loosing a few key players. Everything went into the closet and I didn't miss it. Around 1985 I went into total sobriety for about 5 years (No drugs, drink, coffee, tea, soda, etc.). In the early 90's I bought a 4 track and started to tinker with guitar and bass in our bedroom. By 1996 I was back in deeply and playing every weekend (and drinking again but NO DRUGS).

Around 2003 I started my own band, around 2013 I had enough of the revolving guitar players and drummers as well as club owners and bar managers so we went on Hiatus. In the last five years we have gotten together for a few gigs but our guitar player and his antics remind my of why we stopped. A few months ago we were to play but the guitar player started his crap so I said no way. Since then I really cannot get motivated, I've just moved from a large bedroom sized music room to a large living room sized music room. In reality I have things that some musicians can only dream of having yet the bad vibes are still stinging. Fast forward to two weekends ago and I have some past band members who are great guys but "B" musicians that are ready to play. So we'll see. But in reality I have very little motivation, I go into the room plug in, it sounds like crap, I stop.
 
#24
I have owned the same 1971 telecaster Bass (among many others) since I was 14. I always picked it up at least once a year or so but I really didn't play for about 10 years from the late 80s to the late 90s music kind of sucked then anyway
 
#26
Texan said:
My last band broke up about a year ago. Since then I've played with a few others, some as a substitute, some as an audition and I was simply not excited about the music at the end of each session.

I'm seriously considering putting everything in it's case and taking a nice long break, or possibly selling it all.

After playing constantly for over 30 years, I hate to say, it's lost it's magic. My past lead player and drummer, the three of us just had that unspoken musical magical chemistry that every player dreams of and looks for and now, I can't find anything with even a percentage of the magic. I've spoke to people about the music that their band plays and while I love the songs, when it's time to go load up and play I just don't want to go. I force myself to go, and while they are all great people and players, it's empty for me.

So, whats the longest that you have hung things up? Did a musical fasting help you?
Click to expand...
I took a break completely once for around a year then started noodling on the couch for a few months before rehearsing and gigging with a band again. Was around 20 years into playing and 15 years into gigging at the time. Taking a break helped but I also think going to some big concerts inspired me to get back into it. also the entire band being on the same page as far as goals makes a dramatic difference. For example a lot of musicians, and we were guilty of this when we were younger, act like there is an award for playing as many gigs as possible. There isn’t. These days we don’t gig anywhere near as much as we used to. A lot of that is us saying “no” to most of the crap gigs. I think a lot of bands lowball themselves and every other band in their scene. We simply refuse to participate in the garbage gigs anymore. We look at if the gig will actually benefit us.
 
#31
Texan said:
So, whats the longest that you have hung things up? Did a musical fasting help you?
Click to expand...

My hiatus was about 4 years, I guess.
My band disbanded, I moved from a rural area to the city and lost it along the way. In the small town where I grew up, a musician was a musician and the amount of respect he or she commanded was directly depending on their chops. In the big city, the metal people would not talk to the hardcore people who would frown upon the punk people. Where I came from, a common live event hosted a doom band along with a Ska band, two hardcore bands and a punk band and everyone had fun.
This kept me from finding a band fast and made me feel that I don't want to play at any cost.
I sold off everything except for my two main Basses. They went into storage.

A couple of years later, someone had a gig booked and no band to play with him. He called my boss and my boss said he'd play the drums and bring a bass player.
Then he called me and told me we had a gig in three weeks and he'll send me the set list as soon as he got it.
At first I was put off by the decision being made over my head, but then I felt challenged and agreed. About a week after the gig someone was trying to form a band and posted online, looking for a bass player and wanting to play exactly what I would have wanted to. I took that as a sign and joined up.

Everything was totally different from before the hiatus, but the magic was back. This is about a dozen years past now, but I still love to play again.
 
#33
For me, it's been close to 50 years. Back then, there was no internet. How you learned was from word of mouth, magazines, TV, radio or music stores. Learning a song meant having a record player, a record (which was often shared) and the skill to know when to drop the needle and when to pick it up. Or, as it was in my case, we had an organist who read music. We would do the record thing but, at practice, he would correct any errors.

After hanging up the bass and doing the day job, marriage, mortgage and family raising, upon retirement, I though it would be fun to get back into bass. I am glad I was only looking for fun!

Over the past year, I have had to catch up on basses, amps, accessories, the internet and all of the apps. Of course, music interest has changed and what was popular back then, is not necessarily now. What I need to do is put all this new stuff together and start playing out again.

It has been fun but, the most helpful aid and what has been the most fun is the knowledge and support of the majority of TalkBass members. Thanks to all!
 
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#36
I took a 10ish year break. It was a combination of being too busy with work, hearing problems, and overall loss of enthusiasm. I just picked it back up last month and have gotten back to playing around the house every day. I don't think I'll join a band, cymbals hurt the ears and ear plugs are lame, but who knows...
 
#37
I quit for almost 15 years, '94 to '09. BAD DECISION. I went through the ladder thing with about 5 bands (so far).
The good thing is, when I started back, I was much more serious and can honestly say I'm a better player now, but it wouldn't have happened if I wouldn't have kept
jumping off to join better musicians.
Since I came back, I have made it a point to develop a good reputation for someone who can nail a part and play well.
Never again will I quit. My callouses turned into jelly and I still don't have those back.
 
#38
10 years. Sold everything, took up a couple of other hobbies, had a kid, had a great time. Got back into it, 4 years later, discovered the same old band BS. I still have my gear, but am in another break. I play now and then, but on my own. Still enjoy all the other hobbies i picked up in the last break!
 
#40
:bassist:
Texan said:
My last band broke up about a year ago. Since then I've played with a few others, some as a substitute, some as an audition and I was simply not excited about the music at the end of each session.

I'm seriously considering putting everything in it's case and taking a nice long break, or possibly selling it all.

After playing constantly for over 30 years, I hate to say, it's lost it's magic. My past lead player and drummer, the three of us just had that unspoken musical magical chemistry that every player dreams of and looks for and now, I can't find anything with even a percentage of the magic. I've spoke to people about the music that their band plays and while I love the songs, when it's time to go load up and play I just don't want to go. I force myself to go, and while they are all great people and players, it's empty for me.

So, whats the longest that you have hung things up? Did a musical fasting help you?
Click to expand...

Well, I went through A 3 year hiatus. I was Playing in band which toured and had released music. We were starting to get known. MTV threw us a few shoutouts was even mentioned in Playboy Magazine and got nod from Howard Stern.

This was in the early 2000s. And well the band got a little too much too soon and we parted ways. I played in a few projects with members of the band. As well as with other people but nothing which excited me. And well didn’t have that chemistry.

Right around that time I broke up with a long time girlfriend. And well, was in a huge funk. So out of nowhere I decided to join the military. I left and had my Basses sent to stay with a friend.

Well for over 3 years didn’t touch the instrument or even really think of playing or music. Then suddenly the band had a reunion show and I flew back home picked up my bass and it was like no time had passed.

Needless to say the show went off great we played CBGBs and sold the place out. Then as we bowed out that night it hit me how much I missed the feel of the strings, the air of my cabs. That growl of my bass. And I realized that music is a journey and you meet different people to along the way to help you write new chapters. Now MANY years later I’m in 2 bands and will never stop.

Take time, step away clear your mind. Your love of playing will always be there. Sometimes you just need a mental reset. There’s no shame in taking time for YOU. Hope it helps and I hope you find your groove back.:):bassist:
 
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