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What's your longest hiatus from playing?

#64
I took a couple of years off twice for medical reasons. I wouldn't sell anything right away. The one time I got rid of most of my equipment I wound up having to replace it all. Since it's used already it's unlikely to lose more value. You can always sell it later.
 
#65
I stopped playing completely for 10 years because I started got a job and invested in my profession, got toghether with my wife, had a son.
Then in 2014, a friend of mine called me asking if I'd like to sub some gigs for his band because the bassist wouldn't be available for about a month. I said yes and haven't stopped since then, and I'm not planning on stopping in the future because I love doing this.
Thing is it's never to late to start again, even after a long hiatus. You won't be the same player but diferent and better, in my opinion.
 
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#66
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 have an almost similar story. I was in an all originals band for over a decade, and it was a trio as well. We also had that special "spark" that you almost never get to have with other musicians. After over 10 years it was just time, so we ended it on great terms.

Since then I've floated from cover band to cover band and have never felt satisfied and absolutely never felt that "spark". I haven't exactly taken a break from playing, because I still play at least an hour or so a night, but I'm not very interested in joining another band any time soon. Typical band BS is just a pain in the ass and I have a career, this is just ***** & giggles at this point. That being said, the band scene here (Northern NJ) is pretty active, but very incestuous, meaning there are a core of musicians playing in around 3 bands each and it's completely burning itself out. I've been one of those gypsy musicians here for a while and, meh, not feeling it anymore.... for now, anyway. I'll do a band again though, just not right now. I still like to hit the open jams and stay plugged in to the scene that way, but I'm not entertaining any offers that come my way until I KNOW it's the right situation for me.
 
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#68
Just coming out of a 10 year hiatus... Divorced, remarried, medical issues, busy job - seems like a familiar story. Sold everything back in the day and have just about rebuilt my new rig while getting my hands to remember how to play again. Will be looking to join a band in the new year. Today is new pedal day if Fedex arrives at work before I have to leave to deal with Comcast!
 
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#69
back in 1988 I quit playing in bands etc until about 2009...I quit because I had spent my entire youth playing in bands, drum and baton corps, and community bands, college jazz band, etc...I was playing with friends and all they wanted to do was jam and play for friends while a keg of beer was being drank, and smoking weed...it was going nowhere musically, nobody wanted to learn songs the correct way so I said screw it, I'm done.

Then a friend of mine ran an open mic, he asked me to come down and play...after several weeks of asking me, I finally went down and played like 9 songs...it was all it took..I remembered why I loved music so..and that led to one band I was in for about 3 years then I moved to SC ...no music again for a couple of years, until I moved back to NY..then I got in the band that I am in now.. In retrospect I wasted a lot of my prime years of playing on a self imposed hiatus...time is something to cherish because we don't have a whole lot of it...I regret not playing all those years...Now I am making up for it
 
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#70
A month or so a few times due to getting busy. My primary reasons for playing have never hinged on playing in bands, so bands not going anywhere or band drama has never affected my love of the instrument or making music on my own.
 
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#72
I stopped in 1968. Got back into noodling around 2005 (6 strings) Picked up a Yamaha 170 bass around 2008 to use for home recording hobby. SO that's 40 years. I'm actually concentrating on bass again since deciding to do so in September. So is it fair to say a 50 year hiatus from being a bass player? Lol
 
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#73
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...
9 years I didn't play live while my children were small. Preteens I decided to start up again, but I never ever stopped "playing" And yes it help to be there for my family growing up and help shape them into who they are today and who I have become in the process.
 
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#75
I came off of a 3 year club tour once that required about a year of hiatus from playing to overcome the burnout. But other than that there have been short periods of maybe a month or two here and there where I don't play or even touch an instrument.
 
#76
Longest I've gone without playing the bass has really only been maybe a couple of weeks when I was away for vacation. But then, I only picked up the bass for the first time at age 45 and have only been playing for less than 15 years. Ten of those years have been with a band that I love: five guys with similar musical interests, goals, and no egos. We gig about 6-8 times a year, which is just about right. I'd do more if I could. I've never experienced any of the band or music business drama so often described on TB.

God willing, my longest break will come when I go to that great gig in the sky.
 
#77
About 15 years without a band but still practicing and jamming with friends over that time. 4 years ago I cut off the tip of my left ring finger and completely lost the desire to play with the pain I dealt with for 1 year. After that year the fire came back and have been more motivated to play than ever before.
 
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