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WHY DO WE EVEN BOTHER??

#21
I'm thankful every time I get on a stage. It is a privilege, and a gift. And there are only a finite number of them in your lifetime.

As someone else said, there are no bad gigs. You'll see this if you think about it.

/rick
 
#22
It's like that old fisherman's bumper-sticker, only changed a little: My worst day gigging is better than my best day working, or something like that.;)
 
#24
This thread reminds me of lyrics that my favorite regional band (Alliens) sings in a song called "Get Up":

When you feel like you always do your best
But you still ain't gettin no respect.
When you feel like you're bustin your behind
Just so others get to have a good time.

Is there a point where you draw that line?
Where you give up and leave it all behind,
I'm only singing this song so we remember
It's all about your state of mind!

I hum/sing this to myself whenever I start to feel that way about anything in life really. It helps me keep perspective anyway.

BTW, this is fellow TB'er Cameron Mc's band. Heck of a band and a bassist!
 
#26
I greatly enjoy playing bass, but I have those days when I dont even feel like a bassist or even part of the band, according to our drummer a bassist is easily replaceable, and Im not needed. Doesnt exactly help but thats where you just pick up and move on or tell em what I tell em, "when I quit being a musician I might become a drummer".
He doesnt like it to much.
 
#27
... somehow I'm hearing the theme song from the 80's sitcom "Facts of Life"...:D


Seriously, there are some bad gigs, good gigs... some that are boring enough to be watching the game on a flat screen tv across the bar as you are playing 'Last Dance with Mary Jane' or 'Brown Eyed Girl'.

I play for the love of music, I get paid to lug my crap in the bar/venue/stage, set-up and soundcheck. :)
 
#29
Birdland11 said:
We all get that feeling when we are in a band sometimes, it couold be fleeting, it can sometimes last all night . You know what i mean, night after night same songs upon the same songs loading in loading out. Drunken obnoxious fools who dont even know what a bass is let alone hear it in the mix. But the show must go on right? So i was just curious what other people do when they feel like this. For me its when someone who really knows music compliments me. I try to remember 1 compliment about the bass is worth ten about the guitar..... ha ha:bassist:
Click to expand...

Cuz, though people may be drunk, and think a bass is a fish, YOU know that the music wouldn't work without you. If you stop playing, they'd soon notice.
 
#31
I keep playing because I love it and I feel somehow compelled to do so. I gravitate toward my bass. Even when I'm frustrated for a hundred different reasons, I keep coming back to it because it's just something I do for me, because I enjoy it.
Also- whenever it seems like the band doesn't care about what I do, they let me know that they do need me there. And whenever it seems like nobody at a gig cares about what I'm doing or has any inkling of how much money and time I've spent, just to provide them with free music all night long, I think of all the people who've complimented me. So there's always somebody out there who does care. One just doesn't always get a chance to talk to them.
In the end, I do it because it's worth it to me, even though it can be a headache and a great frustration. But playing music is always worth the struggle.
 
#32
DWBass said:
We do it because we just wanna play!

I will say this, I'm personally tired of not being able to play with 'better' musicians! Trying to put together bands is just tiring! Cats take forever to learn songs! Then they don't play them right! They lack groove/funk and aren't capable of going 'left' when it's called for! Always drama! Then the PA load ins and outs! Ugh! Part of me wants to pack it in and just record my own music! The other part is holding out for finding those 'right' musicians so the magic can happen!

I just gotta play!
Click to expand...

OMG exactly right..It made me take my solo bassist act live and made me put 100% effort into it very recently instead of just recording at home. Now im out and playing live! And its all cause I got SOOOOO Burned out of dealing with bands. I mean dont get me wrong I love bands and playing with people..I just CANT STAND the constant drama and complications. Schedule coordinating..obnoxius bandmates you dont even really like..peoples bad habits..people not showing up to practice half the time..yoko one type girlfriends haha I can go on forever. Butman..I gotta say that day where I first played solo bass live and the crowd actually loved every minute of it was well worth it! That was all I needed..no more bands for me! And at first I was sceptic about playing as a solo bassist in my hick town haha Most peopel are rocker/metal/hardcore types and still liked the solo bass act I pulled off and that was it..you just gotta find your niche and play what makes you truly happy..thats why we do this!
 
#33
One word, my friend....Vodka! No gig is too routine, no song too stupid, no drunk girl or obnoxious guy too un-punchable without my old friend, Vodka! It has seen me through many a horrible, humiliating gig and many a rendition of 'Free Bird', 'Sweet Home Ala...whatever', and some "I love America" kinda song. Thank god for Russian Cool Aid!!!
 
#34
Think of broke ass people like me who only have a crappy warped neck Rogue acoustic and no amp. I am salivating over the opportunity to actually buy some usable gear and give it a shot. No matter how crappy you think things may be, there are 100 people worse off than you, musically and in life in general. I mean for f^cks sake I'd like to start some type of rock band here in Oregon, but all it seems to be is country and emo crap. Keep your eyes open, you never know when you might come across that right group of people, or situation even, to really unlock the beast and let it roam.
 
#37
Birdland11 said:
We all get that feeling when we are in a band sometimes, it couold be fleeting, it can sometimes last all night . You know what i mean, night after night same songs upon the same songs loading in loading out. Drunken obnoxious fools who dont even know what a bass is let alone hear it in the mix. But the show must go on right? So i was just curious what other people do when they feel like this. For me its when someone who really knows music compliments me. I try to remember 1 compliment about the bass is worth ten about the guitar..... ha ha:bassist:
Click to expand...


The "honeymoon" doesn't last forever, if that were the case, then everybody would still be doing it ;)
 
#38
Gosh...what an upbeat thread! After reading the posts, I'm this close to jumping out a window...but I live in a basement apartment so, that too, would be pointless.

Frustrated, bored, jaded, depressed? Try infusing yourself into the other facets of the music business:

*Learn to run sound; make friends with the sound guy.

*Take to the club managers; learn something about the restaurant / bar biz.

*Have your drummer teach you some rudimentary percussion skills.

*Play a lot of fraternal organization (Moose, Elks) functions? Become a member!

*Take lessons. Give lessons.

Okay, guys....let's hear some more!

Riis
 
#39
MonetBass said:
You might THINK people don't notice the bass in songs, but if you stopped playing, I guarantee they'd think "Hey, something is missing here...".

Find a gig that makes you happy musically, whether that's another band, or doing sessions, or recording at home. Life is too short to spend time doing things that are simply irritating.
Click to expand...

Very very true. If the bass isn't there, people will know. Funny observation that I've made over the years. The more animated I am on stage, the more compliments about my bass playing I get. lol
 

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