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Why do you gig?
- Thread starter puddin tame
- Start date
I gig in order to afford a vintage p bass and to support my raging coke addiction.
J/k, though I wouldn't mind having the p bass, I gig for the fun experience of sharing my music in a live and loud setting.
J/k, though I wouldn't mind having the p bass, I gig for the fun experience of sharing my music in a live and loud setting.
Speaking of elitism
badly phrased ? Yes.
I mean, composers and recording artists are obviously musicians, too, but anyone that is meaningfully considered a musician does something that has a target other than themselves. That's the nature of expression. It needs to be directed somewhere.
elitism?
Is it elitism because I consider myself a musician, which creates the inevitable distinction to non-musicians? If so then you are just fighting with semantics.
+1 on iovar's rant.
I don't gig because my ego need's it - but it doesn't hurt.
I don't gig because I need the validation as an artist - but it doesn't hurt. And I'm not just talking about getting applause - I've been in bands where the goal was to scare the s**t out of the audience and make them super uncomfortable. Art comes in all flavors.
But I digress... Gigging should be fun and if it isn't you're probably with the wrong bunch doing the wrong thing. Or not... IDK.
How would the world be if Rembrandt or Shakespeare kept all their stuff behind closed doors?
I don't gig because my ego need's it - but it doesn't hurt.
I don't gig because I need the validation as an artist - but it doesn't hurt. And I'm not just talking about getting applause - I've been in bands where the goal was to scare the s**t out of the audience and make them super uncomfortable. Art comes in all flavors.
But I digress... Gigging should be fun and if it isn't you're probably with the wrong bunch doing the wrong thing. Or not... IDK.
How would the world be if Rembrandt or Shakespeare kept all their stuff behind closed doors?
Of course it's ego. Why shouldn't it be? Think of how few good players there are. Think of how few good GIGGING players there are. Think about how many people in your audience wish they could be doing what you're doing.
I gig because I love the "in the moment " feeling that it brings. I've been blessed to do it for 40 years.
I gig because I love the "in the moment " feeling that it brings. I've been blessed to do it for 40 years.
Our group only gigs now when asked by a friend or as a favor. We have even done some pretty cool gigs at some of my companys meetings. Have not played for money in over twenty years and am having more fun playing now than when i wa ls a 'serious' musician....and i am a far better player now....
Everything is about ego. That is what our culture is about. Musicians are not the exception. I was in a band with a drummer who was bothered that our guitar player and I were always "trying to get attention when we gigged on stage." Well, what the hell was HE doing on stage, playing the loudest instrument in a band??
There is nothing wrong with jamming at home for enjoyment or in your music room. But playing in front of people is NOT just about the musician. It is about the audience too. It is a conversation, an interaction. If not, you suck as a musician.
There is nothing wrong with jamming at home for enjoyment or in your music room. But playing in front of people is NOT just about the musician. It is about the audience too. It is a conversation, an interaction. If not, you suck as a musician.
Personally--I speak from an often improvisation intensive perspective as most of my groups at the moment involve a fair amount of that--there is just something to playing in front of an audience and having them feed on what you're creating: music.
Yes, I love a good jam and a great session leaves me feeling musically rewarded; I know that all the guys I'm playing with are into what we play. The thrill/high/rush that comes from sharing something as personally intimate as music with an external party that's, hopefully, as into what we're doing as we are, is IMO unparalleled.
To me, pay, free food/drinks, etc. is just icing on the cake. Playing live is no different than in the rehearsal room, except for the audience you can share your music with.
Yes, I love a good jam and a great session leaves me feeling musically rewarded; I know that all the guys I'm playing with are into what we play. The thrill/high/rush that comes from sharing something as personally intimate as music with an external party that's, hopefully, as into what we're doing as we are, is IMO unparalleled.
To me, pay, free food/drinks, etc. is just icing on the cake. Playing live is no different than in the rehearsal room, except for the audience you can share your music with.
It's a social exercise, with my band mates and the audience.
Nothing like it when you lock in with the drummer and the groove just picks up the crowd and hurls them to their feet. It's fun too
Nothing like it when you lock in with the drummer and the groove just picks up the crowd and hurls them to their feet. It's fun too
I'm with some of the others. I play music because I want to gig, and I want to gig because I want to share my songs with other people. Having others also dig my music is gratifying for me. It's a great feeling when people say that your music is good and they like it. It feels like validation that I'm doing the right thing.
Also, I don't see anything wrong with gigging to boost your ego - I think it's important sometimes to give your ego a boost. Not to the extent that you become self-centred, but I think boosting your ego now and again is a healthy part of living.
Also, I don't see anything wrong with gigging to boost your ego - I think it's important sometimes to give your ego a boost. Not to the extent that you become self-centred, but I think boosting your ego now and again is a healthy part of living.
You play music ergo you are a musician. To say that
what musicians 'do' is gig is a form of elitism in my opinion. I'm currently not gigging nor do I know when my next gig will be. If I never played live again, I'd be perfectly happy with what I've accomplished. That said I still play bass just about every day (as my poor, circulation deprived hands will allow me). By following the logic that what musicians 'do' is gig, then if don't gig, you're not a musician. Obviously you cleared up your opinion on that with your response and I appreciate that you took the time to articulate a response. I'm not trying to pick a fight and I actually found your original post to be a pretty good read. That said, you talk about not sharing music as a form of elitism and then go on to make (what I perceived to be) an elitist statement. Sorry if I misunderstood the sentiment behind what was said.
what musicians 'do' is gig is a form of elitism in my opinion. I'm currently not gigging nor do I know when my next gig will be. If I never played live again, I'd be perfectly happy with what I've accomplished. That said I still play bass just about every day (as my poor, circulation deprived hands will allow me). By following the logic that what musicians 'do' is gig, then if don't gig, you're not a musician. Obviously you cleared up your opinion on that with your response and I appreciate that you took the time to articulate a response. I'm not trying to pick a fight and I actually found your original post to be a pretty good read. That said, you talk about not sharing music as a form of elitism and then go on to make (what I perceived to be) an elitist statement. Sorry if I misunderstood the sentiment behind what was said.
badly phrased ? Yes.
I mean, composers and recording artists are obviously musicians, too, but anyone that is meaningfully considered a musician does something that has a target other than themselves. That's the nature of expression. It needs to be directed somewhere.
elitism?
Is it elitism because I consider myself a musician, which creates the inevitable distinction to non-musicians? If so then you are just fighting with semantics.
Ok ,you are right . That sentence came out wrong and I'm retracting it. Thanks for clarifying that to me.
Anyway, what I probably should have written is :
I try to gig as much as I can ( I don't have a gig right now either), because I see that as the most fulfilling and fun activity that I, as an instrumentalist musician, can participate into.
I gig because it provides a rush that is hard to find anywhere else without risking your life. When any band I've been in plays a good show and the energy is flowing from the audience to the band and back again it gives you a high that can't be explained by someone who has never done it. I reach what I like to call a moment of transcendence, I become my alter ego. I'm me times 100. In the hours following a good gig I am completely confident and content. I very rarely feel that way in my day to day life. It's like you're whole body is buzzing. Also if you play originals and look out in the crowd and see people that you don't know singing along to songs, that you helped create it is an amazing feeling.
I've been chasing that feeling my whole life and little else comes close. Every time I go more than a year without a steady gigging band I wind up going out and buying a motorcycle because that's the only thing I've found that comes close.
I've been chasing that feeling my whole life and little else comes close. Every time I go more than a year without a steady gigging band I wind up going out and buying a motorcycle because that's the only thing I've found that comes close.
Performing music gives me a natural high. It's a great drug! I have somewhat of a stressful job as a civil engineer overseeing more than 100 people, and when I turn off my engineering mind and turn on my music playing mind, it takes me to a happy place.
I could care less whether I earn dollars playing music (the engineering profession provides me with a healthy income). I play music because I love playing music. And for me, that's all I need from it.
I could care less whether I earn dollars playing music (the engineering profession provides me with a healthy income). I play music because I love playing music. And for me, that's all I need from it.
LOL! You and I seem to have some things in common! I couldn't help laughing when I read your comment about the rush without risking one's life. I used to fly Cessna airplanes for a hobby! Fun? Yes. A rush? Yep. Life threatening? Uh huh.
I'm also an avid motorcyclist (after riding for the past 45 years, I finally bought my first Harley. It's awesome!)
And I totally agree with your comment about the natural high that playing music provides. Plus, it's a relatively safe thing to do (the worst that can happen is I hit a wrong note....at least nobody dies).
Music is in my blood and part of that is playing gigs. I've been doing it for almost 20 years and I never want to stop. For me this a high that can't be found anywhere else. It's so amazing when you look out into a packed club and everyone is singing along to one of your songs. I really don't think of this as feeding an ego but if that's how some see it then so be it. I enjoy all aspects of the music process whether it's jamming with some buddies in a basement or playing for a packed house. To each their own. Just have fun and do what you love.
Become a (silent) "Zen Bassist" and only then will you be able to free yourself of your ego . . .
. . . Oh yes, and one more thing, remember to give away all your gear as a sign of your ego free existence (after all, these things only feed the ego)
. . . Oh yes, and one more thing, remember to give away all your gear as a sign of your ego free existence (after all, these things only feed the ego)
...yet. lol
I always wanted to get a pilot's license, I bet that's a blast being able to jump in an airplane and fly somewhere... I'm not quite to Harleys yet. I have a ZX14 and it is a smile machine in it's purest form.
Ha, wasn't expecting so many good answers to this. I'm not saying if you get off on it it's a bad thing. I do, too, but I was more questioning if the hour (I usually just play 1 set of originals) of 'glory' is worth all the work that has to go on behind it.
I feel a bit better after practice today, had a lot of fun writing songs with the band and I discussed this topic with my drummer as we were waiting for the others to turn up to practice. He's very into this sort of psychological reasoning stuff, his work involves it, and we sort of came to the conclusion that it's a natural sort of status thing to have goals to be working towards, advancing from your present position. I wouldn't disagree, I guess the 'gig' is the platform for that with music. Better gigs, higher pay, etc is all the measurement. I suppose gigging is a good way to achieve that sort of development.
I also see from reading these responses it that gigs provide an extra level of purpose to music for people, a good answer to "well, what do I do now?" I guess after a certain level of proficiency has been achieved
I've reasoned that playing gigs is not necessary to be a musician. I view it as a seperate, but complimentary activity. It's like in the martial arts world, you have guys that compete and guys that don't - they're doing the same thing just with different goals. I saw a post about someone who knows people who think they are "above" gigging. I've never considered that mindset and think it's quite messed up - strikes me as thinking they are afraid of it. If I was to decide I wouldn't actively pursue gigs it would be for the reason of it being too much darn work.
I'm quite surprised to see that no one here is actually condescending at all to those who just don't gig, or aren't really very much about gigging. Maybe I just read too many of bluewine's posts...
I feel a bit better after practice today, had a lot of fun writing songs with the band and I discussed this topic with my drummer as we were waiting for the others to turn up to practice. He's very into this sort of psychological reasoning stuff, his work involves it, and we sort of came to the conclusion that it's a natural sort of status thing to have goals to be working towards, advancing from your present position. I wouldn't disagree, I guess the 'gig' is the platform for that with music. Better gigs, higher pay, etc is all the measurement. I suppose gigging is a good way to achieve that sort of development.
I also see from reading these responses it that gigs provide an extra level of purpose to music for people, a good answer to "well, what do I do now?" I guess after a certain level of proficiency has been achieved
I've reasoned that playing gigs is not necessary to be a musician. I view it as a seperate, but complimentary activity. It's like in the martial arts world, you have guys that compete and guys that don't - they're doing the same thing just with different goals. I saw a post about someone who knows people who think they are "above" gigging. I've never considered that mindset and think it's quite messed up - strikes me as thinking they are afraid of it. If I was to decide I wouldn't actively pursue gigs it would be for the reason of it being too much darn work.
I'm quite surprised to see that no one here is actually condescending at all to those who just don't gig, or aren't really very much about gigging. Maybe I just read too many of bluewine's posts...
Studio musicians don't gig, but they are musicians. And musicians who are in a huge orchestra can hardly be accused of doing it for their ego. It is a complex question to which there is no simple answer. I have gigged for over thirty years, but am taking a break. Am I no longer a musician? I think I am.
