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Why Some Musicians Don't Gig

B

bluewine

Inactive
Sep 4, 2008
10,296
27
WI
#1
This topic has been tossed around but I have never seen a thread dedicated to it. This is geared towards Rock Musicians.

Music hits us all differently, but besides health reasons, young family, a job that prohibits it or age, why would any one spend time honing a craft and then only want to jam or play by himself or just record.

It makes no sense to me, I love to hear your spin or views.
 
#2
I'm almost there but not quite. I still get calls for a session or a fill-in gig, but I don't actively search for stuff anymore. I got offered a spot in a touring band, and tried it for a few shows. The touring grind just isn't for me, plus I like a steady paycheck and health insurance. It's still fun to play along with my ipod though, and the occasional basement jam/party.
 
#4
I like to fish but have no desire to do it professionally. I spend a lot of time gathering information and exploring new areas in order to become a better fisherman and I find it very fulfilling. It's a hobby.

I do however do gigs with my bass and as a sound man, I also repair instruments for people and do just about anything that I can within the music industry. All of those things started out as hobbies for me at some point and have turned into business opportunities. While I still enjoy all of those things, it becomes something completely different once they are no longer just hobbies.
 
#6
For over ten years, I didn't gig, because people who drink in clubs tend to be idiots; club owners tend to be evil as hell; you can't just play whatever you want; the music industry attracts flakes and mean people; I could go on and on, and yet I gig.

Maybe we should post a thread about what is wrong with those of us who DO gig!
 
#7
For most, gigging is a labor of love. It certainly isn't a cash cow. When you add up all of the associated costs in time and money, it should be no surprise that there are so many talented people who don't want to do it on a regular basis. It's one of those things that is usually more fun in retrospect than it is in the present tense, making it very easy to romanticize away much of its unpleasantness, but it's still there. That's showbiz.
 
#8
I gig until I get sick of gigging, then I take a break for a few months. Then, I start jonesing for the stage and get out there, and once again remember why I took time off. It's a love / hate relationship. I always love playing, but sometimes the non-musical aspects of it all drive me crazy so I break off for a bit.

Plus like others have said, I too enjoy a steady paycheck and health insurance.

I'll never tire of playing though or playing with talented creative musicians.
 
#11
Edward G. said:
For most, gigging is a labor of love. It certainly isn't a cash cow. When you add up all of the associated costs in time and money, it should be no surprise that there are so many talented people who don't want to do it on a regular basis. It's one of those things that is usually more fun in retrospect than it is in the present tense, making it very easy to romanticize away much of its unpleasantness, but it's still there. That's showbiz.
Click to expand...

+1,000,000,000

Nowadays, maybe due in part to age and economic realities, I'll channel my creative energies into paid composition/soundtrack projects (already did the score for a historical DVD) and the occasional session. Part of me still would like to play live occasionally and I do enjoy a good jam, but I could do very well without the BS associated with trying to have a regular gigging band anymore. So damned much work for so little return.
 
#12
My bandmates and I play for fun and gig sparingly.....maybe 10 times per year. It's a hobby and it's fun, but if I was hanging around bars and crashing at 2 am on most weekends, it'd be a pita. I'm a middle-aged guy with a serious day job that I dig, as well as a family......it's all about balance.
 
#13
Lesfunk said:
Some folks might just enjoy playing their bass. There are lots of worse ways to spend your time.
Click to expand...

+ Infinity. I definitely respect/ appreciate someone who spends his/her spare time learning/ doing something that can really be considered (by the person's standards and by most people's standards) a productive or fulfilling activity.

So if someone says to me that in his/ her spare time he/ she mostly:
- Plays an instrument, practices a sport, travels, etc. = respect
- Watches TV, reads gossip magazines, gets drunk = ok, whatever, he/ she is part of the bunch.

Besides, I really can see why most people are not hobbyist/ amateur musicians. Even when it is a hobby, it requires significant time and effort investment.
 
#14
Bochafish said:
I'm almost there but not quite. I still get calls for a session or a fill-in gig, but I don't actively search for stuff anymore. I got offered a spot in a touring band, and tried it for a few shows. The touring grind just isn't for me, plus I like a steady paycheck and health insurance. It's still fun to play along with my ipod though, and the occasional basement jam/party.
Click to expand...

Understandable, however in this case I believe we have an older pro level Guy that has paid his dues and has many years of doing shows under his belt.

I have always had health and dental insurance but it's nothing I take for granted. I have it today but who knows what could happen tomorrow.
 
#16
lomo said:
My bandmates and I play for fun and gig sparingly.....maybe 10 times per year. It's a hobby and it's fun, but if I was hanging around bars and crashing at 2 am on most weekends, it'd be a pita. I'm a middle-aged guy with a serious day job that I dig, as well as a family......it's all about balance.
Click to expand...

Another example of people are different. I am way more than middle age and I have a full time career that requires travel.

I love hanging around in clubs and bars and driving home at 2 am. I also like returning to my condo with nobody there which is most nights.
 
#18
I think people don't gig because they get tired of all the junk that goes along with gigging. It's not the playing on stage or any of that... it's the long drives, not being around your family, being stiffed for money (that's if the gig is even a paying gig), lugging all the heavy gear. Then sometimes if your really unlucky you do all that and end up playing to like 5 people who may or may not even be sober enough to realize there's music.

For some if your an original music type player (or anti-cover band depending on your viewpoint) there might not even be much of a market out there or gigs available to play.

Like Bochafish said, for some it ends up being that a steady paycheck and stuff ends up being more important.
 
#20
The Owl said:
+1,000,000,000

Nowadays, maybe due in part to age and economic realities, I'll channel my creative energies into paid composition/soundtrack projects (already did the score for a historical DVD) and the occasional session. Part of me still would like to play live occasionally and I do enjoy a good jam, but I could do very well without the BS associated with trying to have a regular gigging band anymore. So damned much work for so little return.
Click to expand...

This is also understandable, but it would not be for me. The "little return" is something we who love to gig have to deal with. I acept it.
 

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