Why Some Musicians Don't Gig

[fingerbun]

I love to gig but there have been times when I haven't. If all of the stuff I hate about the industry is outweighing the stuff I love, the fun goes and it's better to stop for a while. That's happened a couple of times to me in 30 years of being a working bassist.

 

[animvl]

Gigging isn't important to me in the slightest, I see it as necessary as it's just about the only way to meet other bands and make fans. You can't expect to get anywhere in this industry without playing live.

...actually, you just can't expect to get anywhere in this industry full stop. But if your trying anyway, gigging is extremely important.

 

[Jarrett]

Is that a serious question? Why doesn't everyone gig? If so, then I have a counter question. Why doesn't everyone race cars on the weekend? We spend our whole lives perfecting our driving technique, why wouldn't you race then?

 

[Wesley R]

In a younger day, my dad gigged, many cousins were in bands, my brother was in bands, my uncles gig, heck they still do. It was simply something we did, It was somewhat expected of me. I gigged alot, and if I wasn't at a gig, I was watching a friends band gig. It wasn't until my later twenties that I realized not everyone wants to be in a band. So stunned by this realization, I stopped playing for a couple of years.

Know, I jam with some friends and maybe will start gigging once again. I can guarantee the amps will be smaller. damn, now I have the urge to put together a folk rock thing....................

 

[Marko 1]

I used to pick and sing mellow stuff on the guitar, all alone, and totally enjoyed it.

I enjoyed writing/recording originals with a couple buddies, not at all for playing out. We still do, but it’s back-burner now.

Even now, I far more enjoy jamming with buddies in the music room than gigging.

Like a couple others here, I don’t understand why people DO want to gig. I’m kinda introverted, and I just don’t get the rush others seem to get being on stage.

 

[bluewine]

That's me, at this point in life I don't need the hassle or stress that being in a band & gigging brings.

We all have different levels of tolerance. I have to play places I would never enter if it were not for the gig.

It goes with the territory.

Your not a band type of Guy and that's ok

 

[TheBassPreacher]

having a scene is key

I have to agree 100% with this one. In so many places the music scene is dead or dying slowly.

 

[icecycle66]

I like creating the music. The initial process of developing and arranging sounds that compliment (or clash). Once I write and record the tune, I’m pretty much done with it. I have no real desire to play it over and over again, the adventure is lost at that point; the treasure has been found and the reward isn’t great enough to spend it.

This is also why I don’t like playing covers or working with too many people on creating a song. The enjoyment of discovery is lost, it is simple mimicry and compromise at that point.

 

[bluewine]

You are correct! Although I wouldn't call myself a pro, I do have hundreds of shows under my belt. Gigged from age 16-30 non-stop with different bands. By never turning down a gig when I was young, I still have these contacts that call me when they need something. If I would have gotten that tour offer in my early to mid 20's, I would of jumped on it right away.

+1 At 58 there are a few opportunities like that tour where I would have to decline.

Had I been a school teacher I would be retired by now and could tour and do whatever.

 

[bluewine]

+1.

Music is meant to be shared. To play only by, and for, yourself is the equivalent of masturbation.

I'm of the opinion that life is too short for any of it to be wasted. And doing anything in life that equates to jacking off for amusement is wasting what little time we have here.

Exactly, I am working on some really cool bass stuff with our drummer that I think will really turn people on.

That's the fun stuff the sharing, this stuff can't happen at Madison Square Bedroom.

 

[icecycle66]

I don't like sharing very much.

 

[aborgman]

I'm of the opinion that life is too short for any of it to be wasted. And doing anything in life that equates to jacking off for amusement is wasting what little time we have here.

Sorry, I reject the idea that we have some duty to the world at large.

If someone enjoys doing it, the time ain't wasted.

 

[Marial]

+1.

Music is meant to be shared. To play only by, and for, yourself is the equivalent of masturbation.

I'm of the opinion that life is too short for any of it to be wasted. And doing anything in life that equates to jacking off for amusement is wasting what little time we have here.

Well.... is the time you enjoy wasting actually wasted time?

This is a timely thread for me because I was beginning to question whether or not gigging was something I wanted to continue to persue.

I love the creative process of working up new songs with a songwriter, the building of a musical piece, but the amount of time/money that goes into playing live for, generally, just 45 minutes was beginning to seem untenable. Factoring in the hours spent working up a set with a band, the cost of rehearsal space rent, the cost of tracking/mixing/mastering plus the cost of production, etc, it started to feel like a little too much vs how much time we actually get on stage. Then there are the fellow musicians and dealing with either, in my case, a seemingly psychotic violin player (thank gawd she just quit the band after attacking the band leader after our last gig in front of the whole bar) and a lead guitarist who is a great, great, guy but just doesn't have the vocabulary to effectively play the style of music we're doing. Just keeping it together can be an exhausting process.

Now, I have never been in a cover band and have done nothing but original music for close to 25 years now, so it has never been about the money. I have never considered myself a 'pro', and it has pretty much been purely about artistic satisfaction.

Fortunately, one of my bands is starting to get some really good gigs here in town, we're opening up for our first national artist next Monday and I think it's just a matter of time before we're doing more such gigs. this past Saturday we were part of a basically sold-out bill and it was an absolute blast. And, as mentioned already, the one truly problematic band member has exited the scene. That being the case, the cost/benefit analysis is trending more to the positive than the negative.

 

[bluewine]

for the fun of it?

No

blue

 

[Jarrett]

Good men who drive vans must transcend a stigma.

LOL, so true. One of the drummers I play with drives a big white plain cargo type van and it always makes me wonder

 

[bluewine]

Is that a serious question? Why doesn't everyone gig? If so, then I have a counter question. Why doesn't everyone race cars on the weekend? We spend our whole lives perfecting our driving technique, why wouldn't you race then?

I'm not a very good driver.

I think some of this is generational. For some of us that fell into the Rock scene back in the 60s it was all about giving for us.

Perhaps that's changed.

 

[Jarrett]

For some of us that fell into the Rock scene back in the 60s it was all about giving for us.

Wait, I thought you were in the funk scene in the 70s as you said in the funk thread? Either way I'm betting its the same answer, for those of us that weren't there like yourself, we will never understand.

 

[DWBass]

Stress & Frustration!! And I'm there myself! I can never find a group of cats on the same level as I am and I always have to dumb down my playing to fit in! Getting tiresome. The really good musicians just don't want to play (I know they're out there)! I live in an area that is starving for a fresh kick ass band and it just befuddles me all the mediocrity there is here! I'm really close to packing it in and record my own music!

Funny how things turn out! Was just contacted by a top band in the area that is reforming (I know the guitarist) and he just called me!

I guess sometimes ya just gotta wait it out. If you're good, somebody is gonna want you in their band!

 

[rtslinger]

I have been at this a long time and it is my passion to be playing on stage in front of people. It has to be in you. I enjoy playing and could never put it down. I do not go one day with out picking up my bass. I have one on a stand 24-7 and can't walk into the room with out picking it up and jamming a little even this morning before leaving for the office I noodled. To each his own I say. People can spend hours doing stuff that I can't stand to do for longer than 10 minutes

 

[bluewine]

Wait, I thought you were in the funk scene in the 70s as you said in the funk thread? Either way I'm betting its the same answer, for those of us that weren't there like yourself, we will never understand.

Rock, Funk Rock there was a lot going on back in those days .

No Probably not, just as I don't always understand the protocol of many young musicians.