Len_derby

Happy birthday for yesterday. I’m almost a couple of years older than you, and I love my bus pass. I do live in an area well-served by busses, though. It may be very different for you. Yep, there’s lots of downsides to getting old, but it sure beats the alternative!

Nice one AL. I’ll get us rolling. My time ‘on the road’ didn’t last long. I quickly realised I didn’t have the resilience and passion necessary. Bearing in mind this was the late seventies, the things that did it for me were; poor quality food at inconvenient/unhealthy times, uncomfortable travel and bad sleeping arrangements. I did about six months and then bottled-out for a career in engineering. After that I was happy to keep music as a hobby. For me, the T&Cs of music as a full-time weren’t worth it. I do admire all those who have what it takes to do it. Ironically, later in my career in chemical engineering I ended-up working overseas on various projects. However, I did have a company Gold Amex card and my own choice of hotels. A mate of mine always says, if the life of a touring musician was promoted as a punishment Amnesty International would be all over it.

Personally, if the photos are obviously fake and a bit of fun, then that’s ok. I’ve done similar with my bands. No one is fooled, and it’s just a laugh. If things were done to look ‘real’ and trick people I’d be less comfortable.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Your thoughts are similar to mine. I know that I’m privileged to be able to give away my time for free, or at my own expense, when I want to. It’s something I couldn’t have done when I had big bills to pay and a young family.

I think we all have to make our own decisions on whether we do a charity gig. In response to the question about ‘are the bar staff doing it for free?’ I’d say that the majority of posters on this forum are in a much more secure financial position than the average bar worker.

Heat Warps by Modern Nature. Followed closely by Saving Grace by Robert Plant.

I’ve got no advice I can give on fingertip protectors, but I had a similar sensation a few years ago. It turned out to be a deep-lying splinter that was not visible on the surface.

My goal for 2026 is to carry-on gigging with the two bands I’m in. The obstacle to that is that the partner of the singer (common to both bands) had a bad stroke in November. She’s back home but needing a lot of care and can’t really be left alone at the moment. I’ll fit-in with whatever the singer is able to commit to in the future. Perhaps it’ll be fewer gigs and closer venues. If I find I have spare capacity I’ll join or form another band. Continuing with about two gigs a month is my aim. I’m perfectly happy as a hobbyist, never wanted to have playing music as my main or sole source of income.

oops, sorry. I’ve already started on it, obviously…..

A new folding music stand. For practising, definitely not performing 😂 A nice plaid shirt, which will appear on stage with me some time soon. A bottle of Talisker malt whisky for inspiration.

A very knowledgeable and talented blues performer. His Blue Guitars compilation is well worth a listen. Does this now make Bob Mortimer the most famous Middlesbrough person alive?

That’s great news, John. I look forward to coming to see your band! I will definitely keep my ears and eyes open for potential band mates and point them in your direction. Also, over the last few months I’ve made a concerted effort to sample the open-mic and jam nights in and around the fair city of Derby. When it’s appropriate, drop me a line and I can pass on my recommendations for the launch of Level Neville.

Ouch. Bad luck. Best regards and I hope you get back to some sort of normality soon. As for your Christmas hosting, time for you guests to step up to the plate I think!