blue

[quote name='Painy' timestamp='1494280774' post='3294738'] I played my first gig with my current band 21 years ago and in that time I've played somewhere in the region of 1300 gigs with them. The most I played in a year was 152. These days, with all the band members having family commitments, we're down to 25-30 gigs a year. I now get to play 2 or 3 gigs a month with a great band and have the rest of my time at the weekends to spend with my beautiful wife and amazing kids. I wouldn't change it for the world really but if I'm honest I really do miss those 2 and 3 gig weekends and having gigs to look forward to every week - just not enough to sacrifice that precious family time (or risk the wrath of Mrs Painy whom I affectionately refer to as my little velociraptor). Even the thought of giving up gigging altogether though makes me feel miserable. When I'm gone I want an SVT and a fridge for a headstone and my coffin lid strung EADG! [/quote] Makes perfect sense. I think guys like me, no family, single, carefree, do what we want when we want. We're a small minority. Blue

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1494233330' post='3294099'] Another social club gig, left me feeling a bit fed up with it all really [/quote] We do a couple of legion hall gigs, which might be like your social club gigs. Mostly seniors that are not engaged with the band. I know, not a lot of fun. But the pay is good, I can't complain. Blue

I play 4 hour US bar gigs. I tune before each set (3 per show) and in between songs if something sounds off. Blue

[quote name='Yank' timestamp='1494233621' post='3294102'] Wow! Surprised by how gigging is seen as a chore by many. I'm 62, been playing since 10 y/o, gigging since 15. Have gigged as a drummer, singer, guitar player, harmonica player and bass player. I love to gig! I've always used gig money to get great gear, so it didn't come out of house funds. I also love to practice, where you get creative to make your parts better, and love to teach, to pass on tid-bits of knowledge and see students progress. music is a gift and I feel blessed to be able to use it in my and others' lives. [/quote] If I've learned anything from this thread it's how band choice and band experience is different for all of us. For you younger guys out there, if your serious, don't just join any band. Do your homework and put a lot of thought into whether to join a band or not. Blue

[quote name='Yank' timestamp='1494233621' post='3294102'] Wow! Surprised by how gigging is seen as a chore by many. I'm 62, been playing since 10 y/o, gigging since 15. Have gigged as a drummer, singer, guitar player, harmonica player and bass player. I love to gig! I've always used gig money to get great gear, so it didn't come out of house funds. I also love to practice, where you get creative to make your parts better, and love to teach, to pass on tid-bits of knowledge and see students progress. music is a gift and I feel blessed to be able to use it in my and others' lives. [/quote] Pretty much the same as my story. Can't wait until Saturday night. Blue

[quote name='bassjim' timestamp='1494239952' post='3294173'] Funny thing is you don't realise just how bad it is until it finally happens. The band becomes a mask. The OP may find a lot of the winging it guys may be doing the gigs as a way of getting out the house as a priority over the music itself. [/quote] That's an issue guys should think about when making a decision on joining a band. Why are these guys in a band. I would question any young guys in a gigging band that are married with young children. Blue

[quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1494260198' post='3294469'] If the drummer is bad then there is no way the collective performance can be good, that's the crux of the issue. Bad drummer =no groove. [/quote] Your right, Blue

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1494232387' post='3294090'] it can be exactly that, for me it happened in the middle of a show (i was front man of the band), i looked out at the 5 people in the pub we were playing, the guitarist had been complaining about the sound and i just decided i didn't want to do it anymore. you are by your own admission very lucky, you don't have to deal with the politics and stuff that cause the frustrations, you can to an extent, turn up, play and go home paid. a lot of us have to be the band organiser, book gigs, practice, recording etc. if you have spent 2 weeks debating with a promoter about backline, and then having to deal with the guitarist moaning about the house backline not having "his sound"... by the time you get to the gig (assuming it hasn't been pulled last minute, or your drummer decides he is double booked despite being told 3 months ago) and no one has shown up, you stand there wondering "what's the point?"... repeat that a number of times and the love just goes. i've not played gigs for 3 years now, and whilst i would love to get on stage the pile of bullshit you have to wade through to get to that stage puts me off. [/quote] Your right, I'm lucky. I'm in a band where there's not a lot of BS, complaining or politics. I get along with all band members. I get to gigs early so I can help haul in PA and lights after my rig is set up. And I help out with tear down as well. Small crowds don't bother me. We can have a thin crowd on Friday night and a packed house Saturday night. But, when you do this for a living, you really can't just decide to quit. Bad part is, I'm spoiled. Finding another operation like mine would be impossible. Blue

Paul McCartney Blue

Did a 3-7 biker bar gig. We play this huge bar every 4 months or so. Great room,thin crowd but that changed about half way through the first set. So cool to see our fans especially those that drove over an hour to see us. Our sound was respectable and we were loud as hell. Lot's of mistakes but lots of high points as well. Business They did great bar business and the new owner was there. She loved us. She owns another club, so hopefully it will mean new business for us. Relationships are so important. A great way to spend Sunday afternoon. Blue

[quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1494200060' post='3293997'] Does not work for me. As the rhythm section, I completely rely on the drummer to be on the money in order to play well. If the drummer is having an off night and time keeping in particular is a concern, then I find it impossible to lock in, find my groove and for me that sucks. When the drummer is playing well it brings out the best in my playing [/quote] I pride myself on not getting frustrated dealing with "bad drummer" issues. It's part of being in a band. It's part of my job. It's not about my requirements.It's about how can I make this work. What's good or makes sense for the band. At 64, I'm still not a great bass player, but I know what I'm doing. And it took a long time to get here. Blue

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1494199792' post='3293996'] Just seen Neil Murray in Snakecharmer tonight, playing a half full theatre in a small Yorkshire town. I sneaked back into the room after the show to check out the rig he was using, only to find Neil chatting with the roadcrew and helping to pack his own gear down. He has to be well into his mid 60s and this gig is hardly the highlight of his career, but if he is still happy to be out there playing I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be...! [/quote] Some of us are happy. I have friends that are truly "top shelf" musicians but have no gigs and can't find the right people to play with. Somehow, 6 years ago I ran into the right people, and the right band. They were established and doing what I wanted to do. While they're good musicians, the real key to why things have been good is because they're good people. Not the best musicians. Some of the best musicians are not even fit to be in a band. If my band folds, I'm done. I'm so spoiled from working with cool people and now have 0 tolerance for any kind nonsense or monkey business. Blue

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1494154226' post='3293647'] I play with a good band and we play some nice venues and festivals for pretty decent money. On the other hand we do also play some toilet venues just for the cash (we go out under a different name for these gigs). It helps, in these situations, that the band is good and I enjoy playing with them. Playing crappy venues to knuckledraggers is bad enough but if the band was crap, I'd probably prefer to be sat at home watching TV. Recently I depped for a band in a nice venue and for decent money. The problem was that the drummer was so shockingly bad that, from the first song, I just wanted to grab my gear and run. They asked me back again, the next week, and I had to turn them down, even though the money was good, because every minute I was playing with that drummer was torture. I know......I'm a Diva [/quote] We've all been there, the bad drummer experience. I don't let it bother me anymore. Experience has taught me to go out there and be the best bass player I can be regardless of what the drummer is doing. Blue

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1494153839' post='3293641'] Two sides of the same coin really. The OP isn't having such a good time and you are. That you enjoy 100 percent commitment to a band is a special thing if not actually rare. I think it is something that a lot of us wish for. Certainly, I prefer the all or nothing approach with things of this nature. It is frustrating for me that I can't go any further with bass until I forge good links with others in the area unlike motorcycling where I only needed myself, the bike and the open road. I am working on that. I can appreciate that there are players who have to keep doing tunes they don't like in unhelpful circumstances to pay the bills too. I am only a hobbyist (hobbyer?) however. [/quote] I've played in bands that weren't fun and subsequently left them.Those were poor choices on my part. But, that's not my case right now and I'm still having a blast. Blue

It's happened to me a few times. Fingerless gloves and all, playing outside in the cold is a real challenge. Blue

[quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1494149820' post='3293590'] That's a good point Rhys - so much of peoples' sense of identity is wrapped up in what they do, and even more so with musicians, IMHO. It's certainly the case for me. Whether it's to provide some consolation that our life isn't as ordinary or mundane as the next man, or to give us some sense of belonging to a special tribe of some sort, along with satisfying our ego with the chance of recognition by the public and our peers. Sorry if I'm getting a bit too deep and philosophical! [/quote] I have never thought about any of that stuff. My identity? I'm just having fun playing in a rock band. Blue

I play very few multi bill gigs. When I do I stay and watch all the bands. I really enjoy that sort of thing. Blue

So how does it happen , you get to a gig and you strap on your bass and you no longer have that good "come alive" energy rush feeling? I do understand things in life eventually change and at some point gigging will no longer be an option for me. I just want 10 more years. Blue

[quote name='grandad' timestamp='1494140638' post='3293497'] Used to do all the PA, set-up, take down, 3am before home, knackered the next day. The whole scene became repetitious and a chore.[/quote] I am not looking for a flip response. However ,I really feel like the odd ball. 64, why hasn't this happened to me. I play for enjoynent, I play for fun and I play for money all at the same time. And I'm looking forward to the biggest gig of my life this summer. Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1494141283' post='3293504'] I stopped gigging years ago as I just didn't enjoy it. I hung onto my gear for years until I finally sold it all (apart from one bass that I hang onto purely for "investment purposes") a year or so ago. Any playing I've done over the past few years has been on acoustic guitar but I don't even do that anymore so I'll probably sell my guitars soon too. [/quote] If your a happier person than good decision. If my band has days off I'm miserable. Blue

[quote name='Kevin Dean' timestamp='1494117987' post='3293435'] A couple of weeks ago I did 3 gigs in a row & on the 3rd gig I thought I've had enough of this I'm 53 in the 80s I played all the cool London clubs & for the past ten years I've mostly gigged with people winging it in pubs paying less than they did in the 90's .Maybe It's because I've always been arranging everything gigs , PA transport etc ...but right now I really couldn't care less if I never gigged again . I was wondering if anyone else has gone through the same thought process ? [/quote] 64, no I have never gone through that process. I love 3 gig weekends. Blue

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1494076813' post='3293057'] If I ever for one second found myself thinking "Hmm, that sounds wrong but I'd better not say anything in case I get fired", I'd know for a fact I was in the wrong band and would probably leave anyway. [/quote] I always find myself saying,"that sounds wrong" then thinking if I make waves and get sacked, how will I pay my bills. I don't like it, I'm just not willing to take the chance. Plus, my playing and singing is far from perfect. Working bands with a book of business are practically impossible to find in my area. Blue

[quote name='Yank' timestamp='1494065061' post='3292931'] Blue, you're mom was a treasure! [/quote] Thanks Yank, Yeah, she definitely was. She always supported my involvement in music. She was a big Beatle fan even though she was from the " big band" generation. Blue

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1494000556' post='3292544'] Mr Blue nails it again. I mean, who would one rather work with? Ronnie Wood or the highly-strung Jeff Beck? Rick Parfitt or grouchy old Francis Rossi? The unassuming, biddable Mr Frank Sampedro or his cranky, nitpicking boss Mr Neil Young? Quod erat demonstrandum. [/quote] I'd work with Ronnie or Jeff even it was only to clean their guitars.😁 Blue

[quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1494007917' post='3292617'] No. I said I'd look at proficiency on their instrument first. How you got from that to what you just posted is lost on me I'm afraid. [/quote] Cool, I didn't think you'd want to bring a negative ekenent into a band. Blue