I've been gigging for over 40 years, mostly locally but not always, toured Germany and Austria for over a year some time ago, and had the same band (blues rock trio) now for over 25 years. Recently I suffered a brain tumour which I'm in the process of having treated, and hopefully all will get sorted out in the next few months.
So, I have stopped gigging amongst other activities. The strange thing is I don't really miss it, and it's good to have the break. Over the years I managed to get together my guitar/amp collection, which I'm more than happy with, and have no desire to change anything.
But it's frustrating, I play my guitars at home, try to keep my playing ability up together, enjoy that but feel just playing at home is not enough.....or is it?
I don't often publish stuff like this, but I'm genuinely interested to know how others feel, is anyone else here just happy with playing at home, for example?
Thanks for any opinions, advice, etc......
Comments
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
I think gigging is great fun but I am no longer doing it.I was never in your league but have done quite a few years on and off on the local pub circuit.Being late 50s I remember the days of my teens when decent bands and even crappy ones would pack out the well known live music pubs of North London and listen in awe to the band complete with sad "air guitarists" doing their thing in front of a little stage or raised platform..........it was loud , unrestrained and we felt like The Rolling Stones .
I would even see some well known bands giving a new album a trial run in some of the better venues which seem to be the same places that now host re-born 70s rock bands composed of the odd surviving member or the more fringe established acts like Albert Lee etc. Generally the turn-out is very poor given the pedigree of the artist and seems to be 90% composed of people from other bands or members of this type of forum going to appreciate the skill ; not the public at large.
Today,it's hard to get a decent gig even if you are a very good band - the first suggestion of covers ,a wisp of grey hair or being old enough to hold a driving license automatically excludes you from the "happening"venues where young and original acts jostle to get recognised and often even pay for the privilege of sharing gear with 5 other bands and doing 2 or 3 numbers !
As for pubs and clubs ; the "Dad Rock " thing is a sad joke and most of the potential audience is too busy making their Horlicks at home ......but even if you ramp it up with a click track ,some semi rock versions of current or recent hits and some great arrangement it just doesn't have the appeal to the demographic that produces a good revenue for the bar -take .
Apart from being shoe-horned into a corner with a Bass headstock in your left ear and the drummer having to leave half the kit behind you have to contend with a jobsworth running round with a decibels meter only to be regarded as a background noise nuisance by half the regulars who only want to know if you can play any Ed Sheeran or a grey-ponytailed saddo who wants to hear Smoke on the Water .
If you are a hardcore and very good blues band then of course there are specialised clubs but they are limited.
There is a good market for really good 11 piece Function bands playing Ballrooms /marquees with stages for corporate functions, events with sophisticated covers.
If you are very young and got great original material there is a potential world awaiting.
If you have heard what I have heard then it's probably time to reconsider........amongst the better quotes ;
" Do you all have to play because it takes up a lot of room "
" We prefer a Monday night because it's quiet"
"oh no, not a weekend .....the punters prefer a Karaoke "
" Could you just play very quietly in the background ......they want to be able to hear the quiz "
Of course, it's not all like that but for the 20% of the time you get to play the local Corn Exchange or large Club it certainly makes you wonder although I'm sure after 25 years you have got a regular following.
Personally I get bored at home but I love getting together with some other decent musicians at a quality Rehearsal venue /studio and playing some standards or good jamming especially if somebody with unusual ability or unusual instrument is involved ........I had massive fun with a tele playing with a good Pedal Steel player doing some country stuff.
I would take a long afternoon of that kind of thing over a 2nd rate gig any day.
Why don't you get together with your old bandmates and stretch your wings into some slightly different genre / challenging material or invite some other musicians along and work on playing around them/giving them space by re-arranging or playing thinner inversions/stab chords etc.......it's a skill in it's own right . That to me has become the fun especially when you work on something and it starts to really come together and sound rewarding.A great player could sit down with an accordion player and come up with a great rendition of a popular song after a couple of hours !
Much preferred recording.
I dabbled again in late 2017 early 2018 with some guys who advertised on Joinmyband, classic rock stuff. There was potential, but they sacked me when I suggested we really ought to rehearse properly and get things right.
Since then I have had every intention of getting my own band together again. I have a great drummer and bass player at my disposal and have even done a few rehearsals. But I find it hard to keep up the momentum and the thought of shlepping round all the pubs to get gigs and playing to half interested audiences really doesn't appeal anymore.
I love playing still and can spend hours at home practicing stuff and playing to tracks. I have some really nice guitars and amps which I also love.
I think jam nights are where I'm headed now. There's a few locally and I can pick one of my guitars and a 5E3 and just turn up and play whenever I feel the urge.
Weekends (Thursday to Monday) are spent at our caravan by the sea now, walking the coast, reading, listening to music and playing guitar.
Now, where's mi pipe and slippers?
Rob.
But having read the OP, I hope your medical treatment goes well @Misty. In the last few weeks I've heard a lot about people I know, or know of, being taken ill. We must be reaching that age, unfortunately.
You absolutely can't beat playing with other people, for other people.
It is a shame it's such a grind, as highlighted in many posts above, but the odd belting gig usually makes up for all that.
No use IMO just learning to improvise - No use just trying to learn the All Right Now riff or solo
So setting a goal of a direction is required
I flirted with covers stuff after years of being in bands writing our own music, and I definitely prefer writing and creating new music then playing it live.
Since I stopped gigging I've taken up way more guitar/writing rather than just playing bass all the time.
Whilst I have been pretty healthy throughout this period of no gigs, it has been my career, moving, and a breakdown of a very long term relationship that has caused the large drought of music in my life.
For example, right now I just work Mon - Fri, spend my time commuting due to my house not being ready yet (basically staying between people's houses) and I have zero time to myself until fri PM, by which time I'm completely drained so I need to rest properly. Sat is spent catching up with family and friends and Sunday would, to be honest, be a good day to be in a band. Except all of my gear is in storage.
It'll improve but I cannot wait to get a few guitars and basses out and play VERY loudly.
specially touring abroad although I want to think that it is going to be only temporary..
I ve been in a quite ”stablished” Rock/metal band that decided (not me though) to take a brake 4 years ago,
I have put together another project but I don’t get not even a 15th of the gigs we were doing,
gigging your music is not as easy as it was just a few years ago,
new bands have a much bigger struggle to fight imho..
At the rate things are getting worse I'd say I've got 5 years left in me before the downsides outweigh the fun of doing gigs, and being in original bands...well, you get the idea.
I much preferred originals which I was also dreading but it was fun and over in a flash. I’d do that again.
I’d be up for trying covers again for weddings etc. At least the money would make it worth it, but I’d see that sort of gig as business rather than pleasure.
Tbh I just like playing with others but everyone always wants to turn it into a gigging thing rather than just a bit of fun. Even in my original band I was more about just playing and writing/recording whereas other members seemed to care more about social media presence, image and gigs.
I quit the last band because I was just too tired to do the gigs - big commute plus young son = perma fucked.
I'm now working closer to home and my lad is a bit older/easier, so I was starting to think about it again. However, my wife is ill (cancer) so I'll be looking after her for a little while to come. Once we are on the other side of her treatment, I may consider it but it would need to be fun, rather than serious.
Couple that to living in the cultural vacuum that is Northants, the chances of finding a fun band that has somewhere to play (that isn't a pub full of pissed up wankers slinging beer about all over your pedal board) is slim...
So perhaps I am 'retired'... but not through any real firm choice.
There is no proper local outlet for original or improvisational music.
For all genres, the appearance money is paltry. I stopped bothering a long time ago.
The one aspect that I miss is playing edgy music with skilful musicians.
“Theory is something that is written down after the music has been made so we can explain it to others”– Levi Clay