What Keeps You In The Game ?

[Bluewine]

4 hours ago, msb said:

There’s joy that an appreciative audience brings to the gig. On a great night you almost feel the entire floor lift. And we’re coming into the season where things get hot and sweaty. 
There’s nothing quite like playing in a great room to a great crowd. 

That's great. Appreciative crowds make the night go fast.  However, all gigs are not going to be great. You have to take the good with the bad.

 

Daryl

[Bilbo]

61. I struggle to find people interested and able to play the kinds of music I love but, even so, I love the gigs, large or small. I don't see the point of playing without performing live with other people. I know musicians who never gig. Doesn't make sense to me at all. There is the social aspect of the playing that is welcome part of it but, mostly, I just want to play music as much as I can. Money is not really a consideration. The music is what matters 

[HeadlessBassist]

The Buddy Holly Tribute in our touring multi-tribute show is now 79 years old. Still out there and gigging. I also work here and there with a drummer who's now 76. 

 

As Rhino says, "You're Never Too Old To Rock & Roll".

 

 

[Buddster]

The company of band mates. 

The working out arrangements with band mates (even through the arguments and frustrations). 

Standing on stage playing while people in front of you are having a good time from something you've crated. 

But, I still get a viseral feeling from the weight and power of the bass that I love. Even on headphones, I love the sound of the bass, that slightly out of phase from a Jazz, that 'mwaw' of a filter or crunch of a distortion. The drive of 8's or the harmonic weave of a melodic line.

It's why I'm a bass player, not a guitarist or keyboard player. 

 

I stopped playing for many years (too work in music) and still have time to make up. 

Edited 26 minutes ago by Buddster

[Leonard Smalls]

As someone who doesn't really like crowds, playing in a band is perfect for me...

During the day I can go climbing on some crag in the back of beyond, wallowing in the virtual solitude of just me and my partner.

And at night me and my bandmates can go out and make a racket somewhere safe in the knowledge that it will be empty.

Heaven!

[casapete]

I’ve been playing in bands for over 50 years, of which over 30 were to earn a living.

It’s so ingrained in my life that I just couldn’t imagine not doing it. I’m 67 and still in

reasonably good health, although some days feel like 77! 

I’m currently in two regular set ups - an acoustic duo with my best mate, and a 

blues rock trio with other friends. I chose to leave my last pro gig mainly to wanting

to be more at home due to Mrs CP having some major health issues. Fortunately she

is doing well, and I now do mainly local gigs with no overnight stays. 
I refer to myself as ‘semi-retired’. My gig money, although not essential, is a welcome

addition to our finances, and although I enjoy all the gigs I do it’s still nice to be paid

well for them. For me it’s also about the camaraderie ( all my friends are musicians

who I often meet up with for coffee / lunch etc) and just getting out there. I’ve been 

blessed with doing something great for a job rather than slogging away for years in

an unhappy work situation, so I never take it for granted. I have no plans to stop 

playing music live until I’m unable to do so, so fingers crossed! 
 

 

[Steve Browning]

It's in my genes and I couldn't imagine stopping.