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]

Good question. 

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 (to work in music) and still have time to make up. 

Edited 14 hours 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. 

[Franticsmurf]

As has been said by others, I gig because I love playing live music. I love the camaraderie of a band on stage (the 'us vs the world' vibe) and some of the funniest and most enjoyable moments I've had with bands have been with friends on stage or in the studio. I've never lost the buzz I get from a successful gig or a good performance. I'm fortunate not to need the money (although it funds my GAS) and the current band I'm in plays solely for charity, which gives me another little buzz when we do the end-of-year distribution accounts. I've learnt so much from other, better musicians. In the early days I developed a self confidence which I was able to take back to other parts of my life. I'd like to think I've brought some fun to other people along the way.

[JapanAxe]

For me, nothing beats the enjoyment of a good gig. The absolute best is what’s sometimes called the ‘flow state’, where all the years of practice and preparation come together and the music almost plays itself. That doesn’t happen all the time, but even the bad gigs have a cash reward that can be put towards new gear to enjoy making music with.

 

As regards attitude, I’m with you Daryl. I do a lot of depping and I want to be thought of as the guy who helps to make it all work, from learning my part properly and getting the right sound, to stepping in with spare cables and batteries when needed.

[PaulWarning]

I've pondered packing it all in, but then I'd miss the gigs, I won't miss is the band hassles, loading my car up, all the setting up and breaking down, I don't look forward to gigs like I used too, but once I'm up there playing I still enjoy it, I'm lucky in that I don't have any health problems I suppose when I do that'll be the time to give it all up

[gjones]

I'm 62 and have been playing since I was 16. The first 10 years I was playing in originals bands trying to get a record contract. That ended when I realised we just we're good enough.

 

At that stage I fell out of love with music and I thought my time as a bassist had ended. 

 

Then, about 4 years later, my sister started dating a guy who was the singer and guitarist in a Blues band and he needed a bass player! Even better, he ended up marrying my sister and he couldn't then sack me. We played up and down the UK for the next 10 years. Then he and my sister fell out and that meant I had no choice but to leave the band.

 

At that stage I fell out of love with music and I thought my time as a bassist had ended.

 

But then the old drummer, from the Blues band, called me and said the new band he was in needed a bass player.

 

I've now been in that band for 23 years, other bands, over those 23 years, have come and gone and have disappeared without leaving a trace but the Blues band keeps on going. The singer is now 66 and the guitarist and drummer are in their mid 50s. We've had to take a break from gigging, as the singer and guitarist are married and are involved in complex family matters (think of the Godfather part III) which prevents them from gigging.

 

At this stage I think I may have fallen out of love with music and I am thinking my time as a bassist had ended.

 

Hold on there seems to be a pattern developing.......

 

Of course I don't want to be a old fart, in a band full of old farts, playing to old farts. But as long as we don't look too ridiculous up on stage and I can still project energy into playing, then I'll continue on until I can't.

 

Oh by the way, my sister and my brother in law got back together and I still occasionally play in his Blues band, when his new full-time bassist has something better (or more lucrative - wedding gig?) to do.

 

 

 

 

Edited 9 hours ago by gjones

[ezbass]

23 minutes ago, PaulWarning said:

I've pondered packing it all in, but then I'd miss the gigs, I won't miss is the band hassles, loading my car up, all the setting up and breaking down, I don't look forward to gigs like I used too, but once I'm up there playing I still enjoy it, I'm lucky in that I don't have any health problems I suppose when I do that'll be the time to give it all up

I feel that acutely today. I have a gig an hour away (not too bad), at a venue that the guy running it seems flakey at best. Parking is nightmare, unless the loading bay outside is free. I’m tired and irritable and could do without gigging today TBH.  

[Mickeyboro]

My career has been a doughnut with a kids and family-shaped hole in the middle. 
 

So I feel like a car that’s been garaged… less miles on the clock than you’d guess by looking at me. 
 

Hopefully the end of the Road isn’t yet in sight. Though wIth the passing of @yorks5string and @bumnote I am running out of role models…

[chris_b]

Playing bass is what I do.

 

Playing in a good band to an enthusiastic audience is the biggest buzz I've discovered so far. That never gets old. Even playing in an average band to 3 men and a dog is pretty OK, as long as I'm with a good drummer.

 

You don't retire, you stop when the phone stops ringing.

[Linus27]

As my bass tech once said to me in 2002 when I was 32, my record deal had ended and I was giving up, he very angrily said to me, "how dare you give up, you're an amazing bassist, you've been given a talent that others can only dream off, don't waste this gift you've been given, that would just be selfish, go out there and use it, not everyone can play bass or do music."

 

That kind of stuck with me and to this day, I'm still playing and still having some of the best musical experiences in my 39 years of playing. Looking at some of you older chaps, I'm still a youngster at 55 and massively admire those of you who are in your 60's and 70's still playing, that in itself is an incredible achievement.

 

I've had periods where I'm sick of it, can no longer see the point, feel like I'm flogging a dead horse and I make the decision to retire, to then get an incredible opportunity come my way. It literally comes out of the blue and is simply too good to resist. It has happened to me about 5 or 6 times over a 15 year period and even this year, when I'd decided to retire at the end of this year, an amazing opportunity came my way and I'm having an incredible year of music. I joke with my wife that it's my dad looking down on me and saying, "like hell are you going to stop, here's something new to keep you going". She always says that things happen to me for a reason and if something doesn't come my way, then there's a reason for it but its because there's something else much better around the corner and it does usually work out that way. I've kind of gotten used to that's just how my life works, things just tend to happen for a reason, even if it's not obvious at the time.

 

So I'm now resolved that this is me, I'm a bassist and a musician, it's what I do and have done for the last 39 years and I'm not allowed to stop. I've had an incredible career in music, a lot of success and achievements and fortunate to have played with some big artists and some incredible venues. I just make sure that these days, I enjoy and cherish every moment and be grateful to be doing something I love, something I perhaps I took for granted previously. I make sure I get the maximum enjoyment out of it, put in 110% effort and try to not get stressed or frustrated about anything. I no longer fight it and I approach it as if I'm a session bassist and make sure I see the positive in absolutely everything I do or have done. As my friend and bass tech said to me all those years ago, "don't waste this gift you've been given, go out there and use it". That is exactly what I'm doing and on my terms.

 

 

Edited 11 hours ago by Linus27

[Marvin]

When you start you can't stop.

 

If I didn't play gigs, I just wouldn't play. Gigs are the motivation and discipline to play, and the buzz.

 

I've got my first live performances in 7 years in about 2hrs time. I thought about selling everything about 5 years ago, but here I am, back in a band ready to play again.

[Jackroadkill]

It's very heartening to read all of these reasons we have for doing what we do.  They're all very personal to us as individuals, yet they also speak to the collective.  Man.

[HeadlessBassist]

One motivator for me is obviously the money, as I do this for a living, but I do have to say that as I've gotten older, it does get harder.

 

The pro live tribute shows are one thing, but I still get a real buzz out of live trio jobs where I can play what I want and really stretch my stuff.

 

Most of all, whatever the situation, I get the biggest kick out of entertaining people. The people that come and thank you at the end and tell you it's the best show they've seen in years make it all worth it.

[casapete]

6 hours ago, Marvin said:

If I didn't play gigs, I just wouldn't play. Gigs are the motivation and discipline to play, and the buzz.

Absolutely this.

 

 

[casapete]

6 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

Most of all, whatever the situation, I get the biggest kick out of entertaining people. The people that come and thank you at the end and tell you it's the best show they've seen in years make it all worth it.

Oh and absolutely this too! 

[NHM]

I'm just home from a gig, I'm 69 next week and I love it as much as I did when I first gigged age 21. We played to a full house today, the band played pretty well and getting the youngsters up dancing knows it has gone OK. Long may it last.

[Bluewine]

10 hours ago, ezbass said:

I feel that acutely today. I have a gig an hour away (not too bad), at a venue that the guy running it seems flakey at best. Parking is nightmare, unless the loading bay outside is free. I’m tired and irritable and could do without gigging today TBH.  

 

Sometime those gigs that have

" disaster " written all over them can turn out to be awesome gigs .

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

10 hours ago, gjones said:

I'm 62 and have been playing since I was 16. The first 10 years I was playing in originals bands trying to get a record contract. That ended when I realised we just we're good enough.

 

At that stage I fell out of love with music and I thought my time as a bassist had ended. 

 

Then, about 4 years later, my sister started dating a guy who was the singer and guitarist in a Blues band and he needed a bass player! Even better, he ended up marrying my sister and he couldn't then sack me. We played up and down the UK for the next 10 years. Then he and my sister fell out and that meant I had no choice but to leave the band.

 

At that stage I fell out of love with music and I thought my time as a bassist had ended.

 

But then the old drummer, from the Blues band, called me and said the new band he was in needed a bass player.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It amazes me how popular Blues bands still are in England.

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

12 hours ago, Franticsmurf said:

As has been said by others, I gig because I love playing live music. I love the camaraderie of a band on stage (the 'us vs the world' vibe) and some of the funniest and most enjoyable moments I've had with bands have been with friends on stage or in the studio. I've never lost the buzz I get from a successful gig or a good performance. I'm fortunate not to need the money (although it funds my GAS) and the current band I'm in plays solely for charity, which gives me another little buzz when we do the end-of-year distribution accounts. I've learnt so much from other, better musicians. In the early days I developed a self confidence which I was able to take back to other parts of my life. I'd like to think I've brought some fun to other people along the way.

 

Agreed, just think of that feeling a big applause from an appreciative crowd gives us. Only those of us that entertain understand it.

 

Daryl

[ezbass]

37 minutes ago, Bluewine said:

 

Sometime those gigs that have

" disaster " written all over them can turn out to be awesome gigs .

 

Daryl

Well, this one tried its best to be as bad as I anticipated: Guitarist forgot his pedalboard and had to make an hour round trip back home to get it; keyboardist’s setup refused to send a signal to the desk, fortunately, a spare was at hand and worked, not as good a sound though; halfway through the second set I felt my bass move, my strap had split at the strap pin and was holding on by one thread, went to use a spare from the backup bass, no strap packed 🤦🏻.