What Keeps You In The Game ?

[Stub Mandrel]

Don't forget blues was fading in the USA until their leading lights came to the UK and sparked the UK blues movement.

[Woodinblack]

On 26/05/2025 at 03:24, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

What keeps me in the game is the guys I play with. Consummate professionals each and every one.

I cannot think of one bad word word to say about any of them. They give everything at each and every gig.

They are the first to criticise themselves and applaud the effort of others.

 

Mine is almost the same except the exact opposite. But still it can be fun!

[BigRedX]

I've been playing in bands for almost 50 years.

 

In that time I've been in 17 bands that played at least one gig or had recordings available for the public to buy.

 

I do it because IMO there is still nothing more exciting than performing something that I have written to an audience. Like others who have commented I can be socially awkward, but stick me on a stage with a musical instrument and I'm an entirely different person.

 

And TBH since 2009 I've had more fun and more success with my music than I did in any of the years before that. 

 

I still enjoy gigging and even all the stuff that goes with it. If it became impossible for me to play live any more, I'd still be releasing weird instrumental music that I had written on Bandcamp.

 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

2 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

I've been playing in bands for almost 50 years.

 

In that time I've been in 17 bands that played at least one gig or had recordings available for the public to buy.

 

I do it because IMO there is still nothing more exciting than performing something that I have written to an audience. Like others who have commented I can be socially awkward, but stick me on a stage with a musical instrument and I'm an entirely different person.

 

And TBH since 2009 I've had more fun and more success with my music than I did in any of the years before that. 

 

I still enjoy gigging and even all the stuff that goes with it. If it became impossible for me to play live any more, I'd still be releasing weird instrumental music that I had written on Bandcamp.

 

 

 

Making music and bringing joy to an audience, that's a huge buzz.

[Bluewine]

11 hours ago, BigRedX said:

I've been playing in bands for almost 50 years.

 

In that time I've been in 17 bands that played at least one gig or had recordings available for the public to buy.

 

I do it because IMO there is still nothing more exciting than performing something that I have written to an audience. Like others who have commented I can be socially awkward, but stick me on a stage with a musical instrument and I'm an entirely different person.

 

And TBH since 2009 I've had more fun and more success with my music than I did in any of the years before that. 

 

I still enjoy gigging and even all the stuff that goes with it. If it became impossible for me to play live any more, I'd still be releasing weird instrumental music that I had written on Bandcamp.

 

 

 

2009 was the year I joined Maple Road. I've been gigging almost weekly ever since.

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

Here's my opinion on the core reasons guys get out of the game.

 

1. Getting too old to do it.

 

2. Health issues.

 

3. Younger guys getting married and starting a family .

 

4. Guys that have a long history of poor band experiences .

 

5. Guys that were really never in the game.

 

Daryl

 

 

[Bluewine]

On 28/05/2025 at 03:47, Stub Mandrel said:

Don't forget blues was fading in the USA until their leading lights came to the UK and sparked the UK blues movement.

 

So true, I've read that a lot of the Chess recording artists didn't know they were famous until they came to England 

 

Daryl

[Linus27]

43 minutes ago, Bluewine said:

Here's my opinion on the core reasons guys get out of the game.

 

1. Getting too old to do it.

 

2. Health issues.

 

3. Younger guys getting married and starting a family .

 

4. Guys that have a long history of poor band experiences .

 

5. Guys that were really never in the game.

 

Daryl

 

 

I would also add that the landscape, certainly in the UK has changed since Covid and that a lot of venues have closed. This has led to audiences/members of the public having less interest in seeing live music for various reasons, be it not interested in going out to public places, unable or unwilling to pay to have a drink or see a band, interests have moved elsewhere.

[Buddster]

And cost of living. Prices of drinks (and everything else) going up, less spare cash = less punters spending money = pubs cutting back on bands. 

And yes, Covid seems to have had a big effect on attitudes to going out. Definitely noticed it at our local pub venue. 

[Dan Dare]

What keeps me in the game is the fact that I wouldn't know what to do with myself if playing music was no longer part of my life. I've been doing it for more than 50 years and it would leave a big hole if it ended. As is the case with many musicians, my social life is heavily tied up in it. A lot of friends are musicians. It's also a major part of who I am - my identity and how I perceive myself. 

[Bluewine]

1 hour ago, Linus27 said:

I would also add that the landscape, certainly in the UK has changed since Covid and that a lot of venues have closed. This has led to audiences/members of the public having less interest in seeing live music for various reasons, be it not interested in going out to public places, unable or unwilling to pay to have a drink or see a band, interests have moved elsewhere.

 

Agreed, however the baby boomers here are not giving up on going out.Many still indulging in their old habits.

 

We draw an older crowd. A lot of them,like me in their 70s. They grew up when live music was a huge part of their lives (the Woodstock generation).These folks are still going out and thank God they don't know when to quit.

 

I was talking to an 80 year old guy at our gig last Saturday night. He was talking about the fact that he still drives, lives independently. He said loves the grooves and loves to dance. 

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

1 hour ago, Dan Dare said:

What keeps me in the game is the fact that I wouldn't know what to do with myself if playing music was no longer part of my life. I've been doing it for more than 50 years and it would leave a big hole if it ended. As is the case with many musicians, my social life is heavily tied up in it. A lot of friends are musicians. It's also a major part of who I am - my identity and how I perceive myself. 

 

Exactly how I feel.

 

Unfortunately if my band folded I could never find a band situation like the one I'm in with Maple Road.

 

The nicer bookings.

 

I'm driven to our gigs

 

My bandmates and band leader are incredible. 

 

Very good money. 

 

Daryl

Edited 22 hours ago by Bluewine

[NHM]

Another problem which seems to be on the rise which reduces the number of venues offering live music (thus reducing the size of 'the game') is complaints by neighbours or locals about noise levels. I know of three cases in my area in the last two months, two of which have resulted in cancelled bookings for the band I'm in.

[BigRedX]

This shrinking number of venues must be a pub covers band problem because I'm not seeing it at all.

[Woodinblack]

2 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

This shrinking number of venues must be a pub covers band problem because I'm not seeing it at all.

 

It is quite a striking loss, so I am sure you will see it eventually.

 

we have no shortage of places to play at the moment (pub covers), but since I have joined my current main band, 6 venues in my local town (2 of which weren't pubs and did a variety of music) have closed for good, and 2 new ones have opened. This is quite a small town, so it is noticable.

[tegs07]

34 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

This shrinking number of venues must be a pub covers band problem because I'm not seeing it at all.

I think it’s more of a North/South thing. A lot of venues in the South (London and the South East in particular) are no more.

Edited 12 hours ago by tegs07

[Cat Burrito]

I quit music in 2001, as at 28yrs old I felt I was getting old. I was a bit embarrassed about it for years but I think it’s probably more common than I realised at the time. I’d always been the main driver of my bands and it meant I was behind everyone else on establishing any sort of career, whilst others had all progressed with their lives. It lasted less than 4yrs and by 2004, I was firmly back in the game. I have played solidly since and definitely enjoyed it more, ironically having greater successes with less pressure. I’m certainly a better player now.

 

Most of my old band mates are long out the game, with maybe only two others from my first four bands (1988 – 2001) still playing. Of the two playing still, one is actually playing music with me again.

 

I think I’ve changed recently in that desire for international tours and all the stuff I used to do has waned a little since I got into my 50s but I still like regularly playing live, writing and recording music. I think the headline from me is that it still feels like it is in my DNA. I’m definitely more picky about what I say yes to now but I don’t have any plans to stop any time soon.

[BigRedX]

43 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

It is quite a striking loss, so I am sure you will see it eventually.

 

When I moved to Nottingham in 1980 there were essentially 5 places for local originals bands to play:

The Ad-Lib Club

The Boat Club

The Hearty Goodfellow

The Newshouse (if you played blues-rock)

The Buttery Bar at Nottingham University (technically you had to be at the university, but local bands could get a gig there if they knew the right people).

 

Right now the list looks like this:

The Boat Club

The Bodega

Bunkers Hill

The Chapel at The Angel Microbrewery

The Grove

Jam Café

JT Soar

Liquid Light

Metronome

The Mist Rolling Inn

The Old Cold Store

The Old Salutation Inn

The Rescue Rooms

Rough Trade

Saltbox

 

As you can see that's 3 times as many and I'm sure I've missed a couple. The thing is, on the originals circuit, venues come and go, but here in Nottingham over the last 45 years they have been slowly increasing in number. We've lost couple recently, but the Maze has re-appeared at The Old Cold Store and The Chameleon in the basement of The Mist Rolling Inn. Getting a gig at any of these venues (with the exception of a couple which are very genre-specific), should be within reach of any well-organised and entertaining originals band - I've played most of the venues listed above within the last few years. Maybe Nottingham is special when it comes to venues for original bands? All I know is what I see, and there appear to be plenty of opportunities for my band to play all over the country. We'd be gigging every other weekend if the logistics were right. As it is we have 7 definite well-paid gigs in the next 4 months and several more that are just awaiting final confirmation.

Edited 12 hours ago by BigRedX

[BigRedX]

6 minutes ago, tegs07 said:

I think it’s more of a North/South thing. A lot of venues in the South (London and the South East in particular) are no more.

 

That might be it. We mostly play Nottingham and venues further North and as I said there is no shortage of gigs for us.

[Woodinblack]

23 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

 

That might be it. We mostly play Nottingham and venues further North and as I said there is no shortage of gigs for us.

 

Thats good, hope it stays that way. 

https://mixmag.net/read/uk-lost-venue-every-two-weeks-2024-news

 

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, BigRedX said:

 

That might be it. We mostly play Nottingham and venues further North and as I said there is no shortage of gigs for us.

 

We spent a weekend in Manchester but the only city centre music venues that had gigs had either (cheesy type) jazz or drum'n'bass DJs.

 

On the other hand, we saw five bands in three days in Brighton.

 

Over in South Wales still lots of venues but marginally more closing than opening.

 

[BigRedX]

We have two Manchester gigs coming up later this year.

 

Last time I played in Manchester after we'd finished our set we went to another pub just around the corner to see the band who we'd supported in Nottingham a few days earlier play.

[Stub Mandrel]

3 hours ago, BigRedX said:

We have two Manchester gigs coming up later this year.

 

Last time I played in Manchester after we'd finished our set we went to another pub just around the corner to see the band who we'd supported in Nottingham a few days earlier play.

 

It was odd, perhaps we hit a bad weekend.