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Post by tubez on Feb 17, 2006 18:19:08 GMT -5
It appears that most of the forums I hang out in the majority of musicians are gigging. I have never really been interested in gigging though I love playing. I love experimenting with and buying gear but when I comes to playing Im in the room. Is there something wrong with me??? Well I guess there is but its more then not gigging... It just seems like a PITA to lug equipment around, stay out till 2-3 in the morning in low life bars and all the other crap that goes into it.. Though I will be 40 next month and lots have players have been through the mill at that point I never had much desire in my younger years either. Its supposed to be fun right? Anyone else feel this way about gigging?
Gary
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Post by motrock on Feb 17, 2006 18:47:18 GMT -5
I feel the exact same way man. I would do it if I could find the correct musicians. At least some that gave a crap. I want to play the kind of music that Craigs band plays. That stuff would go great here, but everyone wants to play new age CRAP! There is one band here called CONCRETE. They play the kind of stuff that Craig plays. The guitar player is awesome. His tone sucks through his Crate stack! LOL But he is an awesome player! They are like an hour away from me. They are the only band that does that stuff, and they do very well!!!!!!!!!
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Post by shreder75 on Feb 17, 2006 19:16:16 GMT -5
gigging rules
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Post by n0fx on Feb 17, 2006 19:50:53 GMT -5
I'm 48 next week been gigging for years and though I see a definite "changing of the guard"
namely you young-un's LOL. It's getting harder and harder to have fun at some of these
gigs but I think I'll wanna do it atleast til I'm 50.
Other changes that I see...Non-smoking bars, DUI's and Bar owners having to
pay music royalties for cover bands ? CRAZY
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Post by Hacksaw on Feb 17, 2006 20:57:07 GMT -5
43 yrs here, not much gig'in, but when we do its selective and for one night usually.. we have a lot more fun here at the jam pad, everyone usually comes over twice a month on a friday eve and jam until sunlight comes in. yeaup.. been through the mill here too, overbooking managers who book you across the country and ya have 2 days to get there with a broken buss, or less! I 've done the on the road thing in the younger years, with a passion for about 5 years, traveled daily.. ate crackers and ketchup thing more than once. LOL.. it was great times and then there where the bad times. Today we anjoy each others loose jams and creativity to have fun, start and stop when we want. drink all we want or what ever! HAHAH Plus, at our age group thats discussing this,, its get pretty tough to watch our crowd dance.. anything from lost walkers, hair pieces falling off, to some who just need more support against gravity. LMAO...
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Post by motrock on Feb 17, 2006 21:36:47 GMT -5
What the deal with musicians unions? Never heard of them until like a couple of months back. Someone told me that bands don't get in to bars without a union card. I am like WHAT? I don't know of a single band that has one...around here. I played in one band about 5 years ago, and I didn't have a card. We went in, played, and got paid cash!
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Post by twistofcain32 on Feb 17, 2006 22:13:58 GMT -5
i envy shreder,vom and criag. i wish my band could get there sh*t together. we gigged like 7 times in 4 years.
some guys i know just want to m,make it big. i would be
totally content with gigging bars.i did the playing in the bedroom thing for the first 10 years of playing. being
in a band makes playing much more fulfilling for me.
it would be even more fulfilling if i was with the right musitions..giging rules but my band sucks all though i still have fun anyway and thats what matters whether your in a band or not
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Post by Hacksaw on Feb 17, 2006 22:21:25 GMT -5
AFM , afm.org union helps protect you with contracts legal advice etc.. also if your on the list, they may call you for a fill-in for a gig. it also help hook you up with a manager, other musicians etc.. but its got a cost. most bars dont like union members/bands, cause then out comes the contract to play. :-) the good side is, if the bar looks for union bands/members, they expect professional players. contracts! also, if your union, your supposed to stay within the agreement with the union on pay scales etc.. ( which is why bars again dont like unions). Its been a long time since I was in it. I dont know what has changed. but it helped in the long run to keep problems off our back. it's mainly for the full time pro who need insurance, backup musicians fast in case your out a member, they even had dental plans! Edit: look here for info,, a local chicago union, backed by AFM www.livemusichicago.com/site/join.html |
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Post by Dirrty Craig on Feb 17, 2006 23:55:00 GMT -5
I've honestly done every type of gig imaginable and I'm only 34. I mean weddings, acoustic, jazz, blues, Metal, classic rock, conventions, big clubs, little clubs, huge outdoor gigs in front of 10,000+.. and I honestly still get off on it as much as I did when I was 18. I don't ever plan on stopping. I'm a "lifer". I wouldn't trade my life for anyones.  |
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Post by tubez on Feb 18, 2006 9:32:39 GMT -5
Well, I haven't made mention of this but I have what Bret Michaels has (type 1 diabetes) and it plays havoc on my physical and mental well being at times. I always seem to use it as an excuse to not get involved with many pleasureable things. I was offered an opportunity to try out for a local cover band and started talking myself out of it in fear of not feeling well and having to perform. I often say to myself how in the hell does Bret Michaels live on the road as a diabetic and perform in front of thousands of people night after night being diabetic.
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Post by kurtsstuff on Feb 18, 2006 10:42:07 GMT -5
I'm 45 and have 100's of gigs under my belt doing the "A" circuit thing in the converted school bus back in the day (man..I miss the 80's...hehe) The title you need to avoid is "houseband" . We were a kickass band and it seemed the club owners would want to hire us as the houseband for whatever club we were at..We took a couple of the offers but it was a mistake because...after playing at the same place to the same people week after week...it turned into a "job"!!! It loses the excitement of playing a different place to a different crowd. The heavy drinking and drugging set in because you did'nt have to worry...after 5-6 weeks at the same place your playing on "auto pilot" anyways. A once or twice a month gig is cool..keeps it fresh and exciting I think??
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Post by Hacksaw on Feb 18, 2006 10:51:00 GMT -5
Tubez, I feel for you man, I didnt realized bret Michaels had diabetes either, and that level of Diabetes. SO, I did a web search to read about it. I hope I can convey a positive message, and be helpful ;-) because it must be very hard on you, and others that have this condition. my heart goes out to you. what a battle. as Bret talked about how he fights to maintain through the side effects of the disease. I read articles and its real tough for him as well. what I think about bret and others, ( and maybe you as well), he does music. thats his job, where we have the day jobs to keep in check, and then have the extra things after work we want to do. which adds to the stress. which seems to trigger more problems from what I read. performing out and practicing music as a group, and holding a job is a very long day. and the excitement levels can be very high. what I got out of reading the story linked below, Bret Meditates alot. which gains positive control of his mind in a very concentrated, relaxed form of relaxation. I dont know if you have every tried this. but it seems to work well for Bret. ( and maybe his key to making it through the day?) if you havent already tried meditation, I encourage it. I still meditate. about one hour a day if I can. it helps my immensly with stress and other situations. its almost like rebooting the mind and clearing it out to me. and excersize a lot. www.usatoday.com/news/health/2002-07-01-bret-micheals.htm |
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Post by shreder75 on Feb 18, 2006 11:02:58 GMT -5
i envy shreder,vom and criag. i wish my band could get there sh*t together. we gigged like 7 times in 4 years. some guys i know just want to m,make it big. i would be totally content with gigging bars.i did the playing in the bedroom thing for the first 10 years of playing. being in a band makes playing much more fulfilling for me. it would be even more fulfilling if i was with the right musitions..giging rules but my band sucks all though i still have fun anyway and thats what matters whether your in a band or not I hear ya, I did the bedroom thing for FIFTEEN YEARS!! sure, I had guys that I jammed with but because of people goin' off to college and what not (this is many moons ago, mind you..lol) nothign ever came of it... I just happened to luck out..the other guitar player works in my division..he was sick of his old band even though they gigged out regularly..asked me if I wanted to start a band..Is aid I'd try..didn't knwo if I could hack it..but then it started to fall into place that being said, we're on our third drummer in the past year...we've had rough spots..spent lots of time and money on gear, rehersal places, banners, bumper stickers..but it's startin' to pay off... hmmm..maybe I'll put that sh!t on my taxes this year..lol |
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Post by shreder75 on Feb 18, 2006 11:03:39 GMT -5
Well, I haven't made mention of this but I have what Bret Michaels has (type 1 diabetes) and it plays havoc on my physical and mental well being at times. I always seem to use it as an excuse to not get involved with many pleasureable things. I was offered an opportunity to try out for a local cover band and started talking myself out of it in fear of not feeling well and having to perform. I often say to myself how in the hell does Bret Michaels live on the road as a diabetic and perform in front of thousands of people night after night being diabetic. wow, sorry to hear that man |
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Post by tubez on Feb 18, 2006 15:41:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the support all,
There are many organizations working on adaquate treatments for diabetes but nothing avail at this current time. Are body's are like cars in respect that if all parts are not functioning properly they don't run very well. Having normal glucose levels is essential for mental and physical well being. Unfortunately the treatments available though have improved over the years are still inferior. I have been living on insulin injections for 31 years now and it never gets easy to cope with but I have no choice if I want to wake up. Thank god I have not had to face any of the nasty secondary complications at this point but the daily sugar swings are bad enough. Talk about burden's huh...! Makes me wonder why I even care about my tone.....
Thanks all,
Gary
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