OT: The phone call I never expected

[shamus63]

Don't sell anything. Keep it all. You won't quit playing altogether forever. Even if you stop for now, you will find that there is an overwhelming desire inside that will nag you more than any wife ever could that will drive you back to playing bass.

Once a bassist, always a bassist.

That's dead-on, as well. I took a 'break' from playing live back in late April; sold the equipment with the intention of taking the entire summer off...only to have my phone ring constantly for hit-man gigs (some bands had loaner bass amps, others didn't). When I wasn't gigging, I practiced at home, or went to the weekly jam night to keep my live chops (and play with new faces now-and-then).

So, now I have new equipment...and a refreshed attitude!

Point being ~ you'll never get music out of your system. As much as you think you're able to fold up shop due to a bad experience, or what you may feel was wasted time, you'll only come back again and again.

Hell...I've been through a sh*tload of bands in nearly 27 years...I'm far from done!

 

[TSanders]

Man I cant thank you guys enough for your advice, help, and opinions. Its funny to me sometimes, the famiy feel we have here in an internet community. Since I was booked, I missed the open house. Ive not seen most of you in person once. However, anytime Ive been in need, you guys have come through. So again, thanks.

All that said, my band cant just go on without the lead singer. Hes also a great guitarist that wrote most of our material. This particular band, would really be a waste to continue, without him in it.

Today brought more hope than I had last night. Word obviously got out fast, and Ive had some great calls and emails today. Its looking like there will be plenty of live and studio dates after the splitting of my band.

The its already looking better,
Travis

 

[shamus63]

Today brought more hope than I had last night. Word obviously got out fast, and Ive had some great calls and emails today. Its looking like there will be plenty of live and studio dates after the splitting of my band.

The its already looking better,
Travis

I rest my case.

 

[SteveB]

Hang in there Travis!

In all my life, I've only been in a handful of bands... because most of them had a long life span. My current band was formed in 1993 or so.. we played together until about 1997 and then stopped. Around 2000 or 2001 the drummer and I started playing again, with a new bass player. A year later our former singer re-joined the group, and here we are in 2005 going on 2006.

Actually, the singer, drummer and I were all in a band together back in 1986, too, which lasted only a year or so. Sometimes we argue, hell it's like family after all these years. But in the end, we keep try to keep our sense of humor and remember that we're supposed to be enjoying ourselves.

 

[phatduckk]

Oh Trav .... dont get all emo buddy. Im gonna have to side with Bov and Pops on this one dude. If the band is "done" that sucks, but thats not the end of the world ... hell, maybe a break for a little bit will do you good; maybe your burnt out a little. I say go with the flow dude ... no need to call it quits or to plan out what youre doing 2 years from now.

everything's gonna be fine. youre a talented guy and im sure youll find a bunch more dudes that you have musical chemistry with

 

[AnthonyD]

It's never as bad as it seems - and things DO get better...

Seems you're already on your way to finding that out first hand - good luck!

 

[tkarter]

You are young Travis. Things are going to change. Hang in there you will get the work playing. Don't ever quit until it is you who feel the need to quit.


If you can't get a band toot sweet then try teaching bass for a living. I know you are good enough to get plenty of calls for all kinds of gigs.


tk

 

[TSanders]

Once again guys, thanks. Your words mean a lot to me.

Im still a bit bummed, simply because of how much I loved our music, and how much I believed in it.

Were going to finish our booked gigs through January. I have also started booking some other stuff, and have plenty of studio dates coming up. In January when my band is done, I have two opportunities (right now, maybe more will come) that look promising. It appears Ill stay busy, and for that Im thankfull. Its made a tough time easier to swallow, and all I can do is look forward to what lies ahead.

 

[Dr Stankface]

Once again guys, thanks. Your words mean a lot to me.

Im still a bit bummed, simply because of how much I loved our music, and how much I believed in it.

Were going to finish our booked gigs through January. I have also started booking some other stuff, and have plenty of studio dates coming up. In January when my band is done, I have two opportunities (right now, maybe more will come) that look promising. It appears Ill stay busy, and for that Im thankfull. Its made a tough time easier to swallow, and all I can do is look forward to what lies ahead.

Atta boy!!!

 

[phatduckk]

Once again guys, thanks. Your words mean a lot to me.

Im still a bit bummed, simply because of how much I loved our music, and how much I believed in it.

Were going to finish our booked gigs through January. I have also started booking some other stuff, and have plenty of studio dates coming up. In January when my band is done, I have two opportunities (right now, maybe more will come) that look promising. It appears Ill stay busy, and for that Im thankfull. Its made a tough time easier to swallow, and all I can do is look forward to what lies ahead.

right on ... looks like things got "better" for ya real quick. awesome and congrats.

bands breaking up can be a bummer. My first serious band fell apart and broke up about 4 days before signing a record deal. that really hit hard. I love the band, we rocked (IMO) and it was awesome ... but some external BS got too much for our drummer, so he quit ... we practiced in his mom's garage so we were out a drummer and a practice space. We got another drummer and a rented space shortly thereafter. Putting off the record dudes was a challenge and things were just never the same so the band fizzled and died.

 

[high mileage]

Having a band break up isn't a lot of fun - been there, done that a few times. Well, many bands - but a few that were really good and fun to play with. When something like this happens, I take a little time off, not realizing that I really needed that. Then something else comes up.

I've played for 19 years and was about ready to give it up because I was really frustrated with the band I was in (long story, most of us have been there). A couple months later, a studio project came along - whole different deal, different players. Then after that came my current band and it's one of the best bands I've ever been in.

I'm not playing for a living, but it sounds like you've got some good things already in the works. I can understand that there's a little more stress with having to do it to pay the rent, but hang in there - you'll find the right one.

 

[Dr. Nick]

Travis, listen to me very carefully.

Sit down, if you must.

Are you listening?

...Good: NEVER, EVER GIVE UP YOUR INSTRUMENT. SELL YOUR AMP, IF YOU MUST. SELL YOUR EFFECTS BOXES (THEY CAN BE PAWNED OFF ON UNSUSPECTING NEWBIES...)

IF YOU STILL REALLY NEED THE MONEY, SELL YOUR VEHICLE AND CONSIDER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INSTEAD. (It's clean & efficient and random gang beatings are less of a problem now then ever before.)

Bands come, and bands go. It's a sad fact of life. In my youth I was in a particularly successful college town party band...good gigs, good money, hot and cold running bootie, free drinks at every bar, guest list at every local show, etc., etc, only to have it all fall apart one day with no warning because the pretty boy singer decided he wanted to move back to NJ and go to business school.

Local hero one day, jobless loser the next...

But I stuck with it, and played in some other bands over the years, with mixed success.

Eventually, I met a special woman who tolerates my idiosyncracies and love of music. I "retired' from music and got a "real job", but I ALWAYS held onto my favorite bass and amp!

I became resolved that my "glory days' (such as they were) were long behind me, when, lo and behold, I get a call about a year ago...

Now I am playing bigger gigs to more enthusiastic crowds then ever! All with a great ol' bunch of geezers like me. We've all been through the meat grinder and have learned the hard way. No egos, no pressure, just great players, quality equipment...it's great.

So, my message to you in this rambling post (sorry ), is HOLD ONTO YOUR BASS. WHETHER YOU ARE IN A BAND OR NOT, PLAY IT. PLAY IT EVER DAY! KEEP YOUR CHOPS UP!

...you never know when that phone is gonna ring!

 

[tkarter]

Travis.. Bands are just bands. Records are reocords. Music is music.

Once you marry and become a father. That is the deal you can never quit. A band isn't that deal it may seem like it but that is part of learning. The grief it causes you can no way compare to what real life is all about.


Music is fun and lifts the spirits. Always let it do that for you.

Lament the things that you cannot change but understand what you are lamenting.


This night kids are going out trick or treating. Some of them will not make it home.

That is unbelievable. Yet it happens.

There are lots of bands. Even more bands. Some really cool band names haven't been taken yet and you could be the bass player for them.

Let's just not let music or playing come in front of what is the real things about life and the real hardships we are all going to face while living that life.


IMHO

tk

 

[AnthonyD]

Perspective...

All about perspective...

 

[Dr. Nick]

Perspective...

All about perspective...

+1

Family & Friends. That's where's it's at, alright.

You could take away all the gigging and playing and GAS'ing, and as long as everything else in my life was okay, I could be very happy.

I'm not volunterring for this, mind you...

 

[NorM]

Playing guitar (and a bass guitar) is the longest running constant in my life right behind smoking and some sexual stuff that I have said to much about already. When I realized that humanity sucked and that "musicians" were the flakiest people in the world (alcohol and drugs mostly) I decided to just do everything myself. When I am playing, I love you, but you can go to hell. Singing wastes time. Bust out that bass solo that makes me feel good underneath.

 

[Jazzbassman23]

Travis, the guy is a SINGER.


Seriously. The singer quits and you guys pack it in?

Seriously. Get your head out of your @ss and realize what is going on.

Seriously.

Jack

I'm glad someone said this.

 

[Golem]

...........Once a bassist, always a bassist.

MMMmmmmnnn.... Scary but too true.

I'm going thru something lesser but similar, involving my duo, sometimes duo+, of 3 nights/wk over the last 3+ yrs. In this case it would be my own decision, and all my local support persons warn me that I could come apart if I give it up.

Keep your bass, that's the arena where this is still your own decision, not forced on you by others. Keep it as a contract with yourself that you are not giving up your expectations.

 

[AnthonyD]

Sold my bass gear once to be a full time drummer...


What a mistake that was...


And I was a damn good drummer, too!

 

[shamus63]

Sold my bass gear once to be a full time drummer...


What a mistake that was...


And I was a damn good drummer, too!

You ever dress up as Peter Criss or Eric Carr?