stop playing in bands

Paul Wade · From: mundelein,ill

just want to get a feel here. has anybody stop playing in bands because:

1 don't have the time

2 job

3 family

4 can't fine the right musicians

5 age
it seems to me it's geting harder to fine the right
musicians to play with. i my self play classic country and western swing but, there seems a lack
of musicians who are willing to play that stuff. would like to here from you steel players on this
p.w
barry: yes that's what i mean Embarassed

Barry Blackwood · Posted 24 Oct 2012 8:01 am

Paul, did you mean, "4 can't find the right musicians?"

I'd say numbers 4 & 5 would fit me as well.

Frank Freniere · From: The First Coast

Yup, 4 primarily, with a little bit of 5. I would add "6: the economy."

When there's not enough money to go around, we'll ditch the steel, thank you very much.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I'll be 75 in December and have cut way back on my playing in bands. I eliminated a weekly Tuesday show that i did for 14 years. I've still got a weekly Monday night show and if/when that gig gets cancelled that will be the end of regular gigs.

I did Florida winter tours 7 years with Tommy Cash and 2 years with George Hamilton IV. But I'm done with "road" work, too. Leave that to the younger guys.

I'll still do occasional job or a fill in but that's all. We probably never completely quit playing.

However, I have a home recording studio (using Sonar X2 recording software) and I've been doing a lot of recording lately. I'm working on a CD project for a "retired" Nashville songwriter now. I have four other singers that want to do CD projects as soon as I'm done with the current project.

Roger Kelly · From: Bristol,Tennessee

All of the above for me....about the only playing I do these days is with tracks.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

This is probably not what you are talking about. I expect you mean long term or permanently due to only one of the situations, however I can say Yes to some of them, but only temporarily:

#1. Yes
#2. Yes....coupled to #1 especially
#3. No
#4. Yes....several times over but not related to style.
#5. Not yet, but it's creeping up and I realize it every time I load all my gear in or out.

I'll play just about any style with able musicians. I don't have to stay with the traditional stuff.

To expand on the time issue, in the early 90's, I once had to drop out of a situation with some great guys that played bluegrass/country in one configuration and blues and rock in another. I couldn't keep up, make all the rehearsals, shows and work a full time job without killing myself...so #1 and #2 apply here.

The front man went on to make large waves in the country/new country recording industry and is still touring hard as far as I know.

Daniel Policarpo · Posted 24 Oct 2012 9:56 am

I've had trouble finding the right musicians. Lots of people say they want to play honky tonk, but then out come the rock licks and distortion pedal, or the bass player starts walking through some dreaded cliche blues. Last talented singer I was working with moved to Texas.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5...no.

Lynn Fargo · From: Fort Edward, NY

Well, I quit playing in '86 to go to college, so I didn't have the (1) time to play. Then came a (2) job AND more college, and even less (1) time. My (3) family was disappointed I wasn't playing music anymore, but understood that as a single woman I needed more than $35 a week to live on (Can I add 6 - poor pay?.) I'm pretty sure I could find some good (4) musicians to play with now, except all the aches and pains that come with my (5) age are keeping me from contacting them.

But retirement is just around the corner, so since I won't have a (2) job, I'll have more (1) time and hopefully won't feel my (5) age. Maybe then I'll give those (4) musicians a call and make my (3) family proud!

Laughing

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Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

Yup.Most folks have more stuff to do than time to do it in.If the gigs don't justify the investment of time and effort,there's always something else that will.

Riley Hart · From: South Carolina, USA

I have played in bands all my life( well not yet) lol! Usually if there are gigs, then there are also bands to play with. Church is also a great place to play. Think about it; no fights and flying beer bottles or drunken dancers falling into ur equipment.

We have to keep up our chops though, and if it means playing with bkgrd tracks at parties, etc., sobeit...

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

that's funny, lynn. and i like your #6!

John Cox · From: Texas, USA

Numbers 4&5 for me. Most people today would rather play stuff that sounds like "boom- box rock". Now I mainly just play back-up tracks. The two things I don't miss are driving home in the middle of the night and unloading at 3am in the morning.

JC.
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Bill L. Wilson · From: Oklahoma, USA

After 30 or so yrs of not playing clubs, in the last 2yrs I've started back up. 4hrs a night, Fri. and Sat. I usually haul a Session 400 Limited, a Fender Pro Reverb, or a Fender Twin w/JBL'S, and sometimes a Marshall half stack, a Emmons LeGrande, a Sho-Bud pack a seat, a small pedal brd, a Tele, and a Strat. I'm 66yrs old, my back is screwed together, my shoulder's out of place, but I love to play. All I've got is time, our daughter is grown, and I'm retired. And occasionally I can be a witness for Jesus in these darkest of places.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Number 4. It's hard to find anyone under 50 that has ever heard of the classic steel tunes I enjoy playing such as Steel guitar rag,My window faces the south,Remington ride,Panhandle rag,B Bowman bop,Georgia steel guitar,Steeling the blues,etc.or the old pop tunes I love such as Misty,Deep purple,Moon glow,Harlem Nocturne,Sleepy Lagoon,etc.It's almost as hard to find some of these kids [40 and under]to know these tunes as it is finding a young drummer that understands what a rimshot or a shuffle beat is. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.
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Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

#5: Age without a doubt.

Still get requests but my musical forays are for old folks homes only now.

Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

No. 7 - Don't care for the style of music.
I quit a band for that had changed to keep up with modern radio county.

I'm fortunate in that I'm in several bands that have different styles, and still enjoy entertaining (myself as well) even though (no. 6.) the money seems to get worse with time.

I know I would miss it.

I've always frosted somebody else's cake it seems. I'm not sure anyone would be interested in hearing me as a front man playing only instrumentals. Joe public loves a good singer. Good singers make a sideman's job easy.

Bo Legg · Posted 25 Oct 2012 8:29 am

Great topic

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Health issues are the only things that have slowed me down. I have more potential work than I could handle if fully healthy.

So rather than tick people off by refusing specific gigs I play one regular Sunday night gig I've been associated with for years and try to hit a jam session every week if I feel up to it.

But I'm finding that the So Cal music scene is definitely alive - IF you don't lock yourself into one style of music (i.e. traditional country-only players don't seem to understand the lack of calls). It also helps to be a multi instrumentalist (honestly I play far more 6 string than steel...but a lot of calls are because they know there's the possibility of steel if they decide they want it).

Literally everything I get called for is crossover music - "roots rock", for lack of a better description.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Shorty Smith · From: Columbus, Georgia, USA

I been playing regular two nights a week for the past 8 year, this summer I took 3 months off, then two week ago I turn 80 and went back to playing with the same band on Friday night and maybe Saturday soon. It nice to know they still want me at my age. Charlie I know you like western swing and I know you are really good at it on your steel,keep steeling, Shorty

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

I waited forty years to find three other musicians who like each other, and more importantly, whose WIVES like each other. All better now.... Wink

Terry Winter · From: Saskatchewan, Canada

I've stopped playing in bands that play for dances etc. Do a lot of playing in groups that play for in retirement homes or for listening entertainment though. Don't get back home late and have appreciative crowds.
Terry

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

Jason Rumley · From: Foley, Minnesota, USA

I'm a younger guy so I'm sure they'll be a point where I want to quit performing live but at this stage I really can't imagine it. I get too much of a thrill from doing it.
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"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." - Charlie Parker

Kevin Mincke · From: Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA

Well, I've played on/off since the late 70's and quit playing for a while in the 90's when i was on the DTF and SWAT team and kids (X3) were young. I have 25+ with the police department and would seriously consider going on the road at least until my wife gets closer to retirement. I could do real well with someone like Dwight as a sideman playing pedal steel, accordion, mando, and some good backup vocals. A dream gig would be the road with a good act for awhile Razz

Paul brings up some very valid points concerning what affects us most in our search for where our career choices lead us.

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