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Topic: How do you balance gigs with practice |
Todd Pertll
From:
Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2005 8:18 am |
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I've been in the habit over the last 2-3 years of taking pretty much any job thrown at me. now I'm playnig 2-3 times a week not to mention the occational recording session or rehearsal. And this is with multiple acts.
Combined with a full time work week I don't have a lot of time to do much else.
My question is: At what point are you playing to much? Right now it feels like I'm always spending practice time learning other people's material rather than woodshedding and working on my basics.
How do you balance jobs and practicing?
todd
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Mat Rhodes
From:
Lexington, KY, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2005 9:31 am
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Todd,
My advice may not be the best in the world, but I value practice about 60-70% at this early stage of my steel career (and I've been at it about 7 years seriously, 12 years altogether). The remaining 30-40% is reserved for gigs with bands whose music I would want to hear myself in. It's true that you gain valuable experience by playing in all kinds of musical situations, but I think you can definitely spread yourself too thin. I found I was happier when I limited myself to music and bands that I liked, rather than play with any and everyone. That left me plenty of time to woodshed and explore new stuff. I believe the time you spend alone exploring, writing, and creating helps you create your own indentity better than the other way around. If all you make time for is sideman work, then I think it takes longer to get where you're trying to go if your goal is to be unique.
I guess it depends on the individual, too. I've seen players who are excellent at playing "on the spot" and thrive on live playing situations. I'm one of those players who's better at rehearsing a part at home before using it in a song. Any time I try to improvise on a song that hasn't been tested before, the results are usually disastrous.
The biggest challenge is learning how to say "no" without hurting anyone's feelings. My excuse is usually something like, "I've got a lot on my plate now with other projects, etc. Here's so-and-so's number."
Matt |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 6 Dec 2005 10:05 am
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One way would be to cut back on the day job as the money gets better from the gigs.
Bob |
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Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2005 1:52 pm
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Don't practice  |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2005 1:57 pm
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Playing a job is the best practice possible.
I have seen good players take a full time road job and before long they have become great players.
Jerry |
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David Wren
From:
Placerville, California, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2005 3:02 pm
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I couldn't envision any practice better than learning material for multiple bands, and then do live performance. But don't let your home life suffer (my wife told me to add that  ).
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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Session500; Hilton Pedal
www.ameechapman.com
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 6 Dec 2005 3:24 pm
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Back when I had more job opportunities than I could do, I never practiced...because I didn't have the time, but as was mentioned above, I was continuing to learn from the constant work.
In later years when jobs were scarce and I had time to practice, it never seemed to result in any more jobs. So, what is the result of this obscure life study?.....
......and it is, if you are working you don't have time to practice....if you have time to practice, you don't have any work!
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www.genejones.com
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 6 Dec 2005 5:55 pm
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The bandstand counts as practice.
I could not get my right foot, the volume pedal, and right knee right to coordinate, until I had to on the bandstand. It was either that or, well, you know, die.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 06 December 2005 at 05:56 PM.] |
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 6 Dec 2005 6:59 pm
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| Quote: |
| I have seen good players take a full time road job and before long they have become great players. |
Well that used to be the case. That happened a lot in the 60's,70's and to some degree in the 80's However I know of two killer players that took road jobs with new country acts. The kind where you only get to play a line here and there.Always traveling, no time to wood shed. Anyway, they lost a lot of ground in just a few years.. Regards .........bb
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Jim Walker
From:
Headland, AL
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