Over

[donf]

Last night during practice I let my guitar droop down by my side and told the band I had enough. Don't know what it is, but I had no interest in playing in front of people anymore. My bandmates are great people and I feel bad, but I think I had some funk come over me the last couple of months.

Don't know if it's frustration or not. I almost feel content just to sit at my music desk alone and figure things out on the guitar. Going to band practice got to be chore. I like most of the songs we were doing, but not all, but I guess that holds true with any band.

We were playing cover tunes and did really well on our outings and started getting requests from clubs as well as private parties, but like I said, not interested.

The thing I'll miss is how accelerate my playing has become when playing with other people compared to when I'm just sitting there at my desk.

Is this a normal reaction? Does everyone go thru something like this?

[lerxstcat]

Re: Over

It's normal, but it's also normal that you'll miss playing with a band after a short time without. The grass is always greener on the other side because of the cowpies!

If something is bothering you generally you may be suffering from clinical depression. You really ought to see someone for that; it can derail your whole life. Anyway, best of luck and I hope you come out of the funk!

Rich

[shreddermon]

Re: Over

Yeah, Don. I bowed out of my band a few months back. Still a little bummed about that, but it was the right thing to do.

My professional life just doesn't allow me to dedicate the time it takes to be in a very active, gigging band. That was how it became a "chore" for me. Everyone else in the band was a professional musician, so the band was essentially an extension of their career. Not so for me. It's more of a hobby, and I had to find time AWAY from my career to do it. That became stressful for me and was holding the rest of them back. (...I had discussed this with my bandmates well before even playing with them, though. And, while we had an upfront "understanding" about it, in the end, they couldn't honor that.)

And, yeah, I REALLY miss playing with a group of people. (...Even the cheesy tunes that I hated.) That does wonders for your playing chops.

I'm still not sure how to balance my career, musical interests, and home life. There's never enough time for all of what I want to do. I guess I've just had to lower my expectations for now.

[donf]

Re: Over

[ QUOTE ]
It's normal, but it's also normal that you'll miss playing with a band after a short time without. The grass is always greener on the other side because of the cowpies!

If something is bothering you generally you may be suffering from clinical depression. You really ought to see someone for that; it can derail your whole life. Anyway, best of luck and I hope you come out of the funk!

Rich


[/ QUOTE ]

The funk could be a form of depression, but I think like shredderman was saying, trying to balance the time it takes to have a good band, along with family time, work time and a host of other responsibilities took a toll. Practicing with the band was a good time and it was only 1-2 times a week, but during the week, having to learn new songs so your prepared when you get down there ate up most of the time. I always liked to be prepared before I got there, so I would push other important things aside to be prepared, and it came to a head last night.

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: Over

Don....I'm losing it too.
Especially cover bands....I'll never ever play with another one. I'd MUCH rather focus my energy on writing and performing my own stuff. Lately...I've lost a LOT of my drive to even pick my guitar up and play, much less get my band back in full swing. It happens...it may pass...it may not. With a new baby on the way, it's not likely that I will get time to even get back into a band if I wanted to. Time will tell bud.

[donf]

Re: Over

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, Don. I bowed out of my band a few months back. Still a little bummed about that, but it was the right thing to do.

My professional life just doesn't allow me to dedicate the time it takes to be in a very active, gigging band. That was how it became a "chore" for me. Everyone else in the band was a professional musician, so the band was essentially an extension of their career. Not so for me. It's more of a hobby, and I had to find time AWAY from my career to do it. That became stressful for me and was holding the rest of them back. (...I had discussed this with my bandmates well before even playing with them, though. And, while we had an upfront "understanding" about it, in the end, they couldn't honor that.)

And, yeah, I REALLY miss playing with a group of people. (...Even the cheesy tunes that I hated.) That does wonders for your playing chops.

I'm still not sure how to balance my career, musical interests, and home life. There's never enough time for all of what I want to do. I guess I've just had to lower my expectations for now.


[/ QUOTE ]

My story sounds parallel to yours and though it hurts, I think it's also the right thing to do.

I do feel bad for the guys in the band cause they are dynamite people and we really worked hard this summer, but I need to take a step back.

[ QUOTE ]
(...Even the cheesy tunes that I hated.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats funny cause I would never go near songs like "Jessie's Girl", but with these guys, it became fun. (won't publicly admit it though)

[shreddermon]

Re: Over

[ QUOTE ]
Thats funny cause I would never go near songs like "Jessie's Girl", but with these guys, it became fun. (won't publicly admit it though)

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I know what you mean. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

cough...867-5309...cough [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Though I did manage to spice it up with a nice solo. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[donf]

Re: Over

[ QUOTE ]
Don....I'm losing it too.
Especially cover bands....I'll never ever play with another one. I'd MUCH rather focus my energy on writing and performing my own stuff. Lately...I've lost a LOT of my drive to even pick my guitar up and play, much less get my band back in full swing. It happens...it may pass...it may not. With a new baby on the way, it's not likely that I will get time to even get back into a band if I wanted to. Time will tell bud.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm at that point too with the drive, but I almost feel like this weight fell off my shoulder last night. Now I can learn things I want and at my pace without being under the gun. I hope that'll revive my interest in playing and I think it will.

Funny you msg me. I was gonna msg you yesterday cause I went over 100 posts and I had some interested in th F-30.

I'm down here in Brick.

[donf]

Re: Over

[ QUOTE ]
cough...867-5309...cough

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

We did that too

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: Over

[ QUOTE ]


I'm at that point too with the drive, but I almost feel like this weight fell off my shoulder last night. Now I can learn things I want and at my pace without being under the gun. I hope that'll revive my interest in playing and I think it will.

Funny you msg me. I was gonna msg you yesterday cause I went over 100 posts and I had some interested in th F-30.

I'm down here in Brick.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don, I'm up in Stanhope now (Netcong/Newton/Backwoods redneck Northwest NJ)...LOL
I was in Piscataway until a few months ago. My son and daughter live in South TR (Beachwood)...not far from you.

Intersted in the Mesa?....it's still for sale if you wanna take a trip up and check it out in person!

[Tetsuo]

Re: Over

I have been here a few times. I am pretty much done with bands but I will form a project in the near future. If it workedout great we would gig but I quit my last band and reformed us 4 times. I finally got the point. Slow learner I am

[Firebird V]

Re: Over

Backwoods Redneck Northwest NJ - LMFAO!
Welcome to my neck of the woods.... Oh. And you forgot BEAR COUNTRY in there bro!

[atomic charvel guy]

Re: Over

hey dude,
i'm sorry about your situation. at least you still play guitar, so that is great. since i stopped shooting dope i have not been able to play a fukkin' note, nor do i even want to play. i played for so many years high that i locked into that groove and i have lost all my fire and want to play now that i am clean. it's really a crusher for me cuz i loved to play and i breathed for music. it's all gone now though and i am in limbo. don't stop playing don, whatever you do.

[Tetsuo]

Re: Over

Tommy... The fire can return thoughhow long have you been clean? It can take a while but the music will evolve itself away from the other outside things..just takes time

[zeegler]

Re: Over

I've thought the same thing on occasion. However, instead of jumping the gun, and telling everyone that I quit, I have just packed up my stuff, and said I had to go for various reasons (EG: I'm not feeling too good). Sure enough, next rehearsal, I feel good again, and back into it.