sick of being a sideman

[LBAjazz]

Man, I have GOT to get my quartet playing more. I am so sick of being a sideman in under-rehearsed pickup bands. Anybody else get like this? Maybe it's just end of the year blues, I don't know.

[Subtone Sam]

It must the end of the year blues,I've been feeling like that lately too.Drunken people (small-time executives being the worst),too small stages,too loud bands,crappy sounding monitors,amateur soundmen,same crappy tunes etc. are getting on the nerves this time a year.But it pays the rent so... :?

[Morry]

Well, I'll bet that I hate my computer programming job, where I sit in a fabric covered cube and do what seems like the same work, over and over again, more than you hate being a sideman. If I had dedicated more time to playing and practicing early on, maybe I could have played professionally, but not at this stage of my life. I'd just love to be able to do the occassional gig, but working 60 hours a week, plus being on call pretty much rules that out too.

I guess it's all in your perspective.

[Subtone Sam]

Morry,every job has its positive and negative sides to it.I do enjoy playing most of the time but playing for living does have its negative sides to it,money changes things.But I'm not complaining really,for the most time I feel lucky to be able to earn my living doing this.

[LBAjazz]

Maybe if I was a full time sax player I wouldn't feel this way. It's just that after a day of carpentry or [especially] setting tile, then home for a quick shower and sandwich, I want to go stretch out on some jazz tunes, not 8 or 16 bar solos with some swing band or worse. But, I guess it's better than nothing !

[Morry]

Sam, you are right. My job affords me the opportunity to buy a bunch of musical toys that I'm only mediocre at playing. Most of the time though, I'd rather be playing gigs at the Shriner's, if I could get them.

[Doxy]

Maybe if I was a full time sax player I wouldn't feel this way. It's just that after a day of carpentry or [especially] setting tile, then home for a quick shower and sandwich, I want to go stretch out on some jazz tunes, not 8 or 16 bar solos with some swing band or worse. But, I guess it's better than nothing !

Yeah, I often wonder if I'd feel differently if I made the leap to do it full time. I do like the fact that my day gig provides me financial stability and affords me a lot of time in the afternoon and evening for music. The biggest advantage is that I can afford to be selective when it comes to taking gigs and who I play with. Heck, I don't even have to take gigs, which is perfect for those seasonal Scorpio moods where I lock myself in my room every night with a bottle of single malt, a pack of Camels, The Hi Fi, and my horns...for six months! Its nice to be able to disappear from the scene for awhile.

[Subtone Sam]

Bottle of single malt and pack of Camels last for six months?! And you call yourself a musician....!? :wink: :wink: :wink:

[Doxy]

Bottle of single malt and pack of Camels last for six months?! And you call yourself a musician....!? :wink: :wink: :wink:

No, I call myself an aspiring alcoholic. :lol:

I'm lucky if they last through a rehearsal. I've got it in for any and all organs in my body that begin with the letter 'L'.

To empathize with LBAJazz, I've just about come to the point where I walk out on all of the projects I've been working with. I'm really just fed up with self-absorbed musicians who don't LISTEN! I've got to move to a bigger city and find some real musicians who take music seriously.

[mike]

On the other hand: http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/cja/bj1.html

[michaelbaird]

I also enjoy alcohol, nicotine and sax playing. I have as much fun playing at home as I do at a gig. I just wish I had more time to play. Having a full time job means I don't have to worry about health insurance, retirement, or a steady income. Nobody ever said it would be easy. I pray alot.