Can't Get No Satisfaction

[Skip Ellis]

I'm closer, right now, to getting rid of all my equipment except one acoustic and one amp and Tele, than I've ever been. I just don't care if I play anymore and I'm losing whatever 'chops' I ever had due to inactivity. I recently spent $2K on a pedal steel to do a theater production that would have paid me $4K this summer - then I ended up turning the gig down - I couldn't get enthused enough to want to do it - never thought of that happening. I'm not one to practice to be practicing - I need a reason, whether getting in shape for a gig or learning new tunes for a gig or (as in the past) rehearsing for a theater production. People always say to try another genre, but I've already played any of the ones I'd ever have any interest in and I play lots of styles but can't seem to settle on one to be happy with; I seem to want to play whatever I happen to be listening to at the moment and that can go from Doc Watson to Hirofumi Asaba just by going from the car to the house. And since there are no gigs in the area, I have no impetus to even prepare a solo set for the local assisted living because they seem to want "You Are My Sunshine" sing a longs and Elvis to nice Johnny Smith chord melody. I'll turn 81 in a week and I'm still healthy enough to do it 3 or 4 nights a week but starting to think, just maybe, it's getting to be 'that' time. Anyone else struggled with this?

[Aiq]

My last proper gig was 2019 but my residency at Madison Square Living Room is eternal.

I just like playing guitar and I have since 1963.

I am getting rid of gear I don’t want/need. I have a friend with a store so that makes it easier.

I motivate myself by prepping for my Fake Trio gigs. I have a setlist - mostly what I did in the DC trio - only now I dig much deeper in terms of getting the stuff better. Besides guitar I practice fretless bass and drums which I enjoy.

I also do lessons here and there and work on reading.

If I didn’t like it I would not have a problem quitting.

[AllanAllen]

And since there are no gigs in the area

You say this all the time, but there are jazz venues in your area. Here's another thread where you lament the lack of venues and someone else gave 4 options.

Jazz Jams in Tampa/Sarasota area

[Skip Ellis]

You say this all the time, but there are jazz venues in your area. Here's another thread where you lament the lack of venues and someone else gave 4 options.

Jazz Jams in Tampa/Sarasota area

Nope - there is a semblance of a jazz club but it's very clique-ish and not well known and I don't do jams or open mics. I also prefer my playing to be well rehearsed and solo or duo and I've never been able to find anyone who wants to do it - or even anyone who can read music for that matter. I've run ads for years with very specific outlines and even offered to provide charts but can't find any readers - everybody wants to 'jam' and smoke dope. I have the skills to put together several hours of tunes either with or without tracks, solo or duo, but I'm not going to put the effort into it if I know it's not going anywhere. As I said above, in my area there is really nothing but sports bars and chain restaurants, none of which have live music. The local places are mostly restaurants at the beach that cater to vacationers who want to hear Jimmy Buffett and pop rock. There are no clubs that hire bands except a couple biker places that have blues bands. There are no country bands that I know of either. The assisted living facilities many times have volunteer entertainment with sing a longs and tambourines. I've been part of the music scene around here since 1970 and owned one of the local full line music stores and played just about every place in two counties that had a stage - it's just dried up. Sad....

[DawgBone]

Nope - there is a semblance of a jazz club but it's very clique-ish and not well known and I don't do jams or open mics. I also prefer my playing to be well rehearsed and solo or duo and I've never been able to find anyone who wants to do it - or even anyone who can read music for that matter. I've run ads for years with very specific outlines and even offered to provide charts but can't find any readers - everybody wants to 'jam' and smoke dope. I have the skills to put together several hours of tunes either with or without tracks, solo or duo, but I'm not going to put the effort into it if I know it's not going anywhere. As I said above, in my area there is really nothing but sports bars and chain restaurants, none of which have live music. The local places are mostly restaurants at the beach that cater to vacationers who want to hear Jimmy Buffett and pop rock. There are no clubs that hire bands except a couple biker places that have blues bands. There are no country bands that I know of either. The assisted living facilities many times have volunteer entertainment with sing a longs and tambourines. I've been part of the music scene around here since 1970 and owned one of the local full line music stores and played just about every place in two counties that had a stage - it's just dried up. Sad....

In my view "if you book it, they will come" meaning musicians. But most of them smoke dope, that's just a reality in the music world that I am familiar with. One of the few perks is being able to smoke and drink on the job. If I run too rigid of a rule book I won't have a band. If I don't run some sort of rule book I also won't have a band, or, at least one that is worth a damn. You have to provide some leeway for other people's behavior as long as it isn't affecting things in a negative way it's usually best if I overlook my personal biases against certain behaviors.

I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that there aren't any country bands looking for a steel player in central FL. Steel players always find gigs. I would reach out on social media, and print some business cards, find where country bands do play, and network. What do you have to lose? IME not too much out there falls into your lap without putting yourself out there first. Especially in Florida, which is fully of island time minded lazy ass mf'ers. Nobody is gonna call you, you have to call them or at least get out there enough to be a going concern. With keys, steel, or bass, it seems like if you establish yourself with one band the next thing you know you have more offers than you can take coming in if you are a guy with a good attitude, do the homework, and show up on time.

[Stringswinger]

Skip, sometimes our muse isn't there and we need to take a break from music and do other things. The music will be there if you want it up the road and I would suggest keeping one acoustic guitar, one electric guitar and one amp at a minimum.

Live music ain't what it used to be and that scene is unlikely to revive in the amount of time you have left.

Your muse may return and motivate you to play even if is just for the sake of playing. You never know. Be open minded and good luck!

[garybaldy]

My last proper gig was 2019 but my residency at Madison Square Living Room is eternal.

I just like playing guitar and I have since 1963.

I am getting rid of gear I don’t want/need. I have a friend with a store so that makes it easier.

I motivate myself by prepping for my Fake Trio gigs. I have a setlist - mostly what I did in the DC trio - only now I dig much deeper in terms of getting the stuff better. Besides guitar I practice fretless bass and drums which I enjoy.

I also do lessons here and there and work on reading.

If I didn’t like it I would not have a problem quitting.

That's a long time.
I started 1966 and first gig 1969.

[Aiq]

That's a long time.
I started 1966 and first gig 1969.

My auntie was an Early Sixties Folk Scare participant and she was showing me stuff. I was around her often and used her guitar - didn’t have my own for a few years. Beatles, Stones upped the ante but I was content to sing and play rhytmn.

I got into improv late sixties with Dead then Allmans, Miles and Coltrane a few years later.

So yes, a long time but it was…gradual.

I still remember the first time I held her Epiphone, the smell of it, the vibration on my chest. Hooked 4 Life.