Giving-up

[peter c]

It's hard to succeed at anything.
That's the plain truth.

At the same time, it's possible to
succeed at anything.

That is also plainly true.

Doing something and with a passion
can get you someplace. How do you
get there, without doing it?

I'm not just saying this because
I have one. Let me tell you and I
might be repeating myself...

Digital drums are great because
they allow you to play more.

Sure, it's better to play acoustic
kits but you can only do that a
certain amount of time, during the
day. My digital kits have allowed
me the chance to create like never
before and with a freedom I never
knew. I kid you not.

If you had one, you'd play more. I
think you would be more creative.

Please think about it, at least.

Consider. It's 2am and I just worked
on my P-Shuffle some more. I just
love that I can do that.

You're a little down on confidence,
right now. Don't give in.

[img]cool.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 05, 2005 02:50 AM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

[Suspiria]

Originally posted by peter c:
Consider. It's 2am and I just worked
on my P-Shuffle some more. I just
love that I can do that.
<font color="#a62a2a"><font size="1">[ April 05, 2005 02:50 AM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font></font>

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's why I need one of those darn sets [img]smile.gif[/img]
As of August I'll be living in an apartment and there's nothing I want more than a set that is right next to my desk. I can just swing around on the chair and hop on my throne. That would be perfect!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 05, 2005 03:03 AM: Message edited by: Suspiria ]</font>

[kinkymook]

I think we've all been frustrated with our talent at some point(s) in our careers, whether it be the financial aspect, playing with dudes that aren't really on your level, gigs getting canceled, bar owners bitching about the band volume, not having the funds to replace your favorite cymbal that you just discovered has a CRACK?!

I used to look at having this talent as a BLESSING and a CURSE. Not any more....

Many times I'd be talking to my wife or parents and say, "I LOVE to do this and I'm obviously good at it, so why can't I make a decent living at it?!"

Let me tell you my story.

I've quit playing twice in my life. The first time was for 9 months and the second for 4.
The first time, I had just gotten out of PIT and taken the MI credo of: "Learn to play every style convincingly and you will work", to heart. I spent 5 years playing with country bands, oldies groups, RnB bands, all kinds of stuff I would normally have passed up, with players that I didn't really dig, in places that were definitely NOT SAFE, just to go out and get that musical experience or to make that buck! But, I realized later that I wasn't doing it because I LOVED playing anymore. Drumming had become a JOB. YEE GADS!!!!

I decided that I was doing it for all the wrong reasons, quit all of my bands and took a day job for awhile.

9 months later, I put my drums back together in a buddies garage and rocked out for a few weeks. It was SO exciting. I thought, "Wow, I'm a little rusty in the hinges but I'm LOVING this and I'm GOOD at this!" I felt like I was 12 again.
At that point I decided to get back out there and start doing it again but on MY terms. I was going to pick and choose what I wanted to do and who I wanted to play with. No more gig-whore stuff. (Although looking back, it was all great experience. Really.)

Since then, I've kept playing with all kinds of great players and groups, most recently I had been playing and touring with an original band that made OK money but it wasn't enough. And oh my God, when the Hurricanes blew thru last year and took a month of gigs off my plate.....

Again, I had to take a day job and make my money another way for 4 months. In desperation, to pay the rent, I took a REALLY crappy job that saw me getting up at 4 in the morning (instead of going to bed at that time!) and doing physical labor. It also kept me away from my family for months at a time. It really forced me to re-evaluate my priorities. I thought, "I'll never play music full time again. Look at where it got me."

When I finally re-couped my losses and moved back home, I decided that I was going to look for another day job and get some normalcy around my house. I'd work 9-5, have my nights off, gig (maybe) on the weekends, and live the normal suburban life.

Then a funny thing happened.....

My phone started ringing. A LOT. So, until I found that perfect day gig I took a lot of gigs around town and guess what?
I loved every minute of it!

It was then (this past January) that I decided that THIS IS my normalcy. After being married for 5 years, me being gone 4-5 nights a week or 3 weeks at a time IS normal for my family and really, this is what I'm meant to do with my life. Ok, I don't make great amounts of money and I'll probably never be rich but man, I get to create at will!! I have that talent. Don't you feel sympathy for people that get up in the morning, go to work, come home, watch CSI, go to sleep and then go out the next day and do it all over again? There are people out there who make great money and have huge houses with the Lexus and all, but they don't have the ability to create, that ability to ESCAPE.
When I'm playing I'm not thinking about the rent, the car payment, none of that. It's a great escape that a lot of people don't have and never will. Now, I enjoy it.

I love having this talent. It's a blessing. NOT a curse.

Also, let me say that I worked at a drum shop for a couple of years in phone sales and took MANY calls from guys that had quit at 30 years of age only to be calling me 10-20 years later to buy a kit. They all regretted selling their gear and not sticking with it even as a hobby. ALL OF THEM.

Don't ever stop. Don't ever give up. Just step back for a little bit.
Re-evaluate.
Rest a little bit.
Take a weekend off from the band.
Do whatever you have to do to make "FUN" the first priority.
After all, we don't go to work. We go out to PLAY!!

[got_a_matchgrip]

If it's a budgetary limitation situation [that sounds like Johnny Cockran], susp, I would seriously consider buying a worthwhile brain & then taking cheaper or older secondary kit & getting decent triggers [ddrums; roland] for the price. I knew a guy who then put mesh heads on one of those rims-only [no shells] sets & voila, custom awa less-expensive e-kit.

On an aside - sometimes, after listening to / studying them a lot, I have to lay off the over-the-top unbridled VC & Virg a little bit, because it's a double-edged sword - shows ya where you're lacking[!], but also inspires you to push at the same time...then, I come back aorund to it again. It's a neverending cycle... ;c) I resolve to be as good as I can be at the moment I can be, & slowly push for the excel in increments day by day...beside, I realize music is not ALWAYS about those pyrotechnics... /;cP

Some great posts, guys...good for encouraging, as it's obv he might be experiencing some of that infamous & dreaded "down time"...

No matter what you do, you can still "stay in_the_pocket..."

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 05, 2005 04:54 PM: Message edited by: got_a_matchgrip? ]</font>

[got_a_matchgrip]

I posted mine close to the same time & noticed - great post also, kinkymook. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img] [I know a player by your name in the TB area - Check your private messages]...

Edit:
WHADDUP, d Mook! - Allright, man! You've been around a while & I didn't even know it was you! Ha! Cool that you're in here. [Da Mook's indeed a player, by the way! [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img] ]
Peace.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 05, 2005 05:42 PM: Message edited by: got_a_matchgrip? ]</font>

[in_the_pocket]

Quote:
First I would ask what exactly you are considering giving up? Playing? Trying to make your living from it? What have you tried so far and what did/didn't work out?
what makes you happy?
_________________________________________________

Well man honestly drums are my life, but is to hard make a living of it I teach wright know like a 25 students my first playing on a record was at 14 and I'm 24 now it's been pretty nice but it's hard just to make a decent money to live with out a second or third job..... that's all...!!!!!!!

[in_the_pocket]

kinkymook
Thanks man.....!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[peter b]

Originally posted by got_a_matchgrip?:
I would seriously consider buying a worthwhile brain

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">sorry....i couldn't help myself

[img]eek.gif[/img] [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[kinkymook]

Yeah, the worthwhile brain thing threw me too!!
Funny stuff!!


And In_the_Pocket: You're totally welcome. It's a hard road some days, but keep it up!! You have a gift. Use it.....

[MntnMan62]

Hey Kinkymook, great post. I totally agree with you. I was one who played alot while in college and for a few years after college but got caught up in the need to make money. I essentially stopped playing drums at the age of 25 or 26. I am now 42. I kept my drums all those years and every once in a while I would go down into the basement and bang away. That would last all of 10 minutes when I would get frustrated that I couldn't do that porcaro shuffle like I used to, etc. Finally, last summer I decided to start playing again. I was able to hook up with some people through a musicians networking group that puts people with day jobs and similar ability and musical interests together. We've done 3 showcases in NYC since then and we're having a blast. And I had never even played a NYC club before this so it was even that much more incredible. I can't believe I waited so long to get back into it. Sure, I don't have much time to practice and my chops are, well, what chops? But you play to your strengths and most of all, have fun. What is even more amazing is that I was able to find the time to do this and still have time for my family, which includes a 2 year old son. I have to say that one motivating factor, besides the selfish one of going out there and having fun, is I hope to be able to pass on music to my son. If he is into the drums, great. Or any other instrument. But as long as I can pass on to him a general appreciation for music, then he's the one to benefit, and I'll smile all the way to my grave.

I'm rambling. But I agree, don't give up.

<font color="#a62a2a"><font size="1">[ April 05, 2005 06:59 PM: Message edited by: MntnMan62 ]</font></font>

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 05, 2005 07:01 PM: Message edited by: MntnMan62 ]</font>