Musical Slump!

[Showman]

Ive been in bands steady for about 5 years(practicing 2 sometimes 3 nights a week.)After we play a gig i usually dont like to practice for a week.Lately are practices have been screwed up because of our bass player.He doesnt always show up.The only time he practices it actually when we all practice.He leaves the bass on the basement floor and never brings it home.He is my friend but when he doesnt show up everyone feels it.Its really empty when he isnt there.When there is a wrong note its usually him.With all this going on i just want to walk away for a while.So after July i'm quiting for a month.Hopefully those who arent interested will find another gig.
Does anyone else want to just take a vacation from making music?

[Tom P.]

No bands involved. Just very busy at work and home. I play every day but just noodle, too tired to really dig in and practice. Too much time on the web, too little in the woodshed.

[Baard]

I get the feeling now and again. It´s good not to practice too much....or gig too much. You get to see the shortcomings of yourself and others too clearly. Humans are not machines...that´s the factor that can make real music so good (and bad.)

Do some shopping around, to see if there are other openings. The bassist is the backbone(along with the drummer) in a band. If he´s good the band can be good, if he´s bad the band always will be bad......stability is the most important factor in a musician IMHO.


Baard

[TheGoodTexan]

For the past few years, I've tried to keep the terms "rehearsal" and "practice" seperate.

I use "rehearsal" when talking about a band getting ready for the next gig.

I use "practice" when refering to the time I spend by myself getting better on my instrument.

It may sound like symantics, but it helps me, help the other band members keep their priorities. So, if they're not coming to rehearsal, I tell them to be sure to spend time in the interim, practicing.

For me personally, it is difficult to stay motivated. I get discouraged a lot. I would gig 7 nights a week for free if I could assemble an entire band of musicians that felt the same way. I just love playing music. It seems that other musicians I know have other concerns (i.e. getting paid, how large is the venue, the gig is too late on a week night, etc.). I get tired of it.

[Baard]

I've tried to keep the terms "rehearsal" and "practice" seperate.

Well, I´ve been in bands that had rehersals.....but most of them come in the category "practice" I had to quit/cut down practicing at home, because none of the other fellows do that in the band, and me beeing miles ahead of the others on learning to play a specific new song, did not help at all. Also, I´d tended to learn a lot of stuff that i could not use anyway, because of how we ended up playing the thing.More frustration.

So now I´m kind of taking it easy....let it develop in its own tempo.See what we can make of the song..... I cant say it makes me a better guitar player, but it makes me more relaxed, less frustrated.And when i start having relaxed attitude, the others need to shape up....so it works for the whole band. And I don´t have to act as a sort of motivator, because it´s up to people to get their pieces together, and they may decide themselves how long it´s going to take. It´s not a kindergarden, we´re all over 40.....I´m the youngest.





Baard