PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Off-Topic The pandemic effects on the music industry

Eddie, I agree moving the gear isn't the best part of being a musician, and I don't have roadies to schlep things for me.

Adding to that I play guitar, sax, flute, and wind synth on the gig and Leilani plays guitar and synth plus we both sing. That's a lot of gear to lift.

The heaviest piece are our speakers, 38 pounds each. They tell me lifting heavy things is good for a person my age. Some people pay big gym memberships so they can lift heavy things, I get paid for it.

With as many trips back and forth to the minivan, I get my 10,000 steps in too!

OK that might border on rationalization, it's not fun, it's not drudgery either - - - it just is. And it's a lot less work than some of the regular chores around my house

The 3 to 4 hours of bliss between set up and tear down are definitely worth the price. I get to be in that place where there is no space or time, just the music, the joy of making it with my partner, and the love coming to us from the audience.

When I'm at home I get to learn new songs, create backing tracks for those songs where I can use my drum, bass and keyboard skills. I am rewarded with a sense of accomplishment when they turn out right and the joy of playing new material on the gig.

As a bonus I also can use my arranging and music theory schooling to make aftermarket style e-disks and fake e-disks for Band-in-a-Box and have happy customers in over 100 different countries on this planet.

All this gives me a feeling of self-worth. I identify myself as a musician and have done so since my first gig when I was in junior high school.

For me that beats fishing, golf, TV, crossword puzzles, bike riding, tennis, bocce, shuffleboard, sailing, and just about anything else I can think of.

I am downsized. I no longer play on cruise ships, I no longer am in the opening act for major stars in concert, I no longer play in huge upscale clubs, and I no longer play in convention halls. I play smaller, more intimate venues where I actually enjoy being closer to the audience, being able to react with individuals and playing venues where there are fewer demands on me.

As long as there are people who want to hear me play music, I have no plans to retire.

The idea of sitting around the house all day or fishing or playing golf, or watching TV sounds like boredom to me. I want to keep my mind active, my hands busy, the bliss of music flowing through me and the sense of being wanted, needed, and appreciated by others.

But that's just me. What is right for me isn't necessarily right for anyone else in particular.

Insights and incites by Notes