Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

Instead of playing out?
For me its one of necessity and soon to be geography since I'm moving. There's no point in wasting peoples time if I'm not going to be around long term right?

Anyway I'm getting stuff out of my head, proving I can write and who knows what I'm learning and have learned could be another feather in the cap perhaps at some point?

As soon as I'm settled you won't see me for dust as regards playing live so long as circumstances allow?

So if you are in the Studio what is your reason for not playing out?

Chippy wrote:
So if you are in the Studio what is your reason for not playing out?

My bandmates left and locked the door from the outside....


...that was in 1987



...[sigh]

I try to do both Chippy.

Live my group is a cover band so its no biggie to record this stuff.

The studio stuff is just for me basically, It allows me to get emotions and ideas off my chest. I record soemthing and pretty much just let it go. Sometimes I go back and listen and try to remember where my head was at that point in time.

I think working in a studio helps me collect my thoughts and ideas. Recording also allows me to listen back to my skills with a critical ear, so I can fix what I am lacking in. I also think that working in studio sessions help me explore different perspectives of my playing by recording different takes and approaches to a melody or progression. All this comes down to getting a composition that is well thought out and ready to present to a live audience.

I like doing both but would happily just do studio work if forced to choose. You can't beat the thrill of the recording process.

Thanks for the replies peeps.

I dunno whether I could sit in a room watching level meters all day long to be honest? I like meeting people, bars, venues, the thrill of it really.

Don't forget the smoky rooms, asshole club owners, damage to your equipment and wear and tear on your vehicle, body and relationships. I still like to do it but once a month seems plenty these days.

Well I suppose there is that?
Haven't been out over here yet though so its a must do for me once settled. Surely they can't all be that bad? I've only had one problem with a bar owner and I used to do all of the footwork. No, Yes?

jimmydanger wrote:Don't forget the smoky rooms, asshole club owners, damage to your equipment and wear and tear on your vehicle, body and relationships. I still like to do it but once a month seems plenty these days.

My daughter is in Iraq, she's not in the military she is with the State Dept. Anyway, while she is over there her two daughters are living with me and Mrs Koolin. Since my wife works swing shift there isn't really any way I can get out to practice/gig in the evenings. Hopefully next summer when her assignment is up I will be able to get something going.

jimmydanger wrote:Don't forget the smoky rooms, asshole club owners, damage to your equipment and wear and tear on your vehicle, body and relationships. I still like to do it but once a month seems plenty these days.

Jimmy I read this and think, Man is he right! SO why then do we get out and play at all?

Well obviously there's a certain thrill to playing live that keeps us doing it or we would all have quit long ago. We're addicts and it's just too damned hard to go cold turkey.

For me recording at home is more rewarding. No egos or other people to deal with. You can have it the way you want. Also, I don't like playing in front of 5 people and making no money. That was always my experience with playing live in a band.

All the preparation, time and money....only to play in front of a handful of people

Seems like a lot of people here prefer Studio work to me? Yeah its fun but I don't see how just writing songs at home or in a studio fulfil the entire musical need? I've played at a couple of venues where crowds were down but pretty much the venue was chosen and worked for in the past. (The Ladies wouldn't have let us do it otherwise) in many bands I've been in.

You cannot count for that odd night however where people just stay away for whatever reason including the weather of course.

Fitna wrote:All the preparation, time and money....only to play in front of a handful of people

I didn't pick up a guitar for 25+ years after I quit the "clubs".

I was that sick of playing songs I didn't want to play, for people I did not want to entertain (Loose analogy for drunks), and playing in places I preferred not to play.

Now I spend almost all my time in my um..a... studio.

All my DAW's are there. My 46" TV is there. I have a shelf with over 500 DVD movies in there. Even this computer is there.
The studio has several stereo systems. 500 watts or better. One for playback (I lay down bass and drum track so I can "get down wif my own bad self") Another system is used for a PA, and a stereo system for my guitar. They are all pretty big systems. I really do like loud. All my favorite guitars live there. I even squeezed in a bed.

My bedroom IS my studio. ?

But it sounds far more impressive when I tell people I quit playing, and now I spend all my time recording in the Studio.

I prefer the studio. I record because I'm an artist and music is my canvas.

For me, playing out would be like a "gallery showing". A means to sharing my work with others. I do that on the web as well.

I wouldn't play a live show just to play out ... the live environment usually sucks (selling beer for a bar/club). Unless you are playing in a clean hospitable venue, like a theatre or large club ... dives and corner bars are no fun for me at all.

For me its about the writing/recording process ... occasional selected live shows are cool too.