This has been brewing for a long time. We have NYE and then 2 other dates in the first half of 2011, then we're done. They think I'm nuts to walk away from a band as popular as ours is. I know I'm done. They won't practice, don't want to drive too far, etc. Its time. I told them 2 weeks ago.

One by one former band accounts turned into duo or solo accounts. For the most part, each has worked out fine. The final two accounts appear to both be fine with using me as a solo in one form or another, which is nice. One of the guys is already trying to vulture a few of my old accounts. (All's fair in love, war and music, right?)

The move will surely be a liberating one for me. Instead of the same warts every night, now the quality of the performance will be much more consistent. My frustration level kept increasing and while they seem to have a "its good enough" mentality, that doesn't work me. It wasn't ever going to change, so that's that.

This is a low risk/high reward move for me. If the old accounts enjoy my solo work, then my work load stay constant, but I get a hefty raise in pay. If they don't, I can replace these 20+ gigs a year with 1 hour NH gigs and show a more efficient profit anyway. It wouldn't suck being home most weekends nights.



They were all good players and pretty decent guys. There was no big blowup or fight at all. I've nothing bad to say about any of them.

------------------
Bill in Dayton

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 12-21-2010).]