Since I became contracted for overseas jobs, which require some "downtime" for travel, I have effectively cut back my evening playing schedule from 6 nights to 2-3....and I'm going NUTS making the adjustment.

I started at an officers club in Fairbanks, Alaska (Ladd AFB) in 1955 at age 11 and have had 9 weeks off from working at least 4 nights a week in the following 56 years.

Now, I still get extremely nervous after dinner (played a good number of Xmas parties). It's the start of the third week. I'm seeing lots of popular TV shows for the first time.

I don't know anything else but the bandstand for evening activities (if you add "after gig" activities and adjust those "activities" for old age).

It's kind of like drying out from alcohol or drugs, I suspect.

I'm making 4 times or more the money, but the adjustment is a killer.

Luckily, I will have a small jazz room in the back of a nice restaurant in a month or so. I'll play it 5 nights when I'm in town and get friends to cover when I'm gone.

I plan to make some short day trips to see friends from here (Jim and Bill in Cincy/Dayton, my very good friend Chas in Atlanta, Rory in Nashville), and more.

So, watch out, folks; just when you least expect it, I might be looking over your shoulder.

Or, I might become a part-time Wal-Mart greeter....NOT!


Russ

Hey Russ...money is not everything.

For me, it's always been the music.

I guess that's why I'm poor...but happy!

Best of luck,

Ian

PS...I don't even have a television.

Russ,

Just remembered what my poor, deceased father used to tell me. "There's only one thing money can't buy--POVERTY! You can rent everything else."

If you lived closer to me, and the weather wasn't so damned cold, I would take you out sailing. It has been helping me retain what little sanity I have for the past six years.

Cheers,

Gary

Sanity!? Who needs that? This is the music biz, y'know.

124,

Yeah, I know, but I need a bit of sanity to sail the boat--not play music. If you get lost in the music you're having more fun than anyone could ask for. However, if you're out sailing and your lost, well, you're in deep ship!

Cheers,

Gary

Russ ... Rhode Island isn't THAT far away ...

Gary, sailing is the one thing that I really regret not being able to do in Kentucky. Cave Run Lake is the only place around here, and it's a small, tree-lined, narrow lake...not ideal, and crowded.

I lived on the coast in Mississippi and in Maine, briefly as a youngster, and really missed the water and boat access when we moved.

I "eat my heart out" whenever you post photos or talk about sailing.

R.

I've been to Cave Run Lake when I last visited my sister-in-law in Louisville. It was really crowded and we were only able to catch a couple catfish. That was nearly 20 years ago, so I can only imagine how crowded the lake must be now.

If you ever manage to get to this part of the country, the offer is always open.

Cheers,

Gary