For the last 6 months, 1/2 my work has been in the studio...usually from 2:00 PM Sunday afternoon until 6-8 Monday evening. The tension and pressure to complete is insane. The compensation is ridiculous.

I LOVE IT!

The one thing missing is people. The end product is mixed under a voice-over. 1/2 or more isn't even music, it's more sound effects or sound reinforcement.

Nothing is real time.

I'm thinking of taking on another 26 hour session a week and giving up live playing completely.

Since I'm not an entertainer, I could live with the change, but I really believe music is meant to be played for
PEOPLE.

What do you think? While I've been involved in session work for over 50 years, I've ALWAYS had a live gig and have appreciated the relationship with supporters in the audience.

Any thoughts? Doing two sessions a week would involve 400 miles of driving (5 hours) and 52 hours of work: minimum.


Russ

Russ, I hope most of it is on a race track. You'd need to AVERAGE 80mph combined city/hwy. Watch out for the cops, they're getting a little gun-happy these days.

Oh, on the other thing; don't (ever) stop playing live.

chas

Never, never, never give up playing live. Buy a light plane for those longer trips. There are small plane airports all over the place where you can land relatively close to the job. Hell, I haul my gear in my boat to some jobs, both here and in Florida.

All the best from a gun toting ex-cop,

Gary

The jobs are in Louisville. 82 miles from my home. I have a Cessna 180, but it would take longer to get to the airport, go to Louisville, land at Bowman field and cross town 15 miles.

Go on a motorcycle in good weather....best time: 72 minutes @ 72 mph.

I have produced my own films for clients for years. This is work for another production company.

Producing everything (script, storyboards, tracks, edits , etc.) is much more satisfying.

But, again, the money is RIDICULOUS!More to donate to promising kids!

R.

Above being players, performers, and entertainers, human beings are always looking for a sense of purpose and belonging, and, most of all, being appreciated for who they are and what they do.

Feeling important, useful and appreciated are positive feelings that help people to experience good and happy emotions, not to mention, many people have low self esteem and need to be reminded constantly that they are respected, that they matter, etc.

So, how important are "real time" listeners?

My guess would be that they are very important to most entertainer/players/performers.

Being appreciated for recording/producing/arranging is important as well, but not usually as immediate.

Ian

I play the KB and sing like no one's listening everyday ... but there is NOTHING like playing to an audience ... I played a restaurant gig last might where I fill in for the regular guy a couple of times a year ... It's a really nice Italian restaurant, the staff is very gracious, and it has a good clientele ... while the people are there for the food, and not to listen to me, it is great when some one applauds a song I've done, get up to dance on the small dance floor, and even drop a few bucks in the tip jar ... a number of people of all ages came up and said how they enjoyed the music ...

Russ, you may not consider yourself an 'entertainer' but you do entertain people with your music, and let's face it: our EGOS need that audience at least some of the time ... KEEP PLAYING LIVE !!! your talents were given to you for that reason ...

When I get a response to playing "Giant Steps"...that's GOOD! When I get a request to play "Kansas City"...Not so much.

Maybe I just need a break from live work. Haven't missed a week
since 1982.

Thing is, Social Security and Corporate retirement make me comfortable.

Everything else I make goes to others. Work overseas and studio work makes a 6 figure contribution total possible.

That is satisfying. I look at $150.00 for a dinner gig vs. $2500.00 plus points (A commission each time the piece is broadcast) for a 30 hour session would make a major difference for some neat local projects I'd like to work on.

I still have to decide on surgery or not on my rotator. If I elect to have the surgery, maybe I'll use that 6 weeks to sort the "live playing" thing out.

Thing is, I've played myself out of regular jobs. Unless the material is challenging, getting an "attaboy" from a customer really doesn't do much for me.


Thanks,


Russ

The studio work I've been doing is far more lucrative than the, now more occasional, live gigs, but I still like that immediate interaction with the audience...even one person who is listening intently and appreciating can make my night so much better.

We often invite people (non-musicians) to our jam sessions just to get some feedback from the "common ear" point of reference.

Surgery is always a risk, Russ, especially when we are older(over 60), and especially if it means general anesthesia, so get lots of info and opinions before going under the knife.

Good luck,

Ian

ditto on the surgery aspects, Russ.

Gary

Just got in from a session that started Sunday at 2:00 PM. Don't think I'll be able to do this a lot longer.

Last therapy session is today. I'll get with the Dr. in a week or so.

One thing for sure; I can't play 5 nights and do 2 30 hour marathon sessions a week for very long.

I like to play, but DAMN!

I feel I'll be sidelined by a physical situation and will retire. Hands hurt. Shoulder hurts.

At least I'm still able to cut it.


R.

Russ, I'm in the same boat, so to speak. Three week before leaving Marathon Key, Florida, my back went out really bad and I was having trouble walking. There's a distinct possibility that I may need spinal surgery in the very near future, maybe the next couple weeks, which even if successful, will put me out of commission for at least two to three months. I'll be contacting a neurosurgeon tomorrow morning to set up an appointment.

I've had two previous surgeries to my lower back. The first, though it was successful, left me paralyzed from the waist down for five months. I lost all the muscle tone in my legs, and it took several months after the surgery to learn how to walk again.

The second surgery was 10 years later, the results were a bit better, and within six months I was able to resume my work schedule. Fortunately, at that time I was a full-time, freelance, outdoor writer and did not have to do anything strenuous or lift any equipment heavier than a camera or fishing rod. The recovery was still quite painful and required months of physical therapy.

Now, 40 years later, the surgical procedures have really improved, but the success rate is still under 50 percent, which is not at all promising, even with the best surgeon. I'm not looking forward to any of this, but I can no longer tolerate the pain and constant use of pain killing drugs that have nasty side effects. I talked with one physician today, and he said "You know Gary, there will come a time when you might just have to retire." I know that's the case, but I wanted to play at least two more years.

If I must retire, then, I guess there will be a lot of gear on Ebay at the end of summer, and I'll spend the rest of my days sailing, which is not a bad way to retire. I know I will miss performing, but most of all, I will dearly miss all the wonderful people I play and sing for every week.

Russ, as my doctor friend said today, there will come a time, and you will definitely know when that time comes.

Good luck, old friend, and I hope things work out for the best,

Gary

Russ, as my doctor friend said today, there will come a time, and you will definitely know when that time comes (Gary)

I thought I had reached that point three times in my life only to find different why of staying in front of the audience. Aches and pains I do have, but it’s amazing how inventive you can become when you have a strong desire.

Saturday mornings I play for Special Needs children, they are probably the best audience going. I get hugs and kisses. With worker and parents there’s about 70 people.

Life is still good, John C.

Thanks, Guys! It's just ironic that I'm at the top of my game jobs wise and at the bottom health-wise.

And, I'm not ready to quit...not music, not teaching , not writing or film making...certainly not philanthropy.

I should quit complaining and be thankful for what I've been able to do.


Thanks, all,


Russ

Russ, I'm sitting here in my office, a hot patch on my back, a heating pad on top of that, and getting ready to work some more on my tax return. As I read this, the things we have in common are uncanny, though you have been far more successful in those endeavors. If you sit down and contemplate all the things we've both done in our lives, which is far more than the average person ever dreams of, the goals we've accomplished, the lives we've touched, the friends we've made, and how we've been blessed to live in a part of the world where all this was possible, this truly has been one Hell of a ride cowboy. There's really not many things that we have not done in our lives, and very few individuals will ever achieve half those goals in life.

So, if you MUST, for reasons of health, step down and begin smelling the roses, it's really not a bad thing. Think about it,

Gary

DITTO !!

I'm REALLY enjoying semi-retirement. But after a week or so, I'm chomping at the bit (as the cowboys say) to get back in the saddle and entertain my adoring masses!
Right now I'm doing about two weekends a month, and week nights when I feel like it. Pretty sweet deal!
Back to Russ. You have plenty of money. Stop all the long days and nights of production and JUST play for the occasions that you want to do, like those lucrative private things. Make the trips abroad until you get killed or raped over there, because the money is really sweet for a few days work.
You don't need to work yourself silly for 12 or 18 hours on end.
Listen to me. I'm old and know stuff.

Mason, you do know stuff, but the air's so thin 7 feet off the ground, I wonder if you don't have a little oxygen deprivation sometime.

Seriously, you're the ONLY one I know who can talk about someone getting raped and make it FUNNY as hell!

Thanks, bud!


Russ

There are many great posts here. All trying to help in their way; and that’s good.

As for me I have learned not to make any decision without waiting until I feel something inside. When I act I my first thought, emotion, it normally gets me going in a wrong direction.

When I get past that first step and tune in the voice inside there is no doubt what I should do.

OK, Off the Soap Box,
John C.

Russ, send me all your money. That will take away your need to decide whether or not to continue working. I'll send a small donation to Musicians Village in your name so you'll have some place to go when the gigs dry up. In the spirit of all that we stand for, I'll do my best to spend it all on 'toys' and Voluptuous women (hand-picked by Don Mason). You won't regret it (and I know I won't).

Kidding, of course.....well all except the "send me all your money" part . Seriously, it should be about time you were heading out Atlanta way. Drop me an email or give me a call.

chas

" I'll do my best to spend it all on 'toys' and Voluptuous women (hand-picked by Don Mason)."

... and then you'd probably just waste the rest of it!

chas

Thanks, guys. Speaking as a member of the height deprived community, I "ain't got a chance" when "ganged up on" by GIANTS
"in their own minds" Don and Chas.

Man, I need to get off my "poor ole me" soapbox and get back to taking care of business.

You two are a little older, a lot taller and a lot wiser than I am.

Just wish you two could meet in person.

My problem is, I don't want to give anything up. The film, copy , photography and music projects are stacking up and I want to do every one of them. If anything, I have more in the works than at any other time in my life. That coincides with a natural reduction in energy that just happens over time.

Today, for instance, I'm completing a business plan and a 501(C) application for a friend who collects luggage and distributes it to kids in the foster care system. He wants to expand his operating geography....sort of franchise the operation. To do that, he needs to secure new, not used merchandise (social workers are wary of bed bugs)and he needs a business operations plan that can be duplicated and managed from a distance. This is a worthy project, but it takes TIME!

As much as music means to me, the other areas of interest are equally as important. They intersect, actually (music for film production, internet projects, advertisements, etc).

My regret is, I am not as good at any of my areas of interest as I could be, because I don't work hard enough (read that-enough hours)to get where I want to be.

Enough!

I appreciate all of you and your tolerance of my occasional rant.


Russ

I just decided that I'm keeping some "live" work, not because of the appreciation factor, but because of the value of the pressure to "do it right".

I'm doing a minimum of 20 hours of sound track work a week right now, and, if I screw up, I do it over.

I believe that 1 hour of "real time" work involving challenging material is worth three hours of practice and 2 hours of studio work.

The need to get it right live is a powerful thing; particularly if you do a lot of "shooting from the hip" in real time.

It (live play) is a whole different animal than recording....recording is satisfying in a whole different way.

I'm not ready to choose between them.

Russ