Financially, my best money is doing singles. From a satisfaction standpoint, playing with others wins hands down.

I've been the "practice", argue, etc. route. Here's what I have done:

I have a list of pros from the area...some as far away as Cincinnati. I can add as many as I'd like, depending on the job. Minimal rehearsal is required, because the format is the same...I do the intro and verse...whomever wants to plays the bridge. Someone else plays the verse. I come in at the bridge, do the last verse and "we're out of there".

The set-up is always loose enough that I'm controlling everything. When someone is not comfortable taking a ride, they lay out. Another takes that part, or I do.

Players have a ball...everyone's comfortable
and we all make a little money. We've been working together so long, it's a smooth process, with pro results.

The big band gets BIG money (justifying rehearsal), and my trio, consisting of me on guitar and keys, my son on bass and my grandson on drums, is more like a workshop. The kids are doing great...too much rehearsal for the old "man", but a little "wood shedding" is good for the chops.

After 50 plus years, I'm not ready to give up playing with others and just do a solo.

It's the challenge of doing everything from a single to a 16 piece big band, and everything in between that makes things interesting.

Again, for me, at least, music is at it's very finest when it's played with other musicians of similar likes and talents.


HO, HO, HO!


Russ