In my case, when I wore a younger man's shoes, the guys were damned good musicians. However, when it came down to the nitty-gritty, booking the jobs, doing the promotions, setting up the sound system, you name it--they just didn't cut it. Sure, they showed up, played the music, took an equal share, then went home.

Fast forward 40 years. Most of them never pursued music as a means of making a living, the vast majority didn't claim it on their income tax returns, and those that are still alive today couldn't keep time if someone paid them a million bucks. Was it fun to play with them? You bet it was.

When it came to reliability, in the early days they were always on time. They even took time to practice at least once a week. After a few years, though, the excuses were enough to drive you insane. Some didn't show up for jobs, didn't call to make those stupid excuses, and some got plastered halfway through the first set.

When I played with a group we NEVER made a good living. In fact, no one in the group made enough to justify the equipment cost. When I went solo, which was more years ago than I would like to recall, I no longer had the issues of working with guys (and gals) that were playing just for the fun of it.

To me, music, like any other profession, is a serious business. It's one of the things I do to support my household. I'm also an outdoor writer and have been since 1975. That too is a business that I take very seriously. Nearly every musician I know that still makes a living as a performer has transitioned to an OMB entertainer, and all, at one time, were band members. The difference now is, at least for me, strictly a business decision. The jobs, even those at the nursing homes and assisted living centers, are all still fun, and NOW, I make a good living at it.

Cheers,

Gary