Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse.......it does! The usual garbage I see at the summer festivals disguised as entertainment. The nursing home acts were bad enough....now it's spread.

I've been adapting to it up to now, but this one is hard to get over.

They were advertised with an impressive name that gave me the idea that they were a large class one act. Turns out to be 4 old guys that were probably good in their day, but now would have difficulty getting into the local barbershop quartet and are just picking up an extra paycheck of whatever they could get. Couldn't sing in unison......but here's what got me. The 5th guy was sitting in front of a Yamaha Motif looking (and sounding) like he wasn't even playing. And what do they have for the drummer? A rhythm machine about the size of an ash tray. They were carrying more clothing than equipment.

So, I turned around and said to the two ladies behind me: "What do you think of the music?" Answer: "Great......wonderful." And these ladies grew up in the 50's!

The bar has been lowered so much, at this point I don't think anyone is going to remember actual music and actual bands that PLAYED music. And I don't think we've even reached the bottom of the barrel yet! It seems to be all about who works the cheapest now.

So.....how would some of you view it? Throw in the towel and dumb yourself down musically and join the crowd? Live and let live? Turn the other cheek (or ear)? Quit playing?

I'm inclined to take my TOTL synthesizer and work on it until the cows come home, and.......make good music and see if the audience will still buy into it.

On the other hand, I'm seriously thinking, for the first time in my life, of giving up music completely...use the energy for another line of work. It's all gone now....the respect you got as a professional musician, the enjoyment of playing great songs and working your emotions out in the music, that wonderful feeling of affecting others with your music, dressing up to the nines, the big pay check, the endless supply and variety of corporate jobs, etc.

Or..........are my over-reacting? .......seeing the wrong acts? ...wrong demographic area?

Mark

Here's my take:
Art must be created for art's sake, or it will never be any good to anyone. When creative juices are used solely for monetary gain, the very soul of the creation gets sucked out of it. I have always had a good business sense about my career, but it started as a passion, and continues to be one today. Gear, gigs(ok, ok) and glamor my be PART of the entertainment package, but if the music doesn't come from the heart ... it will show. Look at the careers of some of the aging or passed greats .... toward the end, Sinatra wasn't at his best, Ali can hardly talk, and I honestly don't know what's holding Keith Richards up at his shows. Wait - of course I do ... it's the passion for creation! The Stones don't need any more money, Sinatra could have retired in his 70s at a high point, and Ali didn't have to continue to beat his pretty face all those years. The heart is a lonely hunter, and it simply wants what it wants. Passion rules my world and on or off stage is no different. If your critique of the "old guys" was a bit stern, don't be so fast to knock them - maybe they were a great band in their youth, and the ladies who still loved them are reliving their paradise lost.

There is a huge difference between great music and great entertainment, but the two OFTEN meet and combine. It's a thing of beauty when that happens. So, play your music, be kind to the elderly and learn from everyone who came before you. It can only get better that way! Those ladies were entertained, right? Some of the stuff my kids listen to makes me raise my eyebrows, but they connect with it ... different strokes I guess. I'll never be that guy who says "That's not music! ... in MY day yada, yada, yada ..." I give all art a fair chance, and the areas that leave me wondering hmmmmm? ... I just pass by. I wouldn't pay $5 for a genuine Picaso, but some of the art that my kids at school have produced are hanging on my walls at home. It's all how it touches the individual. My summary is that all music is good. Maybe not appreciated by everyone, but seldom things are. Lincoln said something to that effect about pleasing people, didn't he?


I'm getting dressed to say my last good by to my old scoutmaster, who passed at 85. He loved life, loved his family and will be remembered fondly forever. I got my first music merit badge with him at summer camp in the late sixties. I think I played "Help" and "One" on the guitar. Music brought me closer to him, and that's what counts. Touching people with your art.

Stay comfortable, good people - it's been beastly hot in Philly this last week ... do what you can to keep "cool" in body and attitude!

Mark:

Don't give up. There are those who still can discriminate although they are fewer. The music world is significantly segmented more than it has ever been but good music transcends. If you and others give up then all is lost. With most listening to crappy MP3 files and with a lot of "pop,rock,whatever" music devoid of melody with Philip Glass repetition it is mostly forgettable. However there are some really good young artists writing and recording new music. So I have hope for pop music. As to live music concerts that's another issue. Too loud!. Some groups can't sing and depend upon the beat and sound volume.

I think the audience today has not been exposed to quality so they can't identify bad music and performances. Just my view. So keep exposing them to something better.

Joe

Hi Mark,

I feel you. I think about this kind of stuff all the time too. I often analyze what I'm doing, what's working, what's not working, how people respond, and then I try to make myself better. Perhaps record yourself and ask some people you trust to give their opinions. I posted my music here on SZ and I got some good constructive criticism that I do reflect on. When I see others performing perhaps in venues or events that I would also like to do, I try to figure why they have gig and I don't. It can be a lot of things... Political, maybe they have better a hustle, or know the right people. Maybe they are better entertains, play a more popular style of music or are better musicians. I just try to consider this stuff and then keep working at it and try to make any changes.

As for the old act that you saw that wasn't too hot but the crowd seemed to love, I would have to assume that the have been doing this act forever and they have some loyal fans. If the Stones or Sinatra have (had) a bad night, or even consistently perform a very low standard, people or still going fill venues to see them.

Hang in their Mark, it's hard out there. I know I'd probably make more money if I dedicated all the time that I put into music into some sort of more lucrative field, but I can't. Music has chosen me. I'll keep cracking away at it until I can't any more. It doesn't matter if I'm gigging daily or not at all. You got to love it.

I'm an artist, somewhat. I mold a song into something the listener can appreciate. I know there are other musicians out there doing pretty much the same thing, some better some worse. I have no real control over what the audience likes and doesn't like. I can only hope that my interpretation is good enough to be recognized as better than most.

I thought this story would fit in nicely here. Most of our audiences don't seem to understand how our Arranger Keyboards work and many believe we are not playing anything at all. Yesterday I was playing a song I have played for decades and was thinking about the next song to play and suddenly got really lost in the song and nearly had to stop and start over. A man in the front row leaned over and told his wife "see, I told you he was doing the playing".. I nearly lost it.

Deane

Mark

I hear ya loud and clear. The level of music here at the Jersey Shore is getting worse all the time. One Kareoke act after another, doing the same songs. Its gotten so that when we go out for dinner I've always looked for a place with music, now I really don't care. I've been tempted to jump onboard and I may to a certain extent but I just can't go full tilt that way. I just picked up what could be a very lucrative private club job here. One of the members I know said, "don't bother dragging your keyboard, just spin records like the past guys did. "(Thats a hint as to how old he is LOL !! ) I said "no way, I believe your group will respond better to something live" I will DJ some if the party feels its going that way but I've worked too long and hard to give up playing entirely.
As to you, don't give up, make it known that your playing live and use the backup stuff sparingly. Otherwise, like me, you just won't be happy.

Mark, don't knock the "old guys" - I resemble that remark! Keep in mind there's a reason they were booked, and there's also a reason someone else was not. It could have been financial, but I doubt it. I'm confident these individuals have been around for quite a few years, have a good following, and at one point they were probably one of the top, local, entertainment groups in the immediate area. Those groups tend to fall apart, eventually, and they tend to repeat acts that were successful in the past. Also, because music represents just a small portion of their overall income, those groups rarely practice, and even more rarely put fresh, new material into their performances. They still got the job, though, probably because the alternative was even less appealing.

Most of the summer festivals, at least in my area, are not worth going attending. They usually feature some relatively young bands that only play one kind of music. The singers are essentially screamers that couldn't carry a note in a 5-gallon bucket, and the musicians tend to play at ear-bleed volumes through a sound system that is ancient and overloaded to the point where every instrument is distorted. For the life of me, I don't know why people bother to attend, let alone shell out some hard-earned dollars to listen to them.

In contrast, I frequently attend performances by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Dorsey Brothers Band, and other big band concerts that take place at Harford Community College each year. They're usually sold out several months in advance. The younger players range in age from late 50s to early 70s, while the senior players are in their early 80s. They all play strictly from sheets, the music is absolutely incredible, and after a two-hour performance, no one wants them to stop. They have a lead vocalist, a relatively young lady, probably in her mid-50s, who has the voice of an angel. Their male vocalist is in his mid 40s, and his vocal quality is second to none, better, IMO, than Sinatra by a long shot.

Now, none of the musicians is being artistic during a performance, but you can bet your bottom dollar they would love to be at times. They play every song by the book, exactly as that song was written by the composer, note for note. The vocals are performed identically to those performed by others more than 70 years ago. I can attest first hand that when you're sitting in that audience and the band fires up with Moonlight Serenade, In The Mood, etc..., you feel it all the way to your soul.

From my point of view, this is an example of when great music and great entertainment comes together, which is something that rarely seems to take place anymore. As you and others well know, I pretty much have switched to strictly playing the NH circuit, but I still perform occasionally at restaurants, and Tiki Bars while vacationing in the Florida Keys. I work very hard at being the best musician/entertainer I can possibly be, and I guess that's why I'm turning down jobs while others are struggling to get one or two jobs a week.

Am I in the musical entertainment business for the money? To some extent, yes. Over the years I've managed to make a fairly decent living, raise a couple children, buy a nice house, buy several nice boats, and pretty much do all things I and my wife have wanted to do. I love my job, and while I've been in other professions, musical entertainment is the best and most rewarding occupation of my life. So, if you are even remotely thinking of getting out of music altogether, it's probably time to do so - but I also think you will probably regret making the move.

Good luck on whatever road you decide to take,

Gary

"So, I turned around and said to the two ladies behind me: "What do you think of the music?" Answer: "Great......wonderful." And these ladies grew up in the 50's!"


I think that what often happens when people are listening to artists of 'their era' sing their songs, the audience is still hearing the ORIGINAL recording in their mind ... what is actually happening on stage doesn't matter ...

Not too long ago I saw a you-tube clip of a group that had a BIG hit in the late 50's ... they were appearing at one of the 'oldies' shows ... I knew something didn't sound right and then I realized that the lead singer (who I think was the only remaining member of the original group still performing) was singing the song an octave lower than the original ... I doubt very much if anyone in the audience realized it ...

Frankly speaking, all of today's singers(bad term) are just shouting and screaming and most likely that is because they are trying to be heard over those screaming guitars and hammering drums.

Gary - I remember Glenn, Harry, Dorsey brothers when they were still together, Less Brown, Stan K and on and on from that era - I can remember two singers who demonstrated they could have sung with that group because they have recorded singing in that genre - Linda Ronstadt and Christina Aguilera - Yeah I couldn't believe it either. ;-)

Bill G

Remember how OUR parents said EXACTLY the same thing about the music we listened to as kids (and we now venerate as being SO much better than OUR kids' - or grandkids' music!)?

Yep... we got old...!

TBH, the very PURPOSE of kid's music is to pi$$ off their parents. If it didn't, the kids wouldn't like it! Imagine liking something those old fogies liked? Horror!

The truth is, the 'old days', when music was SO much better is an illusion. We have 40 years of filters to sieve it through. For every classic tune and band we remember, there were probably forty BAD tunes and bands we have long forgotten. For every 'Stairway to Heaven', there was a 'Yummy, yummy, yummy, I've got love in my tummy'!

And Mark... don't knock the old guys. You'll be one soon enough, and some kid will probably think YOU a dinosaur who should have the decency to go lie down in a tar pit and be petrified! But you'll still WANT to play, and enjoy playing even if your skills have lessened with age.

Today's music is pretty much the same as it has always been. A mixture of the sublime and the excremental. It's up to YOU to sort it out.

I agree with Diki. There's a lot of current music I like and a lot I don't Same as it ways when I was a teen or in my 20's. The one difference, as someone who appreciates a good recording, many today are over produced and compressed in some cases to compensate for poor singing. But there are still some great young singers as well as good recordings. As I mentioned before I think the predominate use of headphones and MP3 have lowered the overall quality of recording. MP3s do not do justice to pianos and strings. I just finished a book on current recording, balancing and mixing techniques and the amount of plug-ins, compressors, etc that are commonly used is fascinating. Other than Classical recording and some unplugged recordings natural acoustic space has disappeared from recordings. Of course multi-track recording has been around for a long time but today a recording is really created in the cyber-world.

I agree with Tony. Seems today that the person with the best repertoire will be received the best, no matter how bad the music. I used to bang my head against the wall when I witnessed that.

Diki
The point of this tread was about the current crop of little talent Kareoke acts but let me vent along with Mark. The watering down of what passes for live musical entertainment.

In the Big Band era you had to play an instrument pretty well, READ MUSIC--ooh my !!!, and be able to integrate with a group. Possibly be able to improvise and solo too.

Rock came along and it became all about the visual as well as the sound. Three chords and some slick moves AKA Elvis.

About 87 Dj's hit. No musical talent required at all.
Then some DJ's started to sing WOW people were amazed !!

Now, sing well enough to get into a volunteer community chorus, hit play on your Ipod and your in.

the quality of todays music is still there in some forms, I think most notably current Country but as you said, for every good tune theres a 1000 forgettables.
Gingham Style anyone ???

Just saw some great "Old Guys" The Rascals BDWY show, "Once Upon A Dream" They played live and kicked a** for two hours and the youngest is 68. If anyone gets a chance , go see it. You'll love it, especially the opening which I won't give away.

There is another slant to all of this. If you are playing NH type gigs some of the AD's prefer acts which do not require much to get setup. It seems to be a lot of trouble for some of them to provide a suitable place to setup a keyboard, speakers, stands etc.. In my area the problem now is many clubs and restaurants no longer are using live entertainment and those players have jumped on the NH gigs and have nearly destroyed the market because they play for nearly nothing. It is very clear though that "quality" means nothing to the ADs in my area - the price is all that counts. Choice of music is also an issue with some of the ADs because they are mostly very young and have little to no knowledge about the music the residents heard when they were young.

Mark, how I deal with it is to be very selective about where I work and when I work. I tell the AD up front my concept is that I am there for the benefit of the residents and no one else. If they have a problem with that I move on.

Deane

My parents loved the music I played and danced to as a teenager. And, we had gatherings at our home where my folks and the parents of other neighborhood kids got together and danced the night away to whatever was popular at the time. Maybe my mom and dad were the exception to the rule, but there were a lot of other parents in our neighborhood that felt the same way. Our music didn't piss them off, it inspired them to begin dancing again. Guess I lived in a different era than some of you, and I'm grateful for that.

Back to the big band era - I can't think of a single song back then from a major band or orchestra that was a flop - not one. But, then again, my mind is shot to Hell, so what do I know!

Cheers,

Gary

Hi Deane......I hear you on that. This is what started my downhill slide....the nursing home acts that show up with new equipment, laptops, and NO talent....and....work for a tuna fish salad sandwich and their 15 minutes of fame! Unfortunately....it's like a plague....it's spreading everywhere!

Mark

Thanks, Bill...for catching the real meaning of my post and getting this thread back in line. Now that I think of it, you’d relate the most to what I‘m experiencing...I keep forgetting we live in the DNJ/Uncle Dave zone (which is similar to working at the General Motors proving grounds!).

When they say in the song New York, NY....”if you can make it here, you’ll make it anywhere”....they knew what they were talking about.

Mark

Thanks to you guys for a good response, and I’d like to see more, ‘cause it's "decision time" here at the old corral. Been seriously thinking about this for the last few days....giving it all up.

But, let me explain about the “old guys” first. What P*$&*@ me off the most was it was obvious they were following the trend. They figured out they could get rid of their drummer and instrumentalists and go it almost “alone” and, yes, probably get by on their past reputation. That’s not a nice thing to do to your audience, especially if they’ve been life-long fans. It really is like watching Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson in the last days of their fighting careers.

Now, I’ll tell you where I’m coming from so you’ll better understand why I’m feeling this way. I very rarely tell this to anyone, because....a) nobody cares, and b) nobody even understands what I'm saying! But....here goes anyway...

I’ve been playing since I was 12 years old, professionally from 18, full-time from early twenties. I never, ever thought about anything but making good music to please the one who gave me the music talent (my Creator) and His people (my audience). I always felt it was my responsibility and obligation to give back to a system that was good to me. With that understanding, I applied myself totally to being the best I could be for my audience, and not for me. I spent hours and hours and hours of study, and not just music study. It was learning songs, researching songs, building up musical knowledge of peripheral topics, studying audiences (as both I and others play), learning how to talk on stage, singing lessons, etc. I’m sure you get my drift.

I feel anyone with legitimate music talent owes it to whoever gave it to them (their own Creator) to entertain the rest of society in the best way possible and that‘s why they were given music capabilities. I DON’T feel what these acts are doing are helping people right now who are living in a present world of complexity, confusion, and troubled times to cope with it. I feel those of us who play music, need to give back by learning their craft properly and bringing as much sunshine into the lives of others that they can through music.

Incidentally, I didn’t mention the other imitation musicians I’ve seen up to now. There wouldn’t be enough space. But I will say, when I watch an act, I not only study the performers, I also study the audience. They’re NOT tapping their feet, snapping their fingers, moving their bodies in time to the music, and they seem to applaud only out of obligation.

So now I trust you understand why I started this thread. I feel I really can’t give back to ANYONE anymore. That it’s all about the “new kids on the block” who have lowered the bar so much that soon, with all this music technology available now, you’ll have more (unqualified) musicians performing than “civilians” to listen to them. The level of musicianship will sink to a new low as more and more wannabes go out there with no training, only a desire for a paycheck.

All the joy is out of the job. And....I’m at the point where I’m thinking about all the energy I have to put into playing now and how I have to market myself against the “weekend warriors” and everything else that I have to compete with in entertaining these days.

After all these years, I’m not sure I’d miss it, it’s just not the fun game and the satisfying game it used to be.

But, I’m reading everything you guys wrote and thinking not a one of you entertained the idea of giving it all up. So I’m going back to my “crossroads” for now.

BTW...I’ve been thinking these last few weeks about how do you give back to the system other than through music? I’m considering becoming a therapist and giving up music entirely. I’m thinking people could be better served by dialoguing with them. It appears the need for folks to talk out their problems is greater than the need for good music.

And the biggest decision of all. What do I do with my PA3x? I’d have to run a Chinese Auction on the SynthZone....or give it to the Boys Club!

Mark

I’d really like to hear more viewpoints on how this portrait I've painted is affecting a lot of you. Maybe I’m missing something?

Mark,
I have given some serious thought to selling everything and completely retiring from my music gigs. I even sold my Tyros 4 and one of my Bose Compact speakers. My gripe is not the quality of the competition but rather the corporations that refuse to give the retirement homes a decent entertainment budget but yet charge the living hell out of their residents. I, like you, have a very strong professional background that only a few here know about and I simply refuse to play for the money some of the senior places are now offering. Would you believe some have even lowered the pay offered this year!!! I dropped eleven places this year over pay disputes.

So, I don't know what I will end up doing. I would miss seeing the people I play for but I sure wouldn't miss the PITAl it is to get gigs booked and driving in the heavy Dallas traffic.

Deane

Deane

I have run into the same thing in SW Florida. One example is the State Veterans Home here. I was on the State vendors list for years, and received my $100 like clockwork. About two years ago they lost their funding for entertainment, and I was forced into a decision, play for nothing or drop them.

Mark mentioned "paying back", so I did, in the case of old vets I had gotten to know. I volunteer. However, this is no different in that once they get something for nothing, it will not change in better times. They load up on church groups, guitar and boombox, and fools like me.

Before I get ridiculed, I would like to point out that our vets is an exception.

Bernie,
If asked, I would play for any of the vets places for free. In the Dallas area the places are being bought by major Corps who are doing their best to increase the bottom line. Two of my long time venues have had budget cuts allowing only paid entertainment of any kind once monthly. What this has meant to me is once I had as many bookings as I could play with only 22 clients. Today it is taking 80 plus clients to get the same amount of work. It is not only entertainment that takes a hit. At a lot of my venues the Corps have also cut staffing while at the same time increasing the fees they charge the residents.
Texas does a pretty good job of monitoring the senior homes and I don't see how all this is going unnoticed.

Deane

Are we not part of this problem too?? We play arrangers,we kill bands.Where do we draw the line in music??I still don't get how DJ's get more money than live music???

Did WE kill bands, or did DJs kill bands and force us into arranger kbs ?!?

DJs get more because they can provide the client with the ORIGINAL recording, which is what people are looking for ... for 'live music' to do that it would take an 8 to 10 piece band made up of excellent vocalists and musicians and the price - RIGHTFULLY SO - would be much greater than that of a DJ ...

BTW - besides myself, both the drummer and sax player in the band we had for 26 years eventually started playing AKBs after the band broke up and played in the restaurant and NH 'circuits' ...

Don't get me wrong.I love arrangers, but they are still far from live band.
I don't see what is the point of listening to original recordings. We can do that at home.One thing about live music is it doesn't sound like recording.

Tony,
You are right on target here. I worry about playing the same old songs all the time but each time I change things up people complain. When I played with the big bands we did the same set night after night played the way the original bands played them and the people not only love it but paid big bucks to get into the places.

I doubt any single event or person is responsible for what is happening in the music business today. Four or five years back when people lost jobs and quit going to the clubs the club owners had to find a way to provide music at a lower cost. Seems that idea caught on and here we are today - Karaoki bars and DJ's.
All who make more pay then those of us playing the real thing.

Deane

We had a 5 piece group -guitar, drums, stand up>electric bass, ALTO sax, accordion>cordovox>Fender Rhodes- from the late 1950's to 1984 ... 26 years playing weddings/dinner dances/ private parties ... we played music from the '40's to pretty much whatever was being played on the radio AT THAT TIME, and we did it in 'our style' which we got complimented on all the time ... The 4 of us who remain (RIP Fred) talk about how we would NOT be able to do that today ... we were very fortunate to have played in a time that was GREAT for small bands/combos ...

I think that playing big band music IN a big band is different in that people see the size of the band and EXPECT the music to sound like the original ...

mirza ... I agree on the 'going out to listen to records' ... but that may be the 'creative musical gene' in us that has a conflict with that ...

I'm with mirza on this one. Until the 80's and MIDI, bands were 100% live. Then we, as keyboard players, got the ability to do away with old fashioned drummers, bass players, even guitarists (a ton of 80's pop was all synth). We did solo acts with out DMX's or early MIDI sequencers, we embraced samplers to do drums and strings, horns etc., we had a really good run for a good 10 years or so.

But we opened the door to where we are now.

I'm sorry, but this sits squarely on US and our generation (if you played in the 80's).

But again, this is nothing new. Remember the first recording devices...? OK, the wax cylinder wasn't that big an issue, but the 78, and then the LP and the radio killed more bands than anything since. Back then, you either went to hear a live band, or you didn't hear music at all! Technology is a two edged sword.

Don't forget, the world is in a financial recession the likes of which hasn't been seen since the twenties. Everyone is tap dancing as fast as they can to deny it, but the pot got a LOT smaller recently. This is usually the time when new technology that makes entertainment cheaper gets widespread use.

But it's always a pendulum. We all pi$$ed our pants about DJ's killing the music industry in the late 70's disco era. It went away. Now it's back... It'll be gone again, in a while.

If you wait by the river long enough, the body of your enemy will float by...

Well put Diki.
Deane

Like Tony Mads, I had my first paying gig back in the 1950’s with a 5 piece “combo” We were called a wedding band back then although we played everything from sock hops, and proms to bowling banquets and spaghetti suppers as well as weddings. I did play trombone in a big band and a community concert band. The band broke up when our drummer and sax player went on the road and I started playing in gin mills and dives with a trio. After a 4 year stint with Uncle Sam and 5 years of college, I did about 25 years as a children’s entertainer using cassette taped accompaniments. In the late 70’s, I tried to get a band together again. After only a half dozen gigs the band thing fizzled … seemed that a couple of old band mates acquired drug and alcohol problems. I made and used a cutdown Cordovox with a little toy like Casio for rhythms and eventually a drum machine. In the mid 90’s, it was the Korg i5M with an Excelsior Digisyzer and an i5S. I was playing in 3 different restaurants during the week, a different venue every weekend; Cooperate parties, picnics, product launchings, dinner dances … 2 of the restaurants changed hands and I was out. I played in a one of restaurants for 13 years and have been cut back to one night per month; I have only 2 cooperate functions per year now. I was not replaced by a DJ on any of these gigs (Although DJ’s did move in on most of the New Years Eve. gigs in this area). I am becoming what most people in discussion are referring to. I am now taking agency jobs – in nursing homes - for less money than I had been making. I’m relying more and more on sequences so that I can fit into whatever the theme of the day is at the NH. This week I was called for a gig and asked to include karaoke in the performance. I accepted. I have no idea how to do karaoke yet, but I’ll do it. I LOVE playing out. Now, I play less, entertain more and eat regularly.

Hi Deane,

I relate to everything I quoted here by you.

Actually your posts from the last few months are what planted the seed in my head. It was a great ride, a great journey....but all things, good or bad, come to an end. My only regret is that my music career came to an end before I did!

Mark

Diki.......I disagree with this statement.

The "body of your enemy" will take many different forms....all assisted and made workable by technology. You will be waiting a long time just to define the enemy....forget about waiting for it to "float by!"

As for DJ's vs live bands vs Karaoke artists, garage bands, etc

I've lived through it all. The way I see it was...

....it started with 80's music becoming rather difficult to reproduce live. Couple that with the price difference between a DJ and a live band....it was a no-brainer for club owners and general events. The more the DJ's proliferated, the more lazy the bands got about "keeping up." That was the status quo until literally no one wanted to hire a band anymore.

Now, because of the economy, the DJ's are being taken over by garage band enthusiasts, Karaoke wannabe's, and technophobia geeks.

That will soon be replaced by streaming music via the Internet into your club or wedding.

And soon THAT will be replaced probably by a Home Entertainment Center that will play DVD's and MP3's, Karaoke files, a Home arranger application programmed by a nerd, and a projector that will project music video's onto the wall!

We asked for the benefits of technology, but it's not a one-way street. You pay a price for everything. The price we're paying is loss of jobs that will never again return to the workplace and loss of craftsmen and professionals in many, many fields including music.

The toothpaste can not be put back into the tube. With the advent of technology, everything moves in one direction now...forward!

Waiting for "the enemy to float by was possible before all this." Now it will just keep "morphing" into different forms fueled by the "bottom line."

Mark

Thank you to all of you who posted here on this thread about my “plight.” I’ve read all messages closely and each of you have said something for me to ponder over.

As I’ve written to Deane, it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while now. I’ve come to the conclusion you have to know “when to hold them, and when to fold them” in that big poker game in the sky.

I’ve decided to give up the whole thing, the practicing, the acquisition and storage of equipment, the never-ending study, learning new songs, new styles, a new language (Spanish), my PA3x, etc. Not to mention the current lack of respect for professional musicians, the obnoxious people you come into contact with now, and the predictable bickering over pay and who will do it for 1/10th of what you’re charging!

I will probably still dabble in music (mostly piano), but I will play for myself only now. And the music I want to play....and for relaxation with no obligation to anyone else but me.

I’m sure I will do the occasional senior jobs and work for the few clients I have left....I DO have bills to pay. But, I’m going to look in another direction and maybe see what life is like as a non-musician for the first time.

I’m a little un-easy at this age making this decision, but sometimes “the handwriting is clearly on the wall.”

I’m also aware that maybe the “rest” will open up a new perspective for me that I need to stay in music but go in a completely different direction.

But....for now....I quit! So take this thread in any direction you want now, but I’m glad I posted it to get this input from you guys.

Mark

Diki
I always enjoy reading what's going on in your head....You have the gift of putting your thoughts on paper!!!!

my relationship with music (50 years) was like a marriage gone bad. at the end of my professional career i was losing my "passion" of music. i was no longer thrilled by a new music,new places to play, even a new keyboard(and i had them all). my health has forced my to quit playing 7 years ago. i wasn't happy, i wanted to make just alitle bit more money before i packed it in. now i go to concerts, music stores etc. , and just smile. after all the glitz and glitter of showbiz, when my 8 year old grandaughter ask me to let her hold a violin .she was thrilled with the first note she played. i realized that the music will continue. life after music is not so scary.

My small 3 1/2 year old Great-Grand-Daughter visited over the weekend and when she walked into my studio and saw the keyboard setting there, it naturally caught her attention. She played a note - softly - and then another - no random banging as you might expect - I left her alone with it and set down across the room from her and just watched - she was picking out tunes and repeated her melody - she was actually composing - I was mesmerized and so was she - this went on for at least a good half hour before her mom interrupted and ushered her out of the room - much protesting from the child.

A star is born.

Bill G

Bill,
I too have grand children, 4.5 year old twin granddaughters. Every time they visit they ask to play one of my keyboards. Right now they just plink away but seem to have fun doing it. Nothing special yet, but who knows as time goes on.

Deane

Interesting posts. I agree with most lines of thought completely.

Each time I hear what passes today for music, I think about the newcomers out there who are as good as it gets.

Leanne La Havas has Prince and Stevie Wonder flying around the world to her concerts. She is 24 years old and may be as good (making adjustments for time related changes) as my all-time favorite (and the person who taught me to appreciate sensitive, complex ballads and structures) Ella.

Listen to our own Rory Hoffman. Granted the brilliant ones are harder to find, but they're out there.

I was at Summer NAMM and there were kids at the Opreyland hotel with holes in there shoes who could blow me away on guitar.

Granted, the "gems" are harder to find. But they are there and will survive, I believe.

In real life, it's harder, these days, to make a living playing live for people.

But, there are many options...sound scores...commercials...re-focusing to specialize in organizational events...corporate gigs...government AFFILIATED JOBS. THERE'S lots more!

Just got back this morning for two days in Louisville working on a video annual report score for an American car manufacturer...the first job for this client. Got this work because of work I have been doing for a Japanese auto manufacturer for about 10 years. Got the Japanese company because the president of the firm heard me perform at a local restaurant; then with the Philharmonic as gusts soloist (my FAUX Didley act...HA HA)!

Adaptability is the key. I'm not playing what I want to play. But I'm playing, and that's the GREATEST THING, EVER!

Hang in there, friends. Great, well reasoned, and POLITE exchange of articulate observations!


Thanks,


Russ

Captain Russ; “Adaptability is the key. I'm not playing what I want to play. But I'm playing, and that's the GREATEST THING, EVER!”

… What I was trying to say … expressed most eloquently and succinctly by the Captain.
Ciao,
Jerry

You are disagreeing with Sun Tzu, and his 'The Art of War', a world renowned military (and now political and business) strategy guide used the world over. Not me!

In this context, your enemy is canned music, karaoke and the widespread acceptance of lesser ability. But everything is cyclical. Rather than fret yourself out of the business, merely bide your time, keep doing what you do, and the world will turn. Sooner or later, there will be a shift. And the things you worry about now will be a distant memory.

And you will still be playing.

I don't by that theory......your life isn't cyclicle...you'll probably be dead by the time you have to wait if at all....
I'd say worry about NOW & make your own destiny as most of the time all these so called depressive problems are caused by your own "Human Error" in some way or form,....only you can change the course and make it work for you, being lackadaisical will surly lead to failure, worry about what YOU DO,... NOT, what they do,...Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about,& When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place!!.... ;-)

Quite right, Diki. To paraphrase another notable which sometimes applies in this game: The longevity in this business is often equal to the depth of the dermis developed. Or, 'nil carborundum' - don't let the bastards grind you down.

Sure glad I drink!

Don't worry about it - just mix up a big, Green Coconut Margaretta and forgetaboutit!

Bottom's up,

Gary

Ah! Donny's on the right track, too.

(Edited to add) And Gary, as well.

A simple answer to the original poster. You are way way over reacting. Just do your music and enjoy it. All you need to do is find enough people that are willing to pay for and listen to your music. Trust me there are lots of them out there. Stop looking at others and focus on yourself. Music is its own reward after all.....

Hi Wrinkles.......thanks for posting this. That's exactly what I'm going through. You couldn't have written it any better than you did!

Mark

Hi Spalding....I'm the OP. I guess I forgot to say....I have no choice but to quit playing now because.........I BURNED OUT!!!.

I haven't been able to play the piano for weeks now. When I sit down I don't even remember HOW to play, much less what to play! Pretty soon I won't even remember where the piano is! It's not a nervous breakdown, it's a "musical breakdown!"



That's a lot of what "burned me out"......having to deal with PEOPLE in these very trying times.....obnoxious, abrasive, disrespectful, unappreciative (where I live anyway). I've had a career of dealing with happy, civil people as an audience......suddenly it's changed overnight. I'm not sure how one can be a very sensitive musician playing meaningful, beautiful music while coping with the aforementioned.

I never dreamed in a million years this is the direction music would take. I've adapted to just about everything I had to over the years, but I don't have the energy or the desire anymore to deal with this kind of thing. More power to you guys if you CAN!!!

But...after I take some good rest away from music completely, I have the feeling somewhere down the line when it's time to pay the monthly bills and I have to be reminded of my shrinking bank account, I'll wish I was back playing again!

Mark

I have always had an audience of 1 - me! I'm still enjoying my music. :-)

Bill G

Well, let's see... I remember the doom and gloom merchants predicting the death of music with the disco years and the rise of the disco DJ in the 70's...

I'm still here playing 6 days a week, they are gone (they aren't working 6 days a week, that's for sure!). Donny, it seems I didn't have to wait that long..!

I find it hard that anyone that has been playing professionally since the 60's cannot recognize how cyclical our industry is. Trends come and go, then come and go again. You get disco, then punk, then house, then grunge, rinse and repeat ad nauseam. And the whole purpose of it all is so YOUR generation (if you are a kid) can separate itself from the one before. God forbid you all drink the same Kool-Aid!

And to Mark, the OP... well, it's your choice. Quit music, don't quit music, who cares? Your enthusiasm or lack of it for music is YOUR decision, but to be frank, it sounds like you are looking for an excuse to do what you actually WANT to do. And I don't blame you... TBH, if you aren't getting much enjoyment from playing, it's an awful job! But blaming external sources for your malaise or ennui isn't really addressing the issue. There's PLENTY of good reasons to stay playing music, not the least of which should be, you LOVE music. Or you should. If you don't, you aren't trying.

There's PLENTY of modern music worth playing that is popular. There are five decades of popular music that people of all ages seem to enjoy, from the Beatles and the Stones, from Cream and Zeppelin, to John Mayer, Bruno Mars, Esperanza Spalding and the whole pantheon of young talented musicians (yes, just open your eyes, they are out there!).

But if you want to quit, go ahead. There will be dozen players with tougher skins and tougher mentalities, who apparently still love playing music lining up for what few gigs you do. Make their day!

Me, they can have my keyboards when they pry them from my cold dead hands!

In the 50 plus years I have worked as a performer/musician, there have been several times when I was leaning towards quitting or just taking an extended break.

One time in particular, I was teaching part-time, working full-time as a communications director and playing 1:00 AM to 4:AM after hours Monday-Thursdays; then 5:00 Pm-4:00 AM Friday and Saturday in the same club/restaurant. I got off at 4:15 PM from my day gig and then worked 11 hours straight on week-ends in three different sessions/locations.

On Saturday morning, I was so tired and disgusted, I went to sleep at 4:30 AM and woke up at 4:00 PM. I was ready to hand in my notice that night.

Driving to work, I turned on the radio (in my 68 Mercury Capri)and stopped in wonder, when I heard what came out of the speakers. It was a beautiful male voice, doing a combination of solo guitar and vocal scatting.

It was BEAUTIFUL! Turned out it was George Benson singing Masquerade, one of my favorite Leon Russell tunes. The story is, he was just warming up, when the producer heard him (he was doing guitar for another singer, and had never released a vocal recording). I hurried to work and played my version of his version of the tune. I finally got what is meant to put your own "mark" on a piece; to make it my own.

The story is, George had lost his Verve contract and was moving to Hawaii to dig foundations. This was one of his last dates. He and I demoed for Guild at the same time.

The album (Breezing) went on to sell 13 million copies. The most he'd sold when doing conventional, straight ahead jazz was 500,000.

He took some flack from the purists, but he knew the integrity was still there, and inspired many players (like me) to rethink our whole approach to tune interpretation and performance. Plus, he was banking lots of bread.

The point is, as Diki says, you adapt and you go on. I would never even thought that an instrument like and arranger would exist. Some of the equipment I use for recording is so cool I just walk around with a silly grin on my face.

Ms. Spalding was recognized by Diki as an innovator, along with Bruno Marrs and others. He's right (damn, I hate to keep admitting that LOL). And there are others: Leanne La Havas being one of my all-time favorites. At 24 years old, she's as good as anyone I've ever heard, and I have had Ella, Pearlie Maye, Jackie De Shannon and others sing and cook breakfast for me.

At 68 (soon to be 69) I'm nowhere near ready to quit. I'm still learning in spite of what some would consider significant physical obstacles. That just makes me appreciate my past more and want to continue until I can't.

You ALL have my wish for continued enjoyment in the playing of music; however, wherever and whenever you choose to do it.

BUT, PLEASE....DO IT!


Russ

Mark, if you have truly burned out, which is rare for this industry, then I would suggest selling all that gear, get the Hell off the music forums, walk away and don't look back. Nothing said here, apparently, is really going to change your mind.

I did the exact same thing when I worked in medicine. After 15 years, working 80 to 100-hour weeks, I burned out. I was down to 145 pounds, like the walking dead, and had badly neglected my family for 15 years. I walked away in 1975 and never looked back. This despite many, many offers from various medical facilities to work for them at a much higher salary.

Therefore, if you can financially do it, and you have truly burned out, take the money from the gear you sell on Ebay or wherever, and use it to do something that has been on your bucket list forever. Life is way too damned short to do things you really don't enjoy doing. For a half-century I've been slowly but surely nibbling down that bucket list, but something always seems to be added to the bucket, which is not a bad thing. I took a big chunk out of the bucket, though, when I purchased that 33-foot Morgan Out Island sailboat, set sail, pointed the bow south, and sailed it to the Florida Keys. I had the best of both worlds, living aboard the boat, playing music in the Tiki Bars, and enjoying a dress code where formal was considered clean shorts, Hawaiian shirt and sandals.

Now, I still love playing music, but I also love sailing to far-off places and meeting people from all walks of life. If there ever comes a time when there's not a song playing in the cobwebs of my aging mind, it will mean I TOO have either burned out, or I died but no one told me yet.

Gotta go to work! Another happy hour job this afternoon,

Gary

Mark, I have to say, I can identify with your present situation, mainly because I have been through it, in some form or another, several times in my 40 plus years as a pro player...I am now 64 years old, and once again in the midst of change regarding my musical career. Strangely enough, I find it an exciting, rather than a negative, feeling.

Similar to what has been stated above in different forms, I have learned the way to longevity in the "business" is re-inventing yourself and/or your art.

Nothing wrong with taking a break and re-evaluating your situation...sometimes you have to surrender a little to win, but that shouldn't mean "giving up" entirely. In some instances, you have to step back to be able to see your future direction. But, and this is important, if you LOVE playing, you must treat this stepping back as temporary.

I will not share my own new direction at this point, but, needless to say, I have stepped back, and I have several related ideas I am considering pursuing. I go by the expression I learned from my martial arts master many years ago..."no one has ever had a filling, without an emptying to give it room."

Use your break time wisely...something that was, at one time, only a part of what you did, may be the beginning of a whole new direction. I was one of the first keyboard players in my area to utilize a polyphonic synthesizer...having that instrument, and a thorough knowledge of how to use it, led to work in CBC Radio Canada, doing "do-nuts" which were musical tone poems or phrases, before and after a particular show or anouncement. That led to recording work with visiting artists using the radio station's, then state of the art, 4-track studio, adding strings, brass and poly synth sounds, as well as playing the studio's grand piano. My experience with synths led to a early stint with Yamaha Canada when the CS-80/60/50 was introduced. That contact with Yamaha, plus my earlier years of Royal Conservatory training, became an opportunity for me to teach Electone Organ and some piano using Yamaha's method (I literally trained on the job). That eventually led to teaching the then newly emerging arranger instruments, which opened the way to clinician/demonstrator work with Roland and Yamaha.

In between, I worked in keyboard sales which helped strengthen my ability to work with the public, and to broaden my instrument knowledge...both very useful in other areas.

The point I'm trying to make is that somewhere in your musical skill set; you know, the one that you developed and invested in over the years, may be a useful ability that you can further develop and market. Why waste those attributes that you formulated over your musical career, such as playing proficiency, instrument knowledge, people skills, handling money, promotional knowledge etc.?

There is some excellent advice from the above posters, especially the heartfelt recommendation of not giving up too easily.

Only you can decide if you are totally done, or just temporarily between positions.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Ian

Lugged a CS-60 around for years, Ian! Loved that pitch strip...

Glad I never got the CS-80 though. Had a friend with one, and tuning it was a nightmare!

Plus, the CS-80 was only 220 lbs.!

I really liked it's weighted (more like semi-weighted) keyboard and the poly aftertouch (as well as very good velocity response)...rumor has it, there is a working CS-80 still at Yamaha Canada in Ontario...probably the same one I trained on.

It was updated a few times, but tuning was still an issue, and it is definitely more of a studio instrument than for stage but hey, Stevie Wonder and Vangelis knew a good thing when they heard and played it. Stevie Wonder used to do trills on it with the pitch strip....a very cool feature.

A friend recently purchased a really groovy VST...Arturia's CS-80V. It's an amazing, very authentic software synth plug-in that is modeled after the CS-80...major enhancements include stereo voices, non-drifting oscillators, advanced modulation abilities, MIDI/Tempo sync, patch memory (the CS-80 would only hold six patches), total recall, controller automation...all very useful, indeed.

There are a few synth patches on my Tyros4 very reminiscent of some of those I could create on the CS-80, but they just don't have that rawness that the latter could produce, but, they are close enough for my ears and usage, and, if I want more like the real deal, I can always spring for the VST.

Getting back to Mark's topic, music was too much "in my blood" for me to stay away from it for any length of time...I hope he finds a solution instead of giving up.

Ian

The only time I "stayed away" from music was after I moved to RI ... after having been in a band with the same guys for 26 years, I did not feel 'comfortable' playing ... I didn't play a gig for 7 years!!! ... I would sit at the piano at home on a Friday or Saturday night for hours on end playing and singing ... finally my wife said "I don't want to chase you out of the house, but I know you miss playing - have some business cards made and try to get a gig." Fortunately, I followed her advice ...

Wow! Seven years! Tony, I think the longest I was away from actually gigging was about a year or so.

I can relate to the not feeling comfortable, especially coming from a long term band situation...the first gigs I did solo I felt very ALONE, but I got to appreciate the perks, such as being my own boss, practicing as often as I wanted, and, of course, basking in all the glory.

Lately, I don't jam with the guys as often, because of our short, precious summer, but come the winter, we'll do duos and trios and make lots of racket. It will be especially welcome since my retirement from Yamaha this past spring, and give me another opportunity to play besides here in my new apartment. Plus, they always come up with some great old tunes I'd never think of playing.

The old expression, "there's a home for every puppy", means that there is quite likely someplace we can keep up our skills and express ourselves musically...even unpaid "jam sessions" with our buds are good for keeping our chops up, for one never knows when another playing situation will arise.

Ian

Never COMPLETELY gave up gigging, but until this year, had cut back quite a bit. The economy and BP had all but killed the Gulf Coast, and once you drop your price, takes forever to get it back up!

Better to sit out and wait for things to improve (which they have)....

101 lbs for the CS-60... yay! Lightweight synths..!

For the past six months, I have worked very little. After breaking off the job I played five nights a week for something like 25 years, I was devastated, and really got down. Then my wife told me she enjoyed having weekends with me. She told me not to go back and bury the hatchet, so I didn't.
Now, I'm playing just private parties, and a night every week or so at the country club (literally in my back yard).
I now find that when I do work, I'm enjoying it even more. I'm even trying to become more of a morning person but haven't made much progress yet. I did get up and go fishing at 7 a.m. a couple of times last week though.
I'm absolutely certain I could go out and find more work, but I want to enjoy this change of pace at least for a while longer.
I hope Mark finds the answer that is best for him.
DonM

I'm only managing to get up just before the crack of noon...too many years of nite-life and poor sleeping habits...tough to change.

Thankfully my apartment building is very quiet in the morning.

Fishing at 7:00 AM...do fish get up that early?

Ian

Ian, fish don't really sleep. Same with some musicians as well.

Gary

Mmmmm...Gary, what's that old saying?

If you give a man a fish...he will eat for a day.

But, if you teach a man to fish...he will buy an ugly hat!

Ian

Yeah, that's pretty close!

Gary

Don ... Susan works during the week, right, so weekends together must be enjoyable ...

No need to push hard for work if you are enjoying what you are (or are NOT) doing ...

There is an answer out there for everyone ... Sometimes it just takes longer to find ... the KEY is to know it when we find it ...

Gary.....you're generally very supportive so I can't say I didn't get initially annoyed at the severity of your remark at a (so far) difficult time for me:



...but as I read further (and read a few times), I began to realize you're right on the money about the following:



I've been completely and deliberately away from music for almost two weeks now. Also been spending some alone time, in nature, just thinking about things. I'm starting to realize why I'm in "burn-out" right now and how to rectify it. And ONE of the reasons is I've made my whole life music. While I enjoy doing many things, I don't spend enough time doing "non-musical" endeavors.

That's part of it. Now that I've backed up a few feet, I'm starting to see the bigger picture of how I got to this point.

Mark,

Just a few short years ago, I was real close to burnout. I was performing 7 to 9 jobs a week, well over 400 jobs a year, lots of doubles, even some triples, not sleeping well at all, I neglected my home, I neglected my wife, I rarely got to see my children and grandchild, and I wasn't taking care of myself, both physically and mentally. Every waking moment was dedicated to music.

Now, there are some folks that will say "Well, those nursing home, assisted living, senior center and retirement community jobs are just one-hour jobs. What's the big deal?" Well, those one-hour jobs require the same amount of effort as a three to four-hour job. The same preparation time goes into each and every job. Travel time to and from the job, set-up and tear-down time is the same, billing and collection procedure the same, dress code the same, etc... So, the only difference is a couple hour playing time is added, but that's the fun part of all the jobs. So, in reality, that one-hour job, when all things are considered, takes about 4 hours at the very least. And, when you have a couple a day, and sometimes just an hour or less between jobs, you really have to hustle.

A schedule like that wouldn't be too bad if I were 52 years old, but I'm not. Add a couple decades to that age category and the equipment begins to get heavier, and you begin to physically and mentally wear out.

Six years ago, on a Sunday morning, I got out of bed, fixed breakfast, walked down to the basement office, turned on the computer, printed out an invoice and began checking my email and some of the forums. I felt a sharp pain in my wrist, but ignored it thinking I must have slept in an awkward position, which could be causing the pain. A few minutes later, the pain began slowly creeping up my arm, and I felt a bit weak. I took my pulse, took a few deep breaths, and slowly walked upstairs. I then took four aspirin tablets and told my wife to drive me to the hospital emergency room right away. She wanted to call 911, but I told her just drive me there and I'll be much faster and safer.

I had an 85-percent blockage of my left anterior descending coronary artery. I was lucky in that from my medical background from many years ago, I knew exactly what was happening - I was having a heart attack. The next three days was spent in the hospital, a couple stents were placed in the blockage area, when I got home the phone was ringing off the hook and the phone message recorder had 30 messages on it. While there were a few get well soon messages, there were several wanting to know when I would be back to work full time again.

At that point, I looked in the mirror and realized there was an old man looking back at me. I also came to the stark realization that there were a lot of things in this old world that I wanted to do before I was unable to do them. I told my wife and kids that I was going to slow down a bit, cut back to just 3 to 4 jobs a week, pretty much eliminate doubles and absolutely no more triples. A schedule this light would almost be like being semi-retired.

The next step was to closely examine the bucket list and figure out which of those dreams I could fulfill, both physically and financially, before I kick the bucket. The bucket was pretty damned full, that's for sure. So, I combined a few things.

First order of business was to lighten the job load, which was a bit difficult, mainly because I rarely said no to anyone's request for my services. Therefore, I ended up cutting out all of the facilities on the west side of Baltimore, which eliminated a couple hundred jobs right off the top - or so I thought. As soon as word got out that I had cut the long-drive-time jobs, some of the facilities closer to home began calling and asking for performance dates. I reluctantly accepted some of them, but not all. This allowed me to open a slot during the dead of winter so I could do something I really wanted to do - travel to a warmer climate during late January and through February - the worst winter months here.

I loaded the mini-van with my music gear, packed some suitcases, closed up the house, and the last week in January, headed south. Damned it was a nice feeling to drive out of the land of cold and snow to the land of Spanish moss, palm trees, sugar-white sand and turquoise colored water. Prior to leaving I made arrangements to stop at various places along the way and visit with many of the good folks here at Synthzone and the PSR-Tutorial. I spent a half-day with Joe Waters, creator and founder of PSR-Tutorial, and his lovely wife Joan. Joan fixed a wonderful steak dinner. That night, I was in North Carolina and got to see and hear one of the PSR-Tutorial guys perform at a local nite club.

Also, while on this particular trip, I spent some time looking for a sailboat big enough to live on. Something that was ocean capable, and would be large enough to carry me, and my music gear. I drove a total of just over 5,000-miles. Ironically, I found the boat I wanted just 50 miles from home. I got to meet up with Eddie Shoemaker, Randy (Saxman), Diki, Don Mason, Hank Bowman, Bill (Semilive), and many, many others that frequent this and other forums. We had a lot of fun together, played music with some of them, but most of all, I finally had the opportunity to connect a real person with the forum names.

After finding the boat I wanted, I then went about the job of fulfilling the biggest item on the bucket list - cruising to the Florida Keys, Dry Tortugas and Bahama Islands aboard my own boat. Now, some folks, including my wife, think this was crazy and that the old man had finally lost his marbles. Whether or not that's the case, I made the trip. I did something that most people only dream of, but never fulfill their dream. I put the sails up on that boat last October 3rd, pointed the bow south, and had the adventure of a lifetime. There were days when the only boat on the horizon was mine, and the only company I had was schools of dolphin swimming a few feet from the boat as I sailed slowly toward the land of palm trees and azure waters. There were nights when I just sat on the deck in a quiet cove in the middle of nowhere and looked at millions of twinkling stars overhead in a sky clearer than anyone can imagine. There were nights when I was suddenly awakened by a strange, clicking sound, which turned out to be shrimp picking specks of algae from the boat's hull. Sure were tasty critters. I was able to anchor the boat near Sombrero Reef, where underwater visibility ranged to 40 feet at times, jump overboard and snorkel with a myriad of beautifully colored, tropical fish that ate food from my hand.

Best of all, I got to meet an enormous number of wonderful people, people from all walks of life, musicians and entertainers, engineers, truck drivers, nurses, physicians, architects, etc..., people that walked away from a job from which they burned out, moved aboard their sailboats, and never looked back. Some were relatively young, and had young children who either attended the local schools, or were being educated by their parents. I met older folks, some much older than myself, that loved the life they live aboard their boats and have been living on the water for decades. One particular individual, Captain Jack, sailed from Miami to Marathon, Florida for a long weekend aboard his 26 foot boat with his wife. Jack was an engineer with a major corporation. He said that after three days of being away from his drafting table he couldn't think of a single reason to go back. That was 30 years ago when he was 61 years old. I played music for his 91st birthday, and for payment I got a treasure map autographed by Jack - I refused to take any money for allowing me to perform that night.

I just spent the past hour writing this post, and Mark, I know that eventually, you will be back to playing music - it's in your soul. But, as I've said many times in the past, take some time to smell the roses. There's an incredible world out there, a world beyond the realm of music, and it's waiting for you to come and explore it's wonderment. My only regret is that it took a heart attack for me to get started on this incredible journey of life.

Good luck,

Gary

Gary.....me either.....(age 52)! Thanks for writing this out. It really gives you something to think about...get your priorities in order, 'cause we DO only go around once, don't we.

Anyhow, that's what I got caught up in and how my "slide" started about 2 years ago. I should have caught it then, but you don't 'cause you still think you're a kid and.....indestructible.

So...I don't feel like such a wimp now. Like you, there were too many jobs...too much time needed for peripheral issues working those jobs.....too much traveling....too much technology to keep up with.....too much practicing and preparation, not enough time to do non-musical things, I'm not 18 anymore, and.....you know the rest.

I haven't played for a couple of weeks now. I'm hoping I bounce back, but, to be honest I'm also thinking about what Don said: "I hope Mark finds the answer that is best for him." I've been thinking about that and "what's best for Mark" and that just might no longer be music. Easing myself into another line of work might just appear on my "bucket list."

.....and, by the way, you said this in your earlier reply:



I have to catch you on that......I read what everyone wrote on this thread.....2-3x...and I can't say it hasn't influenced me. So thanks to everyone who gave their input here. It really gave me a lot of different perspectives to think about.

Mark

I may have missed something, but why does it have to be a full blown crazy schedule or nothing? You could cut down more than Gary, and play what and when you want. At least, you you wouldn't give up the love of your life completely.

That is my thought too Bernie. Just find the balance that suits you best.