When I was working ( full-time plus, thanks to my slave-driver of a boss ) I rarely went out to a musical event unless I was paid for it.
Now I have the time and energy I enjoy going out for pleasure and making music.
The quick answer is that once I had the strength I re-found the enthusiasm I always had. I can't imagine not wanting to play music any more.
I've been considering it lately -- juggling the equivalent of three jobs and household/family duties leaves little time or enthusiasm for much of anything else. (I know -- poor me, learn to just say "no" and quit being a perfectionist). BUT then I realize that would mean I'd be giving up the last fun thing I do just for me. And one of the few things that actually GIVES energy rather than takes it. So I don't think I'll give it up just yet.
Hey Char B - nice to meet you . My wife is called Charlotte and our surname begins with B and theres a family on the way. Its not you is it? (incognito) Actually I think she has been considering giving it up on my behalf. Oooo how could she?
O.K. Char B ive read your bio thingy and your clearly not my wife. But hey - contra, not quite Irish? as you put it - well I guess not but we finished my local session on Thursday with a tune called "Nail that Catfish to the Tree" Fantastic tune and im sure its in the Portland collection (vol 1). Does that make it Contra?
Back at ya, NEWTY! Golly, I don't think I'm your wife -- let me check to see who's sitting in my husband's office! I hope she doesn't give it up, even if you're worth it Some of us women-folk have a hard time balancing our priorities, but we need to remember to do things for ourselves (patented California psycho-babble).
oooooo --- lost my post! I'll try again. That is indeed a very fun tune. I'd say that what most makes a tune Contra is how you play it -- we play Irish and others as well. There was some discussion on contra a little while back, let me see if I can find the link...
i have accepted that in my life there will be times when i don't have much time to play or don't feel like it. and that's okay. having said that, however, i don't see myself ever giving it up in the long run.
I got as far as "its an american form of ENGLISH music "and promptly switched off (re link).Traditionally we play a tune before that called "Possum up a Gum Stump". You Know it? Its 9-15 here, are you 8 hours ahead or behind?
Beware! (sound of skittering) -- oh, that's the critters -- slang for animal or creature. Now you can amaze and impress your fellow sessioneers with your knowledge of American slang! Especially useful when playing tunes with Catfish or Possum in the title.
We pair Nail that Catfish with a simple little tune called Waiting for Nancy. Lots of room for creativity on that one.
D'oh nothing - im working my way through a box of lager which I assured my wife would last a couple of weeks.Im doing quite well so no suprise I dont know the time in Americkay - I m not sure what time it is here!!!!! So whats ur fav set of Irish tunes? I play with a ceilidh band (a bit) and i love Scattery Island - Going to the Well for water then Dusty Windowcills. They all fall nicely for the banjo.
Golly -- you made me think! (ouch) This conversation is a nice break from the work I should be doing at my desk, which of course requires no thought at all. Hm, because we match tunes without regard to heritage (aw heck, we're all mongrels here), it seems that our Irish tunes are not usually exclusive to a set! But I will say that I very much enjoy Cliffs of Mohr and Caislean na nOr. I've a boatload of tunes I want to learn to play with an Irish accent rather than in Contra mode, but that brings up back to my original point about time.
I think about giving it up every time I listen to Michael McGoldrick but then I think 'noone's ever improved with an attitude like that'. So I just get out there, try not to make too many mistakes and enjoy !
Hi flossie. Head is doing fine ta. Just about to tune up. I think the original question was aimed at the "plateau" thing. Sometimes the instruments feel part of the boby and other times you feel you are making no progress at all. I dont think you can ever give it up - its in the blood.
I went to play on Friday evening after a week of office and was so tired I thought if I lay down I'd die. Hands sore and stiff, left elbow weak, band-aid on my thumb (cut it while chopping broccoli) that caused the ol' pick to wander around in circles -- well, after about half an hour of stumbling around I got stuck into the Jig of Slurs, then Geese in the Bog, and then a whole string of jigs in G/E minor ...
Then I fell off my stool, twitching and babbling.
I couldn't give it up. But I'm going to learn to take naps.
if i gave up.... among the many persons happy about my decisions, my wife would be the first one showing her happiness, probably " buring my fiddle and dancing on top of me."
No - I'd be a lost soul without it. Just back from Buncrana [Ar ais arís festival] where I had lovely tunes in Roddens in the afternoon, a great steak dinner at the Gateway Hotel and finished up with a wee session in the Drift Inn till 1.15 in the morning. Just the medication I needed
"What about giving up the day job for the music? (that's how I read the thread!). Anyone done that wildly dangerous thing???"
We (Wife & I) are actively preparing to give it a go for at least a year, starting in summer 07. sort of......
After all, life is too short. A year ago, our wonderful neighbor, barely in his 50s, was suddenly told that he had a rare form of cancer and was given 6 months to live. Thankfully, he is still beating the odds - saw him on his lawnmower yesterday.
"What about giving up the day job for the music? (that's how I read the thread!). Anyone done that wildly dangerous thing???"
Yes, we did this before, for a year, 10 years ago, then kept on performing while going back to school - in a totally unrelated field. Looking forward to another sabbatical, of sorts.
Both the music and my day job are in my blood. I've discovered (multiple times) that giving up either of them is bad for my mental and physical health. (I tend to forget sometimes and let the music go for a stretch of time, only to find my wrists deterioriating and my sanity tearing. You'd think I'd know better by now.)
When the grant money funding a big chunk of my salary dried up, I spent a couple of years teaching guitar and playing gigs. I might’ve kept at it (or not) if a little bundle of joy hadn’t come along. Bundle of Joy is now twenty-six years old and I haven’t been seriously tempted to take the leap again, mainly because I learned that I’m not very good at the business part of musicbiz. While it lasted, it was both scary and exhilirating. There was a palpable feeling of having a weight lifted off my shoulders when I realized I was on my own with no one to control my day-to-day existence.
That feeling is worth a lot, but being a full-time musician (playing or teaching) means you’re vulnerable to several fickle forces more or less beyond your control: the popularity of your style of music, availability of venues, The Economy, luck, competition, etc. My advice to anybody considering taking the leap is this: If you’ve got the passion and you think you’ll regret not trying it, then go for it.
You are right Bob I think I'll go for it this summer . . but I'll take my own cardboard box and bin liner just in case we get a wet one.
Seriously my life here with my family is getting more and more impossible for all the reasons you can think of. So I'm planning to head off for the south coast (of England ) that is , Devon or Cornwall, find a little job somewhere, selling icecream maybe . . do a bit of busking . . maybe join a band that gets paid . . ?
I've worked in old peoples homes playing my ukelele, so I could also do some of that.
Interesting - I'm about to give up quite a well paid job in a big organisation because in the end, the music is more fun. What Stewpot says just sums it all up: "Stuff it....I'm off!"
Ever considered giving it all up?
Ever considered giving it all up?
So - have you been down that road?
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Newty
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
When I was working ( full-time plus, thanks to my slave-driver of a boss ) I rarely went out to a musical event unless I was paid for it.
Now I have the time and energy I enjoy going out for pleasure and making music.
The quick answer is that once I had the strength I re-found the enthusiasm I always had. I can't imagine not wanting to play music any more.
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Sounds like a possible yes?
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Newty
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
I've been considering it lately -- juggling the equivalent of three jobs and household/family duties leaves little time or enthusiasm for much of anything else. (I know -- poor me, learn to just say "no" and quit being a perfectionist). BUT then I realize that would mean I'd be giving up the last fun thing I do just for me. And one of the few things that actually GIVES energy rather than takes it. So I don't think I'll give it up just yet.
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Char B
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Hey Char B - nice to meet you . My wife is called Charlotte and our surname begins with B and theres a family on the way. Its not you is it? (incognito) Actually I think she has been considering giving it up on my behalf. Oooo how could she?
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Newty
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
O.K. Char B ive read your bio thingy and your clearly not my wife. But hey - contra, not quite Irish? as you put it - well I guess not but we finished my local session on Thursday with a tune called "Nail that Catfish to the Tree" Fantastic tune and im sure its in the Portland collection (vol 1). Does that make it Contra?
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Newty
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Back at ya, NEWTY! Golly, I don't think I'm your wife -- let me check to see who's sitting in my husband's office! I hope she doesn't give it up, even if you're worth it
Some of us women-folk have a hard time balancing our priorities, but we need to remember to do things for ourselves (patented California psycho-babble).
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Char B
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
oooooo --- lost my post! I'll try again. That is indeed a very fun tune. I'd say that what most makes a tune Contra is how you play it -- we play Irish and others as well. There was some discussion on contra a little while back, let me see if I can find the link...
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Char B
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Danceall had a good quickie description:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/9531/comments#comment201959
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Char B
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
i have accepted that in my life there will be times when i don't have much time to play or don't feel like it. and that's okay. having said that, however, i don't see myself ever giving it up in the long run.
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Brendan
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
I got as far as "its an american form of ENGLISH music "and promptly switched off (re link).Traditionally we play a tune before that called "Possum up a Gum Stump". You Know it? Its 9-15 here, are you 8 hours ahead or behind?
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Newty
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Ive just run a tune search and Nail that Catfish is not on this site. It really needs to be posted. Go on someone make yur mark!
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Newty
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Golly -- don't know that one! Sounds like that set has a definite "critter" theme. It's 12:30 in the afternoon here -- I think I'm behind you.
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Char B
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
I've just looked and your definately not behind me? hey - this aint no pantomine. Whats the "critter" inCritter theme?
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Newty
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Beware! (sound of skittering) -- oh, that's the critters -- slang for animal or creature. Now you can amaze and impress your fellow sessioneers with your knowledge of American slang! Especially useful when playing tunes with Catfish or Possum in the title.
We pair Nail that Catfish with a simple little tune called Waiting for Nancy. Lots of room for creativity on that one.
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Char B
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
And I can't believe I fell for your time question... D'oh!
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Char B
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
D'oh nothing - im working my way through a box of lager which I assured my wife would last a couple of weeks.Im doing quite well so no suprise I dont know the time in Americkay - I m not sure what time it is here!!!!! So whats ur fav set of Irish tunes? I play with a ceilidh band (a bit) and i love Scattery Island - Going to the Well for water then Dusty Windowcills. They all fall nicely for the banjo.
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Newty
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
You O.K. Brendan? you dont sound too good.
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Newty
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Golly -- you made me think! (ouch) This conversation is a nice break from the work I should be doing at my desk, which of course requires no thought at all. Hm, because we match tunes without regard to heritage (aw heck, we're all mongrels here), it seems that our Irish tunes are not usually exclusive to a set! But I will say that I very much enjoy Cliffs of Mohr and Caislean na nOr. I've a boatload of tunes I want to learn to play with an Irish accent rather than in Contra mode, but that brings up back to my original point about time.
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Char B
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Good night world
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Newty
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
If u like Moher - try Maid on the Green, Reverend Brother then Moher - another set of our band. Speak to you soon.Night
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Newty
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Sweet dreams!
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Char B
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Good Morning Newty how's the head this morning?
I think about giving it up every time I listen to Michael McGoldrick but then I think 'noone's ever improved with an attitude like that'. So I just get out there, try not to make too many mistakes and enjoy !
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by flossie
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
To get back to the question.........well, actually, it's a no.
# Posted on April 2nd 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
No never and I never will till they pry my whistle out of my cold dead hands.....
# Posted on April 2nd 2006 by Chef Paul
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Hi flossie. Head is doing fine ta. Just about to tune up. I think the original question was aimed at the "plateau" thing. Sometimes the instruments feel part of the boby and other times you feel you are making no progress at all. I dont think you can ever give it up - its in the blood.
# Posted on April 2nd 2006 by Newty
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
I tried to give it up as a profession when I was in my 20s.... didn't work though. Guess I'm just a hopeless case who is totally hooked.
# Posted on April 2nd 2006 by kris
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
I went to play on Friday evening after a week of office and was so tired I thought if I lay down I'd die. Hands sore and stiff, left elbow weak, band-aid on my thumb (cut it while chopping broccoli) that caused the ol' pick to wander around in circles -- well, after about half an hour of stumbling around I got stuck into the Jig of Slurs, then Geese in the Bog, and then a whole string of jigs in G/E minor ...
Then I fell off my stool, twitching and babbling.
I couldn't give it up. But I'm going to learn to take naps.
# Posted on April 2nd 2006 by Charmion
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
I've fiven it up for good several times, but I guess I'll have to try one day at a time.
# Posted on April 2nd 2006 by Backer
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
....giving it all up?
Too late!
# Posted on April 2nd 2006 by gian marco
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
What about giving up the day job for the music? (that's how I read the thread!). Anyone done that wildly dangerous thing???
# Posted on April 2nd 2006 by Mark Harmer
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
"I gave it up for music and a free electric band".........well, not quite, the job gave me up, but what the hell....
# Posted on April 2nd 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
I've thought about giving EVERYTHING up for the music But I'm afraid I might end up living in a cardboard box.
# Posted on April 3rd 2006 by Justintime
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
if i gave up.... among the many persons happy about my decisions, my wife would be the first one showing her happiness, probably " buring my fiddle and dancing on top of me."
# Posted on April 3rd 2006 by fiddlemax
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
No - I'd be a lost soul without it. Just back from Buncrana [Ar ais arís festival] where I had lovely tunes in Roddens in the afternoon, a great steak dinner at the Gateway Hotel and finished up with a wee session in the Drift Inn till 1.15 in the morning. Just the medication I needed
# Posted on April 3rd 2006 by breandan
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
"What about giving up the day job for the music? (that's how I read the thread!). Anyone done that wildly dangerous thing???"
We (Wife & I) are actively preparing to give it a go for at least a year, starting in summer 07. sort of......
After all, life is too short. A year ago, our wonderful neighbor, barely in his 50s, was suddenly told that he had a rare form of cancer and was given 6 months to live. Thankfully, he is still beating the odds - saw him on his lawnmower yesterday.
# Posted on April 3rd 2006 by ceciltguitar
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
"What about giving up the day job for the music? (that's how I read the thread!). Anyone done that wildly dangerous thing???"
Yes, we did this before, for a year, 10 years ago, then kept on performing while going back to school - in a totally unrelated field. Looking forward to another sabbatical, of sorts.
# Posted on April 3rd 2006 by ceciltguitar
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Both the music and my day job are in my blood. I've discovered (multiple times) that giving up either of them is bad for my mental and physical health. (I tend to forget sometimes and let the music go for a stretch of time, only to find my wrists deterioriating and my sanity tearing. You'd think I'd know better by now.)
# Posted on April 3rd 2006 by HighlandSun
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
When the grant money funding a big chunk of my salary dried up, I spent a couple of years teaching guitar and playing gigs. I might’ve kept at it (or not) if a little bundle of joy hadn’t come along. Bundle of Joy is now twenty-six years old and I haven’t been seriously tempted to take the leap again, mainly because I learned that I’m not very good at the business part of musicbiz. While it lasted, it was both scary and exhilirating. There was a palpable feeling of having a weight lifted off my shoulders when I realized I was on my own with no one to control my day-to-day existence.
That feeling is worth a lot, but being a full-time musician (playing or teaching) means you’re vulnerable to several fickle forces more or less beyond your control: the popularity of your style of music, availability of venues, The Economy, luck, competition, etc. My advice to anybody considering taking the leap is this: If you’ve got the passion and you think you’ll regret not trying it, then go for it.
# Posted on April 3rd 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
You are right Bob I think I'll go for it this summer . . but I'll take my own cardboard box and bin liner just in case we get a wet one.
Seriously my life here with my family is getting more and more impossible for all the reasons you can think of. So I'm planning to head off for the south coast (of England ) that is , Devon or Cornwall, find a little job somewhere, selling icecream maybe . . do a bit of busking . . maybe join a band that gets paid . . ?
I've worked in old peoples homes playing my ukelele, so I could also do some of that.
Stuff it . . I'm off!!
# Posted on April 4th 2006 by Justintime
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Interesting - I'm about to give up quite a well paid job in a big organisation because in the end, the music is more fun. What Stewpot says just sums it all up: "Stuff it....I'm off!"
I couldn't have put it better myself!!
# Posted on April 4th 2006 by Mark Harmer
Re: Ever considered giving it all up?
Thanks Mark for your vote of confidence . . . if your'e really serious about what your saying ,lets think about teaming up and make a go of it .
# Posted on April 4th 2006 by Justintime