Larry
"Uncle Larry"
This is a tale of how quitting bands really made things better for me.
Backstory, I've been in the Don Evans Band since 2010. In 2018, I became very unhappy about the song tempos (which I don't control) We were so comfortable playing with each other that things became too automatic and we ended up playing faster instead of feeling it out like we used to. Non musicians would comment on how fast things were. Huge red flag for me. It wasn't getting any better, my input had no effect, so in July 2018, I decided to switch gears and try my hand elsewhere.
I went with an original band who I really like the leader guy and his songs. I had real input in this band, and a few ideas I had for his songs are still being used. After a while, I realized I didn't like the bass player or the sax player, like at all. The rehearsal was a far drive and the gigs were...not my cup of tea. Retirement homes, benefits for medical issues, gigs for the mentally challenged etc. I also realized that as an original band, if anything good did happen, I didn't want to travel and all that crap that goes along with being in an original band. It wouldn't happen anyway, not with that bass player. (who provided the rehearsal space) Plus the pay was substandard and everyone gave some of that back to put back into the band. After about 6 months of this, I realized that all I want from music is to have gigs where good looking women wanted to dance. That's it, I'm good. At 61 I'm not looking for success in the music business, I just use it as my source of fun. And I want all the fun I can get. These were not they types of gigs we were getting. I left them in Feb of 2019.
Long story short, I just didn't get the offers I was mistakenly expecting after leaving the Don Evans Band. So I didn't play a whole lot in 2019 compared to previous years.
Don called me this past November, the guy who replaced me (I replaced him in 2010) needed rotator cuff surgery and would be out for some months. I was asked to do some gigs, so I did, and now I'm back with him. Here's why it's better for me now:
Apparently Don must have took things to heart finally, because the tempos are where they should be now. I discovered that I was pretty sorely missed by both Don and Bill the bass player, and our regular crowds (including the bar owners!) They are still coming up to me expressing their gratitude that I am back with the band because apparently, it just was a much lesser version of the band with the other guy. I am not taken for granted anymore. It really upped my stock. It feels good too.
And the original band calls me for gigs once in a while, at full price, and I don't have to rehearse with them. I just get the good stuff now.
So quitting bands really increased my value. I didn't intend for it to happen like that, but it did anyway. I do belong with Don, we sound wonderful together. So it's all good now.
You don't miss your water until the well runs dry.
Backstory, I've been in the Don Evans Band since 2010. In 2018, I became very unhappy about the song tempos (which I don't control) We were so comfortable playing with each other that things became too automatic and we ended up playing faster instead of feeling it out like we used to. Non musicians would comment on how fast things were. Huge red flag for me. It wasn't getting any better, my input had no effect, so in July 2018, I decided to switch gears and try my hand elsewhere.
I went with an original band who I really like the leader guy and his songs. I had real input in this band, and a few ideas I had for his songs are still being used. After a while, I realized I didn't like the bass player or the sax player, like at all. The rehearsal was a far drive and the gigs were...not my cup of tea. Retirement homes, benefits for medical issues, gigs for the mentally challenged etc. I also realized that as an original band, if anything good did happen, I didn't want to travel and all that crap that goes along with being in an original band. It wouldn't happen anyway, not with that bass player. (who provided the rehearsal space) Plus the pay was substandard and everyone gave some of that back to put back into the band. After about 6 months of this, I realized that all I want from music is to have gigs where good looking women wanted to dance. That's it, I'm good. At 61 I'm not looking for success in the music business, I just use it as my source of fun. And I want all the fun I can get. These were not they types of gigs we were getting. I left them in Feb of 2019.
Long story short, I just didn't get the offers I was mistakenly expecting after leaving the Don Evans Band. So I didn't play a whole lot in 2019 compared to previous years.
Don called me this past November, the guy who replaced me (I replaced him in 2010) needed rotator cuff surgery and would be out for some months. I was asked to do some gigs, so I did, and now I'm back with him. Here's why it's better for me now:
Apparently Don must have took things to heart finally, because the tempos are where they should be now. I discovered that I was pretty sorely missed by both Don and Bill the bass player, and our regular crowds (including the bar owners!) They are still coming up to me expressing their gratitude that I am back with the band because apparently, it just was a much lesser version of the band with the other guy. I am not taken for granted anymore. It really upped my stock. It feels good too.
And the original band calls me for gigs once in a while, at full price, and I don't have to rehearse with them. I just get the good stuff now.
So quitting bands really increased my value. I didn't intend for it to happen like that, but it did anyway. I do belong with Don, we sound wonderful together. So it's all good now.
You don't miss your water until the well runs dry.
Last edited: