Playing in a band is hard, if I haven't mentioned that before... It takes a lot on the part of the players, and a ton of support from everyone else around us to really make it happen.
When a child shows interest in playing an instrument his or her parents have a choice to make. They can either get behind the new venture, or ward their child away from this new direction. Thankfully for me, my parents were great. My Dad plays guitar and both my Mom and Dad sing. Though I didn't get a drum set when I really wanted to learn to play the drums (I got a practice pad and a pair of sticks), they were very supportive when I bought my first bass at 16 years old. They let Matt (my twin brother) and I move all of our gear into one of our bedrooms and make it a jam room (and share the other room, while it lasted..) and put up with us bringing home bigger and bigger amps, PA equipment and more to clutter up the garage and make noise.
Once band practices became the norm, the band members support each other as we wrote music together (none of us having experience with that in the past) and grew together. The great thing about being a bunch of 17 year olds is that we were all rookies. Without that support, we would have all given up playing altogether.
When shows start to occupy the calendar, you call upon your friends, coworkers and family to fill out the crowd and make it more fun than playing to a room of five strangers.. Friends and family have been there at times when it seemed like no matter what you did, the people didn't show up.
For all of this support, I say THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! from everyone who has ever played a gig outside of their basement.
There is one group of supporters that comes in later in life that needs their own special THANK YOU.
Band wives.
Some gals marry a guy who loves baseball, golf, or UFC fighting and as part of their shared grown-up existence they will have to endure or at least understand the importance these things play in their husband's lives. Pay-Per-Views and 'I'll get to that after the ballgame' are par for the course, and that is how he gets to enjoy his favorite pastime and the peace is kept. For band wives it is like that, only 10X the intensity. You see, every Tuesday is like a televised match is on (and we are therefore not available) and Weekend nights are a crap-shoot for our availability. If there is a bigger show on the horizon it can mean that multiple nights of the week are tied up. Band wives not only put up with the constant commitments and somewhat foggy details that come with the territory what time do you play? What time will you be home? - We don't NOT answer those because we are trying to get anything over on you, we really don't know many of the times)... BW's hang out at rehearsals, or alter thair plans to meet us for dinner or drinks afterwards if that will be the only chance they get that week to spend some time with us. They come to shows and endure hours of waiting around and loud music to let us know that they understand that it is worth it, to us at least. You see, musicians sign their spouses up for a lifestyle that would break most reasonable relationships into pieces.
Just like the art in the music, though, that is one of the great things about being a musician... we are really good at picking great partners to share this ride with!
Kelly Anne, you mean the world to me. Thank you for all of your loving support - me
When a child shows interest in playing an instrument his or her parents have a choice to make. They can either get behind the new venture, or ward their child away from this new direction. Thankfully for me, my parents were great. My Dad plays guitar and both my Mom and Dad sing. Though I didn't get a drum set when I really wanted to learn to play the drums (I got a practice pad and a pair of sticks), they were very supportive when I bought my first bass at 16 years old. They let Matt (my twin brother) and I move all of our gear into one of our bedrooms and make it a jam room (and share the other room, while it lasted..) and put up with us bringing home bigger and bigger amps, PA equipment and more to clutter up the garage and make noise.
Once band practices became the norm, the band members support each other as we wrote music together (none of us having experience with that in the past) and grew together. The great thing about being a bunch of 17 year olds is that we were all rookies. Without that support, we would have all given up playing altogether.
When shows start to occupy the calendar, you call upon your friends, coworkers and family to fill out the crowd and make it more fun than playing to a room of five strangers.. Friends and family have been there at times when it seemed like no matter what you did, the people didn't show up.
For all of this support, I say THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! from everyone who has ever played a gig outside of their basement.
There is one group of supporters that comes in later in life that needs their own special THANK YOU.
Band wives.
Some gals marry a guy who loves baseball, golf, or UFC fighting and as part of their shared grown-up existence they will have to endure or at least understand the importance these things play in their husband's lives. Pay-Per-Views and 'I'll get to that after the ballgame' are par for the course, and that is how he gets to enjoy his favorite pastime and the peace is kept. For band wives it is like that, only 10X the intensity. You see, every Tuesday is like a televised match is on (and we are therefore not available) and Weekend nights are a crap-shoot for our availability. If there is a bigger show on the horizon it can mean that multiple nights of the week are tied up. Band wives not only put up with the constant commitments and somewhat foggy details that come with the territory what time do you play? What time will you be home? - We don't NOT answer those because we are trying to get anything over on you, we really don't know many of the times)... BW's hang out at rehearsals, or alter thair plans to meet us for dinner or drinks afterwards if that will be the only chance they get that week to spend some time with us. They come to shows and endure hours of waiting around and loud music to let us know that they understand that it is worth it, to us at least. You see, musicians sign their spouses up for a lifestyle that would break most reasonable relationships into pieces.
Just like the art in the music, though, that is one of the great things about being a musician... we are really good at picking great partners to share this ride with!
Kelly Anne, you mean the world to me. Thank you for all of your loving support - me