LIFESTYLE CHOICES...

[Cameron Wigmore]

The saxophone lifestyle, eh? That subject heading made me ask myself what a "lifestyle choice" is. Smoking cigarrettes or drinking coffee are lifestyle choices. Being monogamous or frequenting swingers bars are lifestyle choices. Some would say that sexual orientation is a lifestyle choice.

Pursuing a career as a working musician is a lifestyle choice, and there are many choices to be made within that lifestyle. I realize that if I want to live solely off of my earnings as a sax player that I have to learn to eat a lot of rice and potatoes, (cheap food). If I gig a lot, I will be in lots of bars.

I used to live the lifestyle of the slobbering drunken sax player that would almost fall off of the stage - always stashing the bands beers in my sax case and generally playing the role of the "sleaze-amaphone". After years of this lifestyle, I decided it was time for a change. Two years ago I quit drinking and drugging, and became a reliable sax player. Now I still gig at bars, but I just don't drink. I get more work, I play better, I feel healthier, and am generally happier overall. This was a good lifestxle choice. I wasn't sure if I could continue to gig, but over the last two years the issue has become a distant memory. I like this lifestyle.
8) 8) 8)

[Lowell]

No matter what your profession, being a slobbering drunk drug addict is a very bad lifestyle choice. Sounds like you had a sudden influx of maturity before too much damage was done. Glad you made the right choice and stuck with it.

[Frank D]

This was a pretty active thread on the old board, don't know why it hasn't taken off here. The "lifestyle" angle ranged from the kind of topics you mention, to lighter stuff about how practicing and gigging affect family life, pets, neighbors, choice of vehicles and houses, etc.

Cam, good to hear you've adopted a more viable lifestyle, we need to keep as many sax players around as possible, just to balance out all the guitar pickers out there.

[Bootman]

COngratulations on waking up to yourself. Yes you can still gig, play in bars, clubs etc and not resort to being the sleazing, drugged out drunk that all the stereotypes portray you to be.

[Perfect Pitch]

Yes you can still gig, play in bars, clubs etc and not resort to being the sleazing, drugged out drunk

But is it any fun? :twisted:

[john_idle]

If your at a gig it's your job. Your just not drunk when you work, how would you like it if your son's teacher turned upp drunk for work?

[Kenfen]

Fun? Fun for me is playing with a killer band at my highest creative level with all my wits about me, with all my attention on the music and not the surroundings. That's fun. The rest of that stuff, for me, is a waste of time, energy, and God given gifts of music.

I party with my horn. I don't need anything else.

[Owner_of_Artemis_R_Sax]

I think it was very brave and very good of you to share your story. You can change your lifestyle around and make it better. Congrats and kudos. ^_^

That being said, I wouldn't give up my "sax lifestyle" for nuttin'. I love playing anything I can finger out, and I especially love being in a band at school. It really is a separate "culture." Musical instruments in general fascinate me- today, my brother got a new trombone and my dad got a new flute, and I find them incredibly interesting (though I love playing Artemis best). The only bad thing about the band/sax lifestyle is that those who haven't experienced it can't understand it.

[saxeT]

Sounds great CamtheCat!

I am a recovering alcoholic myself and will be sober 2 years and 8 months this May 17. The whiskey (beer) just wasn't working anymore and I too like this lifestyle better. Thanks for sharing!

Kevin C :D