[Roundmidnite]

Admittedly, I'm a hobbyist, but in the last few years I've gigged regluarly- 2-3 times a week. Just local gigs, pubs, weddings, etc., but it adds so much to my life. Tonight I had a gig in my town at a pub- so fun! I miss it!!! Anyone else really miss it?

 

[JCBigler]

I'm not a working pro sax player. I'm a working pro live sound engineer.

Today I had my first job mixing a live performance in over 6 months. It was the stadium audio for a college football game.

I went from 110 inputs, time code and MIDI automation, a half dozen wireless in-ear mixes, and a full L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive audio system (the biggest touring theatre system in the country, maybe the world), to 8 channels with a half broken kludged together PA system in a football stadium that sounded like total *****.

I think I'm more depressed tonight than I have been in months since this shutdown started.

 

[Roundmidnite]

I'm not a working pro sax player. I'm a working pro live sound engineer.

Today I had my first job mixing a live performance in over 6 months. It was the stadium audio for a college football game.

I went from 110 inputs, time code and MIDI automation, a half dozen wireless in-ear mixes, and a full L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive audio system (the biggest touring theatre system in the country, maybe the world), to 8 channels with a half broken kludged together PA system in a football stadium that sounded like total *****.

I think I'm more depressed tonight than I have been in months since this shutdown started.

I understand- so sorry

 

[olds1959special]

I started playing sax again because of the shutdown. I see it as an opportunity to practice and make youtube videos. And when it's over, it will be fun to jam with people, because I'll have honed my skills.

 

[milandro]

my band doesn’t have all that many gigs and for a while until a couple of moths ago we couldn’t even practice together.

now we can but it feels rather purposeless. We are booked for somewhere in December but I doubt that the event will be held at all.

Things are rapidly getting worse over here rather then getting better and you can see that we are getting now the result of a way too optimist a policy has done.

 

[Taragot]

I have a saxquintet gig tonight on an open air stage and I'm really looking foreword to this.
We donate the money for the club. They got robbed some days ago, go figure!

 

[JayeLID]

All I can say is hang in there...there will come a time when regular live gigging will be re-established in your area.

I can say this, as someone who now has been gigging regularly since June (in the Desert there are a lot more outdoor/patio venues than in Maine, of course)....I have been regularly overwhelmed by the feeling of gratitude I find within myself (for returning to what is really my passion and now, in fact, I realize my 'calling' in a way) as well as the feelings of gratitude the audience expresses to the band in one way or another.

 

[Grumps]

My county executive is finally opening up entertainment venues with limited capacity. He already had the authority from the governor, but delayed this decision even though the county numbers had met the reopening criteria. Though the rest of the state is set to expand indoor dining to 75% capacity, my county and Baltimore City are holding back. Marching orders are marching orders...

 

[JayeLID]

My county executive is finally opening up entertainment venues with limited capacity. He already had the authority from the governor, but delayed this decision even though the county numbers had met the reopening criteria. Though the rest of the state is set to expand indoor dining to 75% capacity, my county and Baltimore City are holding back. Marching orders are marching orders...

What is allowable indoor capacity per the county, now ????

 

[Grumps]

What is allowable indoor capacity per the county, now ????

50%

 

[area51recording]

Most of my musician buddies are back gigging. Not this guy, not for quite a while. Yesterday the county I live in in SW Indiana had the highest number of new cases yet. People are insane......

 

[MLucky]

Do I miss it? Oh my god yes.

What I really miss is playing with other people. I'm a weekend warrior amateur, so I don't gig that much, but between various rehearsals and jams and whatnot, I'm used to being able to make music, with other people in the same room, at least a few times every month. And what I'm realizing is that playing along with records or recording your part separately for a "virtual" band is not the same, not by a long shot.

 

[whaler]

Most of my musician buddies are back gigging. Not this guy, not for quite a while. Yesterday the county I live in in SW Indiana had the highest number of new cases yet. People are insane......

I booked a gig in Jeffersonville Indiana on 10/9 at a cigar bar. I'm a little hesitant But my guys said they'll do it.
Hoosiers are having at it while we are at 11pm closing and 50% capacity.

 

[JL]

Anyone else really miss it?

Yes, a lot!

 

[10mfan]

All I can say is hang in there...there will come a time when regular live gigging will be re-established in your area.

I can say this, as someone who now has been gigging regularly since June (in the Desert there are a lot more outdoor/patio venues than in Maine, of course)....I have been regularly overwhelmed by the feeling of gratitude you I find within myself (for returning to what is really my passion and now, in fact, I realize my 'calling' in a way) as well as the feelings of gratitude the audience expresses to the band in one way or another.

AMEN------Thats what I'm talking about!!!

 

[Milo B.]

Yes, I really miss the jam sessions with friends, and I was just about to dip my toe in the water with looking for gigs again when all this hit. I feel like I'm using the time well with things like learning Logic Pro X, but I'm getting tired of saying that and just want to get back to playing live music with others. Thanks for starting this thread to commiserate!

 

[MartinMusicMan]

Yes, I miss it. I was playing occasional gigs with 5 different bands when the virus hit. Now the only playing I've done live/with other people is a few socially-distanced and masked backyard jams at my house. A few musician friends and a couple of bandmates have had some socially-distanced and masked gigs. But they've also turned down some gigs. I've had the opportunity to do some outdoor gigs, but I've turned them down, especially after hearing horror stories about other musicians playing outdoor gigs and many unmasked audience members getting too close. I have multiple risk factors for this virus. I don't go out except to walk the dog and once in a while to the store for essentials (I have groceries delivered). I'd love to play for real people again, but I'm not about to risk death to do it.

 

[area51recording]

I booked a gig in Jeffersonville Indiana on 10/9 at a cigar bar. I'm a little hesitant But my guys said they'll do it.
Hoosiers are having at it while we are at 11pm closing and 50% capacity.

Having at it....boy that really describes things around here! I don't get it. My wife and I haven't been anywhere except the grocery store since the middle of March, and it just seems like folks around here don't believe this thing exists. They're crowding the bars every weekend, and from pics I've seen it doesn't look like there are very many masks being worn. It just ain't worth it, IMO.....

 

[1saxman]

I started playing sax again because of the shutdown. I see it as an opportunity to practice and make youtube videos. And when it's over, it will be fun to jam with people, because I'll have honed my skills.

That's being smart - we could all use a lot of that.
Yes, I miss it terribly. Gigging is pretty much my socialization and I've only played 3 times this year. Otherwise I'm pretty much a misanthrope, and I don't like people very much either. Bada-Bing! So, I stay busy - its not like I don't have anything to do. We've had remodeling going on in the house since last year this time. There's yard work to do, an unfinished room to finish, saxes to clean/maintain, cars, etc. etc.
I never dreamed that anything like this would happen, particularly when I was at a bit of a pinnacle, being very happy with my horns, mouthpieces, music situation (supporting three groups), health, everything. Being 75, I was set to cruise on out on my final musical voyage, but now I sit. Months go by - a year goes by. I'm suffering from 'cabin fever'. Hell, I get in the car and go get a coffee and sit outside and watch the people come and go just to get out of the house. We had a son and his family up after Christmas and there was very little we could go out and do. I am literally 'chomping at the bit' to even go to a previously hated practice! I know I'm not alone in this. A terrible thing has happened to the performing arts and all the artists, and its the first time in history it has been like this. Even during the Great Depression music never stopped - in fact, it was in that period that some of the greatest songs and lyrics were written and people flocked to the performing arts as a relief from the grim reality of life. Even during WWII and the 'Cold War' that followed it music and performance was riding high. Who could have predicted what has happened to us now - its a disaster.
However, as already stated, this is only temporary. I already have three gigs booked in '21 and I'm sure everyone will start to get the calls as we get out from under this thing.

 

[jd]

I miss it too. After I retired from my day job 6 years ago I started to do music full time. I had gotten to the point where I was playing a jazz duo in a bunch of clubs ,doing weddings on most Saturdays , freelancing with other groups etc.... it took me 5 years of going out and meeting musicians and recording stuff and promoting to be busy enough . Then COVID hit. My last gig in Ohio was March 14th and my wife and I just stay home . I wound up shedding 4 to 6 hours a day but it’s not the same as playing gigs .I have diabetes and I’m getting older so I’m not risking dying over a gig . Can’t wait to get the vaccine