Did you go or did you stay?

I know plenty of disillusioned music makers who reach a point where they lose heart and drop out altogether (I am one)

Usually it doesn't last long before they're drawn back to their love / interest / time wasting :) - often with a fresh perspective and a more casual attitude. But sometimes the whole thing ends and people move on to something else, never to pick up an instrument again.

What's the main reason for giving up music ... Medical? Mental? Financial? Practical? ... and how long can you / did you stay away?

If you went, were you missed and if you stayed did you miss the ones that left and why?

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i didn't start learning and playing until i was a sophomore in high school. once i got that 'bug', i was in a band until i graduated and went to college. i didn't play at all in college, although my freshman year, i lived next to this huge Rush fan, and when he found out i played bass, he wanted me to learn some Geddy Lee stuff and show him, so i taught him some bass that first year. after that, not much playing, at least not in an "organized" way.

after college, i jumped back into a band and played up until i got married, then there was a huge drought of no music at all, about 10 years. maybe the occasional family get together, bring the guitars, kind of thing, but that was it.

queue the divorce. the bro and i, ironically, divorced our spouses several months a part. we then started playing again, just like old times when we were growing up. our cousin joined in and we had a 3 piece, each of us writing songs and playing different instruments, it was fun. that lasted for a few years, then marriage for him and long-term g/f for me and that was that, no more music again :D

queue the pandemic. at home, my guitars collecting dust, the occasional jam with a youtube backtrack. somehow, through searches, wikiloops started coming up and i would join and get that 'bug' going again. and i still have that 'bug', but the playing is more at my own leisure, which is perfect for where i'm at in life.

was i missed? probably not, guitar players are a dime a dozen. i have met up with old bandmates and it's still so cool to hang and talk about our band days. had a jam get together with the old band several years back, that was fun, although we sounded like crap and really couldn't play our old songs like we used to lol. maybe i left an impression on a few, as i still get asked to join bands from time to time. just recently, another drummer friend asked me to join his band, i told him no, and he basically said he had to ask as i'm in his top 3. awww...that made me feel good <3

i do miss jamming with my brother. him and i, specifically, don't get to jam anymore. we grew up jamming, him on drums, me on bass or guitar, and every weekend it was an 8hr show in the living room lol. that's what i do miss the most.

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Lovely story Nick... so we can blame the "women" for your departure mainly :) ... and thank this place for your renewed interest,

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Story of life and music. Finally you have Wikiloops family. :)

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I’ve not committed a lot or as much time to music creation
Since I was in a couple college bands. The bands weren’t great,
But struggled, live anyways, between interesting and pretty good.
One was a funk-rock ensemble consisting of me and grad students.
The other alt-country band that threatened to be becoming, but beer
consumed more focus than practice workouts. Performing lengthy concerts in smoky, alcohol focused bars wasn’t for me, so I avoided ‘club scenes’ after the college stints dissolved and still do nowadays.

After getting out of the college scene, I worked in computers for a number years, then retired early (medical).

After unemployment, and traveling some, then pandemic and wikiloops.
Now struggling with post that, and contemplating more music woodshedding in a small rv. Maybe throwing out a few hats in odd places like no-budget cinematic and bandcamp experimental-ambient areas. Most likely non-enriching procedures, but something to do while avoiding a return to full-time work. During my leave of absence, I’ve perused eco-village web sites and co-housing projects in the states and hope to experience life like that. I’m kind of disturbed by my keyboard ‘cravings’, these seemingly replacing consumption of compact discs and dvds.

I didn’t play an instrument until sometime in high school, trumpet or bass guitar and guitar. But after which, not college degreed, always having an instrument handy but not being in bands or around jammers. Guitars, bass guitars, mandolins, and now keyboards and ukuleles. The longest time spent with keyboards. Interestingly enough, I don’t have a lot of jamming memories, but can remember people I’ve jammed with, notably some non-muso programmers who I shared an apartment with. Late night dementia fueled by a beer or two.

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I have one fan hanging on from 70's punk band - if I went back to that city to see my folks and went to the pub, somehow he'd always find me. Could be creepy but I think he was sincere. That was still ongoing after 20-30 years but my folks died and I don't go there now - maybe he's still got an eye out for me 40 years later. lol

As for women, my now ex-wife actually encouraged me to join a reggae jam band... though of course once I did it just gave her something else to moan about.

As "carer" for my grown up son and living on a boat as we do, I dip in and out of music so Wikiloops is perfect for me. I never stop listening to the jams/albums on here but taking part is necessarily sporadic.

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MikeB thanks for that, sounds like you've had quite eclectic music experiences... in and out, round and about. And a full life history so far, also quite varied and interesting
Zedders thanks also, now I really want you to go back and see if your "Fan" is still waiting there :)

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Very interesting subject Shamika :W

When I started playing guitar at 16 I was obsessed, I used to play for hours every day, take my acoustic guitar everywhere I went. The playing reduced drastically when I had my first son, studying and living in a small apartment with VERY thin walls and constant agro with the neighbour downstairs, an electric guitar can be a problem. Include the tiny fact that Mrs. Gee basically hates my guitar playing, she prefers romantic melodic soft songs, and I want to try to play like the deranged love child of Robin Trower and Paul Kossoff (just without the talent). Then my old buddy who is an actual recording musician was about to join me in the UK, and I got all exited that we might play together a bit and started to practice a bit more, but it fell through and with kid number 2 + 3 playing time = once every 6 months maybe.

That stayed like this for about 15-20 years or so, until one day I say a small fender amp in a guitar shop at a reduced rate, and now that the kids were older and we have a big house meaning Mrs. Gee can escape my musical torture I started playing again.

And after a year or so playing alone I needed to get some backing tracks for practicing, and guess what I found on the internet? Yep that's right :Y

P.S. I am in a bit of a rut right now, haven't played a lot this year, after we finished the Herring King Band album, I feel that the tank is empty. Still waiting for some inspiration...

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TG sounds like you had some obstacles (wife, kids, neighboughs) to get to your dream.... but you stuck with it in the back of your mind all through ... don't stop now :)

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I think what inspired this thread was the way I'm feeling right now.

I have lost confidence and I'm starting to hate my own voice... that's why I keep trying different accents and characters and styles.

I used to have a full studio with two keyboards, a real piano, microphones, speakers and a boom box, even a 12 string guitar (which I never mastered) I collaborated with people on every continent. Then I got involved with the running of a big indie music site in US. I had blogs and youtubes with subscribers.

Gradually I dropped out of the indie music site, after differences of opinion. I stopped collaborating (I preferred having full control) I got bored with making 'the same old songs' because I'd fallen into a 'safe' rut. I found social media to be fake, superficial and pointless.


Cheers :)

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Just have fun man! I wouldn't over think it too much. Let your soul speak and your voice be heard. It's a great release. Let the genie out of the bottle! cheers

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As Craig says... let the genie out of the bottle and have fun. There is so much talent on the loops, I will always be amazed at what we have here.
No I don't have to go to rehearsals anymore, I don't have to bring all the amps and equipment to a small rehearsal hall, I used to get a few muso friends come to me for jamming
Covid stopped that, I still get a mate coming round now and then.
I have shared a stage with some well known people, not because I was good enough but because I was one of the organisers and played in the background.
It's a fun place where you can come and go as you please.
Enjoy your self and express your talent.

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Me too, I've always wondered why the forum is such a quiet corner, so now that you've woken it up please keep 'em coming!

I often have a few minutes to do forumy things but rarely have a chunk of time to play.

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Zedders, that is music to my ears. We should do more "forumy" things :)

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