Is there ever a time to let it go? (for older players)

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

Lately I have been dong some soul searching, and trying to come to some decisions.  I have stressed in many posts about my style of playing which is mostly groove based.  I have been playing the last 29 years and actively pursuing a professional career for the last 13+ years, and nothing has happened yet.  I have had many brushes with greatness and opportunities that I thought were my big break.  But now politics seem to rule the industry(even gospel) and sadly it's even trickled into our churches.  Basically in my area, "chops" have pretty much taken over drumming as it pertains to live playing.  I've been overlooked and even replaced in some situations because that is not my style. 

It seems as if the gigs have dried up for me, and the calls have stopped coming.  Plus I've also lost some of the passion that I had for other reasons.  Today's drumming to me has become something that I do not wish to conform to.  I'm not in it to impress anybody or be a star, it's just something that I love(d) to do.  I'm not neccessarily coming down on the young cats, but a part of me is really considering selling all of my stuff and try to concentrate on writing and producing, and playing the bass.  If I get the bug again ,then I'll just buy some more stuff and try it again.  My question is, have any of you been in the same situation or given it up?  Is there ever a time to give it up?  I thank God for the abilities that I have been given, but I've been trying hard and I've had faith and put in the work.  I don't think I can do this anymore.

I've enjoyed passing on props, advice, and constructive criticisms to those that appreciated what I've had to say, and I'm here to help anybody in any way that I can.  Maybe that's what I'm meant to do instead.         

[shall176]

I have been there...but not for the same reasons as you.  In my case others just took the enjoyment away.  I find that when you take a step back you can often see clearer.  You will either see that you miss it, or you will find that you there are other things worthy of that time. 

I also understand about the chops thing.  I feel the same way, and also see myself as a groove player.  I work used to work on independance just to broaden my groove ability, and never worked on chops.  I do notice that people want more chops these days, but at a certain level, chops become less important because everybody has them.  Its sort of like how I tell the softball teams I am on and coach.  They always want to hit and never work on fielding.  But I tell them at a certain level, everyone can hit.  They can hit a can you place in the outfield they are so good, or go across the fence at will.  The glove will make the difference.  You can't make stupid mistakes.  Then we go to tournaments and they see its true.  The other teams have superior hitting skills.  You have to beat them by being fundamentally sound with the glove and knwledge of the game and situations.  otherwise it will be 150-151 at 4am when the game finishes.  The same with drums.  At a certain level, the fundamentals will be the measuring stick.  Everyone will have chops.  Even I, who am not creative where chops are concerned can still duplicate most anything I hear even if I don't create it myself.  That comes with the foundation and good independance. 

My advice is take a step back and see how you feel.  If it is really important to you, you will know what to do.  You probably will need to reach out and find more connections.  In the industry often times its who you know.  Someone will give yo that break. SO if its what you want to do, persevere.  If not, and you find family time for example is mor eimportant (as it is to me) you can still dabble and teach and be ready if the bug hits you again.  The family may appreciate the extra time you can give them as well.  I know mine would.

[Jedi3]

NO!  I feel you fam.  Many of us have those types of dreams, goals, aspirations or whatever you choose to call them.  Just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean that it won't.  It'll come to you exactly when it's supposed to and not a minute before.  It may even be just a test of your patience.  Who knows  Stay prayerful and seek God for the vision He has for your life.  The fact that you've been playing for nearly 30 years is a testament in itself.  It would be a shame for you to give it all up now.  You've obviously been faithful to the study of your craft.  The one question you never want to have to ask yourself is "What if...?"  Keep grinding dude, it's coming for you.  You won't even be able to take all of the work God has stored up for you.  Just believe...and if you don't or can't, I'll believe it for you.  Bless you doc, keep at it.

B

When things go wrong as they sometimes will.
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill.
When funds are low and the debts are high.
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit.
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about.
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out –
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

[THE WOLFMAN]

This is Real Talk.

A lot of us start in this game with images of insane success, and we get disheartened when it doesnt happen. I feel like that a lot of times.

I attended the Music & Art Hs in NY (the school the movie "Fame" was based on), and a lot on my class mates that i used to kick it with are out there doin the 'dern thang. But I'm seein a lot of my other peeps sayin' "Man, I can't do it anymore, it hasnt happened yet, im packin it in. I GIVE UP."

It's scary. You put in soooo much time, effort, resources, and it seems it all came to naught. I'm hittin 37 soon. The whole "young musical wunderkind" image is gone. You have to start reevaluating things. Especially if there's a wife, kid, and mortgage in tow. Ya cant take the crazy risks anymore. I just found out about opportunites to teach music in JAPAN, opportunity fo experience and growth, but that would mean bein away from my family and that's not doable right now. It's crazy.


BUT, and this is where one really has to activate the word in one's life.
The Word sez "seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and ALL these things will be added unto you.
Abba Father is well aware of the things that are important to us. And he is well able to arrange and provide things on our behalf. The "all these things" part encompasses not only our necessities, but or desires. But the "first things first" principle is in operation here. 1. Seek ye first.......2. and all......

God cannot lie. He desires that we hold Him at His word.  If we take care of His business, he'll take care of ours.

and im ministering to myself as i write this.


my two shillings.

[dude-on-drums]

Yes there is a time to quit and it sounds like your time is now.

You have to naturally want to play the drums, for yourself.  Not because of the lime light.  Not because of the pay check.  And certainly not because of what everyone else is or isn't doing.  

So if I were you, I would quit the drums and move on to a part of music that you are genuinly interested in.  Like you said, there are other pieces to the puzzle, writing, producing, playing the bass.  Whatever you do, do it well and do it for yourself first, cause if youre not happy doing it, we wont be happy listening to it!  

[JFunky]

Yes there is a time to quit and it sounds like your time is now.

You have to naturally want to play the drums, for yourself.  Not because of the lime light.  Not because of the pay check.  And certainly not because of what everyone else is or isn't doing.  

So if I were you, I would quit the drums and move on to a part of music that you are genuinly interested in.  Like you said, there are other pieces to the puzzle, writing, producing, playing the bass.  Whatever you do, do it well and do it for yourself first, cause if youre not happy doing it, we wont be happy listening to it!  

...sheen the type that if someone was about to jump from a 100 ft floor building he would yell..." jump retard,your pocket sucks anyways"...

GodsDruMMer...

...Wowza!!!  I guess D-H is right. 

[lockslie1]

...Wowza!!!  I guess D-H is right. 

LOL! 

Big!! Don't worry about the "not getting calls" and "losing gigs" stuff man. Stay true to God and he will lead and help you. Your passion will return. The bible says there is a season for everything, so you may have a season where you feel like giving up, but that doesn't mean it should be the end of the journey for you. Just flip it on em' man. Get a few of the cats together that you trust and make something happen for yourself. The art of the groove is not forgotten. You run it and start your own band and MD it (if you haven't) and if it's true and real then cats will be calling you to see if they can gig on your stuff. I know what you mean 100% but keep pressin' and don't throw away all the time you put in and remember there is a purpose for your gift.

God Bless

[E.R.]

...Wowza!!!  I guess D-H is right. 

  Now THAT, was funny.

[HumbleGospelDrummer]

...Wowza!!!  I guess D-H is right. 

lmbo

[LaylaMonroe]

I'm neither old nor a drummer....

But, I'd like to say that I think this is a great thread.  And I think it's great that you're hearing opinions from each side of the spectrum.

...Wowza!!!  I guess D-H is right. 

 

[Audiocr381ve]

I really appreciate your honesty on this thread. Thank you for sharing with us what you are going through.

The human body cannot move without the head telling it to. If you make a move without Jesus the head, then you're working against him. Make sure you hear from him so you know what move to make. Our lives are precious to him, your gifts are precious to him.

Now I don't know what your "calling" is, and to be honest I don't know what mine is with music, but we must seek him. Maybe you've been through 30 years of preparation to help someone else. Or maybe you've been using the drums to from something, I don't know I could be totally wrong.

I know to be at your best, for your wife, for your kids, you must first have a great relationship with Jesus, and secondly be doing what makes you fulfilled at the end of the day.

I could be wrong. This is a great topic and I would love to hear more of what you guys think.

[Hotsticks1]

Lately I have been dong some soul searching, and trying to come to some decisions.  I have stressed in many posts about my style of playing which is mostly groove based.  I have been playing the last 29 years and actively pursuing a professional career for the last 13+ years, and nothing has happened yet.  I have had many brushes with greatness and opportunities that I thought were my big break.  But now politics seem to rule the industry(even gospel) and sadly it's even trickled into our churches.   Basically in my area, "chops" have pretty much taken over drumming as it pertains to live playing.  I've been overlooked and even replaced in some situations because that is not my style. 

Well my friend, maybe Gospel isnt the area in which you need to pursue a drumming career. Since yourn style isn't exactly "flashy" and most gospel artists of today are, maybe you should seek a career in a different genre of music that doesnt require as much, like jazz, or funk perhaps. That will allow you to play comfortably without thinking you're not doing enough. But for all of our sakes, don't give it up just yet. Buddy Rich was drumming 'til just about the day he died...

[JFunky]

Well my friend, maybe Gospel isnt the area in which you need to pursue a drumming career. Since yourn style isn't exactly "flashy" and most gospel artists of today are, maybe you should seek a career in a different genre of music that doesnt require as much, like jazz, or funk perhaps. That will allow you to play comfortably without thinking you're not doing enough. But for all of our sakes, don't give it up just yet. Buddy Rich was drumming 'til just about the day he died...

...you've got to be kidding me. 

[Audiocr381ve]

^
^
^
^
LOL

[HumbleGospelDrummer]

...you've got to be kidding me. 

Same thing that i was thinking.

[dude-on-drums]

...you've got to be kidding me. 

 

[Lildrummaboy66]

Hey bro take some time and take this to the lord!!!

[j_kay]

I haven't been playing as long as you (18y), but what I can say is that trends in music is a way of life.  There is no way around this.  For example, you mentioned some time ago that you can tell a specific era based on how the drums are tuned.  I'm certain that there were a lot of drummers that did not care for the sound of the drums being muffled to the high heavens, but that was a sound that the producer required.  The same thing can be applied to an employment venture that you're seeking to attain.  If there are requirements that are needed to be considered for employment, you can't say "Well, I'm going to be me and if they don't like it, oh well".  No - you're going to acquire the knowledge and skills that the potential employer is looking for so that they will consider you as a strong candidate for the position that you've applied for. 

What's wrong with conforming to what the producer/band leader/etc., wants?  You've already been playing long enough to have an identity in your playing.  My inference from your statement of

Basically in my area, "chops" have pretty much taken over drumming as it pertains to live playing.  I've been overlooked and even replaced in some situations because that is not my style.

and

Today's drumming to me has become something that I do not wish to conform to.

indicates that you do not wish to be a musical chameleon.  Greats like Vinnie Colaiuta, Dennis Chambers, Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, etc. has shown their willingness to become a chameleon within their musical landscape.  To further explain my example, look at Vinnie Colaiuta.  We are all aware of his musical prowess on the drumset when it comes to doing mind boggling fills.  Not every musical opportunity/gig that he's on requires him to play that way.  Those musical opportunities are those times in which the producer wants a deep pocket from the drummer.  Let's just assume that he doesn't want to play pocket - he wants to apply some crazy bust 'yo brain type of fills, but he realizes that he was called by the producer to recreate a specific sound that he is looking for.  The key word here is required.  'Chops' doesn't define you as a player (your pocket does); you're only doing what's needed to fill the requirements.  The same thing applies for your situation.  If you want to get called, you should - no need to be a musical chameleon.  I hope that you don't feel like you're selling out, because you're not.  You're just moving along with the trend.  It's like today's drummers are a flowing river (performing the necessary 'chops' that is required for the musical opportunity/gig), and you're being the stale, stagnant puddle of water (refusing to perform the necessary 'chops' that is required to be considered for the musical opportunity/gig).  If you don't know how to perform those crazy chops, learn them.  Go to the woodshed and get your practice on.  If you do know how to perform those crazy chops, show them off - the worst that can happen is that you'd be considered/hired for those musical opportunities/gig.  Isn't that what you want? 

If it's that bad, do your own 'detoxification' and put together your own band to get together to jam out on weekends.  This way, you all can get together and perform playing that will require a deep pocket and no crazy fills/'chops'.  If you don't have the passion for it (in general), I also agree with dude-on-drums: move on.  Wouldn't you feel better playing music that you cannot be honest with, it won't be worth playing or listening to.  I'm sure that you'd agree. 


Bottom line: It's either sink (refuse to play the required 'chops'), swim (play the required 'chops' to get the musical opportunities/gigs) or walk away (quit and pursue other musical ventures), man.  The choice is up to you - only you know what you want to do.

[j_kay]

Note the correction:

Wouldn't you agree that if you're playing music that you cannot be honest with, it won't be worth playing or listening to?  I'm sure that you'd agree.

[CARLISLE]

Lately I have been dong some soul searching, and trying to come to some decisions.  I have stressed in many posts about my style of playing which is mostly groove based.  I have been playing the last 29 years and actively pursuing a professional career for the last 13+ years, and nothing has happened yet.  I have had many brushes with greatness and opportunities that I thought were my big break.  But now politics seem to rule the industry(even gospel) and sadly it's even trickled into our churches.  Basically in my area, "chops" have pretty much taken over drumming as it pertains to live playing.  I've been overlooked and even replaced in some situations because that is not my style. 

It seems as if the gigs have dried up for me, and the calls have stopped coming.  Plus I've also lost some of the passion that I had for other reasons.  Today's drumming to me has become something that I do not wish to conform to.  I'm not in it to impress anybody or be a star, it's just something that I love(d) to do.  I'm not neccessarily coming down on the young cats, but a part of me is really considering selling all of my stuff and try to concentrate on writing and producing, and playing the bass.  If I get the bug again ,then I'll just buy some more stuff and try it again.  My question is, have any of you been in the same situation or given it up?  Is there ever a time to give it up?  I thank God for the abilities that I have been given, but I've been trying hard and I've had faith and put in the work.  I don't think I can do this anymore.

I've enjoyed passing on props, advice, and constructive criticisms to those that appreciated what I've had to say, and I'm here to help anybody in any way that I can.  Maybe that's what I'm meant to do instead.         

can we see so pictures of your gear