alt Hacker NewsI've played in bar bands (doing covers) for 12 years now. My current project is going on hiatus due to some members leaving and us having to find new ones. We played our last show very recently and were talking about how we have an actual fanbase that's grown through friends, spontaneous discovery, and social media primarily through my bandmates' doing. Before the show and between sets I'm always going out of my way to do something in service of the performance instead of talking to people in the crowd that are watching us.
It then occurred to me that a decent part of the reason that I perform live is a selfish one - on some level I'd rather demonstrate social utility by being a human jukebox than have to interact with people normally. Apparently I'd rather chug water and double-check the setlist after getting off stage than drink a beer and introduce myself to people. As ironic as it sounds there's a certain security to being on stage that insulates you from having to hang out with people while still scratching the itch to go out.
Maybe I'm psychologizing myself too much but it's a thought. Definitely something I'm going to work on regardless.
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It might be just me, but I just like to be surrounded by human energy. I don't need to talk to anyone, and actually that can make it worse. But to be onstage, playing live music, in the zone, surrounded by positive energy: Really there's nothing better in this world.
I celebrated my 25th year on stage almost three years ago. Mostly playing covers in bars.
There was a time when we were hoping to “make it” and we did release an album but it wasn’t very successful, of course. That band broke up a few years later but I kept going with different bands.
I can’t do it every week anymore, let alone every night. It’s very physically demanding, so once a month is plenty in my age.
But it’s still fun. A lot of fun. I can’t imagine ever stopping it until I can’t physically do it. It’s part of who I am. Long live rock’n roll \m/
I've done the same as bartender or wedding photographer. There really is something to being integral, but not the focus of attention.
I don't think you're alone:
>One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact
>I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend
-Neil Peart
I knew someone who played guitar in the band at their daughter's wedding, and at least part of it was getting out of having to socialize after dinner— and in particular to participate in a father-daughter dance.
“ As ironic as it sounds there's a certain security to being on stage that insulates you from having to hang out with people while still scratching the itch to go out.”
It does not sound ironic to me, and it reminded me of “To know them” by Eric’s Trip. If you don’t know the song, I think you’d feel at least partially identified by the short lyrics, regardless of what you make of the music.