I definitely have some pieces that I need to re-learn every few months. One piece in particular was rather easy, so I decided to "wing it" onstage at a benefit concert with about 100 people crowded 5 feet in front of me. Announced the song and promptly forgot it. It turned into a few minute jam in a tuning I hadn't touched for a few months before I finally wandered around to the chorus section (from there, it all came back).

Another factor is my switch to classical hand position - I can't use some of the techniques I used to, which makes playing my older music somewhat cumbersome because the muscle memory of the left hand and and the new technique of the right hand don't match up to each other.

As for Sporadic Gig Syndrome...2 shows in the past 4-5 months should say something. =P

That's interesting about classical hand position.

Do you need to have only 1 approach - or can you move between various positions within the same piece?

Poor you Jeff, LOL. Few of us have that problem as we are not blessed with the skill of creating such great, complex solo bass music. That said most of us still are presented with the problem at the drop of a hat when some one calls out a tune at a job you haven't played in a year. And you just repeat over and over in your head...."come on, there is only 12 different notes, you can do this".

Great post though, now go play your new stuff your most comfortable with.

Nice Photo...too bad that night ended in silliness.

Sporadic gigs. Let it be what it is. Falling out of shape on old tunes is a golden opportunity to re-work said tunes into a more up-to-date statement
of your current musical persona.

During some parts of my life I get flabbier and less vibrant, but I still remain a version of myself. The music I play, can't help but reflect this. The whole trick is to find the beauty in it and hopefully convey it to a listener or two.

Maybe flutters of cleanly executed sixteenth note triplets are replaced by marvelously juicy, distorted quarter notes. Options are wonderfully infinite and no matter what you choose, you end up sounding like you.

Winging it is a lame-o cop out, but let things evolve. Who cares if it sounds like your CD or not.

Come, come now TBP - we've talked about the "talent" thing before. :)

My wife will tell you how many hours went into writing that stuff -and then shedding it - and how much time I need to shed again before playing it live after a break etc....

but your point is well taken. And you're right.

Everyone goes through this.

I guess I just wanted to whine about it a bit. :)

As much shedding as I've done there's still something in me that seeks an easier way.

Probably not a good idea to pay much attention to that part.

Darren - will you be my manager?

For free? To kids?

You rule bro - seriously great perspective.

Of course, if you continue to say stuff that pulls my head out of my own ass I'm not sure I'll have much to blog about anymore.

Jeff -

The problem between switching positions is that I use classical technique almost exclusively now due to hand problems. I was playing with a collapsed right wrist, which you can see on most of my videos, and it was murder on my hands, to the point where I woke up one day before a masterclass and could barely play. Due to the rhythmic base of the song - lots of thumb percussion and such - it's been a long road adjusting that technique because it requires a totally different thumb attack. Oddly enough, it's just one particular song I can't play well anymore. Most other percussive songs are fine nowadays. Like you though, I'm much more motivated to create than to relearn.

Seriously, you do need a manager. Have you thought about one?

It seems like all your ducks are in a nice and tidy row elsewhere...

Darren - not sure what the ducks are - but I've certainly thought about working with a "manager" or "agent type" person.

It would obviously have to be someone with a fairly open mind. :)

Practice a little more, gig more, show off more...It usually all helps "S.G.S"