So, since we have discussed how it might be possible to be a musician who plays in lots of projects in part 1, let’s talk about the “why” factor. Why play with lots of people? Why would one want to do this, anyway?

We can break this down to a few sub categories:

Opportunity: I Can

Put simply, I get the opportunity to do this in large part because I’m a drummer. Drummers are seemingly more in need. I think bassists are needed even more, but, either way, we’re usually not as plentiful as guitar players, for sure. We’re needed.

Also, because I am more of a song-oriented drummer, my skillset is a good fit—my strength is in blending with a band more than having blazing drum chops. 

And finally, I offer some kind of versatility, I suppose. I can pick up vocal parts for you, and, in a pinch, I can even fill in on some other instruments If you’re willing to accept my modest skills in those areas. 

Ultimately, I Want to Play Music

Playing good music is the most fun thing. Period. Of course, that’s an opinion, but it’s mine and I’m sticking with it. I think many musicians would agree, and I think if non-musicians had the opportunity, a lot of them would agree, too. Music is a blast.

Now, maybe not all music is equal in any person’s mind. I make no bones about the fact that my truest love is for original music, but that doesn’t mean that spending time playing other kinds of music is still not better than just about everything else (for me, anyway). Meaning, with all opportunities on the table, I’d prefer to play music over just about any other pastime, recreation, or form of entertainment or expression.

So, maybe it’s not that I spend an inordinate amount of time doing music… maybe I just prefer to spend my “free time opportunities” (since I do work a day job) booking it up with chances to play.

There is Never Enough Time for All the Music

This one is an important.

I think if you’re a real artist, or you truly have been bitten by the musical muse, you’re never going to get to scratch every itch you’ve got. Look at your own record collections. There is so much music we love that are cut from completely different swatches, right? 

Do I want to play pop-oriented jangle-groove stuff with great harmonies?  Do I want to drum in situations where I can really slam that backbeat on my snare? Do I want to sing lead? Do I want to sing harmony? Do I want to play with a piano player? A banjo & steel guitar? Acoustically? Electrically? On big stages? In intimate venues? In a songwriters round? With loud electric guitars? With quiet acoustic overtones? 

Yes.  

Yes, yes, yes…

Yes to all of them. And many other things. What have you got?

I’m not a rockabilly aficionado. But have you ever played it? Or danced to it at a club or wedding?  It’s awesome.

Sure, there is music that I don’t have an interest in, but there is already more music that I do like than there are hours in the day to address them all. So… I think variety is a good thing, and I think it helps you grow as an artist.

Helping Friends

This is important, too.  Part of being in a musical community is we want to help each other out. 

I like to hope I’m modest enough that I don’t have an ego trip about having to be “the guy.” Sure, there are some projects where I consider myself a major creative contributor, a “band-leader,” if you will.  But I can wear other hats, too. I can just play a role for someone else’s creative muse, too. So when people ask me to be a part of what they want to do, besides all the reasons above, I also want to help them, too. 

Usually if I say “no,” it’s simply because I can’t fit it in to my schedule.  (I may be a “band whore,” but I still can’t do everything. Never enough time for it all, right?)

But, especially if you’re a musician friend of mine who comes to me… of course I want to do you that solid!

The Catch 22 or “Why Scaling Back is Harder than it Seems”

Sometimes I do have to scale back. But I think of scaling back much more often than I actually do it. Why?

Because at the end of the day, there is a major Catch 22 here. Let’s say I decide, “I simply can’t commit to what I’m doing here. I have too many other projects. So, I need to cut back.” Well, if I do cut that project out, then arguably that frees up more time. And then if a group—even if it’s the same group who I walked away from— comes to me and says, “Can you fill in, even though you’re not involved with us anymore, because we have this gig coming up,” of course I would say answer affirmatively. I would say, “Yes! I now have some more free time compared to what I used to, and because you are my friends, and because there’s never enough time for all the music, and because ultimately I just want to play as much music as I can… what time should I be there?” As soon as you free up some time, it just seems to open more opportunities to do other things.

Put another way, it seems “you can check out any time you want, but you can never leave.”  At least not while I am still able-bodied enough to do this. And that may not be such a bad thing.