Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
|
|
|
Packed it all in.
|
You are logged in as Guest
|
|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login  | |
|
   
Billyboy
Posts: 389
Joined: Aug. 18 2003
|
 RE: Packed it all in. (in reply to Jon Boyes)
|
|
|
Thanks, If I was accompanying, or doing something with it, it would be different, but there is no dance classes, anywhere near where I live, and I don’t have a car. I always looked on the guitar as a form of meditation, but there are other things similar. If I had a guitar around, I would end up messing around and spending too much time with it again. This forum was the only thing that got me playing again, about a year ago. But like I said, I never play anywhere now, the guitar club I used to play for is packing up, I think. Cant seem the point in learning all the Riqueni stuff, just to impress my Cat, It doesen’t know a Buleria from a Solea LOL. I must say though when I packed in previously, I didn’t miss It, cause I had other hobbies. If I had a career, then keeping it as a hobby would be OK, but I don’t, so must get my priorities right.
Cheers
Dave
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 1 2004 16:49:27
 |
|
Ron.M
Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland
|
|
RE: Packed it all in. (in reply to Billyboy)
|
|
|
quote:
If I had a career, then keeping it as a hobby would be OK, but I don’t, so must get my priorities right.
Cheers
Dave,
I can't quite comment on that since I don't know what you do at the moment to keep body and soul together.
(I thought you had something to do with Accountancy or the Civil Service?.....Ah! the Civil Service in the old days! A veritable refuge for malingerers LOL!)
I know from your posts that you're a very intelligent guy and a very perceptive player from your uploads.
Look man, playing Flamenco guitar, no matter how good you are, will get you nowhere in England.
Anybody taking up serious music without having rich parents to subsidise their hobby, is definitely gonna end up skint!
I see playing guitar as a kind of therapy to get me out of the world for a bit.
Joke here....
What's the quickest way out of Glasgow?
Three double Whiskys!.... LOL!
I reckon I've had a multitude of experiences, including a taste of the high earner's lifestyle.
For me it didn't work, though it works for many honest and decent folk.
I just couldn't put that sort of commitment and time into someone else telling me what's important in life, regardless of the dough.
Just wasn't that interested in acquiring "things".
Last year I sold my Ramirez to a guy who for the last 20 years has spent nine months out of every year working in the Middle East in the desert.
(He's quite a cool, laid back guy actually.... I think he likes it there)
Anyway, he said to me "We've come to a point where we're cash rich but time poor, so I want to spend some money on things I want".)
So...I'm a Bohemian...or a non-Payo or whatever you want to call it, and I'm comfortable that way.
I run my own little electronics repair business that brings in just enough to live on and pay the bills.
Am I interested in expanding it and building it up?
Sh*t no!
Could be dead within the next ten years.
After years and years of doing things I didn't want to do, I'm really happy that I don't have to do that crap anymore.
Not because I've amassed a pile of savings, but because I buy what I need, not what I think I might like.
Sure, there are drawbacks, like I can't go to Jerez for holidays and courses etc...
But what the F....
I'm too old now to make a career out of guitar playing, but I enjoy my freedom, my Flamenco CD's and the challenge of trying to work out just exactly what these guys are doing that makes it sound so good.
This is what keeps me hooked to the guitar.
Hey Dave...at least you've got a cat to play to.
(Porque no Whippet?)
I get banished into my workshop by the wife, daughter AND cat! LOL!
Take it easy amigo,
Ron
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 1 2004 20:38:37
|
|
Jim Opfer
Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.
|
|
RE: Packed it all in. (in reply to Billyboy)
|
|
|
quote:
Iam going to learn the Piano, always wanted to
Hi Dave,
Been there, tried that one.
I had piano lessons for 4 years, became totally absorbed in it and was starting to make some progress (I thought). Problem was that I just never managed to learn to read music (I seem to remember you saying that you do).
So, I got along by slow practice and memory, that was fine up to a point then I just couldn't go any further. Teacher would say 'you missed a note there! go back and take it from there' and that was me, found out, could only play it through from the start.
The other thing was that playing piano and longish fingernails just don't work, so the guitar had to stay in it's case and that was a big problem.
Bach! JM&J! that stuff is obsessional and it'll knot your brain and give you feaverish nights with dozzy spells in and out of nightmare dreams. Don't do it unless you're the type of person that can cope or are just mad? Chopin or Beethoven with some Satie.
Why not just buy a nice featherweight flamenco guitar, I mean pianos are way! too heavy.
Jim.
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 2 2004 10:16:37
|
|
Billyboy
Posts: 389
Joined: Aug. 18 2003
|
|
RE: Packed it all in. (in reply to Jim Opfer)
|
|
|
Jim interesting comments, as I have suspected the same myself, I read music but very poorly, cannot understand timing and time signatures, I have had good friends sit down and try to explain it to me, but am still totally lost. I have played quite a bit of Bach on the guitar but I must hear the piece first before I can attempt it, the music I use just to see which string to play which note. I can see myself giving the piano up if it gets too scary, as I'm not known for taxing my brain too much. And insomnia is something I suffer badly from, and am taking strong medication for,, so nightmare would be a nightmare LOL.
As for the Spanish speaking, I have found it totaly impossable to survive even a few days without the lingo, Its like being deaf, and dumb, pardon the old termanoligy. Just trying to find accomodation, or asking directions is a nightmare unless you speak enough to understand a reply in the language.
Cheers
Dave
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 3 2004 0:44:27
|
|
Billyboy
Posts: 389
Joined: Aug. 18 2003
|
|
RE: Packed it all in. (in reply to duende)
|
|
|
The only reason I started was to try and sound like PDL. But another reason I'm trough with flamenco is the snobery. If you play solo then it would be ahh but he can't accompany, or if you are English no one would give you any respect or come to see you anyway, you cant win, when I was in Cordoba, there was this flamenco holier than thow attitude, especially form non spaniards, a certain English bloke I met, who now has some school in Jerez, speaks French, comes to mind, But you don't get it from spanish people themselfs. Unlike Blues which was originally played by southern Blacks etc. But became a universal music played by anyone. No one ever said Eric Clapton couldent play. But in the UK people laugh in your face sometimes when you say you play flamenco. I hate this country, its a **** hole.
Cheers
Dave
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 4 2004 1:45:12
|
|
Jim Opfer
Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.
|
|
RE: Packed it all in. (in reply to Billyboy)
|
|
|
quote:
But in the UK people laugh in your face sometimes when you say you play flamenco. I hate this country, its a **** hole.
Dave,
I'm goin to give you a row.
You're sounding really depressed and down, I can see the point of packing something in when it's doing bad things to you, but no point in packing something in that does good things. Sounds like it's all the a** holes around you that need the shove? Also, the weather's bad at the moment and Autum's a depressing time of the year when all the trees are going red because they're getting strangled! and the clocks are about to change.
Think it through Dave, I was there, I've heard you play and you seemed to be enjoying yourself, playing Tomatito Alegria, why stop when it's something that adds light?
Get angry about not being able to drive, sort that quick and get yourself out and about.
Jim.
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 4 2004 18:27:59
|
|
Mark2
Posts: 1877
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco
|
|
RE: Packed it all in. (in reply to Billyboy)
|
|
|
|
Take heart. There is life after flamenco. And your right about the snobbery-it's real. Maybe one day it will be different , but not yet. There are other instruments, other styles of music, and other meaningful pursuits. I have felt too that I have taken it as far as I could given my situation, and have no desire to change my situation in order to try to take it further. I've simply changed angles, and have decided to spend more time doing other things. I only played one quadro gig this year, and it was sort of a pain. I still perform with a group and solo a bit more, but more as a job than a passion. But I did sub for a friend a few weeks ago, and played for an advanced dance class por siq. for two hours and really enjoyed it. So, you've learned it, and it's there if you want it. Ron, you cracked me up about the wife and house. I'm the same. But I have TWO guys on either side of me who work on their houses all the time. Rip out walls, put in new kitchens, etc. Make me look real bad. Me, I'm out surfing or playing the guitar or attending my kid's soccer match.
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 4 2004 20:10:24
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET |
0.078125 secs.
|
Printable Version
but I guess you could ask yourself how you feel now? It's your choice. Must have been a wrench selling the guitars, though. Flamenco is a f####r but you persevere coz you love it and you learn that it's a lifetime of a journey with some very nice views. But I also know what's it's like to expect more of yourself than you can achieve in the given time! I think alot of people know that! 
