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madgeylou · 11-28-2006, 04:57 PM

hi everyone,

i'm writing because i'm feeling kind of flummoxed by a problem i have had for years and am hoping someone has some advice or input that will help me think about it in a different way.

i love to sing. and, not to be immodest, but i am a pretty awesome singer. about 10 years ago i picked up the guitar so i could write songs, which i also love to do.

i love performing, and i love practicing even, but i rarely do it as much as i would like to. i feel such a weird resistance when i think about playing -- it's like i simultaneously crave it and dread it.

i think some of it comes from a lack of self-confidence. i believe my singing and songwriting is pretty great, but my guitar playing? eh. pretty basic. and i lack the motivation to get really good at it, because i dont care so much about guitar.

my ideal scenario would be to be involved with a band. i love the collaboration and part-of-a-gang feeling. i have been in bands before, and had some small degree of success with them (playing out a lot, releasing cds, etc). but i disliked the fact that i always seemed to have to be the leader -- i got sick of everything being on my shoulders. i would much rather be in a band where there are a few leaders, and everyone shares the work of writing, arranging, booking gigs, promotion, and tying up whatever loose ends come unraveled.

so ... now i find myself in a position where i am pretty insecure about playing out on my own, but i dont have a band. at the same time, i am seriously craving being out on stage again -- it's been far too long.

in happier news, i am writing songs again after an almost 2 year hiatus when i was in love with a musician who didnt think much of my music. i sort of let his opinion spill over into mine, and am more insecure about my music than ever at this point.

i guess i just feel overwhelmed by this now -- both the emotional aspects and the logistical aspects. i'm not sure what my next step should be. how do i battle the resistance so that i can train up to the point where i feel good about my music again, so i can attract other musicians to me? any war stories or words of wisdom for me?

thanks
madge

11-28-2006, 04:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
madgeylou Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: brooklyn, new york Posts: 193	resistance and insecurity hi everyone, i'm writing because i'm feeling kind of flummoxed by a problem i have had for years and am hoping someone has some advice or input that will help me think about it in a different way. i love to sing. and, not to be immodest, but i am a pretty awesome singer. about 10 years ago i picked up the guitar so i could write songs, which i also love to do. i love performing, and i love practicing even, but i rarely do it as much as i would like to. i feel such a weird resistance when i think about playing -- it's like i simultaneously crave it and dread it. i think some of it comes from a lack of self-confidence. i believe my singing and songwriting is pretty great, but my guitar playing? eh. pretty basic. and i lack the motivation to get really good at it, because i dont care so much about guitar. my ideal scenario would be to be involved with a band. i love the collaboration and part-of-a-gang feeling. i have been in bands before, and had some small degree of success with them (playing out a lot, releasing cds, etc). but i disliked the fact that i always seemed to have to be the leader -- i got sick of everything being on my shoulders. i would much rather be in a band where there are a few leaders, and everyone shares the work of writing, arranging, booking gigs, promotion, and tying up whatever loose ends come unraveled. so ... now i find myself in a position where i am pretty insecure about playing out on my own, but i dont have a band. at the same time, i am seriously craving being out on stage again -- it's been far too long. in happier news, i am writing songs again after an almost 2 year hiatus when i was in love with a musician who didnt think much of my music. i sort of let his opinion spill over into mine, and am more insecure about my music than ever at this point. i guess i just feel overwhelmed by this now -- both the emotional aspects and the logistical aspects. i'm not sure what my next step should be. how do i battle the resistance so that i can train up to the point where i feel good about my music again, so i can attract other musicians to me? any war stories or words of wisdom for me? thanks madge