Anyone back to normal yet?

I’m actually doing better than I was before the pandemic, music wise. But momentum? That’s still kind of dead in these parts. Good clients are still out there, and some of the low level competitors died a quick death, but there’s so much less energy in the music scene then there was before. Less community, less fun, less…idk…excitement I guess.

I was busier than ever during the pandemic. Not a ton of clients, but very very steady/consistent clients that were in all the time. Installed the 5088 in sept of 21, then landlord booted me Jan 1, 22. Womp womp.

It’s been a strange year. Wasn’t finding a spot worth renting and would prefer to buy a place that I could live and record at. Then my gf was diagnosed with cancer in April (myxoid liposarcoma) in her thigh, right next to her knee, so that and the high prices mostly put a halt on the search for now.

Anyway, she had the cancer diagnosis in April, radiation all through June into July. Surgery to remove the cancer in August. Wound became infected in October, wound needed to be opened back up and was in the hospital for 8 days. Just had her 3 month scans last week though and is cancer free, so that’s a huge win. Fingers crossed that it keeps at bay.

We’ve also be playing regularly with an Irish band (thegobshites.com) who had been tracking at my studio. She does some vocals and keys and I’m playing drums. So between the hospital visits and the gigging, we’ve been pretty busy.

We’ve converted the condo living room into a rehearsal / studio area. I’ve got a little mixing setup, edrums, the Flea47, couple amps and instruments, and some outboard. Making the best of everything as best we can at least.

Damn dude, sorry to hear you and your gf have had such a rough year!  Hang in there.  Glad you're making the best of it.  Buying a place to record/live in sounds like a good plan.  Let me know where you end up, I might be flying out your way sometime next year to record an album.  

Sounds brutal, man. Hang in there. Best to you guys.

What's "normal" Ward?

After being full time in the music business for close to 40 years, having to completely reinvent myself 5-6-7 times during my career, I can pretty much say that any attempt to define "normal" would be a fail as far as I'm concerned.  I can point to a half dozen or more industry / business implosions that would have sunk me if I didn't have faith, incessant drive, outside the box thinking and honestly....no where else to go. . (No plan B's here)

Finding new pathways, new angles of attack, not looking to the past cause it's gone forever, and reinventing new business paradigms is where I live. THAT'S normal. So...yeah, everything is pretty normal - I.e. completely and hopelessly abnormal.

jcoutu1 - Jesse - praying for your girlfriend with Ward. Hope things turn around for you guys soon. Keep a positive attitude and keep moving forward!!

"Normal" has lost meaning for me. Not trying to sound clever, I really don't have a concept of how things "should be" anymore. Just riding the waves as they come.
I've not been taking recording clients for a while as parts/builds/repair has taken up all my time. The pandemic sent my sales, as well as costs, skyrocketing. The past 3 years have been a blur (is it actually 3 years? that can't possibly be right).
Now, it's so wildly inconsistent. Oct was my biggest month ever, while Nov was the worst in 5 years. But, somehow, I was super-busy both months.

My wife caught a severe case of covid at the end of Nov so I've been holed up in my studio/office for over a week, isolated from the rest of the house. Talk about disorienting.
Looking back at the past few years, it reminds me of when I was boxing at the gym. You think you have a limit of how far you can push yourself, but when those punches keep coming at you, it's amazing what you're actually capable of.
I'm just continually thankful for what I have and, whether life is normal or not, it's good enough for me so I'll take it.

She came home yesterday. Trying to heal the wound open with a vac system. Happy to have her back home.

Just read this hope she is well bud

Dumb question define “ normal “?

I just opened my own e -store and that back me to normal life I used to have. Actually I did not know a lot about that and now I am studiyng all the details which can help me to have a good e-store. Right now on a phase to know differences about marketplace vs platform . Have to say sometimes boring but I used to it lol

Ah man Chris is rubbing off on you!