For pleasure, for money, or an addiction?

[roadbiker]

Which best describes your playing habit? Do you play for pleasure, personal or otherwise? Do you play for money? Or is it an addiction?

In my case it is for personal pleasure, bordering on addiction. I know I have to get my taxes done, but I keep picking up my guitar instead. I sometimes stay up to bed to play long after the wife goes, and it's usually the first thing I go for after I get home from work. Do you have the same "problem?"

Jim

[sachi]

For pleasure, not rising to an addiction.

PS . . . "After the wife goes to bed to play" doesn't quite mean what you intended.

[roadbiker]

For pleasure, not rising to an addiction.

PS . . . "After the wife goes to bed to play" doesn't quite mean what you intended.

Pretty funny - thanks for pointing that out I corrected it.

[Steve]

I started playing for pleasure, then it turned into an addiction, and then I did it for money.

It started to feel like a second job, and I neither wanted or need a second job, so I stopped playing.

That was 2005.

Nowadays, I pick up a guitar, maybe, two or three time every few months...

[Edward]

Anyone who can play music "for the money" has got my respect!
...That I ever even get asked to play or come back is good enough for me!  That defines the "pleasure" in my book!!! 
   

Edward

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

I started playing for pleasure, then it turned into an addiction, and then I did it for money.

It started to feel like a second job, and I neither wanted or need a second job, so I stopped playing.

That was 2005.

Nowadays, I pick up a guitar, maybe, two or three time every few months...

Two or three times every few months?? So can I ask what brings you to a guitar forum like this?

As for the original question, definitely for personal pleasure only.

[Go Navy]

For pleasure.

[S MS Picker]

I started playing originally to impress females  when a knee injury ended my athletic ambitions. It worked to my pleasure 
and became an addiction.I have never been a great player, but I've a good set of pipes, natural timing,and no stage fear. One thing led to another,and living rooms turned into parties,parties turned into small bars,small bars turned into larger bars.Exposure led to studio work,which increased the money. Nowadays, I play mostly for pleasure to quench my addiction,with an occasional side man gig for money.
I also do a little pro-bono teaching, to encourage others, to help preserve what I see as a diminishing art form. With today's technology,
unless you're sitting w/someone playing acoustic,you never know exactly what you're hearing.  "Is it live,or is it Memorex"? All the modelers,loopers,pitch correctors,auto harmonizers,etc. give me the willies.Guess I'm just a little old fashioned.
Oh yeah. Somewhere along the way I developed a knack for working on'em too,which saved money as well as making a little.
  "That's my story--- and I'm, stickin" to it!"
Steve



edited for language

[acmeseed]

I play for pleasure, to share with my family and play in church without pay for fun and to show my kids that going to church could be a little less boring 

I started playing in my mid teens, played pretty much steady for 10 years and made some money, but nothing to write home about. I never looked at it as a long time endeavor. I dropped out of playing regularly for about 27 years. I picked it up about 3 years ago prompted by my 7 & 4 year old showing a lot of interest in music; I figure I'll expose them to playing music and if it sticks it will be a gift they can carry through their lives.

When it comes to guitar playing one of the saddest statements I read is "I wish I would have stuck with it" yeap, that's me.

[DMBfan41]

Pleasure in my cup.

And for those that enjoy drinking from the same cup.

[Steve]

Two or three times every few months?? So can I ask what brings you to a guitar forum like this?

Well, I dig 'em. It's just that, these days, I'm far more likely to shoot pictures of them than play them.

Besides, I've got a pretty extensive knowledge of most things Taylor, so why not?

 

[Gutch]

An addictive pleasure, for sure.  I've been paid to play, but I'm certainly not doing it for the money.  Played at church for a few years then quietly walked away.  Have had the pleasure of playing on the stages of a few of the more popular bars/clubs in the Midwest over the years, as well as a handfull of corporate events and private parties.  Nowadays, it's primarily coffee shops, farmer's markets and local community events.  I'll sit in, now and again, with a friend on his restaurant lounge gigs, and will drop in on a local open mic when there's nothing going on at home on a Friday night. 

Reading this it sounds like a lot,  but it works out being only a couple times a month...

[ctkarslake]

An "addictive pleasure", I like that.  Definitely pleasure on my part as well as the challenge to improve, learn more songs.  A campfire or my front porch in summer is as far as my "gigging" goes and that's just fine with me.

[Walt Q.]

Been playing for over 30 years strictly for pleasure.  It's a constant source of pleasure and a great stress reliever.  I guess it's an addiction too, because I can't imagine life without a guitar. 

[Scriptor]

For pleasure/therapy and personal expression ... that's how it started out for me and that hasn't changed over the years ... I laid it down for a while when life got busy with family and work, but it came back like a storm a few years ago ...

I played for money for about an 8 to 10 year stretch in my younger days ... but even then, it was for pleasure ... it's just that with the money I also had the added pleasure of being able to afford some better instruments and equipment (not to mention the company and fellowship of some good musicians) ...