I feel I should quit on My buddies, But how do I do it...Without burning bridges?

[rocketjefferson]

I'm James, 29 yrs old.

 

In Feb, I joined a local jazz emsemble(i play piano) thru one

guy i've known for about a year. I hadn't done anything musical

in a while(took a break after 12 years of constant shows, recording etc.

not conceited, but I'm very pro and pretty good at playing)

so it was a great relief, since I joined in and we began performing

out right away. I love it and am dedicated to this project(even though some of the musicians

are a little more amateur than i) I just love performing with them.

 

But now they want to start taking it on the road and seem more insistant that

we play everywhere but our local scene. One guy left(more like forced out)because

he just can't leave his day job, so he was replaced; He really loved the group though

and strange enough, he was the best musician this group had, i enjoyed playing with him. Anyway,

We went on a 2 week thing after he was replaced; i made arrangements with my job, and it was alright,

not the best tour(sleeping on floors, playing for peanuts) but it was an adventure, i've done tours before

so i was no stranger to the road. But now they wanna set up another 2 week and another 3 week after that but I just can't go...

I don't want to leave my job. . .I'm 29, too old to be in between jobs i think, for music. Plus

I have a live-in girlfriend who I love very much and want to propose to soon. Anyway, I dragged my heels too long cuz

i thought perhaps I could work something out with my job & figure out what I really want to do.. .

and now were supposed to leave in a week for a 2 week "Playing for Peanuts" kind of thing. Same clubs.

Same van.

 

I want to get back into the music thing, but I don't want my attitude towards 'touring' to ruin my chances of getting

good gigs. I prefer to stay local. Unless by chance some radical, Pro opportunity came up, then HELL YEAH,

I'd quit my job in a heartbeat. But that's not the case right now. . .

 

I just don't know how to handle this, I feel like I should just quit and let them replace me. They will fight me on it, i know.

They have told me many times(i don't let it go to my head) that i'm the best piano player they've ever played with & such a cool guy

and They'll try and say: "Come on just stick in there with us, We may be on to bigger and better things".

 

But In the end, I need to follow My heart, right? I'm buggin'. How should I tell them?

[joseph]

when it's all said and done, at the end of the day, you need to do what's best for you.

Nevermind anyone else, be selfish here.

Whatever you do decide, it'll be the right choice if it's for you. (regarding your life and everyone in it of course)

If you decide to not go, just be straight up honest with the guys, just state your not going, and why, and that'll be it, if they're true buds, they'll understand,