Hello again all,
SORRY THIS IS A LONG POST, BUT I’D REALLY LIKE YOU TO READ IT…
I’m back and thought I’d just let you lot know what I’m up to now. (Mind you most of you won’t be interested anyway!). However, here’s the story… about 2 years ago I started to develop a condition that affected the nerves on my lower body and also found out my lumbar spine had started to crumble. This progressed until about 18 months ago I was unable to walk more than a few yards and was in constant pain, so I had to cancel my forthcoming gigs and stop performing. I sold my L1 (I needed the cash) and put my guitars under the bed.
I brooded on this for quite a while and started to feel sorry for myself, so about 3 months ago I bought a cheap P.A. and shoved it in a corner of the kitchen to mess about with.
About 2 months ago I was receiving treatment from a community nursing team who were coming to my house with intravenous pain relief and antibiotics for something else I’d contracted, and when the nurse attending one day saw the P.A. in the corner and asked what it was all about, so I told her I used to be a singer, but had retired owing to my disability. She persuaded me to sing her a song and after I’d done that she came over to me and kissed me on the cheek (the wife was there!) and told me that I wasn’t to stop, even if it meant just singing at friends at home. D’ya know… this gave me a phenomenal boost and it virtually turned my life around there and then.
I decided that I wouldn’t just sing at home - I’d get out there and work for charity. That way hopefully there wouldn’t be so much pressure.
I adapted my mobility scooter to accept a mike holder, dug out the guitars again and became “The Crooner on a Scooter”.
Of course, I couldn’t use a **** P.A., so I wrung the neck of my credit card and squeezed out enough to get a Compact, which should be enough for the type of stuff I’ll be doing… nursing homes, local hospitals and the like.
I’ve had loads on interest from local charities, and the local paper has found out and are doing a story on me, so more enquiries should be coming in. That’s brill!!! It has really given me a new lease of life and I’m able to cope with my disability much better now knowing I’ll be putting something back into the community.
The reason I’m telling you all this is to try and get to anyone who has gone through a period of self-pity and depression - 'cause this business we’re in is not just a job or a hobby. For me it’s been my whole raison d’etre, and to be forced to stop as I had to is the most 'orrible thing in the world.
So if you’re faced with this situation for any reason, give yourself a kick up the bum and adapt… you’ll be glad you did!!!
Chin up everybody…
What a lovely story. Well done. All the best.
Hi Lee,
People come and people go, and we rarely know why.
Thanks for the story.
Enjoy the music!
ST
Hi Lee,
this is my second post to thee within a few minutes (Tonematch power supply thread).
Sorry to hear about health situation. In Germany there’s a saying, which translated loosely into english would be “The best illness is worth nowt,” and you seem to have one of the really worthless ones. I’m glad to hear that you’ve decided not to let it stop you playing any more. In 2011 I had an illness which caused extreme dizziness, and was off work for 5 months. It certainly took my confidence away, and with one or two other things which I had to deal with I also wasn’t really out and about performing. I’m also really glad that I plucked up the courage to gig again. You’re much worse off than I was, and I raise my hat to you.
Take care, enjoy your Compact T1, and make some music for the folks in your area.
Tony
Hi Lee, and good to read you again.
So happy that you have been re-awakened!
I totally relate to your story, from a different angle.
Hi Lee. Thank you for your inspirational post.
I’m 73 and use the Compact,(usually without a T1) for most gigs.
Hang in there friend, it’s great therapy.
Respect,
Col. Andy
Thanks all for taking the time to read my post and for the encouraging positive replies.
I’m getting jacked up for my first one under the new guise, so we’ll see how it goes and I’ll let you know the outcome. Our local paper is running a story on me this week, so it may help with establishing some credibility. After all, I don’t know of any other singers working from a mobility scooter - there are some band members I’ve seen on TV working from a wheelchair though.
Anyway, back to sorting the gear out so that my performance area isn’t cluttered. I think I’ve got that sorted now so that my victims can see me rather than having to peer through heaps of scrap metal, cables, monitors, songbooks, lights and goodness knows what else. I saw a solo act’s Youtube video the other day and it took me half the song to find him!
So there we go … onwards and upwards
Hi Lee,
You are an inspiration to all. Rock on bro. You can’t keep a good man down.
Thanks for the thoughts Mister D - dunno about “good” though, I s’pose “average” would be more appropriate! 
go man go