Does anyone ever worry about getting too old....

scorpionldr · #1 02-06-2009, 12:23 AM

To play music? I'm only 24 so far and I just feel like I have so much to accomplish that I'll never get done. I'm always worried about "when you hit 40+ your turkey's prettymuch cooked when your starting a family and all". anyone else feel this way?

kesslari · #2 02-06-2009, 12:33 AM

2 words. Stephen Grapelli.
Another 2 words. Doc Watson.

Itzhak Perlman.
Pablo Casals.
Merle Travis.
Earl Scruggs.
Les Paul.
Chet Atkins.

I'm getting tired just writin'...

Never too old, unless you think you are.

subfeeder · #3 02-06-2009, 02:49 AM

It changes. I am more interested in playing music for it's own sake rather than acheiving something from it (money, girls, fame) I've got a day job so that changes things a bit. Regard music as a journey rather than a destination and you will be far more open and your music will be the better for it.

T-Bird · #4 02-06-2009, 03:25 AM

Hi.

Well, I'm just a hobbyist musician, 37 years old, so musicwise I'm an old fart who didn't make it then ?

.

On other interest areas I wholeheartedly agree wit You. If I quit my dayjob right now and concentrated all my efforts towards the numerous "vehicle-projects" and "machinery-projects" I have aquired over the years, I'd be done right about 2150. And I kid You not.

Regards
Sam

Edit: A wise man once said: You're only as old as the women You feel.

**Thor** · #5 02-06-2009, 03:42 AM

It only gets better the more miles on the journey you log.

I hit the wall at 20, right after I saw Mahavishnu Orchestra
play the first time.

Pick yourself up and keep going. Or quit. Those are your 2 basic choices.

Don't quit.

**Pacman** · #6 02-06-2009, 05:16 AM

I turned 40 yesterday, and I'm playing music full time, so...no.

Relic · #7 02-06-2009, 05:26 AM

43 here and still going strong. I had a small taste of "band life" I guess: touring, opening for some big acts, recorded several CD's, played some great and some awful gigs, lots of adventures, all the time hoping to "make it". Looking back now, I realize that it's the trip that counts, not the destination. Stop worrying about it, have fun and do the best you can. It's not that time's running out, it's rather that you're wasting time worrying about it!

GeoffByrne · #8 02-06-2009, 05:40 AM

62. 2 heart attacks. 5 stents. Sarcoid. Diabetic. Arthritis in various joints. Many food intolerances.

Up until last week I was playing bass for 2 bands & rhythm for 1 - it just folded.

I've recently joined a hard-rock band (Free, Bad Co. Stones type of thing) and am looking forward to gigging 3/4 times per month.

'Old' is in your head, Dude!

The Golden Boy · #9 02-06-2009, 05:42 AM

I'm going to be 40 this year.

That's scary.

Until I was around 25 or so, I wanted to be a rock star. I wanted to write great music, I wanted to make rock and roll records, I wanted to tour, I wanted to play with everyone- everywhere, I wanted to see all the bands... After that my enthusiasm kind of tapered off. There were other factors other than age- my back, my friends "grew up," the music scene changed...

Somewhere around 30 or so, I started playing with some old friends, and we were making some great music- but I didn't have the urge to drive all over creation and play everywhere- I was happy just doing local bar shows.

Now I'm playing in a "tribute" band- I do some fill-in stuff, and it's all cover work. I still have the desire to want to write, I just don't have the time or the motivation with family and work.

I think my highest point was in my mid 20s- I think I was a really good bass player back then. I think I had much better ideas and better note selection. Now, I think I'm probably more "solid" of a player, but I probably edit myself too much. I'm also probably a "better" guitar player than I was in my early 20s, but I don't have that youthful exuberance.

I have no plans of hanging it up any time soon.

Phalex · #10 02-06-2009, 06:10 AM

I'm 42. I've been playing in bar bands since I was 20 something. I figure I have at least 10 more years worth of steady gigging left in me. Then again, my guitar player just turned 54, and he isn't showing any signs of slowing down.

I guess when it loses it's appeal, or I physically can't do it any more is when I'll hang it up.

**peabody** · #11 02-06-2009, 06:46 AM

I'm 49, and if my goose got cooked at 40, someone forgot to tell me. To be honest, I put my bass away when I was in my early 20's and didn't pick it up again until I hit 40. Even though at 49 I prefer lighter equipment, and can't fit into the jumpsuit I used to wear on stage, I think technique-wise I'm much better than I was then. Geritol is a wonder drug...

RED5 · #12 02-06-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor

I hit the wall at 20, right after I saw Mahavishnu Orchestra
play the first time.

.

Beacon Theater? W/Steve Miller and the Adderly Bros. featuring Airto? I got that way too.Didn't know who the heck The Mahas were, we were there for Steve Miller.Life changing event.

Bass Viking · #13 02-06-2009, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

I'm going to be 40 this year.

That's scary.

I'm going to be 50 in less than 2 months, you young whippersnapper!

Ahhh, to be 40 again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

I think my highest point was in my mid 20s- I think I was a really good bass player back then. I think I had much better ideas and better note selection. Now, I think I'm probably more "solid" of a player, but I probably edit myself too much.

As you get older, you tend to learn when not to play, which is a good thing.

My main gripe is that I have less time to play (what with job and family) and no time for a band. I still practice regularly though. The upside is now I can afford all the great gear I want.

stflbn · #14 02-06-2009, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorpionldr

To play music? I'm only 24 so far and I just feel like I have so much to accomplish that I'll never get done. I'm always worried about "when you hit 40+ your turkey's prettymuch cooked when your starting a family and all". anyone else feel this way?

That flawed outlook and philosophy will change greatly once you get close to or reach 40.

Live life... don't live life solely chasing accomplishments.

I'm 43, happily married for 22 years and 21 year old son works a full time job and just moved out into his own place last night. My wife and I's lives are ahead of us, not behind us.

.

Jools4001 · #15 02-06-2009, 08:09 AM

I'm 53 and still lead an active enough life to be going for my 2nd Dan Shotokan Karate grading in April and doing regular trackdays on my 160 mph Ducati motorcycles. From my perspective a bit of bass playing is nowhere near as strenuous as the above and easily manageable from a physical perspective.

I've always been known as an inventive player, with pretty good chops, along with solid timing, intonation and groove. From a technique point of view I'm better than I've ever been and my passion for bass is burning as brightly now as it did when I was 20.

Getting other people to accept that is more difficult. My last band recently dissolved after 6 years when the band leader and the female vocalist/guitarist (they are married to each other) moved to Wales, and finding another gig has been hard. Most of that is my fault. Had some time out after 6 years of regular gigs with this band, don't want to play blues or covers in bars anymore (been there and done that for over 25 years). Wouldn't mind playing in a functions band, but I think my favourite gig would be putting down some bass for a female singer/songwriter - and it would help if she was hot (just don't tell my wife)

scorpionldr · #16 02-06-2009, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Hi.

Well, I'm just a hobbyist musician, 37 years old, so musicwise I'm an old fart who didn't make it then ?

.

On other interest areas I wholeheartedly agree wit You. If I quit my dayjob right now and concentrated all my efforts towards the numerous "vehicle-projects" and "machinery-projects" I have aquired over the years, I'd be done right about 2150. And I kid You not.

Regards
Sam

Edit: A wise man once said: You're only as old as the women You feel.

ha, it's not like I'm TRYING to put you down, but I guess you summed it up.

no, lately I'm just submitting resume after resume, and I remember this BS my dad used to feed me about "ozzy had to wait like, 20 years to get famous"; this is while I'm looking at myspaces of friends I know or look at the ages of some underground bands I listen to that are already signed, and it makes me question whether all the work I do for my craft is ever going to pay off.

scorpionldr · #17 02-06-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

Live life... don't live life solely chasing accomplishments.

without the game to play, what is there?

accomplishments make life for me.

stflbn · #18 02-06-2009, 08:57 AM

That will change.

.

WalterBush · #19 02-06-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorpionldr

no, lately I'm just submitting resume after resume, and I remember this BS my dad used to feed me about "ozzy had to wait like, 20 years to get famous"; this is while I'm looking at myspaces of friends I know or look at the ages of some underground bands I listen to that are already signed, and it makes me question whether all the work I do for my craft is ever going to pay off.

Don't compare yourself to other people; they're not you, you're not them.

Don't "pace" yourself according to other people; Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain had great careers early on in life. Hopefully your career will last longer.

I'm 33, and last year made more money gigging than I have the last 10 years of my life. Prospects look up, too. The fame boat has probably sailed, but being a musician is a job like any other, and it looks like I'll be able to do it full time and still earn enough to to support my wife and 3 (soon to be 4) kids.

Circumstances change, and your viewpoint will change with it. Don't let your peers' apparent success discourage you. Appearances are deceiving, especially in the entertainment industry. They might be making peanuts but have good web design, for all you know. Concentrate on what you're doing, keep it up, and you will do well, regardless of age.

DWBass · #20 02-06-2009, 09:36 AM

What scares me most is finding folks into the same music and still wanting to play out. I'll be 50 next week and am starting to feel like the clock is ticking a lot faster! Just once I'd like to feel like I found a great bunch of musicians who know HOW to make beautiful music! Most of my life has been spent finding cats where you have to pull teeth in order for them to accomplish anything of substance! I'd like to leave some sort of legacy, music wise, behind before I leave his earth!