who here is in their 30's plus a family, good job/career, and sill trying to make it

Ajrocks · #1 04-30-2007, 07:03 PM

I'm restarting this thread with a more exact question...

So here it is.

Who here is over 30, with a good job/career and has a family, and they are still trying to make it with originals?

Depth_Charge · #2 04-30-2007, 08:09 PM

Hi. I'm 34. I have 3 kids and a wife, a house, a full time job etc.

I can't go on world tour, but I'd happily gig locally or do massive worldwide net concerts haha. Record a few original CD's and sell some would feel good I reckon.

I'm not in an originals band as such but I'm in a cover band that like to mess with the music I've shown them. I've got "nice" lyrics for 3 songs and ideas for more I can't just get out on paper.

I've got an albums worth of horrible, metal inspired lyrics/music for an albums worth for sale

And I've got 7 or 8 songs written up with bass, drum and guitars (poorly done powerchords atm) in GuitarPro to give someone a very rough idea of what I'm coming up with. I've sent this to about ten friends and most of them think it's pretty good. 2 are dead honest people one liked one didn't, the rest are probably just being nice to me

So since I still have the goal of releasing and selling my own music, and I spend some time moving towards that goa at home and in a band (covertly), I guess I qualify as wanting to make it with originals

Relic · #3 04-30-2007, 08:58 PM

I guess that could describe me, but what does "making it" really mean?
We've opened for some big names, had airplay all over the place on college and indie radio some mainstream here and there, toured a bit, had our music as background music on several different MTV shows (Made, Sweet 16 etc) yet we're nobody really, just an average band... I'm very satisfied with that. If I had to tour and record relentlessly, I dont think I could do it. At that age, 30+, it gets harder but it's certainly not impossible to still "make it" in one way or another.

bradjonesbass · #4 05-01-2007, 06:25 AM

Me. 36, still doing mostly original music with enough covers to get gigs. I know it's not likely to happen now, but when I retire I plan on gigging full-time as a 2nd career. I wouldn't need much to suplement my retirement (hopefully, anyway), so I might as well do what I love for that 2nd income.

Benjamin Strange · #5 05-01-2007, 07:25 AM

I just turned 30, and just joined a band that will allow me to play music full time - no covers. Granted, it's not nearly in a style that I would have ever seen myself doing, but it pays the bills and it's fun.

lamarjones · #6 05-01-2007, 10:44 AM

I think Oteil said that at 31 he thought about giving it up? enter the Col....

anyways, 31, good job, but no kids. I am actually holding off on kids until I decide I am pretty much done with music (well, relegating it to hobby status). The job is not a real setback, its pretty flexible, but then again I am not touring full time right now. Wife just surpassed me on the pay scale, so who needs a touring bassist!!???

**Basschair** · #7 05-01-2007, 11:07 AM

I'm 32, married, working on the kids (and working, and working

), and have a great job. In fact, I consider myself to have "made it." I run the music program at a K-8 school, and have 99% creative freedom (the 1% is reserved for final oversight and for concert band, which is what they want). I get to teach any instruments I want to, including BG and DB, as well as music theory, music history, and music composition.

Before I began this job (three years ago), I was teaching in a regular multiple subject classroom and was not digging it. To be honest, I was hating life last year while in this job...this year, something just clicked.

I know, it's not "making it big," but it is pretty cool.

ric1312 · #8 05-01-2007, 11:34 AM

I'm 36 and still doing originals and trying to do something with them. Got my own business and I'm married.

Just got my band back together, been at it steady for a year now. I took a break because I was sick of dealing with players who were jerks or just plain stupid. I took up bass. So, now I do the vocals and the bass.

I have a little advantage. My wife is my guitar player. So, if we did get some sort of deal she would go where ever the band needed. People tend to think we are in our 20's so I'm not worried about looking to old. Not losing my hair and keeping it long helps.

jazzbo · #9 05-01-2007, 12:02 PM

I'm 31 and married, beginning a doctoral program in the fall. I love it.

rob2966 · #10 05-01-2007, 02:47 PM

34, married, no kids. Great job. Just playing (both originals and covers) for fun. No desire to "make it". However, I would like to play locally on a regular basis and record some CDs of music that I contributed to the writing.

(It does allow my gear to be the envy of struggling musicians, and, since I can play the hell out of it, I am fine with that).

Later
Rob

rfclef · #11 05-01-2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basschair

I'm 32, married, working on the kids (and working, and working

), and have a great job. In fact, I consider myself to have "made it." I run the music program at a K-8 school, and have 99% creative freedom (the 1% is reserved for final oversight and for concert band, which is what they want). I get to teach any instruments I want to, including BG and DB, as well as music theory, music history, and music composition.

Before I began this job (three years ago), I was teaching in a regular multiple subject classroom and was not digging it. To be honest, I was hating life last year while in this job...this year, something just clicked.

I know, it's not "making it big," but it is pretty cool.

36... divorced for a couple years.. 2 wonderful kids.... no social life. Been playing bass since November. I am a tuba player and a K-12 music/Band teacher. Been taking lessons on bass for a couple months... Just started playing at my church last Sunday. Would like to find a couple guys like myself to play with... covers or originals, I will play anything. Would love to gig, but ain't likely to be able to tour. Just want to play. I guess I ain't "made it".

tZer · #12 05-01-2007, 03:14 PM

*Hand Raised*

But I have decided to redefine "make it" to mean, "have a successful, self-sustaining music project as defined by playing original material at places we like - not having to pay to play or record but recording CD's and making videos on our terms, and enjoying every minute of it while not having to sacrifice my career or family."

Lofty goal, but I am gonna go for it!

Ajrocks · #13 05-01-2007, 03:49 PM

Great replies, glad I'm not the only one..

tZer, I agree "making it" is defined but what each thinks of success. I have a friend who played guitar in the first band I was ever in. He's a music teacher in grade school now.

Like he says he made it. Gets paid to play music every day!

I keep thinking on getting rid of the originals and doing covers. Steady gigs once known, and paid. We use to get free drinks and a hundred each, each night....

I'm gonna hang with Italic for maybe a year and see what happens then.

Rusty Chainsaw · #14 05-01-2007, 06:52 PM

I turn 35 in a couple of months, married (but with no kids) and still have a burning desire to "make it". Actually, I already did, sort of, with my last band (toured, played festivals, had CDs out, did music videos, been on the radio, magazine reviews, etc), but I want to do it again!

The good thing is, there are many non-traditional ways to "make it" nowadays where incessant touring and spending most of your life away from home is mostly unnecessary, mostly thanks to the internet. If you've got a talent for promotion, and know how to use the tools at your disposal (MySpace, YouTube, iTunes, etc) you can create your own grassroots success on your own terms. OK, it's not going to be like the old days, with a million-dollar advance and so on, but that's progress. And this can be done at any age. What's more, the recording industry is taking notice.

There's also something to be said for the fact that being the wrong side of 30 is more acceptable in certain genres of music - if you're out of your teens and you want to play pop-punk or be in a boy band, you're probably screwed. But if you want to play prog-rock, jazz, blues, etc, you're almost never too old.

I'm also lucky in the fact that my wife is 110% supportive of my musical aspirations - she knows my day job is only a means to an end for me, and that if the break comes, I'm going to seize it with both hands, and take her along for the ride.

B-NoteCowboy · #15 05-01-2007, 08:48 PM

Turned 37 last week.

Making it is kind of a nebulous goal. My band has seen big leaps in average attendance and $ since every year since we started.

Our kind of band (tribute) has a ceiling for making it. However, the gigs are typically very well paying and high profile. There are a handful of touring tribute artists who make great money. That remains the goal.

lildrgn · #16 05-03-2007, 12:54 AM

I just turned 35, am married, have 2 kids, am in process of purchasing the family business from Dad and play originals in a power trio. I'm the baby of the band at 35, but we're all young at heart, I suppose.

At this point, I'd be happy playing A clubs on Fridays and Saturdays with good bills. But, alas, we're doing the C+, B- clubs on weekends with mediocre bands. I think our foot is in the door to the A clubs, but Seattle is a very political town, when it comes to music. It really depends on who you know sometimes...