Trials of a Mid-life Crisis Bass Player...

[boristhespider9]

Originally Posted by shadven

The Honda Element is the perfect vehicle. I addition to removable backs seats it can pull a trailer with my Harley or 1968 Triumph. I can fit an SVT and 810 cab and 3 basses and other gear no problem, when I need to accomodate passengers I just put the seats back in. I know it was discontinued last year, but it is basically an accord chassis and motor, and itl was voted by "car and driver" as a vehicle expected to go 300,000 miles or more. Nuff said

Maybe so, but you haven't lived until you have the automatic sliding doors and back hatch when you're carrying sleeping or out of control kid(s), three bags, and it's raining. And for long road trips, the minivan can't be beat.

[KarlK]

I think I may fit here. Hitting 50 this year with a middle school daughter and 3rd grade son. Just starting playing with no previous experience. I guess getting a bass is a mid-life symptom all by itself. Who knows, maybe by the time I retire I'll be ready to be seen in public with it. Gotta plan ahead for my second childhood!

Originally Posted by two fingers

And by the way, before any of yuze guys bring it up, I ain't getn no minivan! Not gonna happen!

As for the minivan, been driving one for years after saying the same thing. Balance is the key, my friend. I've found that having a motorcycle too just about cancels out the minivan and keeps the yin and yang in harmony. Just a though...

K

[Count Bassie]

Being a bass player is a great thing- especially if your in mid-life crisis mode. Bass players tend to have a subtle control over the harmonic and rhythmic content of the music, and the bass is able to deliver a distinct, singular authoritative tone. In reasonably capable hands, the bass guitar is a bad-ass instrument, and with it you can have the booty shakin' consistently all night.

If you have empowerment issues, mini-van conflicts, vanishing-youth issues, picking up a bass and a decent amp will help you conquer those menial, beggardly demons. Bass + middle age = win.

[pgolliher]

I love how this thread is going. Men's therapy! I have to agree with the mini-van owners. When we started our family with our first daughter, we bought a VW passat wagon- which was going to be the "family car". Then, when our twin daughters came- the wagon wasn't even big enough for three car sears in the back- so we sold the passat wagon that we bought new (took a huge bath on it) and bought a used Toyota Siena XLT mini-van. All leather so the cherrios clean up easy and the built in TV system with wireless headphones makes road trips much more manageable- which helps balance out the fact that we can no longer go to In N Out burger on road trips because they don't have chicken nuggets or happy meals! Our van came with a tow hitch- my fantasy is getting one of those "wells cargo" trailers and heading out on a mini-tour.

[pgolliher]

Originally Posted by RaginRog

Any advice for a soon-to-be father of twins? I know I must buy a shotgun for when they're old enough to date; be ready for a lot of sleepness nights, and diaper duty x2...

Welcome to the club my brotha... one night right after our twins were born I was taking out the trash and a neighbor who has grown twins came up to me and said. "People without twins think that it is only twice as hard. They know not what they speak."

No lies, it will be a tough couple of months. I slept on the couch for six months getting about 4 hours of sleep a night. Honestly, that time is a blur...

My advice would be to get "swadle blankets" with velcro on them and check out "the happiest baby on the block" (you can probably find something on youtube. You will learn a great technique to calm crying babies. I swear, it's like magic.

Best of luck to you and your new family!

[pgolliher]

Should we start a Mid-Life Crisis Bass Player club???

[Holdsg]

Me, turning 50 this year, picked up the bass 6 years ago when our youngest was in Junior High School and was more self-sufficient. Play in 2 cover bands full of guys/gals just like me, and when you get to play, time just flies by, doesn't it? best part of my week getting to move some air with buddies. I don't even care if we don't play out, which in this economy is pretty rare occurrence, Its just good getting to play with people, period.

[qervo]

Man what is it with bass players having twins ? I see a lot of y'all have twins. Must be karma paying y'all back for all the one night stands ...lol

[Count Bassie]

Can't say I'm a mid-life crisis bass player, I've been at it since I was 17. But I am a bass player, and I've had a mid-life crisis. Now I'm just 51, and still a bass player. No twins.

Maybe I need my own club?

[jelly6466]

Originally Posted by qervo

Man what is it with bass players having twins ? I see a lot of y'all have twins. Must be karma paying y'all back for all the one night stands ...lol

That's easy, we are twice as good as guitarists so we deserve twice as many children.

[shadven]

Originally Posted by jelly6466

That's easy, we are twice as good as guitarists so we deserve twice as many children.

I am a identical twin and a bass player. My brother plays guitar so growing up all we needed to do was find a drummer and we had an instant band.

We are in out 50's now and live in different parts of the country, but I still sub for his band once or twice a year.

[cjp3044]

Originally Posted by pgolliher

Should we start a Mid-Life Crisis Bass Player club???

I kinda like that idea. PGOLLIHER, you've actually got it pretty good. Consider yourself lucky, like I do. I've been playing bass since 1978 (I was 12) - the only time I had to "sort of" put away playing was during my time in the military -- I still played and even had a band when I was stationed in Florida, but due to the nature of what I did in the service, I couldn't spend much time playing and often went several months or a year without even being able to pick a bass up.

I stopped playing out for a few years when my daughter was born, but pretty soon my (now ex) wife wanted me out of the house more so I started playing out again

Now my daughter is 10, I have a 17yo step daughter (who is infatuated with my 26yo lead singer, her quote to me after the last time she got to see us play "I want to eat cake off of his stomache" Thank God he likes older women ) and a 20yo step son. I have a good day job that allows me to provide for my family and buy my toys, I get to play regularly with one of the hottest cover bands in Central California (I'm the regular "fill-in guy"), also play in a classic country/honky tonk band, and in church every Sunday. I also get a lot of one-off gigs and fill-in slots for other bands in the area -- I usually play out at least once a week, often more like 3 or 4 times a week.

Yes, I'm lucky, and believe me I do NOT take it for granted. PGOLLIHER, this is a great thread you started. You are lucky too, don't forget it. A gigging band, a good job and a good family. Don't let the stress tear you apart, enjoy your music, enjoy your family, try to include them in your music when you can (like bring them to shows where minors are allowed). Us "mid-life crisis" bass players are not really in crisis! Just mid-life, with another half to go and more music to make and good times with our families!

[Count Bassie]

Family involvement- great advice. Don't let music make you a stranger to those you love/who love you... it's good to share your happy place once in a while.

[JaamE]

Originally Posted by boristhespider9

Maybe so, but you haven't lived until you have the automatic sliding doors and back hatch when you're carrying sleeping or out of control kid(s), three bags, and it's raining. And for long road trips, the minivan can't be beat.

I dont even have the fancy doors, and my kids are big, but we got everything for a gig except the drumset and the PA speakers in my minivan when the second truck didn't make it to load in the morning.

[shadven]

Originally Posted by cjp3044

Us "mid-life crisis" bass players are not really in crisis! Just mid-life, with another half to go and more music to make and good times with our families!

Right on brother! I am 52, great job, great wife, great kids, and a kick-ass band(s). No complaints and enjoying the adventure!

[Russell L]

Originally Posted by Astreaux

+1 Right there with you... Look forward to the gigs as stress relief!

That's just what I do. Except tonight. I've had something like the flu for the past three days, not over it yet. Feel like crud, but I'm in the host band for the blues jam. Can't call in sick, gotta go. I'll do my "cool" personna that just stands there and plays. Maybe I should wear shades.

[qervo]

I had the flu big time and played a gig. When the first song kicked off I turned to the drummer and said "you forgot to turn on the PA"! He said "it IS ON"! I was so congested in my head I couldn't hear a thing. But nothing beats the time I got into a head on collision on the way to play for a wedding. There was no way I was gonna be responsible for a new brides band not showing on her wedding day , so once the paramedics bandaged me up I got a friend to drive me there . I sat half cocked on a bar stool and was still bleeding through the bandages when the first song kicked off. I was still in shock so the pain wasn't really setting in but by the last song I was miserable. What can I say... I love to play.

[boristhespider9]

Just try not to DRESS on stage like you're in a mid-life crisis. That's the worst. You don't need to dress like a 21 year-old, but you also don't need to dress like a 45 year-old.

[Fair Warning]

I have totally given up on family. They are all out to get me. Therefore I play bass in 3 heavy metal bands. \m/

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by dtripoli

your kids are only kids once.

i think we can all agree "thank our lucky stars for that".

(i miss my babies so much i have a needy dog that wakes me up before 6 every morning )