question of the day....when do you quit?

#1 10-07-2008, 05:21 PM

I am 62 years old and have played bass for over 40 years. I am proficient in nearly all genres and I have always loved playing live.
My level of ability has never been better and I am still improving. I am in a great band playing stuff I like (real old school funk and R and B).

I have noticed lately that I am sometimes reluctant to load up and go play. I get the feeling that I should just stay home.

Although I get along well with the other band members, I am pretty much a pariah regarding my political beliefs. I just don't talk about it even though the rest of the band blabbers on with their political nonsense. May this be a contributor to my unease and reluctance?

I guess my question to open the dialog is when do you give up playing out?

I would really like to hear from some old guys and girls that may be having these same thoughts.

fenderhutz · #2 10-07-2008, 05:22 PM

Sounds like you aren't having fun and it's becoming a chore.

standupright · #3 10-07-2008, 05:29 PM

my father is almost 80 and still going strong. gigging / rehearsing most days of the week. they will prob have to carry him off the stage when he breathes his last.

JNowiski · #4 10-07-2008, 05:30 PM

try and change the subject to music or something when they're talking about politics. i personally would probably just talk S-word to them about their beliefs if they wouldn't stop talking about it and be a realy A-hole to them. that's just me though.

if you have grandkids or anything make them load your equipment. maybe give them 5 dollars for a job well done. that last part's up to you though.

#5 10-07-2008, 05:34 PM

"my father is almost 80 and still going strong. gigging / rehearsing most days of the week. they will prob have to carry him off the stage when he breathes his last."

I like hearing this because that will probably be me.

Gruntollio Bass · #6 10-07-2008, 05:56 PM

When you stop enjoying it, that's when you give it away.

I'm only 34 and sometimes I hate the lug-in / out...............who doesn't?!
But once I hit the stage, that's what makes it all worthwhile and the day I stop enjoying that aspect of it will be when I give it up.

**HeavyDuty** · #7 10-07-2008, 06:10 PM

Maybe it's time to find other players that are more like yourself?

BurningSkies · #8 10-07-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeavyDuty

Maybe it's time to find other players that are more like yourself?

+1

or if you really like the guys, come up with some ground rules about such things like politics. I don't discuss politics with most of my family or my girlfriend's family. It's much easier that way.

msquared · #9 10-07-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeavyDuty

Maybe it's time to find other players that are more like yourself?

+2.

It's not just about the time you're onstage playing music.

Brummie · #10 10-07-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

+1

or if you really like the guys, come up with some ground rules about such things like politics. I don't discuss politics with most of my family or my girlfriend's family. It's much easier that way.

+ 1

Saved me my typing finger.

I'm guessing but I think you sound like you'd miss it if you stopped - let us all know what goes on.
Cheers & good luck

doktorfeelgood · #11 10-07-2008, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeavyDuty

Maybe it's time to find other players that are more like yourself?

+1... I'm 59 and I've been playing since I was 10 years old. I've always said that I would keep playing out as long as I could move and load my own gear in and out. I'll never stop playing but as far as playing out goes, having to drive long distances to do gigs may be coming to a close here in the next year or so. That's what's really tiring for me sometimes these days. I play in a good Blues band and that's always what I've done and wanted to do. But I'm putting together a duo with one of my best friends who's a singer/songwriter/guitar player and we're going to start gigging out as soon as we can get 30-35 tunes down. In the area that I live there are way lots more gigs for a duo than there are for even 4 piece Blues bands. We can work close to home and I can make the same I'm making now for way less travel and use a much smaller rig that will be easier to haul. I'll miss the power of the music that's been in my blood for most of my life, but we're picking tunes that are very Blues oriented so I'm looking forward to doing this. I'll be doing both bands for awhile and see how it goes. With some of the manufacturers coming out with very small powerful amps now with cabs to match, I don't see where moving my gear will be much of a problem when I can make the transition to the newer gear. I'll play out as long as it's fun. )-(

Belinda123 · #12 10-07-2008, 07:21 PM

I guesss I will quite at the time I have to quite.

David1234 · #13 10-07-2008, 07:26 PM

If the fun's gone out of it, sometimes that means you need a little break. I wouldn't quit, but think about a month's sabbatical. Maybe others in the band could use it too.

bigfatbass · #14 10-07-2008, 09:43 PM

Quote:

I don't discuss politics with most of my family or my girlfriend's family. It's much easier that way.

Amen! Even talking politics with people who agree with you can pretty much suck it.

Jeff K · #15 10-07-2008, 10:22 PM

I'm 58, and I hate the load-in/load-out. It's easier now that I replaced my rack system with a Markbass 210 combo amp and a Traveler 115 extension cab. Much lighter and easier to carry. I also find myself hating to play outdoor gigs when it's so friggin' humid in the summer.

The band I'm in started up in '94. I had a ball the first 10 years. But lately, we've had a lot of turnover. There are only two of us left from the original 5. We're on our 3rd drummer, and have a new keyboard player. The original drummer and I were close friends. Bottom line is that it just hasn't been as fun these last 4 years as it was the first 10. We're playing out less and less; and it really doesn't bother me.

If you can find some people you really like, it might be good to try something new. However, if you're just generally tired of playing out, then only you can answer whether you should stop or not. Maybe just a sabbatical. See how much you miss it if you're NOT playing out.

Passinwind · #16 10-07-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drpocket

I guess my question to open the dialog is when do you give up playing out?

I would really like to hear from some old guys and girls that may be having these same thoughts.

Personally, I never say I'm quitting permanently. I just stop gigging for a year or five until I feel like doing it again. Then I tend to reinvent myself as a player in a different genre, and sometimes also on a different instrument. Two cycles ago I became a lead vocalist for the first time, and I still haven't gotten over the shock of hearing my voice on the radio doing one of my own tunes. There's always another rung to climb if you're game.

Georynn · #17 10-08-2008, 12:43 PM

Personally, I find discussing the big three ( politics, religion, sex) distastefull even with like-minded lifelong friends.
If it has become a chore to play out, maybe you should consider taking a break from the band. If you miss it, the break is over. if you don't maybe find some different people to hang out with...

I kinda have the same issue, I have a guitard-ist that just wont shut up about politics, I don't enjoy playing with the guy at all any more... maybe he'll shut up after the election... I hope...

Rocker949 · #18 10-08-2008, 12:50 PM

Talking about politics in the polarized atmosphere of the U.S. today is something that should be totally avoided. Any other topic would be preferable to that under the current circumstances.

BlacksHole · #19 10-08-2008, 01:02 PM

I'm only 58, so you do have me by a few years. It is harder to find new people to play with as we get older, but I did do a few jazz jams where the next youngest player was in his late 60's and the rest were late 70's early 80's. They still played out some, but had also cut back and they tended to play acoustically.

As far as being politically opposed to the stand some or all the rest of the band takes, I think you should be able to find a way to ignore this, unless you're playing for a lot of political fund raisers. As I am the oldest in my band, I am a bit of an outsider on many points - but not politics. But the other subjects do leave me a bit of a loner within the band and that's ok.

I also still haul some heavy equipment, but I still enjoy playing music and watching the young ladies dance. I can't imagine not playing anymore, so hopefully I won't get too stiff in the joints to keep this up for a long time. I'd say you should just step back and enjoy the music and let the others blather on about subjects you either don't care about or disagree with. Laugh on the inside and consider the equipment moval necessary exercise and get on with the business of playing the best bass lines you can.

mimaz · #20 10-08-2008, 01:12 PM

I've always said that as soon as i stop having fun, I'll hang it up. Fortunately, I'm still having a blast, playing with some incredible musicians who also happen to be some of my very best friends.

I've been giggin for 30 years, and I've been playing various instruments since I was 6 (I'm 44 now). I'm fortunate to be in relatively good health, so the load in/load out is just part of the game for me....in fact, I sometimes feel like it's gotten easier, since we get so much more out of the newer, more compact gear instead of the monster sized stuff we used to lug around "back in the day".

Here's hoping that we can all play every bit as long as we would like....keep it fun, keep it creative, keep it real!