Bad news working out

[tramp]

I have been playing with a new 9 piece band for about a year and a half now. We play stuff like Otis Reddings's "Shake" and Sam Cook's " A change is gonna come". Thiings have been going great. This month, we have played 6 jobs and we have never been this tight. I mean everything was clicking. At the end of the gig last night out of the blue, the band manager says "this is our last gig. we are breaking up". Everyone was like "what the hell". He's 70 years old and due to too much pressure and health problems is giving it up.

However, I got a call from a friend of mine, about a week ago, that has a band and plays the same type of music. His bass player is going to have back surgery (he is 82 years old) and he will be out for about 3 months. These guys play about 4 times a month. So tonight, I will start playing with his band until his bass player comes back. Funny how thing happen.

[Drop-the-One]

That's pretty cool.


But if that was new news to all your current band members, and the manager's the one calling it quits... why couldn't you get a new manager?

[BassScum]

Yes, Is the manager a player in the band? If not then why breakup? And if he's the one leaving then what business does he have saying the bands breaking up? Especially a band of that size. Find another manager and carry on.

[bassplayer8953]

Originally Posted by BassScum

Yes, Is the manager a player in the band? If not then why breakup? And if he's the one leaving then what business does he have saying the bands breaking up? Especially a band of that size. Find another manager and carry on.

^^^Agreed^^^ The music is intact. A manager handles the business end. While that may take a hit, at least for awhile, if the music carries on, you all can find & hire another manager, or take up where he left off, and handle the business end yourselves. You know where you've played previously. Contact them, explain that the manager is "retired", due to whatever reason, and book the gig yourselves. It might take a while to expand your horizons, but there's no reason to shut down when a non-performing member leaves.

[Stumbo]

Why would the "manager" break up the band? He doesn't own you.

I suggest you find someone else and keep playing.

On top of that, he doesn't let anyone know ahead of time? Sounds like a control freak to me.

[tramp]

The manager was also the lead Sax man and he had all the equipment and the trailer, He would sell it all for around $20,000.00 but with the economy the way it is down here, none of us want to take on that responsibility. You need to play casinos, private parties and festivals. All of the guys are seasoned musicians and most of us are over 60 years old. Some of the guys played in 2 bands and some in 3 bands. While we were a solid group when we came together, a large band was hard to book.

The ride was good and now it is on to another level.

Well, I played with my friends band last night and everything went great. He told me if his bass player does not come back, I am in. His bass man has been with him since 1980. These guys have been playing since 1957.

[Drop-the-One]

Haha, I guess if he has all the gear...
... but like you said, it all works out.
Your new gig sounds pretty fun.

[tramp]

As stated above, I have been playing with my friends band since 2010 playing 50's & 60's rock & roll, swing, Zyedco & cajun music and as luck would have it, this band broke up also. Five guys in this 7 piece band are over 68 years old but what a band. The lead singer/front man is 73 years old, doesn't look a day over 60 ,lol, and is a hell of a front man. If anyone could get a crowd going, he could. For 73 years old, he had more energy than guys half his age and could keep up with the best of them. Just watching him wore me out. I am knocking on the door of 67 years old and don't know if I will look for another band. Gonna take a couple of months off , take an overdue vacation trip and then I will decide what to do. It has been a good ride, rough at times, but a good ride just the same. No regrets.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by tramp

I have been playing with a new 9 piece band for about a year and a half now. We play stuff like Otis Reddings's "Shake" and Sam Cook's " A change is gonna come". Thiings have been going great. This month, we have played 6 jobs and we have never been this tight. I mean everything was clicking. At the end of the gig last night out of the blue, the band manager says "this is our last gig. we are breaking up". Everyone was like "what the hell". He's 70 years old and due to too much pressure and health problems is giving it up.

However, I got a call from a friend of mine, about a week ago, that has a band and plays the same type of music. His bass player is going to have back surgery (he is 82 years old) and he will be out for about 3 months. These guys play about 4 times a month. So tonight, I will start playing with his band until his bass player comes back. Funny how thing happen.

Hmmmm, I guess I'm not that old.

[addylewis]

I'd at least have a talk with the rest of the band and see if they want to carry on, if they DO then you've still got the gig with your mate to keep you going whilst you look for/train someone else up to replace the manager...seriously, if one guy leaves and the rest of you still get along and want to keep going at it then just get someone else in and see if it works (it may well not, but it sounds like what you guys have got is too good to flush away on one persons say so...) One of my old bands has literally just reformed (4-5 piece britpop/rock) and we're just starting to rehearse again with some new members after a years break/break-up I guess, so we don't 100% know yet what's going to happen, but we're still TRYING and hoping it'll work as well as the last lineup did...I've got my post-breakup CURRENT project which is my main focus as we're gigging and planning some more studio time, but I'm still trying to get the OLD main project up & going again simply because we had that **something** that not many bands have and some brill songs...

I'm just dreading the day I have to choose...but its very early days yet

[ACalbass]

If the other guys will continue,you might want to start asking yourself for how long until the next 80 years old soldier fall.
Looks like the "clicking" you seem to be hearing is the peacemakers.
You do not live in Okinawa,do you? (known for having tons of 100+ years old)
LOL
Just joking,don't take that seriously.

In the other hand,me being 51,I am jealous of an 82 years old bass player that keeps banging it,ALL my most sincere ADMIRATION !!!
Which,by the way gives me the hope to be active 30 years from now.
And to you too,tramp.
Invigorating,hope you find 20 more bands to play in for the next 60 years.

[Munjibunga]

This would be a good thread for all the "old" 45-year-olds to read when they start complaining about "ageism." I'm 63, and I still play in two bands. I plan to keep playing in bands until I die or my hands get crushed in a horrible industrial accident involving a drill rig or wheat thresher.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

This would be a good thread for all the "old" 45-year-olds to read when they start complaining about "ageism." I'm 63, and I still play in two bands. I plan to keep playing in bands until I die or my hands get crushed in a horrible industrial accident involving a drill rig or wheat thresher.

I still struggle with the idea of playing in more than one active band. When I hear stories about guys in 2,3 or 4 bands, after you read between the lines only one of the bands is productive in terms of bookings. For the sake of my argument I'm not going to consider recording productive.

I always wonder what a Guy does if one of the hands is booked every Friday and Saturday night. You can't be in 2 places at once.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I still struggle with the idea of playing in more than one active band. When I hear stories about guys in 2,3 or 4 bands, after you read between the lines only one of the bands is productive in terms of bookings. For the sake of my argument I'm not going to consider recording productive.

I always wonder what a Guy does if one of the hands is booked every Friday and Saturday night. You can't be in 2 places at once.

Subs.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I still struggle with the idea of playing in more than one active band. When I hear stories about guys in 2,3 or 4 bands, after you read between the lines only one of the bands is productive in terms of bookings. For the sake of my argument I'm not going to consider recording productive.

I always wonder what a Guy does if one of the hands is booked every Friday and Saturday night. You can't be in 2 places at once.

A lot of guys are in multiple bands *because* the bands aren't booked every Friday and Saturday. I'd like to pick up another band to get more gigs in.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I still struggle with the idea of playing in more than one active band. When I hear stories about guys in 2,3 or 4 bands, after you read between the lines only one of the bands is productive in terms of bookings. For the sake of my argument I'm not going to consider recording productive.

I always wonder what a Guy does if one of the hands is booked every Friday and Saturday night. You can't be in 2 places at once.

My acoustic trio is the #2 band. It's for fun. Haven't had a conflict yet.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by seanm

A lot of guys are in multiple bands *because* the bands aren't booked every Friday and Saturday. I'd like to pick up another band to get more gigs in.

Ok, I get it, makes a lot more sense, even though it seems like a hassle.

Right now I'm lucky.

My band has a well oiled productive in house marketing process that keeps us booked every Friday and Saturday night with few exception.

I don't take it for granted, because in this business that could change over night.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

This would be a good thread for all the "old" 45-year-olds to read when they start complaining about "ageism." I'm 63, and I still play in two bands. I plan to keep playing in bands until I die or my hands get crushed in a horrible industrial accident involving a drill rig or wheat thresher.

Well, I'm 59. I feel the same way.

However, I don't see myself as a 2 band kind of Guy.

Hopefully I will always be in one band with enough bookings to make it worth it from a fun and financial perspective.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

This would be a good thread for all the "old" 45-year-olds to read when they start complaining about "ageism." I'm 63, and I still play in two bands. I plan to keep playing in bands until I die or my hands get crushed in a horrible industrial accident involving a drill rig or wheat thresher.

I hear you, at 59 my issue with younger musicians isn't so much the ageism complaint. But for many a lack of knowledge regarding the pop music history.

In other words to know where were at now I contend you have to know at least a little history.

For example there us an overall lack of respect for the Beatles and their place in history.

Our band picked up and added. Them Changes to our set list. They thought it was an Eric Clapton song. They had no knowledge of
Band of Gypsies or Buddy Miles.

I get cranky about stuff like that.

But that's just me.

[winndaddy]

82? Dam!