Age matters if you're a cheese

[grimjim]

My death metal band ranges from 30 to 57. Guess who's 57.
No one really cares. The only issue, and it's really not, is I don't go out partying with them as often as they do.

 

[JRA]

until he recently relocated to another state, i am/was 40 years older than the youngest player in my jazz band. the genre itself allows for broader age disparities (per @Dr. Cheese's take). it seems that many rock bands want a certain 'look', and pop-ish bands might depend on the same.

just yesterday i was encouraged to pursue the bass position for an up-and-coming touring artist ("americana") with good gigs scheduled coast-to-coast but mostly in the midwest. he needs people who can travel and who aren't tied down to a locale (hey, that's me! ). i listened to the cat's stuff, it was pro, well done, and he's bound to make a splash. but after thinking about it i decided not to make contact: all of his videos featured younger players and i thought i'd be climbing uphill based on my age. also, i'd see the touring as fun/sport/lark (for an experienced old-timer) while he's looking to do some serious climbing of his own. my own ageism?

7-8 years ago i auditioned for a rock band that didn't really need a player with my experience --- i was between opportunities --- they let me audition (because they had a bunch of "important gigs"), told me that i was "over qualified," but sent me packing based on my 'look' --- "i'm sure you can see that you're not a good fit for what we're trying to do," said the singer.

TL;DR, per the OP = you'd have to be a connoisseur to understand that a better chedder is bolder older.

 

[Dincrest]

I see nothing wrong with that ask. Yeah, it's easy enough to shout "ageism" but let's look at the practicality...

Sure a band of 20-somethings could get a really killer player in their 40s who totally fits their vibe and everything, but while the 20-somethings are free enough to quit their day jobs (or survive on intermittent "gig" income like doing GrubHub or substitute teaching), put in the time to tour, and do all the other stuff to try and make it big/ do music full time, the 40-something person likely has a mortgage, family/kids to support, and a well-paying day job that they can't quit at the drop of a hat to go tour or take that risky gamble of showbiz.

I've played in bands where I was the oldest (drummer was 18, guitarist was 22, frontman was 26, and I was 32). Against all odds, we made it work for two great years. The music and the hang suited all of us. However, we disbanded when our frontman went off to grad school.

Currently, I play in a project where I'm in my 40s, our frontman is in his 50s, and our drummer is pushing 30. It works for us because we all want the same thing- we are all adults with adult responsibilities who simply don't want to drag our carcasses home at 3AM with backaches every weekend, but still want to play and create music.

 

[bassliner50]

I like a nice smoked gouda.

 

[Bajo Clarkko]

The age thing can swing the other way, too.

When Robert Plant was putting together the band for his “Now and Zen” tour, he specifically wanted guys much younger then himself. Why? Because instead of being around a bunch of guys his own age, who perhaps didn’t find touring exciting, he wanted to relive the excitement he enjoyed during the early days of Led Zeppelin.

Makes sense to me.

 

[two fingers]

I don't look like it, but I'm 50. I have long hair and everything.

I would have nothing in common with 20 year Olds. Nothing. Being in a band with them would be no fun for either of us.

In fact, I wouldn't want to be in a band with ME at 20 years old.

Seriously, it usually just doesn't work out.

 

[kmon]

I don't look like it, but I'm 50. I have long hair and everything.

I would have nothing in common with 20 year Olds. Nothing. Being in a band with them would be no fun for either of us.

In fact, I wouldn't want to be in a band with ME at 20 years old.

Seriously, it usually just doesn't work out.

right…except for the long hair I was about to type that…

Remotely similar life stages makes for a better hang. 20 year old me would not be friends with 52 year old me…I’d probably end up kicking his ass.

 

[theduke1]

When it really about the music, that’s when age doesn’t matter!
Duke

 

[g-dude]

I think age matters in some situations and not others. Over the years, many great and leaders like Miles Davis and Chic Corea loved to hire the hot young players. Gospel constantly is bringing in young players. I think that garage bands are often bands of peers who are the same age and have the same interests in music. Finally, among pros, it seems some great sidemen get jobs despite advancing age.

The doctor has spoken!

 

[jamro217]

It depends on the people involved. Many young people are very mature and many older folks are immature. They blend well. If the music is all that matters, age is inconsequential. Having similar interest transcends age. Some elder players tend to mentor younger ones. Younger players striving to learn from them tend to get along well. Having a generational bridge helps to open you up to new styles. Staying locked in with your own age group means being limited in the first hand knowledge of those outside of it. An eighteen year old wanting to play '70's guitar rock would welcome having an elder bandmate who's been playing that style for decades rather than another eighteen year old learning from recordings.

I prefer Swiss and extra sharp cheddar.

 

[themickster]

It depends on the people involved. Many young people are very mature and many older folks are immature. They blend well. If the music is all that matters, age is inconsequential. Having similar interest transcends age. Some elder players tend to mentor younger ones. Younger players striving to learn from them tend to get along well. Having a generational bridge helps to open you up to new styles. Staying locked in with your own age group means being limited in the first hand knowledge of those outside of it. An eighteen year old wanting to play '70's guitar rock would welcome having an elder bandmate who's been playing that style for decades rather than another eighteen year old learning from recordings.

I prefer Swiss and extra sharp cheddar.

I hear you on mature youth and immature oldie. That's not us, though. We both played punky as singer songwriters before we met. It's that we truly don't care about how old we are. We got on as friends first.

 

[jamro217]

I hear you on mature youth and immature oldie. That's not us, though. We both played punky as singer songwriters before we met. It's that we truly don't care about how old we are. We got on as friends first.

That would fall under the umbrella of the first sentence. "It depends on the people involved." That really is the key. You're still the same person you were at younger ages, only with more knowledge and experience. If you were a good person then, you still are. Good people get along regardless of age. Jerks age, too. They aren't any more fun to be around when they're old.

 

[Mediocrity Man]

If a band has pipe dreams of making it big or keeping a certain image it matters. I know a few old guys who make the youngsters look amateur. After a nap of course

 

[Spidey2112]

Neither of us cares about the gap.

I probably cared more about it when I was 21, than 58.

 

[chazolson]

It never ceases to amuse me when I see a “bassist wanted for classic rock cover band” ad with the sentence “must be in 20s”. Hell, son, those songs were written and performed way before you were born.

 

[themickster]

That would fall under the umbrella of the first sentence. "It depends on the people involved." That really is the key. You're still the same person you were at younger ages, only with more knowledge and experience. If you were a good person then, you still are. Good people get along regardless of age. Jerks age, too. They aren't any more fun to be around when they're old.

I'll go with that. Some prats learn not to be as they get older.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I probably cared more about it when I was 21, than 58.

In our 50s, there are fewer gigs, and fewer players who are older. At 21, anyone over 25 is a geezer.

 

[Rob1957]

When I was a younger man (64 now) I constantly played with much older jazz musicians so I could learn all I could from them. But it wasn’t about fitting a ‘look’.
I can see younger musicians, especially those who have dreams of making it ‘big’ for wanting someone who fits into their ‘look.

 

[themickster]

It never ceases to amuse me when I see a “bassist wanted for classic rock cover band” ad with the sentence “must be in 20s”. Hell, son, those songs were written and performed way before you were born.

True story: I interviewed for a job. I told them that I'd been a single father for 9 years and they asked how old my children were. They were funnily embarrassed when I said 'He's 30'. I got the job.

 

[And I]

I played my first gig with a new band last night (on guitar, don't hate me). The singer is 24, bassist is 35, other guitarist, drummer, and I are late 40s. We melted faces of all ages. I get that image is a thing to some people (and is definitely a thing to large portions of "the industry") but it can also be not a thing...