Am I too old and fat?

[Steve Clark]

´Nuff said.

That's who I thought of when OP started the thread. I'm 42 now. Started playing again in 2003 after a long layoff. I'm not built like Nate but there are a few things slipping but I'm not tenting my shirt with my belly. I digress.

My town is 300,000 people and the amount of work and the quality of work available to me now is getting better and better all the time. I haven't done a 2:00 a.m. $75/$100 bar gig in months. Maybe even a year or so. I'm a Humber College grad from '89/90 so had a lot of knowledge to draw from but I do believe I'm a better player now than then. Certainly much more comfortable in my skin than I was had I continued playing music back in '91.

I got started playing again by going to blues jams and open mics. Most of the people I play with now can be traced back to those early jams. Lots of connections that way. Also have no fear of asking people if I can play with them rather than waiting for the other way around. Something as simple as, "If you ever need some low end let me know, here's my card" can plant seeds.

 

[BigTreble]

Big dudes hold down a big bottom end. Theres tonnes of hip big bassists. Google "Hoya + Madball" and you will see a big damn bassist. And image is nothing if you cant back it up. Id rather be fat and hold it down, than look sexy and sound like garbage.

 

[BuffaloBass]

WHATZUP there mudslide. You got your 18 yr old testosterone flooded head on now!

GET that AXE, and RIP AND TEAR!

Ya jsut gotta BELEIVE youngin', just BELEIVE! And it IS! WORD!
and even in the middle of nowhere.... ya gotta find cats to jam with, but then again, you got a MUSIC MOMMA.

You freakin' lucky DOG you!

 

[stflbn]

Odds are, if you're worried about it, then you likely would be well off making a life change that would help your self image. Often a drastic change is not needed to cause a noticable improvement in weight or energy.

Set goals small, achieve them, set new goals.

 

[waynobass]

If you're asking then it's probably true.

+1

Actually, it depends on your skill level. If you're good/excellent, no problem. If you're fair/poor, give it up.

 

[chroma601]

A few years ago I was in the same boat. I put an ad in The Mode, "Old Coot bass player looking to jam", and I had several replies. I'm 61, too fat but Working On It, and I get to play out a few times a month, which means the world to me. The sky's the limit at any age, get out there and make it happen bro!!

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Big dudes hold down a big bottom end. Theres tonnes of hip big bassists. Google "Hoya + Madball" and you will see a big damn bassist. And image is nothing if you cant back it up. Id rather be fat and hold it down, than look sexy and sound like garbage.

A guitarist I played with went to see Headhunters play live in London and he described how Paul Jackson's bass sound was as "big" as he(PJ) was - and he meant it as a compliment!!

 

[Rudyboy98]

I'm 19, and I've seen some bands of older people that have really impressed me. At an amusement park, there was this band playing, all guys who seemed in their forties, and a little overweight (I even spotted some Hawaiian shirts and man-shorts), but their bass player/singer was amazing. They did a cover of Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song, and the singing was spot on.

Age don't matter. I'd gladly jam with a 50-year old experienced guitarist.

Wise words from a young cat just starting out, right!?

Man...my favorite musicians/players are all a heck of a lot older than me. I would feel privileged to play with cats that have a passion for music that are older than I am. If anyone is willing to share their jam session with me, I'm game.

It is unfortunate that Hollywood is all about image and not so hot on real talent. When I see a group of 'wanabees' on T.V. it truly bothers me because I know how much it costs to be a 'real musician' and not a 'poser'.

Keep playin' man. Music is a gift.

Use it wisely.

 

[jenderfazz]

Hey, chances are somewhere in your neighborhood a father/guitarist (or drummer or vocalist) is thinking the exact same thing as you. Not much brings people together like music does - put out some ads on Craigslist or local newspapers/websites and get yourself out there. Chances are, you'll get calls from people who are just getting back into music and want to jam stuff out. If kids and young adults make up the majority of musicians, it's just because guys like you all over the world feel like they're too old to join em - but you really aren't.

And if you're confident, you can probably even play with some of these younger dudes. I played a gig with some friends of my drummer who play grungy pop metal (Nickelback meets Alice in Chains) - 2 of em are in their 50s, and their drummer is 17! Some kids are really in it for the music, and I'm sure that even if your chops are rusty, you can teach em a thing or two about music in general!

 

[Tom Howland]

I didn't even buy my first Bass until I was 50.

That's what I like to hear.