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Does anyone ever worry about getting too old....

#41
The answer to this question completely depends on the individuals goals.

Without being subjective or complete, some possible goals are:

1) Love playing and performing
2) Want to be a "(fill-in the genre) star"
3) Want to make money
4) Love particular genre(s)

So, for example, if you are primarily fixated on #1, there would be no age limits; and, I believe that ultimately this drives some of the greatest artists. I heard Ella Fitgerald tear it up at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor about a year before she passed at 79. Milt Hinton was performing into his 90's.

OTOH, if you are focused on #2, there may be some limitations as age advances, due to market factors.

Mainly, a player needs to understand their goals and then match them with their skills and presentation. Skills can be improved with age not being a significant factor. Presentation can have age aspects.
 
#43
Hell ... I'm 55, and going to retire from my 30 year day job in two months. Life has never been better. I spent 30 years raising my family, and doing what needed to be done, but I always continued to play and learn. I'm back into music now that my family is grown and gone off. My new band is taking off quite well and I'm looking forward to having the time to try new musical projects ... and maybe learn a new instrument or two. Been wanting to learn mandolin for a long time now.

A very wise man once wrote "to everything under heaven there is a season" ... it's a matter of knowing what season you're in, and making the most of it.
 
#44
I don't worry about getting old since I'm already old - 67! But age, or arthritis for that matter, is not stopping me from playing bass and writing songs. Looking forward to MANY more years of the same! I just wish my eyesight was good enough to drive at night so I could be in more than one band. That's my main frustration with getting old. thank goodness one of the guys in my band gives me a ride to practice, gigs etc.
 
#46
Another, Eubie Blake.

Too old to play music? Naw, I'm just getting started. I hear things I didn't hear as a teen in the same tunes. My chops are adequate 40+ years of doing something make that happen. Malcolm Gladwell states that you have to put in 10,000 hrs. to master something. Well while I was playing I raised three daughters who did excellently in University, stayed married for 35 years, started a business that's 32 years old and taught a lot of kids their ABCs and how to love themselves. I'm mostly happy, I mountain bike regularly and lift and workout. Chicks of all ages still hit on me with a ring on my finger.

Music isn't the music business. Music comes from; above, within and without and affects people past their preconceptions cultures, races, ideas etc. We don't own it.

When it comes time to leave this place. I can't wait. Why? Cause that afterlife is supposed to have that jam going. Which one? The one with Dizzy, and Jimi, and Duke, and Curt, and Buddy, and Sid, and Bob, and Duane, and the list goes on. With luck and the right attitude they may come and play through you now. If you open your mind and heart and let your hands free.
 
#47
48 here; always a late bloomer. I started on bass about a year and a half ago, after getting back into piano and guitar playing, composing and home recording in 2001.

I have never been in a band, but I could easily see myself jamming with some folks one of these days.

I don't have much money (actually I am stone broke at the moment) but I have remained a free-lancer in my line of work for 20 years now, so I have never been a cubicle slave (something I am always very grateful for.)

My music has been the one constant in the ups and downs; it has never failed me when I needed it.
I love my Precision, and I love practicing on it. Should have started years ago, but, as I said....late bloomer :D

PS: Among the oldies who keep rockin': Pinetop Perkins was on PBS the other day. He's around 94 now, and he can still hold a groove with the best of them.

CC.
 
#49
Let me tell ya about a bass hero of mine, I don't even know his name. He is an older gentleman from the north. He and his wife, snow birds, were down for the winter in Orlando. I was checking out BassCentral on a yard pass from my family/Disney. He and his wife walked in, he with a cane, and asked to see some nice fretless basses. I only talked to him briefly, but learned he was 76(two years ago) and still played with some of his friends in a big band/swing group. That's a dude I want to emulate. As said before, age is just a number. Your birthday is just another day. I'm over 40, 4 kids, full time job, gig 3-4 times a month. Live life....play hard!!
 

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