How Old Are We

[thirtyhz]

Im curious, in the area I play I notice a lot of players are on the older side. The stage I was on last night, sitting in, everyone was in their 50’s and 60’s - except me of couse . Another observation is that many older players do it for the joy of it, not caring so much about money. I figure I got 20 more years of playing and learning so why not. Better then sitting my A$$ in front of the tube or becoming a stereotype. Im curious about others observations and attitudes as they get older.

 

[Nashrakh]

I've noticed the same, and I guess the board age average reflects that.

At 32 I am certainly no spring chicken, but all the bass players I know personally are older than me. 50 to 60 sounds about right. Other instrument groups are, for some reason, younger, usually. I know a lot of young guitarists, singers and drummers.

 

[bholder]

Im curious, in the area I play I notice a lot of players are on the older side. The stage I was on last night, sitting in, everyone was in their 50’s and 60’s - except me of couse . Another observation is that many older players do it for the joy of it, not caring so much about money. I figure I got 20 more years of playing and learning so why not. Better then sitting my A$$ in front of the tube or becoming a stereotype. Im curious about others observations and attitudes as they get older.

Pushing 60 (3 months), I pretty much fit your description. If that makes me a stereotype, so be it.

 

[5StringBlues]

32? I was still bulletproof!

 

[fretlessbass]

64...full-time bass player...livin' the dream...for real!

 

[LBS-bass]

There was a poll here a while back and we do tend to skew older. I think many of us who are in my age range (I'm almost 60) will remember a time when it was easier to do music as a career. That experience and memory will color the view of anyone who experienced those days and can compare what we had then to what we have now in terms of opportunities.

 

[Nick Danger]

I'm 65, retired and playing in a great classic rock band. The other band members are in their 50's. I also occasionally play in a band with a 19 year old drummer. I play for the joy of it but don't mind getting paid to do what I love.

 

[thirtyhz]

Pushing 60 (3 months), I pretty much fit your description. If that makes me a stereotype, so be it.

Thanks bholder, just for clarification I was implying the stereotype of not being engaged in life and getting out there and playing. I applaud older players, its an inspiration really and definitely not stereotypical.

 

[bholder]

There was a poll here a while back and we do tend to skew older. I think many of us who are in my age range (I'm almost 60) will remember a time when it was easier to do music as a career. That experience and memory will color the view of anyone who experienced those days and can compare what we had then to what we have now in terms of opportunities.

And I thought that "what we had then" was still a pretty tough business that I wasn't even going to attempt at my meager talent level. As Hunter S. Thompson said, "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."

 

[LBS-bass]

And I thought that "what we had then" was still a pretty tough business that I wasn't even going to attempt at my meager talent level. As Hunter S. Thompson said, "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."

Exactly. It was never an easy life, even with more opportunities. Best suited to those in their 20's and 30's, I think. I certainly wouldn't want to travel the way I did back then, at this point in life. But I sure did have a ton of fun.

 

[Kro]

35.

On some bills I feel old, on others, not so much. My silver streaks give me away. But they've been around for some time, earning me the nickname Silver Fox in bands of yore.

I can't not play, so I see myself performing in some capacity until I die.

The good news is that evolution is what keeps things fresh, and as I age my tastes seem to change along with my audience's.

 

[TL23NC]

I'm 62 and have been playing bass for over 50 years. I should be a LOT better at it by now, which is why I chose another way to make a living after I graduated college. No regrets about the career I chose (software sales) and I still get to play bass, also doing the occasional R&B gig. I'm not doing it for the money, that's for sure. Most of the people I play with are in their 50's and 60's but it's great when we get some of the youngsters involved. I plan to play a lot more during retirement.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Im curious, in the area I play I notice a lot of players are on the older side. The stage I was on last night, sitting in, everyone was in their 50’s and 60’s - except me of couse . Another observation is that many older players do it for the joy of it, not caring so much about money. I figure I got 20 more years of playing and learning so why not. Better then sitting my A$$ in front of the tube or becoming a stereotype. Im curious about others observations and attitudes as they get older.

I’m 37 still playing with a band and gigging mostly in central and eastern NC. The music scene has aged in my area also. Most young bands can’t seem to keep it together for more than a year. Some of the better younger musicians just pack up and move to better paying markets. But yeah it’s really rough around here for young bands. I remember playing shows when I was 21 to 500 people packing out a small club with a fire capacity of 300, these days it’s like kids have no friends. The young bands pretty much just play to other bands and their girlfriends.

 

[KohanMike]

I'm 69, started playing guitar at 15 in 1965. Did that for almost 50 years, then shortly after I retired at 62 about 6 years ago, mostly for health reasons (radiation treatments for cancer in 1973 damaged my heart, spinal cord, thyroid and is catching up to me the last few years), I joined a seniors ukulele group, and a year later started playing bass uke. About 35 of us meet twice a week to rehearse and we gig a couple times a month for various organizations. I'm more than happy just to get a meal as payment. It's been more fun and gratifying than any playing I did before.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I'm staring down the barrel of 50... been at it for 30 years now, but playing bass (and dreamin' of Jeannie!) keeps me young.

 

[Ewo]

I'm an o-l-d cat, well into year 68. I retired two years ago from my day gig as a university prof; my "retirement plan" was to get out and do more gigging. (Had been a weekend warrior for the five years prior to retiring.)

Lucked out when I got a call from an excellent originals act (had met the guitarist/MD at a jam night), and now I'm as busy as I want to be--and very much enjoying a good gig with good material and good players. And occasional session calls from a local indy label.

I'm gonna keep doing it as long as I'm physically able. Yeah, got some arthritis happening...

Here's a taste of the band. I'm really digging it. Been playing for money since I was 16, and this (as a working band) is the best original project I've been involved in.

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

After the Fender woodwind thread, I'd say we are all 13 or 60, no in-between.

 

[red_rhino]

63 (for two more months )

I play for the joy of it but don't mind getting paid to do what I love.

This. Absolutely this. What's even more important is that any project to which I'm going to commit myself had better be worthy of my time and energy. I won't step out onto a stage with people who don't act professionally or do the work necessary to put on a good show.

I don't worry about my age or the age of the people I play with. I concern myself more with their maturity (which really has nothing to do with age).

I'm thinking of making a bumper sticker that says "Call me a Senior Citizen, and I'll shove my silver sneaker up your a$$".

 

[Ostie]

Couple observations: My generation (baby boomers) were heavily influenced by the Beatles and the British Invasion. It made every kid want to get a guitar and join a band. Unless you experienced it, you can only imagine how deeply it affected us. I’m not saying that artists like Madonna and Curt Cobain didn’t have the same effect on younger kids, just not to the extent that the Beatles did. So where are all those baby boomers now? Reliving our youth by Playing in bands.

Also, when you get to be in your fifties and sixties, you are usually more financially stable than twenties/thirties, and hopefully the kids are out of the house and you may be retired and have more discretionary income and free time, so why not join a band?

 

[Siggy]

Started at 14, I'll be 71 in June