How old were you on your first gig?

[KrisH]

Age 16, 1972, junior high Christmas dance. We shared $75 among the 4 of us.

Unless you count the outdoor summer concert by the 6th grade band around 1968. Afterwards, one of the community group people came up to me and gave me a $100 check to give to the band instructor for the band fund. I guess I looked honest.

 

[sonic assassin]

i played a couple school variety shows, but those dont really count. im pretty sure i was 16.. because my parents drove me there, and i didnt get my license until i was 17

 

[Basshappi]

On Bass 13 (in 1977)

 

[jazzbo58]

I was 14. Sometime in December 1972. Played with a band of 18-20 yr.olds. Fun times!!!

Cheers,
Jim

 

[Vanceman]

44. Got a late start.

 

[M.Wrenn]

13 i think

 

[king_xanadu]

16
happen just last month
it was AWSOME!!!

 

[shamus63]

16 here, as well. I'd been playing bass for roughly 6 months.

Had a major addition of friends by the following Monday at my school.

 

[rcarraher]

First paying and serious-actually-had-a-play-list-and-the-band-had-practised-together gig, I was 18, 1973 Toms Nashville Country Club, Kaiserslautern Germany. I borrowed a 62' Percision and a Bassman. We did three nights of country, rock-a-billy. Bought the Hofner I still own two days later with the gig money (and a bit of Uncle Sams base pay).

 

[jonathan_matos5]

first performance in front of people 13
first paid gig 17
first on bass 23
still waiting to get paid to play bass

 

[pbass2]

I was a 7th grader playing for some 6th graders at a dance and I thought I had arrived!

 

[Larz48]

18 at a college kegger party. I don't really think it mattered much that we weren't that good.

 

[dantheman6690]

If sax counts then whatever age goes along with 4th grade. Otherwise 14.

 

[Eggman]

First paying gig was 1973, age 14. Played with that band all through high school and college. Split up in 1982. Jazz-rock fusion band. We were pretty good. We were the core of a high school aged big band and got to play at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1976.

 

[v-grooves]

Can remember it like it was freakin yesterday..........
I was 16 that summer......I was gigging at the Ocean Drive lounge in Sea Isle City, NJ a.k.a. Da Jersey Sho.

I had my **** together pretty well and I clicked with the other players in the band......the club owners were a lil un-easy about my sitituation, and they made damn sure I was never to have a drink......this is back in the 70s now, the legal age was 18 in NJ.

It was the time of my life to be honest......we had a groovin band, a great following and the respect of agents and club owners up and down the Jersey Shore.

My parents were extremently cool and supportive about all of my music career and I will never ever forget that. My mom just came out to a gig in St. Pete, FL last week and she said it was like old times. Ya know when players are asked who they admire the most......I gotta say, my folks were #1.

A note to the young players......play your hearts out and nothing more....there is nothing to prove to the seasoned players.

V

 

[Sifl]

25 for bass! 8 with a recorder!

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Pics, people, pics, this thread is worthless without pics .

That is ultimate '80s.....Nice. ALICE COOPER!!!

Thanks. I was a huge AC fan back then, especially for the early stuff. Well not the first two albums, but didn't even know they existed back then. Pretties For You and Easy Action require a bit different state of mind . Constrictor was the first "new" album I ever bought IIRC.

Regards
Sam

 

[HelloJerk]

15 or 16 maybe 14 -- damn, I can't remember. It was the summer between ninth and tenth grade.

 

[tom once dead]

first bass gig was 12. first paid bass gig was 13.

too early to remember how old I was for my first ever gig, Im going to guess about 7 or 8...

 

[BananaKing]

My first paid gig was 15, but my first live gig was 9. Both were on bass.