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Is there a point where you're too old to 'make it'?

#22
So, if you landed the Rod Stewart bass chair, essentially a cover gig, that woul suck.

Certainly the rock star legend days are looooooong gone.

kings of Leon, just imploded, and a family band to boot.

Find out how Sheehan survived for years, or Dave LaRue, or Bromberg.

Ability helps, but the careers of top players don't reflect one style of music.

Just do it.
 
#23
I thought about pursuing music out of HS in the hopes of "making it", but instead chose the conservative route. Once in a while I go through those feelings of "what if...", but I really enjoy my life of covering other peoples' tunes and living in anonymity. I guess it all comes down to being able to rest easy with the decisions you make in life.
 
#24
I think that when you decide "Making it" isn't whats important, then you'll actually start to achieve some success. When I was in my early 20's I played in a band that was very successful locally. All I could think about was having to be signed, tour and be a rockstar. Needless to say it didn't happen. Now that I'm older (32) I enjoy playing so much more. I've found a group of awesome guys, who are also amazing players and we started a coverband. We all just play because we enjoy it. There's no drama, there aren't the pain in the ass people who are only concerned with being a star. With this laid back, productive approach it's made me WANT to write my originals and record them again. I've collaborated with a few of the guys in this coverband and we've wrote some pretty kickass originals.

Do I still have that burning "make it" desire? No, but I'd lying if I still didn't have that confidence and hopefulness of "If this actually got out there and people heard it, I know it would do well".

What I'm trying to say is I think it's all in your approach and how you actually go about playing.
 
#25
tonymcbony said:
Every now and then I watch a music documentary, go to a great live show, or hear some great music and I just get this really frustrated longing deep inside. I keep feeling like I should be doing awesome, playing something great and playing to people. I get almost beside myself because I'm not doing that stuff at the moment and the recent stuff I've tried to get going keeps falling over.

As musicians and bass players in particular, you know that this longing to play doesn't come from wanting everyone to like you, or wanting everyone to even like the songs you wrote. It's like there's this inbuilt drive to play your songs in front of people.

I guess I'm looking at the future and thinking, man, I don't want to be playing covers, or just playing at church or playing something boring and quiet, nor do I want to be the washed up old guy who's still trying to live the rocking dream. But I'm worried because I'm 26, and I'm married, and kids might be on the way and I haven't made it yet. Time is starting to become tighter so I'm a bit wary of not having enough to set aside to heaps of projects.

Each band I get into is far better than the previous one and more enjoyable but they constantly fall apart by people moving away. It's a bit harder where my wife and I are living because it's a really small town that has just had its central city demolished in an earthquake. I know heaps of the musicians around here, but we're thinking of moving to a different country where I won't have those musical contacts.

I guess in my head I have this imaginary age of when you have to grow up and do boring jobs that you hate for the rest of your life unless you have it nailed, which is 30. I just know there is no way I can just drop music; it's in my blood and my soul and I unless I'm playing in band I feel like there's something missing.

I'm pretty sure I'm not unique in this feeling of frustration; how do you guys deal with all of that?
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<<
But I'm worried because I'm 26, and I'm married, and kids might be on the way and I haven't made it yet.
>>

I guess it depends what you define "making it" as. If it's playing sports arenas and making gobs of money, don't hold your breath ... your odds are probably similar to playing PowerBall ... even if you're a super talented and dedicated player. A more realistic definition of "making it" is just being able to make a living wage playing music without any other job and not being subsidized by your parents, girlfriend or wife. I'm 56 and average 6 - 8 gigs a month playing as a "weekend warrior" in multiple blues bands (along with a freelance gig every now and then) and given that I'm not all that great a player and that the live music scene is so lean these days, I'm doing a helluva lot better than I have any right to expect. Your best bet is to adjust your expectations and learn to play for the sheer joy of playing and consider anything beyond that gravy.
 
#28
The only thing that matters is that your enjoying what you do,you can't worry about the age thing,plus your still very young. I'm 53 and have played with stars down to traveling 300 miles to play for 7 people.It's not over until you don't enjoy it anymore and not because society says your not famous by the time your 27. If playing music makes you happy,keep plaing.
 
#29
surfinmars said:
I turned 56 last week, and I'm still trying! The important thing is to enjoy playing, even if it's a cover band. Forget you young guys...56 is the new 26! Any other old farts with me?:hyper:
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+ 1

I am 53 and am lucky to still get calls to play.
I play out about 50 x per year on average..
Hopefully I will still be out there when I am 70..like my father did. I still love to play out and mess around with all the great gear available to us these days....

As far as "making it" ..I guess that means to work soley as a musician and have the financial ability buy a house, car, medical insurance, children etc...
I would love to be able to do this but I dont think it's in the cards for me...so I work a full time job and play music as often as I can...and I am OK with this..I have met some great musicians at my day jobs.
 
#30
jimmydean said:
The only thing that matters is that your enjoying what you do,you can't worry about the age thing,plus your still very young. I'm 53 and have played with stars down to traveling 300 miles to play for 7 people.It's not over until you don't enjoy it anymore and not because society says your not famous by the time your 27. If playing music makes you happy,keep plaing.
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+ 1
 
#31
pbassnut said:
<<
But I'm worried because I'm 26, and I'm married, and kids might be on the way and I haven't made it yet.
>>
Click to expand...

I'm 36, married, 3 kids, still going to college and hold a 40+ per week day job and still play in a band. I still have the hope that someone will see me and say "I like the thay guy plays, I'm gonna offer him a gig" and I'm whisked away on tour. All of my kids, especially my son love music and guitars. If I never make it, thats fine because if my kids have the passion, I will help them in everyway possible to get where I did not...Then I will have truly made it, because I helped them reach a dream that I could not make come true for me. It's all about perspective!
 
#32
OP:
Sounds like early-onset musicians' mid-life crisis. I should know, you sound like me when I was 26. I'm 38 now, and you will be too before you know it. Here's what I have learned:
You can waste a lot of time regretting what you haven't done, instead of doing what you need to do. I firmly believe, whether it's raising the kids, the 9-5 job or playing the bass, do it with conviction and you'll get where you need to go.

Life is too short to worry about how much time is left.
 
#34
wow...

where to start?

----

I'm blessed to have lived out my definition of "made it"

In all reality, to "make it" it's the energy, spark, marketing and relentless promtion that mkaes it happen -- not age.

-----

In all sincerity .. you have a wife and possible baby

Theese may pull you more than age.

-----

OPINION...
20s age bracket is wasted on folks shunning cover bands...

I'd be clammoring to find the best paying best managed bookan I could find. Then watching and noting how to sell and manage the band. This is where the true money and opportunity past 30 lies

----

I had a blast while "making it... in reality I had no friends, wife, girlfriend or full time job....

what are you willing to quit to "make it"
 
#35
"Making it" may not be all it's cracked up to be. I have a good friend and former band mate who I would consider to have "made it" in the industry. He plays guitar for well known national acts, tours all over, and does not need to have a secondary job to support himself. He is also lonely, has very little opportunity to develop relationships, and lives year to year based on the needs of his present employer. He also makes a relatively small amount of money (under 50K per year) although this is pretty decent considering his room and board on the road are taken care of. His wife ended up cheating on him while he was on tour and took him for just about everything he had. I was able to hang out with him on a tour stop recently and, not surprisingly, he didn't seem particularly happy.

"Making it" in an originals band with a close knit group of friends would be a great experience and would alleviate a lot of the issues my buddy is going through or at least make it a more supportive and fun experience. I tend to think this is still a game best played and enjoyed in one's late teens to late 20's. At the OP's age I say give it a little more time and make an effort at it but be honest with yourself, your abilities, and the quality of the music you play. How many bands "break" these days, or ever, with members into their 30's or later? Not many. Don't hold onto a dream that isn't going anywhere only to find out you have no money and no back up plan in your late 20's or later.
 
#36
orangeball said:
Music can be a passionate hobby or an artistic burden. Choose wisely.
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This is the quote of the year! And a big ole "Amen" to it also!
I'll be 50 this Nov. and I have a wife, 2 kids and a third on the way. I have really cool gear (that I can actually carry, AND fit in my car!) and I get to practice with my Blues band once a week and play live about every other weekend. I'm playing this weekend at a beautiful outdoor setting near Ventura Ca. For about 500 peoply. I feel like I've made it! Life is pretty Damb good! Definatly a passionate hobby for me.

J!
 
#37
I was told long ago if your really serious about music move to London, NYC or LA. So I moved to London UK and was totally blown away by the number of bands, venues and the shear size of the music industry in that city alone. I soon realized that to make it in music you have to be very very lucky and even then it would only last for a few years. U2, The Stones etc are one in 10 million. Rock n Roll is a vicious game.
 
#38
I think I "made it" But my definition is different.

I finally found "the One" and am happily married.
I have a beautiful daughter that shares my love of music and plays better then I would ever dream of.
I have a house, a great job, and loving family and friends.
I started playing the bass 8 months ago at the ripe young age of 42.
I get to pour my soul out on four strings and some wood.

I feel like I have "made it" because I am fulfilled. I get to have a little bit of everything.

If you can get on any stage, big or small, and get peoples butts movin' cause your grovin'.... you have made it my friend.
 
#39
If by "make it" you mean to become a big-time celebrity household-name rock star, then yes. The odds of scoring a big breakout original hit go down every year. Most people who are not musicians only listen to new music in their teens and early twenties (when all music is new to them anyway), and want to "watch" (more than hear) bands composed of people like themselves. They then remain loyal to those acts for most of the rest of their lives and few continue to seek out new music. My mom still loves Elvis and the Kingston Trio because that's what was big between 1955 and 1965.

But if by "make it" you mean having opportunities to play and work at music - the local circuit, cover bands, session work, teaching music, all that stuff -- then you have your whole life ahead of you. You don't need stardom to have a great musical career - arguably, you'll do better music without the stardom, really.
 
#40
If you've been watching late light TV shows for a while, the guest bands sure haven't been many 'kids'. Sure seems like it's been much older groups. So it looks as if something can always happen if you want to take a shot at it.

But I never considered "making it" = rockstar. I've met lots of folks who have made a living on doing music enough to pay the bills even on a local level.
 

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