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

#41
Ozzy is 60, and Justin Beiber is 11 ( well I have no idea ). So age is not the issue.

My advice is to be flexible. As you age your goals and dreams will change. Enjoy the journey. I was in your spot at one point, about that age also.

If music is a career choice, treat it as such. Let me see your Resume, for example. Only a very lucky few can find success with their high school buds. Most had to relocate to music city's and schlep they're gear from gig to gig until the landed the one worth dropping your other 5 projects for.

Vocals are big, covers pay the rent, and originals are for fun. Most touring original musicians can fall into two categories ( just a generalization, not saying some people do it different )

A) They cam from money. Mom and Dad could float them until they " made it "

B) Musicians that come from such poor family's that it really doesn't matter if they are on the road or not, they are eating Top Raman.

First thing you need to realize is that your NOT going to make it, but you don't care because your going to try your best any way. And if you only achieve local or regional success enjoy it.
 
#42
There are many great and wise comments on this thread. I've enjoyed reading through all of them.
The concept of "I want to Make It in music" drives me crazy sometimes. Pardon me in advance for my rant.

As several have observed " Making It" can have many meanings. To me that means being able to support yourself
playing music. A professional musician plays what anyone willing to pay wants to hear. This can mean originals,
covers, whatever. Many musicians are making a comfortable living for themselves, very few ever become millionaires
just playing music. And just being a good player is not nearly enough to sustain yourself as a
musician.

To those who the words "Make It " means being a rich and famous rock star type, the following comments are for you.
No one is successful in music if their only motivation is "Making It". Develop ALL the skills required to be a master craftsman
in music. This includes reading, writing, scoring, the whole enchilada. Most Pro musicians I know can play several instruments
well. When you get to this point it's still not enough.

Learn to become a good businessman. This means being proficient in business 101, book keeping, marketing, customer
service, people skills etc. Learn to budget, manage your finances, develop your business.

If you play music, then play music and keep on playing as long as you can. If you play music because you're a
musician and and that's who you are, then age doesn't matter.

I learned a long time ago that it's almost impossible to be creative when you are hungry and don't have a roof over
your head. I also learned that family comes first, no matter what.

One last thing, none of this matters unless we keep our life and health together. :bassist:
 
#43
I am in my late 40's, and our band is opening up for Dick Dale next week. I could not even remember all the cats we have opened up for...the list IS that long and every one of them is either locally or nationally famous.

Age is no barrier. I am bald. I just wear a hat!
 
#46
Looking back as to what kept me from making it had more to the b.s. I'd tell myself when deep down , I knew I needed to be in bands where there were no week links. Now is the time for you to be real about your group since you've brought this up. Does your singer actually sing in key ? Do you guys come up with catchy stuff ? If you played a set of ten songs and nine of them were covers, would each of your originals trult stand up to the others ? Do you have good backup harmonies during the choruses(not necessary always but it is for 90% of groups). At 42, I'm finally being real with myself about that and I'm trying to put myself in better situations. Stay positive and if it happens , it happens. If not, you have a wife and maybe children. That, is a beautiful thing as well.
 
#49
Dude, just keep playing what you like and make sure you play as many shows as you can. Get a day job that you like and a band that you love. Trying to rely on music as a career turns you into one of those jaded dudes on here who insists that they won't even tune up unless they get paid to do it. I don't know about you, but that is not how I want to approach music.
 
#50
26 years old is way too young to worry about "making it," whatever that means. Hell, I've had broccoli stuck in my teeth longer than that.

Just be true to yourself, do what you love, take care of your family and love ones and it will all come about.
 
#51
These comments are totally refreshing folks, and stuff I need to hear; sometimes I feel like hugging my monitor.

I guess the biggest thing to define is what exactly is 'making it' and of course it varies from person to person.

For me, making it isn't being U2 or a giant band that everyone likes; it's not about the fame or the money for me, because I don't care about being famous, and the money isn't a drawcard. I agree with the comment if you really want to make money from music, you've got to take the shotgun approach. By that I mean, taking all the little income streams like teaching, gigging and writing and tying them together to make up an income.

What 'making it' for me means is probably like being well-regarded in your state as being a great act. I'm not wanting to have everyone like my music, because I long ago made friends with the fact that some people will hate your music and some will find it awesome. It's about playing music that you love, having great musicians to play with who are cool relaxed dudes and maybe doing a few little tours with them.
 
#52
I lived with a friend/professional drummer while I was in college that was called up to a top national act in his genre, replacing some very big shoes. He was quickly on the cover of mags, on world tour, recorded a few albums. It was well deserved, as he is one of the best drummers in his genre and he is a great person as well. He has since continued to play with other national acts and toured pretty constantly. A few years ago he came into town and I saw him play at the biggest venue in town. Afterwards, we partied on their tour bus until 3am. I then took a taxi home and I peeked in on our baby and climbed into my bed with my wife. My friend climbed into his his bunk on the bus. From that night on, I will always be grateful for not "making it".
One of my current "heroes" is my friend's dad that started a celtic band after he retired from the computer industry, (they tour-even some abroad trips). He has already raised a family, has the big house, the security, and only takes the best gigs. They made over $100K last year as a four piece, not a bad hobby at all.
 
#53
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:
Click to expand...

Yes, I turn 56 next week and I'm still enjoying it as much as ever. I joined a band that was rebuilding about 9 months ago. now all the rehearsals are done, gigs are booked (still got to do our first). I've done literally thousands of gigs in the 42 years I've been playing, but I'm still excited by this band.
 
#54
Im 56y and playing since 13y in many different bands. Thought I had it made in College with original band and did the College circuit. For me I came realize how much work it was to make a living and how draining as well. It got to where it was taking the joy out of one of the most enjoyable parts of my life. I decided full time band was not me. I play in a cover band with a bunch of old guys(50's) and we have a blast. We play covers about twice a month and I love and look forward to each gig !! To me that is what is all about.
 
#55
Lots of great advice in this thread.

My additional comments...

I was about your age when I played a crap suburban pub and the drummer in our support band had just come out of one of the biggest bands in the country (he was a Kiwi too, by coincidence). So here I was headlining over a guy who the week before had been what I aspired to be. It made me reassess "making it". Pgolliher's friend on the tour bus also resonates with me. I have friends like that too.

I more or less retired from music while my kids grew up. I am now reestablishing myself and having a great time doing it. But one of my first strategic decisions is not to depend on the money...in fact not to even think about it until I am clear in my head about the artistic value of each project. Friends who stayed in the industry mostly ended up doing stuff you would never have dreamed of in order to make cash. Why does a drummer whose main passions are Led Zeppelin and Rush gig in an ABBA tribute band for goodness sake?

The timing of your question resonates with me because I just this week received a copy of the first released album I have played on since 1987. Nothing big, but exactly the same buzz I had the first time I heard myself on the radio in 1982 :-) I am a 50 y.o. grandfather.

It's a great time to be in music. GarageBand puts a studio good enough to make records in within your reach easily, and upgrading to Logic is not that much more.

Yes, come to Oz, as a step to the UK or US. Not sure why you are picking Adelaide. I would probably target Melbourne for music. (I am in Sydney so no bias either way).

The one heavy piece....do the right thing by any kids you have. Don't even think about compromising on that one. Doesn't mean you can't do music, you just need to be clear on your priorities. I don't know anyone who let their kids down and doesn't bitterly regret it.
 
#56
fingerbun said:
Yes, come to Oz, as a step to the UK or US. Not sure why you are picking Adelaide. I would probably target Melbourne for music. (I am in Sydney so no bias either way).
Click to expand...
I'm picking Adelaide because my wife has HEAPS of family there which would make it easy to get established in OZ before moving elsewhere, so more personal than musical reasons. If I was single I'd go straight to Melbourne but I don't mind being a flight or mind-numbing drive away.

fingerbun said:
The one heavy piece....do the right thing by any kids you have. Don't even think about compromising on that one. Doesn't mean you can't do music, you just need to be clear on your priorities. I don't know anyone who let their kids down and doesn't bitterly regret it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, not even an option, family comes first for me.
 
#57
JSK5String said:
I guess it depends on your goals. I'm turning 50 in two weeks. My band did the originals thing for about ten years. We opened up for a couple of bigger names either on their way up or their way down. When we realized our originals were incredibly mediocre, at best, we went the cover route. We're headlining at the best cover bar in town for my b-day party and my band will be celebrating our 30th anniversary back there in October.

So, I'm still playing music with my best friends and I have an awesome family I wouldn't trade to be in the Stones. So, in my mind, I made it just fine. YOMV...

Follow your dream and good luck, but remember, as long as you can still play, keep playing...
Click to expand...
Much of this & a few other things; just stay musically curious by writing and working to play better and also work to understand the business end of entertainment as well...which is just as, if not more important. Most of all, enjoy the creative process and playing, and the business end.

If you run out of options in your own burg there, you may have to move to get to the next level...as defined by your goals.
 
#58
Just to pipe in, I started playing in my late 20's, and didn't start playing out until my early 30's. I played in a few bands of different genres in my rather short 12 year career, and I knew I had "made it" when I was asked for personally by my last working band. It was a slow slog up the hill, but I enjoyed most of the ride. I was forced to give up gigging in '97 to find work, and didn't have the time to dedicate to a band. I still tried to keep my chops up for a while, but never played out. After a while I just set my rig aside until forced to sell it.:bawl: Now I've been bitten again by the Bass Bug, and I'm looking around for a cheap rig to ease the itch. Not looking to "make it" anymore, been and done, just for fun, and maybe teach my girls to play and appreciate the music.
I'm also in the gezzers club @ 55. :smug:
 
#59
TheVoiceless said:
Ozzy is 60, and Justin Beiber is 11 ( well I have no idea ). So age is not the issue.
Click to expand...

Of course age is an issue. Ozzy wasn't 60 in 1970.

In rock music, 30 is "too old" in almost all cases. Yes, there have been exceptions, but not very many. Think about the 27 Club.

Your odds are better in other styles of music, but not by much. One thing is certain, though: if you're not already playing professionally in your 20s your chances go down big time.

It's not all that different in other occupations. While there are always some people who switch careers later in life, most people are on the path they will follow by the time they are 25.
 
#60
There comes a time in many of our lives where, spending three twenty dollar bills ( on gasoline, gear aquisation, vechile wear and tear, band marketing) to get a hundred dollars bill from a bar owner becomes counter productive in so far as clothing, sheltering, feeding and insuring our childern. The reality is the responsibilty inherent with getting older often supercede musical aspirations, so although it is not an age thing per se, the circle of life does loom large.
 

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