old guys playing originals?

[Rocker949]

This showed up in my Facebook stream today, thought it was kinda fitting:

This is very cool (and amusing.)

 

[adivin]

You make a good point, however I question from a marketing perspective if anybody wants to see a 60 year old ( unless your Mick Jagger ) playing the ruthless rebel on stage. I would think it would look and come off as rather silly.

Blue

I totally get the marketing thing Blue, but we're not motivated by that. We play what we like, as many have said, we are not driven by making it. I actually like a few covers mixed in with originals. As I age, so does my peer group of like minded people- that's the audience. A cover band certainly isn't going to make it or get a record deal either.

 

[EricF]

As for this topic, at the local level, unless you or your band has spent decades developing a strong local following for your originals, if your over 50 I would advise you to look seriously at other options.

Crap! Our drummer is turning 50 soon. I guess we're going to tell him he can't play with us any more since we've only been playing together a few years, and we don't get a huge turnout at every show. Damn. I'm going to miss playing with him. He's really good.

 

[hudpucker]

As for this topic, at the local level, unless you or your band has spent decades developing a strong local following for your originals, if your over 50 I would advise you to look seriously at other options.


Blue

I advise that people ignore this advice; the world does not need yet another middle-aged cover band.

 

[bluewine]

True, but it does make it easier to skip entire posts. If some blowhole wants to hijack a thread and make it all about them, there is really nothing you can do.

My comments and opinions were all based on the local Guy approaching 60 and how much effort you would put into persueing the originals band route.

Now there are exceptions and 60 year old guys doing well locally, but these are usually guys that are outstanding and have a strong local following that goes back at least 40 years.

So I still say older guys pushing 60 should consider other options.

Btw, thanks to all of you that have sent pm's with your support.

Blue

 

[bluewine]

A cover band certainly isn't going to make it or get a record deal either.

No, and most guys like me are not looking to make it or get a record deal, whatever that is. That would be silly.

As long as I have a gig on Friday & Saturday night and I'm not in the bedroom or basement I'm good.

By the way, I don't fault or expect younger TBers to understand my positions or opinions. We come from completely different musical worlds.

Blue

 

[bluewine]

I advise that people ignore this advice; the world does not need yet another middle-aged cover band.

Nice try, and good effort on your part, however;

Our band leader and front person and lead guitarist for my blues/ rock band is a 29 years old female.

Our bookings indicate there's a need for my band


I'm not sure what your opinion is based on or what you know about the Milwaukee market


Again I don't expect TBers from your generation to "get it".

I've been your age in this business you've never been my age, 59.

I have shows tonight and Saturday night, I hope your band has work this weekend too.

Good luck

Blue

 

[bluewine]

Crap! Our drummer is turning 50 soon. I guess we're going to tell him he can't play with us any more since we've only been playing together a few years, and we don't get a huge turnout at every show. Damn. I'm going to miss playing with him. He's really good.

No, he should continue to play with your band.

Only if the whole band was approaching 60 and you were deciding to go the originals route would I steer you in a different direction.

Your Drummer should be fine.

Blue

 

[bluewine]

I can understand Pop Music vs Marketing and demographics...

but really...someone wanna tell Agnostic Front or Devo or Bill Laswell to stop making tunes?

They're famous and by definition "made it" so, they don't count.

Were talking about local guys pushing 60.

Blue

 

[hudpucker]

Our band leader and front person and lead guitarist for my blues/ rock band is a 29 years old female.

Our bookings indicate there's a need for my band


I'm not sure what your opinion is based on or what you know about the Milwaukee market


Again I don't expect TBers from your generation to "get it".

I've been your age in this business you've never been my age, 59.

I have shows tonight and Saturday night, I hope your band has work this weekend too.

Good luck

Blue

I suspect I'm not nearly as young as you believe.




That's okay, you like the sound of your own voice and have said as much.

Whenever the 'age/experience' card gets played I remember that just because someone has been playing for 45 years doesn't necessarily mean squat. Plenty of crappy and naive players are your age, too.

"He's been playing for thirty years. Problem is...he hasn't improved at all in twenty-nine of 'em...."


BTW, I have a buddy who just moved to Milwaukee. He'll be looking for an originals band.

see ya onstage.

 

[EricF]

No, he should continue to play with your band.

Only if the whole band was approaching 60 and you were deciding to go the originals route would I steer you in a different direction.

Your Drummer should be fine.

Blue

Oops - I failed to use the sarcasm font in my post.

I did notice, however, that you changed the "line" from 50 to 60.

 

[meals]

If you do it for fun or a creative outlet, go for it. If you're doing it to "make it", the odds are even more against you than a younger band. Most older guys usually don't want to tour with a bunch of guys in a van, eating top ramen and making nothing. Younger guys don't mind as much. I'm almost 50 and love to record and play original music. But I have a day job, house, wif & kids. I do it for fun and have no dreams of ever getting more than a cold beer out of it.

+1,000 - That's EXACTLY it!!! (for me anyway; just turned 39)

 

[bluewine]

I suspect I'm not nearly as young as you believe.




That's okay, you like the sound of your own voice and have said as much.

Whenever the 'age/experience' card gets played I remember that just because someone has been playing for 45 years doesn't necessarily mean squat. Plenty of crappy and naive players are your age, too.

"He's been playing for thirty years. Problem is...he hasn't improved at all in twenty-nine of 'em...."


BTW, I have a buddy who just moved to Milwaukee. He'll be looking for an originals band.

see ya onstage.

Well, he will find that Milwaukee overall is terible for the originals bands market. But I wish him luck. Tell him he might want to check Milwaukee Rocks.com. They post a lot of opportunities for originals bands.

And I agree playing for 45 years means nothing really it's just a number.

I'm not a great bass player, however I know how to play bass guitar in a rock band. Nothing more nothing less.

And I would say my band is a c-level bar band, however the band has been in existance for 7 years and we have a very cool and and faithful following.

Again, I mean no harm and I don't expect your generation to "get it".

blue

 

[hudpucker]

Well, he will find that Milwaukee overall is terible for the originals bands market. But I wish him luck. Tell him he might want to check Milwaukee Rocks.com. They post a lot of opportunities for originals bands.

And I agree playing for 45 years means nothing really it's just a number.

I'm not a great bass player, however I know how to play bass guitar in a rock band. Nothing more nothing less.

And I would say my band is a c-level bar band, however the band has been in existance for 7 years and we have a very cool and and faithful following.

Again, I mean no harm and I don't expect your generation to "get it".

blue

He has said that he expects some difficulty in finding what he's looking for.

Then again, he's a middle-aged blues player and I guess that's not the best town for such a scene.....?

 

[bluewine]

He has said that he expects some difficulty in finding what he's looking for.

Then again, he's a middle-aged blues player and I guess that's not the best town for such a scene.....?

Blues will be a lot better than the originals scene. Again he can check milwaukee rocks.com for opportunities and listings for where all the blues bands are playing (networking)

blue

 

[hudpucker]

I will forward that URL to him.

Thanks.

 

[jive1]

Link Removed

 

[Spectrum]

Wow, funny how adding just one person to your ignore list really cleans up a thread!

 

[bluewine]

Link Removed

I agree, I was able to posibly help out someone new to the Milwaukee scene, looking for a band.

It's really what I like about TB.

And the great thing is, most guys can come on here and express an idea or a point within a few sentences. Most but not all.

blue

 

[pringlw]

This showed up in my Facebook stream today, thought it was kinda fitting:

Lol. I guess that's why "old guys" so often go for 5 strings. Because the B string helps with the new lows.










Preemptive: Yeah I know young guys use 5 strings too - knock if off 'fer crying out loud.