For reference, my dad is 91. While he doesn't play out any more, he's still very active. A yearish ago, the doctor put him on oxygen-- when he's cutting down trees or mowing the lawn.
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Poll: Gigging and over 50 - When to quit?
- Thread starter stringthrough
- Start date
For reference, my dad is 91. While he doesn't play out any more, he's still very active. A yearish ago, the doctor put him on oxygen-- when he's cutting down trees or mowing the lawn.
68, still practicing, still playing string and electric bass. I play Jazz and R&B gigs, hang at sessions, and play in community orchestras to keep the classical chops in order. I'll stop when they carry me out in a box. Like Pablo Casals said when he was asked why he still practiced three hours a day at age 93, I'm beginning to notice some improvement.
MMMiguelito
"...I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave".
Why quit?
Two reasons why you should quit:
1) You are physically unable to gig anymore.
2) You no longer enjoy gigging.
Les Paul continued to gig until he died - at the age of 94.
Two reasons why you should quit:
1) You are physically unable to gig anymore.
2) You no longer enjoy gigging.
Les Paul continued to gig until he died - at the age of 94.
I didn’t notice the stones stopping any time soon, Mick just had a heart operation and a few months later was back on stage.
Mr Iggy Pop gets better with age like fine wine
Mr Iggy Pop gets better with age like fine wine
My IEM's do a really good job of blocking out external noise (otherwise known as drums and other instruments
) It's easy to set my own mix and the other band members levels in my ear to a reasonable volume. It's really the only way I can continue to play, otherwise it's just too loud with a full band.
I'll be 70 in 3 months. Still playing almost every weekend thru Dec. I feel as an older player, you almost have an obligation to share your music. Because you can bring folks so much joy, make them smile and dance and maybe forget.
I tell folks - my hands can still play, but I stand on old feet. Advil helps and jogging every day helps more. Playing 3 night in a row takes a lot more energy than before and my hands hurt after. Retiring from my day job next year, but . . .
The phone still rings. Somebody wants to pay me to have fun. I can't believe how lucky I am.
I'll keep playing until I can't.
I tell folks - my hands can still play, but I stand on old feet. Advil helps and jogging every day helps more. Playing 3 night in a row takes a lot more energy than before and my hands hurt after. Retiring from my day job next year, but . . .
The phone still rings. Somebody wants to pay me to have fun. I can't believe how lucky I am.
I'll keep playing until I can't.
When explaining to the Man why all the questionable things you have done really weren't that bad.
There IS NO established age to 'quit playing.' With the advent of superlight/powerful gear and larger paying audiences of boomer bar clients, I see no reason anyone should have to quit even into their 70's. How old is Willie Nelson? Tony Bennett? BB King played up until he died. Clapton's touring into his 70's.
Rock on brothers!
View attachment 3513688 I’m 65 (at least for a few more monthes). I play out quite a bit less than i’d like, but enjoy doing so when the gigs come. (I live in a small,remote town,and have zero interest in travelling for gigs).
I’m still working a fulltime day job, so playing music has always been an enjoyable hobby for me.
I want to play as long as i find it fun for myself,my bandmates,and the audience. I have done a few things that help make it less like work for me, including using smaller amps/cabs for years, and now, going ampless, just using a sansamp into the PA. I’ve got several basses that are 8lbs or less. Also trying to watch after my general health and welfare. One direction i could see myself going in would be to get out of rock bands and go acoustic, but i really like playing with an electric band.
It’s just i have to wear hearing protection all the time now. Ah well....
Nice VC.
My original plan was to retire from gigging at 50 but I wasn't entirely set on that. Seemed like a nice, round number at which to pack it in and focus on other geezerly things like golf and napping! The boys in the band would have none of that and encouraged me to keep going.
I ended up unexpectedly hitting the wall in December of my 50th year. At that point, I had some lingering physical issues (recurring achilles injuries, vocal and hearing "strain"). I gave the guys in my band three months notice. Then came down with really bad case of pneumonia and that stopped me dead in my tracks about a month later. I pulled the plug and the guys found a replacement for me right away, thankfully. 18 months on, the achilles has recovered, my vocal strain is not as bad but I still have hearing and tinnitus issues. I don't miss gigging, the late nights, the logistics and the hassle of dealing with venue managers for what amounted to minimum wage 20-30 times a year. I believe the pneumonia was largely due to my immune system being compromised by these lingering physical injuries, late nights, too much booze and no shortage of stress/irritation.
Today, I'm still involved in making music - a lot and with a couple of different outfits- but not gigging. And I'm OK with that.
I ended up unexpectedly hitting the wall in December of my 50th year. At that point, I had some lingering physical issues (recurring achilles injuries, vocal and hearing "strain"). I gave the guys in my band three months notice. Then came down with really bad case of pneumonia and that stopped me dead in my tracks about a month later. I pulled the plug and the guys found a replacement for me right away, thankfully. 18 months on, the achilles has recovered, my vocal strain is not as bad but I still have hearing and tinnitus issues. I don't miss gigging, the late nights, the logistics and the hassle of dealing with venue managers for what amounted to minimum wage 20-30 times a year. I believe the pneumonia was largely due to my immune system being compromised by these lingering physical injuries, late nights, too much booze and no shortage of stress/irritation.
Today, I'm still involved in making music - a lot and with a couple of different outfits- but not gigging. And I'm OK with that.
You should add one more poll category: "When they're patting me in the face with a shovel". My wish is to die on the bandstand of a smoke filled honkytonk at 2am on a Sunday morning at the end of Saturday night's last set. I'm 66, still doing 4-8 gigs a month and have no intention of ever quitting. I can still give these kids (40-50) a run for their money. Due to some medical issues, I spend some nights playing from a stool onstage. But the bottom end is always there and strong along with the love of what I'm doing.
Roger Glover's ten years older than me, and going a lot harder than I ever have or likely will, playing-wise. Roger Waters is a couple of years older than RG. And they're far from the oldest bass players out there!
That one has messed with my head as well!
I'm an old cane shakin' fart (67 next month) when I can't physically play anymore I'll call it quits... I have way too much fun. Keeps me young.
At 67, still playing so, I can't complain. ... I've got a nice jazz gig, that's five minutes from my house that I really dig doing. ... I thought this last week, while sitting at the big wooded bar enjoying a refreshing beverage. "What a great retirement gig." ... Though, I don't see myself retireing anytime soon. ... Hauling around the big bass has it's cons, but, I've got a nice light Aguilar amp to eaze the pain. ... Though, when this gigs done I'll carefully plain my next move just so I'm not doing stupid gigs that risk my health and sanity.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
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