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Poll: Gigging and over 50 - When to quit?

Gigging and over 50 - When to quit?

  • A soon as my current band(s) dissolve

    Votes: 8 0.9%

  • By 60

    Votes: 5 0.6%

  • By 65

    Votes: 4 0.5%

  • By 70

    Votes: 10 1.2%

  • By 75

    Votes: 9 1.1%

  • By 80

    Votes: 6 0.7%

  • Once I’m physically unable to

    Votes: 714 83.4%

  • When I can only consume liquefied carrots

    Votes: 100 11.7%
  • Total voters
    856
#81
Retirement? I don't really want to stop gigging until I physically can't do it any longer, I could retire from my day job so it leaves me more time to gig...
I'm 59 and I have had some back/neck issues however I was able to overcome them by focusing on my fitness. I lug the PA so I need to keep "supple". I have used IEM for many years and kept levels low to protect my hearing, it's still pretty good for my age.
If you're still having fun and nothing is preventing you from playing and the gigs are there why would you want to stop?
 
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#82
Shindig said:
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.
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I'm digging that! I'm just getting back into it after decades off. I'm 59, but musically I can seriously outplay my 30-year old self. I've got people 15 years and more younger than me in my band and we get along great. And my buddy's dad is still gigging on sax @ 94. So I might get in a few years before I hang it up for good.

stringthrough said:
While I consider myself to be a competent hobbyist/ semi-pro, I am concerned it might be the latter, not the former that ends my gigging "career". With an audience generally in the 30-60 range (at my gigs anyway), and being the oldest member in my band, seeing an aging male on stage my not be the most exhilarating sights.
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I don't know, if they can play, I get a kick out of seeing an old guy tearing it up. It impresses me more than a 35-year-old doing the same thing, just because it's not expected.

Technically, the last 2 options on the poll are kind of the same thing. When I can only eat carrot juice, I'm pretty much done for as a bassist. :D
 
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#84
stringthrough said:
While I consider myself to be a competent hobbyist/ semi-pro, I am concerned it might be the latter, not the former that ends my gigging "career". With an audience generally in the 30-60 range (at my gigs anyway), and being the oldest member in my band, seeing an aging male on stage my not be the most exhilarating sights.
Click to expand...

Maybe join a group playing for older folks....

I've done some senior citizen shows in local theaters, and they're fun.

We planned on playing mostly jazz standards and stuff pre-1955, but the audience mostly wanted groovy 1960s style tunes and more modern music--stuff that they could dance to. I think you could go into senior citizen events with an all-senior band and they'd love it....as long as you got them up dancing!

:)
 
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#87
Since April 2019, I have been carrying the red, white & blue medicare card......and doing over 30 gigs a year.


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