Poll: Gigging and over 50 - When to quit?

[Skillet]

Here's me pretending to be tough. At 55 I'm trying to eat right and work out 3 or 4 times a week. My shoulder is still killing me, so like so many of us, I'm going lightweight or investing in strap solutions.

does the guitarist look impressed?

 

[David Sutkin]

51 years young, it’s the gigging that keeps me young!

 

[/\/\3phist0]

If you can't hold your poop in it's time to go.

That = Depends.

Now that's funny rite there, I don't care who UR.
Git R Dun!

- LTCG

 

[Tampabass]

Will play until I'm physically unable. 57 now. And yeah, my shoulders do hurt a bit after standing up for a 4 hour gig. I have a relatively light bass and a wide strap. But maybe I need an even lighter bass. Yes, 20somethings, this is a thing.

 

[Relsom]

I'm 61 and the 3rd youngest member in a 7pc group. As long as we get out once a month or so to do these kind of shows, I'm in. Last Saturday 8/17 with 38 Special.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I voted for "until I'm physically incapable" but if the point comes first that I am out of enjoyable options that make it worth the time I'll be out.

My Dad is 75 and still gigs 3 times a week in different polka groups, both his own and with others. Nice spare $$ for him in retirement and he still enjoys it after almost 60 years of playing live! Seems polka musicians have a longer shelf life.

 

[gfh218]

Time to quit is when your list of stuff you are not going to put up with gets too long.

Amen,brother

 

[TheReceder]

I'm in my late 50's. This weekend we had a warm up act that had a bassist at least 15 years older than I am. He moved more on stage than I did, and in my opinion was a better bassist than I am. More important... for a dude his age... he just looked cool!

I can only hope that I can last as long, but know that my physical limitations will make it tough. I say, play till you can't, or till it's not fun anymore. Why assign an age to end what you love?

 

[2cooltoolz]

66 here. Play 2-3 times a month. Class D head, neo cabs, bass weight is a factor. I keep a tall folding stool behind my rig and usually need it for the last set of the evening.

 

[deckstirparnell]

I'm 65, pushing 66. Playing pro and semi-pro for 55 years. I play in Church most Sundays, do many other Christian events, still do fill ins with bar bands occasionally (have no real interest in playing in bars regularly anymore).
When I feel my skills deteriorate to the point that there's a chance that some young guy might say to another "I heard he used to be good", then I'm hanging it up. I've heard guys on top of their game in their 70's, and guys that should have hung it up way earlier. I guess I feel a person needs a pragmatic view of their capabilities enough not to embarrass themselves no matter how much you want to play in public in your old age. IMO

 

[climber]

Why in the world would I want to quit doing what I love. At least until the body and mind stop functioning. I'm 71, I'll be 72 in November, and still play 3-5 times a month. Rock, blues, funk, jazz...have bass will travel.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[bassliner50]

I am now 69, grey and "crusty". Doing 3 gigs this week. Never,never thought this would be a major part of my life for 55 years. I have drastically down sized all my gear to class D and neodymium. Keeping the setup simple. My tone pure. Genre shift has evolved over many years, rock and pop became old and tedious and the audience looked like my children or grandchildren. Still play a bit of rock and soul but the majority of what I do now leans toward traditional jazz, the American song book, ethnic, select pop etc. This shift has served me well, in terms of musical satisfaction, better venues, better hours, working with literate musicians, better sonic levels. My knees hurt, arthritis in my finger joints, tinnitus, blah blah blah, but going strong, doing 3 gigs this week, I will pretty much play till I drop. (could be soon, but hope not).

 

[Paulabass]

I'm 61 and I have no desire to slow down.
My boss from my other gig (FOH) is 71 and still has the women lining up after the show.

 

[dave64o]

... Seems polka musicians have a longer shelf life.

Ha! I think you're right about that. My grandfather played in bands and ran bands until his early- to mid-80's and most of what he played were polkas. I mentioned in my previous post a few pages back my 92 year old dad who's still playing violin in a gigging band. He learned to play more or less to be in my grandfather's bands when he was younger and, even now, when his band plays a polka you can see my dad turning on the afterburners and *really* getting into it.

It seems like the polka players are just starting to hit their prime as they reach 70!

 

[Pacman]

50, and gigging with 7 bands. I won't stop until I can't move....

 

[Jehos]

I can't imagine hanging it up until I have to.

Of course, I'm only 40 and I already quit playing bars. That just doesn't fit into my life anymore. I've got a steady church gig that I could conceivably play until I'm too feeble to make it up the stairs onto the stage.

 

[bass40hz]

53 here...Lemmy Kilmister said it best - "If you think you are too old to rock and roll...you are"
Rock on.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

It seems like the polka players are just starting to hit their prime as they reach 70!

And it makes me laugh when discussions go into such length about the weight of this bass or another.

A 120 bass accordion is damned heavy! Usually from 25-30 lbs.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

I'll quit when I fall over and die on stage. Happy.

 

[Eilif]

Quit when you can't credibly play anymore or aren't enjoying it and not before.

I'm in my 30's in a band of fellows who are all somewhere between mid 50's and late 60's. They play at least once a week and none of them are ready to quit.