I’ll be 69 but the end of the year and I have one gig, a band I’ve been working with since 1970. It’s miraculous it is still in existence after all these decades.
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When did you stop gigging due to age?
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I’ll be 69 but the end of the year and I have one gig, a band I’ve been working with since 1970. It’s miraculous it is still in existence after all these decades.
Im in my mid 50s....I stopped gigging because I had done it for a career most of my life and I was, well..., just done and hating it. I no longer enjoyed playing covers to what looked like the same crowd for over three decades....
.....but I will leave you with this: Its never too late to reinvent yourself
These days Im doing originals, Im exploring a musical genre Ive never done before, and Im using a pick on bass after spending a lifetime of fingers/slap/tap. I learned there is so much more to playing bass than just gigging around and glad I came to this epiphany at this stage in my life than later on
63, still gigging, no plans to stop. Unless you have health issues, why would you stop?
maybe 2024
Currently, at 67, the whole process of playing a gig is starting to affect me physically the next day. After 19 months off, I'm thankful that I spent 4 to 5 days a week during the shutdown maintaining an exercise bike routine. That first come back gig last Saturday night was a pleasure to play but Sunday I still felt the load in, setup, tear down, and load out. So I'm following a plan to hang in there until I turn 70 and then re-evaluate. I have a couple of musician friends who retired from gigging in their late 60's and just do studio tracks. And they work remotely from their own studio's. I've been doing that for years so when the time comes to make that shift I'll have a head start on it.
But it also seems sometimes that gigs are getting harder to find. One of our regular venues stopped hiring bands with older players a couple of years ago. Texts and emails to the booking person went without response. Phone calls went to voicemail and were never returned. Then, after a couple of months of that, I was talking to a friend who plays in another band and learned that the guy who was booking the bands at that venue had said he wasn't hiring any more "grey haired bands".
Currently, at 67, the whole process of playing a gig is starting to affect me physically the next day. After 19 months off, I'm thankful that I spent 4 to 5 days a week during the shutdown maintaining an exercise bike routine. That first come back gig last Saturday night was a pleasure to play but Sunday I still felt the load in, setup, tear down, and load out. So I'm following a plan to hang in there until I turn 70 and then re-evaluate. I have a couple of musician friends who retired from gigging in their late 60's and just do studio tracks. And they work remotely from their own studio's. I've been doing that for years so when the time comes to make that shift I'll have a head start on it.
But it also seems sometimes that gigs are getting harder to find. One of our regular venues stopped hiring bands with older players a couple of years ago. Texts and emails to the booking person went without response. Phone calls went to voicemail and were never returned. Then, after a couple of months of that, I was talking to a friend who plays in another band and learned that the guy who was booking the bands at that venue had said he wasn't hiring any more "grey haired bands".
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I quit gigging about 10 years ago, but it had nothing to do with my age. I just got tired of dealing with musicians.
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Indeed. I’ve had time to explore playing other instruments: pedal steel, dobro, synth etc. Also expanded my genres in recording - I gigged in blues, rock, rockabilly, soul and country bands.
Now experimenting with modern hard rock, metal, ambient, cinematic, etc. Plus making bass cover videos of some of my favourite songs that never made it into a setlist in my bands.
All the capital I had invested in PA, lights and performance gear has been converted into recording studio gear. I’m liking it. I can create the second I get an idea.
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I'm 70, healthy, still looking for a gig.
Im 65,playing in church, and also in a band that gigs 3-4 times a month. the other guys are all less than half my age, but we do all right together. The name of the group is the Sugartones, and they were having a conversation about changing the name of the band to Brown Sugar.....I asked , "you mean, like the Stones song?" All three of them said "What?".....
just turned 58, i want to play out so bad. Trying to get my 66yr old "self-pitying overly analytical" guitarist buddy to practice more.
The last drummer we had, another good friend, just turned 75 i think and still practices, but i haven't seen him since before this covid bs
The last drummer we had, another good friend, just turned 75 i think and still practices, but i haven't seen him since before this covid bs
I'm 71. I had plenty good gigs before covid19. The virus caused these gigs to evaporate. We are booking gigs again, but the fruit is slow to accumulate. I gig, rehearse and sing as much as possible. About 10 years ago, I began to feel "too mature" to play rock and pop and I felt like an elder to those that frequented those venues. I realize I am an old fart in comparison to the common rock/dance/pop people.
10 years ago, I made an abrupt and complete transition to the genre of traditional jazz. (not fusion, not prog jazz). Now my repertoire is compiled of the American Song book standards, Real Book jazz standards, Brazilian jazz (bossa), most written and popular way before my time. 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's music. Horns, piano, no guitars. Glorious, sophisticated compositions, lyrics, and arrangements. I feel young again. (although everything hurts and I need a cathedar and leg bag to get through a set). As long as my health holds up, I'm good to go. Me=71 Y/O.
10 years ago, I made an abrupt and complete transition to the genre of traditional jazz. (not fusion, not prog jazz). Now my repertoire is compiled of the American Song book standards, Real Book jazz standards, Brazilian jazz (bossa), most written and popular way before my time. 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's music. Horns, piano, no guitars. Glorious, sophisticated compositions, lyrics, and arrangements. I feel young again. (although everything hurts and I need a cathedar and leg bag to get through a set). As long as my health holds up, I'm good to go. Me=71 Y/O.
ouch ,..reality bites
enjoy what you got left
im middle age and im starting from the bottom all over again
ironically i dont think id play a bar o.m.g
If you take good care of your health, eat sensibly and exercise regularly, with a little luck (and good genetics) there is no reason you can't play into your 80's. You could easily have another 15 or 20 years of playing in you.
OK, this is difficult since I don't broadcast my age because some people make assumptions based on that number. At 79 I don't look my age and basically don't act my age. In general my health is good with the mileage issues that come with the territory.
When the Covid business started I was playing 2 or 3 times month at church, playing at a Bluegrass jam twice a month, and playing 40 dates with my primary band in 2019. We had 39 dates scheduled for 2020, but that all changed. I also have a small sound company that I am basically letting shut down naturally. Sound gear is heavy, and the kind of jobs I worked were for very little money. I still really enjoy the sound business, but someone else needs to move the gear.
Now a bit of an explaination; my main band only plays private parties, festivals, and senior and retirement facilities. No bars, or clubs, and we play one set that is always between 60 minutes and 90 minutes. I am the oldest in the band by a couple years, but everyone is 60 or older. The youngest members haul and set up/tear down the PA system. I haul and deal with my own gear.
This music model fits well with me and I have no intention to quit playing out. I will add playing at church again if the right opportunity comes up. I also keep hoping the Bluegrass jams will start again, but there is so much panic about Covid, that the jams may never start again.
Thump on,
One_Dude
When the Covid business started I was playing 2 or 3 times month at church, playing at a Bluegrass jam twice a month, and playing 40 dates with my primary band in 2019. We had 39 dates scheduled for 2020, but that all changed. I also have a small sound company that I am basically letting shut down naturally. Sound gear is heavy, and the kind of jobs I worked were for very little money. I still really enjoy the sound business, but someone else needs to move the gear.
Now a bit of an explaination; my main band only plays private parties, festivals, and senior and retirement facilities. No bars, or clubs, and we play one set that is always between 60 minutes and 90 minutes. I am the oldest in the band by a couple years, but everyone is 60 or older. The youngest members haul and set up/tear down the PA system. I haul and deal with my own gear.
This music model fits well with me and I have no intention to quit playing out. I will add playing at church again if the right opportunity comes up. I also keep hoping the Bluegrass jams will start again, but there is so much panic about Covid, that the jams may never start again.
Thump on,
One_Dude
50 currently and gigging just a bit more than not at all. My hope is to gig a lot more in the future than now though - lots and lots of priorities at this stage in my life.
In the past I would gig as much as 5 or 6 nights a month. It would be good to get back to that, but I'm not sure the world is there except for a lucky few.
In the past I would gig as much as 5 or 6 nights a month. It would be good to get back to that, but I'm not sure the world is there except for a lucky few.
I am just 57 and don't belong here (quite yet), but I do gig regularly with a drummer who turns 79 this fall. He is still going strong. On the set list we usually have Chuck Willis' "(I don't wanna) hang up my rock and roll shoes" 
I stopped at 50 because of family and the ever increasing number of drunk drivers on the road during the early morning hours. I had a few close calls heading home on MoPac and it wasn't worth it.
63 - playing at 6 different churches at this point. My gigs at this age are ramping up, not down.
I'm 69. Last gig was March 14, 2020. Brought to a halt by C. We moved house in April '21, and started worming our way into the music scene here, going to blues/jazz jams, found a couple of people to jam with. And then the recent surge hit, and everything shut down again.
Meanwhile, I'm starting to wonder... I have no desire to go booking gigs. I'd LOVE it if a some good musicians wanted us (husband on guitar/vocal, me on bass) to gig with them - and maybe that will happen, once things open up again. But I also ask myself if I really want to be hauling gear again, doing late nights, and who wants to see oldies like us up on stage.
Then again, NOTHING improves your playing so much as gigging. So I dunno. Back when I was a teenager I assumed I'd have everything nicely sorted out in my head at this age. Nope. Still living with uncertainty.
Still living!!
Meanwhile, I'm starting to wonder... I have no desire to go booking gigs. I'd LOVE it if a some good musicians wanted us (husband on guitar/vocal, me on bass) to gig with them - and maybe that will happen, once things open up again. But I also ask myself if I really want to be hauling gear again, doing late nights, and who wants to see oldies like us up on stage.
Then again, NOTHING improves your playing so much as gigging. So I dunno. Back when I was a teenager I assumed I'd have everything nicely sorted out in my head at this age. Nope. Still living with uncertainty.
Still living!!
69 and was working once or twice a week before pandemic. Did an acoustic gig with masks till April 2021 now back with full band, but harder to get gigs with fewer venues, more groups and one of my bands has zero work due to the guy who booked all the gigs passing away. Prefer just playing bass instead of lugging a PA around myself as well. That has slowed me down a lot and looking to join a group I can just bring a light rig and play bass.
I'll be 73 next month. I haven't been out to play....Covid....since January of 2020. Several of my musical collaborators have died in the past 2 or 3 years, the main contributor from Covid last November. I've recently made a decision to leave the "formal" band scene, but am still interested in sitting in, when invited, and in the regional jam session scene.
The Delta variant continues to be a risk in my area. Although fully vaccinated, I continue to be cautious and have passed on a couple of opportunities to join bands in the past six months.
I'm comfortable doing a "wait and see" about my viability when this latest variant has run its course. I'm still playing almost every day and, in the course of that, learning new (to me) material. I want to stay active on bass and continue to expand my catalog. Ironically, my playing continues to grow and I'm playing better now than I've ever played over my 58 year musical journey.
Koog
The Delta variant continues to be a risk in my area. Although fully vaccinated, I continue to be cautious and have passed on a couple of opportunities to join bands in the past six months.
I'm comfortable doing a "wait and see" about my viability when this latest variant has run its course. I'm still playing almost every day and, in the course of that, learning new (to me) material. I want to stay active on bass and continue to expand my catalog. Ironically, my playing continues to grow and I'm playing better now than I've ever played over my 58 year musical journey.
Koog
