When did you stop gigging due to age?

[Florinda4]

71 and still at it in local groups.

After the Covid-drought, I've had a busy summer, averaging a couple of gigs/week. Currently playing BG in a blues group (did a gig with them last night in fact), URB in a small jazz group (GBD with female vocalist) and BG in a 21-piece big band. All paying modest amounts.

I've gotten much more selective in my geezerhood. No cargo shorts dad bands (I only play with groups that dress sharp for gigs). No endless blues etc jams or directionless jambands. I don't play with intoxicated people or egotistical jerks or people who've lost whatever passion they might ever have had for music. Life's too short, especially what I have left of it.

Through 30+ years raising a family with a career in high tech, playing bass in ensembles always was and remains my only retirement plan. What the heck else would I do? Play golf? Blech (no disrespect to the duffers out there - it just ain't me). I deferred a lot of music playing over the years while meeting my obligations. My turn now.

Forget the casket. They can bury me in my URB. It's paid for.

 

[Ron Berenato]

. . . and why did you stop?

Also, if you're over 60 (please provide your age in the reply), are you still gigging?

I ask because at 66 I realize my remaining gigging years are few and that saddens me.

I stopped at 31 when I got married and became a step father. I didn't feel it would be cool to be gone all the time when I took on 2 children to raise. I'm 58 now.

They turned out great and I don't regret it one bit. I still have most of my old gear and keep playing occasionally just in case I meet some interesting individuals. Who knows . . my best years may be yet to come!

 

[jwoiton]

61 and still gigging when I can. I rejoined with my old band just before the pandemic hit. Covid more than age is limiting my performance schedule.

 

[juancaminos]

66.7
One year into retirement and gigging more than ever (that was the plan). But it is harder now than I ever imagined. Makes me wonder how long it will last. Being that we retired to a rural mountain area I have to travel to nearby towns to stay busy. I also had to buy lighter equipment. So be it...

 

[Low Key]

I stopped due to kids. When my firstborn turned 1, I stopped. But now as my youngest is 16, I am gigging once again.

I played at my church for about 15 years during my non-gigging years, which was a nice way to keep going, but avoid getting home at 3am-4am and smelling like cigarette smoke.

 

[LBS-bass]

I'm 62. I know, never ask a woman her age, but there it is.

I thought recently I might have to stop due to some problems I was having with my hands, but those seem to have been resolved. Thinking about what that might mean, I was pretty content with the idea that I might never have to deal with band drama, load in and out, and people in general. There are fun things about playing music but also many not-fun things about dealing with bands and it gets worse for me as I get older and more cynical. I can write and produce music and never have to deal with the band stuff. It's tempting.

That being said, I'm happy that I'm able to play still. I will likely start paring down my obligations because I have a lot on my plate right now with five active bands. Two of them are not gigging yet, and those two have the best musicians so when they start booking shows I will be more inclined to want to prioritize those bands, which will mean decisions will be made.

Right now playing maybe four or five times a month, all told. Practicing a LOT more than that. Although my hands get stiff for other reasons, I do not have any signs of osteoarthritis on my recent X-rays, so in theory I might be able to keep doing this for a while. Just taking care of myself the best I can.

 

[pfschim]

64 and still gigging. Between 2-6 gigs per month post covid.

I was full time working/touring pro from my late teens thru my late 20's, then I got a serious day job, a wonderful wife and two kids.
I dropped back to 1-2 gigs/month for many years. I also moved cross country, and internationally, several times during my professional career, so that mixed things up a bit, but I still managed to play everywhere I've lived ... even my two years in Prague.

For the past 15 years I have focused entirely on original music projects and to my delight, I have been able to gig steadily through several of these over that time.
I retired from the professional day gig 4 years ago at 60 and made live performance one of my personal goals in retirement. Started out great but Covid definitely put a crimp in that. But this year I'll end up with about 40 gigs (and counting), and I am hoping the (finally) post-covid world will get me back to where I was before it all hit.

I'm lucky with the originals work, and here in NCal there are a ton of wineries and non-bar venues that feature live music and lots of festival type gigs so I don't find myself doing the much more draining bar gig or casino grind thing.

I've been a musician since I was a little kid and come from a family of musicians. I can't imagine not playing at all, but I guess I can see gigs becoming more difficult at some point either because of health issues or other unknowns.

For me, playing live to a good audience with musicians you enjoy playing with is still about the most fun you can have with your clothes on!
good luck to all who are hanging in there.

 

[SoulReflection]

I stopped at 21 to get a good day job and a real life. Now, 52 years later, I'm trying to get back into it but health and age are getting in the way .

 

[projectapollo]

63, retired, and playing almost every Sunday somewhere. Taking it more seriously than ever and starting some formal Nashville pro instruction, soon.

I find that with age related hearing loss I am moving toward single coils and steel strings!

 

[groovaholic]

I asked myself this question recently, prompted by the milestone of turning 50.

But the responses in this thread, combined with seeing Living Colour (average age: 60) completely KICK @$$ this past weekend, make me feel like I have many years of playing in front of me.

That said, I don't "bounce" the way I used to, which has forcefully driven home the need to improve my self-care.
I also find that I'm much more picky about gigs - I don't have the patience or energy to be playing out just for the sake of playing out: I want every show to be fun and each show to be unique.

So I'm digging back into some of my musical roots, working on getting healthier, and will scale back what I'm doing musically to focus on what brings me the most joy.

I'm in this for the long haul.

 

[SteveHeissner]

Over 60? No big deal. This guy should be an inspiration.

 

[fretlessman71]

I turned 70 in June. Until just before Covid hit I was gigging 6 to 8 times a month. In April I was asked to rejoin a band that I was in 5 or 6 years ago (which I had quit because of being in too many groups). Due to an inheritance I am now playing through modern light weight cabs and amps with a short scale Squier Jaguar that now has Bartolini pups and loving it. This Friday my Ibanez EBH1005SMS will arrive from Sweetwater. Can't stop yet!
View attachment 4406628

I have coveted one of these for a while. Please post and tell us what you think of it when you get it!

 

[jthisdell]

61 and still gigging, in my best band ever, mostly evening 5-8 or 6-9 and afternoons or Church (that is actually 5:00). Not much interest in playing 9-1:00 am, that just ruins the whole next day.

 

[Bass Momma]

I'm 62. I know, never ask a woman her age, but there it is.

I thought recently I might have to stop due to some problems I was having with my hands, but those seem to have been resolved. Thinking about what that might mean, I was pretty content with the idea that I might never have to deal with band drama, load in and out, and people in general. There are fun things about playing music but also many not-fun things about dealing with bands and it gets worse for me as I get older and more cynical. I can write and produce music and never have to deal with the band stuff. It's tempting.

That being said, I'm happy that I'm able to play still. I will likely start paring down my obligations because I have a lot on my plate right now with five active bands. Two of them are not gigging yet, and those two have the best musicians so when they start booking shows I will be more inclined to want to prioritize those bands, which will mean decisions will be made.

Right now playing maybe four or five times a month, all told. Practicing a LOT more than that. Although my hands get stiff for other reasons, I do not have any signs of osteoarthritis on my recent X-rays, so in theory I might be able to keep doing this for a while. Just taking care of myself the best I can.

Off topic - I'm a tad older than you (!), and started having hand problems a while back - numbness, tingling, etc. I started wearing wrist splints at night, and as long as I do that I'm OK. Sounds like you're getting properly looked at, so you don't need my 2 cents, or course. And I entirely agree... it's not the gigging, it's what goes with the gigging that makes me more reluctant.

 

[sindicado]

I am almost 65 and still gigging. Not too much but gigs are gigs. Also rehearsing with friends. Playing live is my favorite part of music.

 

[jthisdell]

I stopped at 31 when I got married and became a step father. I didn't feel it would be cool to be gone all the time when I took on 2 children to raise. I'm 58 now.

They turned out great and I don't regret it one bit. I still have most of my old gear and keep playing occasionally just in case I meet some interesting individuals. Who knows . . my best years may be yet to come!

I stopped earlier when I got a real job, followed by wife, house and kids, was out for 25 years but have been back in for last 10. I found what happened was the good guitar players all kept playing but many bass players stopped entirely as it is less a solo instrument. So accordingly now there are many guitar players and few bassists. Hope you get back out there.

 

[Lowbrow]

When it stopped being about hot chicks and began being about a hot chicken dinner.

 

[Robscott]

Well I didn't start until I was 65 so not likely to stop anytime soon. 70 next month and just started another band, so I now have one gigging about once a month, another one about to start gigging in January and my for fun jazz combo. Why would I stop? I have the usual physical issues that come with age but I largely ignore them (not saying others should do the same, I know it hits everyone different). Live music gives me so much joy I swear it keeps the bad stuff away

 

[Rip Van Dan]

. . . and why did you stop?

Also, if you're over 60 (please provide your age in the reply), are you still gigging?

I ask because at 66 I realize my remaining gigging years are few and that saddens me.

I'm still at it at 71. I am real resentful though of Covid-19 which stole about a year and a half from my remaining time of gigging though. Last gig was end of June 2020 and was an outside gig with us playing across the parking lot from our audience. And, true to typical Washington state weather patterns, it rained!

Was supposed to gig on August 14 but had emergency abdominal surgery on the 13th. Had been hurting for about a week at that point and gave my bandmates notice that I would probably not be able to make the gig. They were able to get a sub for me and did the gig, but I was still in the hospital at that point.

Hoping to play another gig on September 26 but have to use my son as the roadie. I am allowed to pick up my bass again, but forbidden to move around any amps or cabs. Expect (Hope) to get final clearance to return to normal on Oct. 12, which is 10-weeks after surgery...long freaking recovery period! Nonetheless, I can hardly wait.

 

[Robscott]

I'm the young guy in my 10 piece band. Im 60. One lady is 68, and everyone else.is mid 70s. The oldest is 77. We had 2 gigs last weekend amd 4 in October. Drama fades away, and experience amd maturity rule. I would want it no other way.

good on ya man!