What Happens to Old Musicians?

[ProfD]

Lately, I've seen several middle-aged and older performing musicians with younger cats playing in the band.

 

So why doesn't a musician travel with a band of peers rather than cats a few decades younger?

 

Is there an age at which musicians simply hang it up i.e. no longer desire to play live?

 

I would surmise the hunger of youth, talent, creativity, etc. makes younger musicians more attractive especially if they have little or no baggage i.e. responsibilities.

 

In fact, I've heard one older musician say that he prefers a band of young cats because they look better on stage.

 

So, I wonder what becomes of the old musician when gigs dry up. I've only got a few good years left.

[delirium]

So, I wonder what becomes of the old musician when gigs dry up. I've only got a few good years left.

 

come on, you're teasing, you cannot be hundred already...

 

regarding the look on stage, I don't think so younger looks better. Older musicians brings experience and history on stage - younger brings only boobs...

 

[meccajay]

So, I wonder what becomes of the old musician

 

They end up playing on one of those PBS "Disco" specials.

[Steve LeBlanc]

I would surmise the hunger of youth, talent, creativity, etc. makes younger musicians more attractive especially if they have little or no baggage i.e. responsibilities.

 

you mean younger=cheaper

 

in most cases this is the main reason younger are working but image is a small part as well. younger does seem to sell easier these days so it will be very very rare to see any successful band with a front person older than 25. not sure this should be true or just how it got so much this way...

 

weird stuff because in most cases experience/seasoning really do make for better music

[ProfD]

Delirium, maybe older musicians bring boobs on stage too.

 

Jay, the worst nightmare I've ever had is being asked and committing to play in an oldies revue.

 

Thankfully, I woke up prior to taking the stage.

 

OTOH, I clearly understand someone has to play "Disco Inferno". By default, it makes sense for old musicians to do those gigs especially if they jammed to and/or produced that kinda music.

 

Steve, you are right. Older, seasoned musicians generally bring the "right stuff" to the gig musically. Their opinions and fees probably are a factor.

 

 

[Voojo]

Old musicians never die, they just de-compose.

[Dave Horne]

you mean younger=cheaper

 

I think that's the case in many situations.

[Blue JC]

Lately, I've seen several middle-aged and older performing musicians with younger cats playing in the band.

 

So why doesn't a musician travel with a band of peers rather than cats a few decades younger?

 

I think the older guys with no patience for helping younger guys learn the ropes are not crossing over like this. At least, I don't see it.

 

But, there have always been older guys who do have the patience and like the energy that younger players bring to the gig. Also, the younger guys have an instinctive relationship with technology that the older guys will never have - or want to have.

[Legatoboy]

So, I wonder what becomes of the old musician when gigs dry up. I've only got a few good years left.

 

Spontaneous Human Combustion after a long diminished chord-like sound! One moment your walking down the street, the next moment your ashes!

 

Really, I think you can play out, in, whatever as long as you like! It's only been the past 50's years where the post-modern youth directive has created 'distortion' in regards to validity and vitalness and media-madness youth hype! Of course you would have to use good taste as to how and what you perform and for who I think!

 

I wouldn't want to see the old Playboy grandma sagging on stage singing in a halter top, but if she sounded good I'd probably listen! Maybe boobs DO apply to this argument! Maybe Delirium has a point, huh!

 

http://www.ahajokes.com/cartoon/cowboy.jpg

 

lb

 

[Mr. Nightime]

Most of the older guys that would be sidemen have already been there when younger. They've settled down with families and mortgages, realizing that in order to have the benefits needed as age increases, there is a need for a "real" job. The lure of playing and touring full time no longer takes precedence over sleeping in your own bed.

 

So the older cats that still want to tour are forced by sheer lack of availability to use younger players.

 

In the mean time, the older, more experienced musicians practice their craft locally with others from a similar age group, going home every night to their families.

 

At least, that's the way it is with me.

 

 

 

[delirium]

Old musicians never die, they just de-compose.

 

you mean they putrefy?

[delirium]

Delirium, maybe older musicians bring boobs on stage too.

 

oh yeah, you're right...

 

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_aerosmith_02.jpg

[stepay]

If you play blues, it's usually the older dudes who are doing the gigs. I'm 42 and one of the younger guys out in the local blues circuit. Once in a while a college blues band pops up, but they're not around long -- the drummer graduates and moves away, all their friends have seen them play a few times and it's not novel anymore, etc.

[Jeff Klopmeyer]

Obviously, it really depends on your intent with your musical career. Segovia did one of his best tours at age 92.

 

But even in the disgustingly image-conscious realm of pop music, you have to realize that the aging populace is actually to the benefit of musicians remaining relevant as they age. As all these baby boomers continue their trek to Social Security-ville, a guy like me in his late 30s or early 40s doesn't seem nearly as old as I would have in the 1970s.

 

My last band had an age range of 14 years, from 37-51 at the time. Since we were playing music genres that appealed to people within that same age range, no one really felt it out of the ordinary to see us doing those tunes together on stages. But I just don't have any ageism feelings when it comes to music. I'd jam with anyone who could bring the rock, whether they were 10 or 100.

[delirium]

I'm aiming at my top performance at my 97 year of age to have still time for enjoyment with chicks after fame will come....

[kanker.]

Musicians don't retire, they die

[delirium]

Musicians don't retire, they die

 

not everybody...

[Synthoid]

the younger guys have an instinctive relationship with technology that the older guys will never have - or want to have.

 

Will never have?

 

I'm the oldest guy in the band and I know (and embrace) the technology better than most of our younger members.

 

[Mike Davis]

 

"To retire is to die."

 

Pablo Casals

[marino]

FWIW, I *love* to play with younger musicians. Both bassist and drummer in my current trio are half my age, and they're so good, I'm learning from them every time we play. They're not afraid to throw challenges at me, and they usually listen to what I have to say. (Hey, I'm the, um, leader after all. )

 

I also have a quartet where the drummer is my age, while the bassist and sax player are 25 y.o. I find this kind of interchange extremely healthy.

 

For many, many years, I played in bands where I was the younger of the bunch. Then the ratio became more variable (of course... ), and now I'm enjoing being on the other side. I think it's one of the blessings of being a musician.

[Cygnus64]

Old musicians never die, they just de-compose.

 

Old musicians never die, they just go from bar to bar.

[Geoff Grace]

Health and energy tend to wane as we age and family commitments tend to increase. Neither are conducive to life on the road.

 

Best,

 

Geoff

[Dave Pierce]

My fondest is hope is that when I die, the following announcement will be made:

 

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are so sorry to cancel the rest of tonight's show, but during the break . . . "

 

 

--Dave

[Gary75]

Old musicians join this forum and discuss the merits of reharmonization?

[Strategery]

I love this question because I realize it was meant toungue in cheek.

 

Well, I'm only 50...but trust me, everytime I play a club til 2:00am, I realize just why I don't play them regularly anymore.

The hours, the smoke, and the wacko people.

 

Now take a good look at Iggy Pop, The Rolling Stones, and any band that's been around that long.

TAKE A GOOD LOOK...AND LISTEN.

I mean geez, does that not tell you all you need to know to answer this question?

 

Now, take a look at their lives.

The multi marriages and divorces, the child support and alimony, the constant travel & hardly ever at home, etc...the list goes on and on.

You then see this old codger with an earring'(s)in his ear(s), trying to talk the younger lingo and doin' the fist bump, and with the young chickypoo KNOWING DAMN WELL the only reason she's there is the money. She will drop his ass later like a hot potato.

All you can do is laugh.

 

Now, take the guy/gal that opted to settle down, get married and have a couple of kids, and have a productive and happy family life.

He comes home to a family that loves him and many good memories are made daily. They will be there in good times & bad.

 

He's happy and well balanced and wouldn't trade his life with any old millionaire, alcoholic, wrinkled faced rocker that is a constant popparazzi target and appears regulary on the YouTube Olympics.

 

Should I say it?

Is this a NO BRAINER?

 

But hey, I've never been that wealthy, self indulgent rocker that was surrounded by YES MEN and realizes that the world TRULY is all about "HIM".

The Moral?

"What the hell do I know?"

 

Randy

 

Was this an 80's star? Not sure who this 2nd pic is.

 

http://www.minortweaks.com/archives/bill2.jpghttp://www.welt.de/multimedia/archive/00469/bart_plant_DW_Lifes_469904g.jpg

 

Now this is scary! ............ Crocodile Dundee?

 

http://www.showbizireland.com/images/stars/iggy-pop-4.jpghttp://vidiocy.com/blog1/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/keith.jpg

 

[sachimay]

so, i'm not exactly where the young and old mark is, but I'm 37, so I like to think of myself somewhere in the middle....but in my experience I have found many young musicians(early 20's and below) to be quite arrogant....I had this gig one time where this young bassist asked me and my drummer to play a trio gig with him at a local restaurant, we showed up never playing together and figured we would be playing tunes from the book....he said he didn't have one and he would just figure them out by ear....ok??

 

it was a complete joke and quite embarassing......then to top it off, he asked me for theory lessons which he never showed up for and the one time he did he brought a friend....rediculous

[Gary75]

Why does Robert Plant look like Aslan from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe?

[SK]

D, I think it's just all about music, and who can play it. With the many music schools out there and access to music media, younger musicians develop quicker and get exposed to more stuff faster these days. So a good player is a good player, no matter their age, and age is no longer as much of an issue.

 

Also, some older experienced musicians have had time to find their direction, and use younger players to realize that concept. It's more rare that older players will all continue to play together when individual directions or styles develop.

 

I like playing with younger, talented musicans, and young players into the music like to gain the experience of playing with older players. I think I'm an "older" player but not an old player - yet, anyway.

 

Old musicians join this forum and discuss the merits of reharmonization?

Yeah, just "discussing" reharm (or the merits?) would be a total academic bore to me.

 

I was fooling around reharming songs when I was 17, so reharm is not about age. I actually don't care a bit about reharm now, just music.

 

The reharm thread is just an exercise, so members can exchange ideas and maybe find new things in their own playing. In the process, I sometimes forced myself to do reharms, just to find something new in some tunes I didn't even like. Learning new things about music and improving one's playing should be any musician's top priority, regardless of age. And when music is approached with open minds, age disappears.

 

 

[SpaceNorman]

As all these baby boomers continue their trek to Social Security-ville, a guy like me in his late 30s or early 40s doesn't seem nearly as old as I would have in the 1970s.

 

That's a 40 year old's perspective.

 

If you could be a fly on the wall for a conversation between your teenager and their friends today - my bet is you'll find that their perceptions and attitudes about folks older than them are nearly identical to what yours were back when you were their age. Rest assured that they are acutely aware of your age - and that a 15 year difference in age is the same today as it was in the 70's.

 

I'm 52 and am an avid adult league hockey player. I choose to play in the "18 and over" leagues so that I can play with my two sons. As a result I'm virtually always the oldest guy in the crowd - and have become somewhat of a connesuir of age differences at every level - physical, intellectual and emotional. Every time I start to thinking "Hey...I'm blending!" some youngster comes along and says or does something that bursts that bubble in a HUGE way.

 

Perceptions and sentiment about age aren't changing in any significant way. Our perceptions and sentiments regarding age are simply evolving as we age ourselves - just like our grandparents and parents did before us - and as our kids and their kids will after us.

[ProfD]

D, I think it's just all about music, and who can play it.

 

Learning new things about music and improving one's playing should be any musician's top priority, regardless of age. When music is approached with open minds, age disappears.

 

SK, as a musician, I wholeheartedly agree with your post.

 

Music is a business. Beyond skills, musicians have to constantly sell their talent and music on many levels. Not only as a retail product i.e. CDs, downloads, etc., but in terms of image, sound, style, etc.

 

Norman, just touched on a very real issue. Perception goes a long way especially in music. The regular consumers will always be those with the most disposable income i.e. younger folks.

 

I'm not saying old musicians have to be hip in order to get their attention. Just recognize that most them will ultimately dig along similar lines as their peers.

 

Still, as long as a musician continues adding tricks to their respective bag, they will remain viable and able to find a receptive gig/audience on some level. Evidenced by middle-aged and older cats still being able to perform locally, nationally, etc.