Is age just a number?

#22
Jrussblues said:
I'm 8-9 years older than the other members of my main band. It's still a lot of fun. I dont really worry about the image thing, I just try to entertain and play well.
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I just attended one of those free, in the park/at the mall concerts last night where two of the band members where father and son. They put on quite a show with a wide variety of music. From Country to Rock to their own version of Rap, which I actually enjoyed.

Age is nothing but the number of times you've circumnavigated the solar system.
If you lived on Venus or Mars rather than Earth, how old would you really be? And would that number matter?
 
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#26
LowNloud1 said:
I've hesitated from posting this but here goes.....some self-doubt at play here.

I am retired, getting Social Security and playing in a 90's cover band with three 30-somethings for the past 4 years. I love the music and the challenge of taking myself out of my comfort zone. I love the energy the younger band members show. Great chemistry. We are ascending in the local area. Gig venues are getting into the "prime" local area places and the money is getting good but none of us are into it for the money.

I am able to play for 4 hours. I don't have a problem with the late hours. I feel appreciated by the other members but I kinda feel that my lower energy level and age might affect the band's image. I move around. I don't jump in the air or run around the stage but I move to the music.

Sometimes I think I am a novelty. Some people have remarked that it is cool to see someone my age playing with guys a generation apart in age. I imagine some feel my age might be a negative.

Most of what I see is similarly aged band members playing music from their generation.

Am I cramping my bands image or does age matter?
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I'm 68 and have never been in a band, never will be, but I would have no problem playing in a band with younger people as long as they were ok with it. But they'd all have to be on board with it, if one of the band members felt odd about it I wouldn't do it. The other thing I wouldn't and more to the point couldn't do is party afterwards with them. Been there and done that, the partying that is not the playing. Those days are long gone.
I think you're fortunate to be in this position, don't worry about it and have a good time. I sounds like they are a nice bunch of kids.
 
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#27
Sounds like you guys really have a good thing to me. Maybe you underestimate what you bring to the other guys being more "mature."

You are retired, therefore few conflicts with gigs.
You sound like a true bass player, bringing ability and stability to a position that's, sometimes, hard to fill.
You most likely have dependable gear and maybe even transport.
They may benefit from your experience and view you as, maybe not a band leader, but an almost spiritual being. Their "rock."
You make them look even younger.
You make them look even more energetic.
You, being a mature bassist, keep the ladies utterly enthralled, allowing the youngsters to focus on their music. Don't worry about moving and jumping around. You make break a hip or something and it makes it harder for the chicks to focus!

Mostly in jest but be happy!

By the way I'm 62 and still, at least in my mind, rockin'!
 
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#28
PauFerro said:
If the band members accept you, and you are getting gigs, then I wouldn't worry about it.
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Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. I think the biggest "concern" playing with people much younger (or older) than yourself is the difference in goals and agendas that naturally comes with being in a different place in life. I'm 62; been playing since I was 14. Musically, I can hang with pretty much anyone. But I wouldn't want to be in a band with a bunch of 20-somethings who are putting serious effort into "making it" in this business. Likewise, I don't want to be playing with a bunch of old guys who think that the music catalog ended at Led Zeppelin.
 
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#29
The majority of the people I work with are young enough to be my children's age. Or in other words, I'm old enough to be their father (20 somethings).

I find that if you act like an adult and not a superior or a father figure, acceptance is easy. Trying to act like them or showing insincere interest in what they are into is where it seems like you are the old man. Also as respect is earned when they don't point out your age ever.

I had to leave a job due to the treatment I received from younger employees. Saying things like "grandpa" and "old-timer" is so insulting, especially when you are 46.
 
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#31
I'm at least 20 years older than 90% of the musicians I've played with in the past decade. And that's lots and lots of musicians. I don't think about it. I trust that if and when the age difference starts affecting those bands, they'll let me know about it :). Pretty sure I'm 25 years older than 3 of the members in my newest band.
 
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#33
i feel age is just a number ...
i'm hitting 62 in october , and i still play out regularly .
in three different bands , still diggin' what i do , with no complaints from anyone .
33784721642_68a4b63260_z1_zpswtvfxks8.jpg
 
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#34
LowNloud1 said:
I've hesitated from posting this but here goes.....some self-doubt at play here.

I am retired, getting Social Security and playing in a 90's cover band with three 30-somethings for the past 4 years. I love the music and the challenge of taking myself out of my comfort zone. I love the energy the younger band members show. Great chemistry. We are ascending in the local area. Gig venues are getting into the "prime" local area places and the money is getting good but none of us are into it for the money.

I am able to play for 4 hours. I don't have a problem with the late hours. I feel appreciated by the other members but I kinda feel that my lower energy level and age might affect the band's image. I move around. I don't jump in the air or run around the stage but I move to the music.

Sometimes I think I am a novelty. Some people have remarked that it is cool to see someone my age playing with guys a generation apart in age. I imagine some feel my age might be a negative.

Most of what I see is similarly aged band members playing music from their generation.

Am I cramping my bands image or does age matter?
Click to expand...

It's a cover band; as long as you sound great, you're age is irrelevant. :thumbsup:
 
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#36
@LowNloud1 Don't worry about it or invent "a problem" about it in your mind. If it works, it works.
As far as moving around a lot, this guy didn't seem to have a problem "waiting for pigeons to land on him"(<<< borrowed from a manager we had in the 70's who got us to run around like early Styx or Sabaton).
 
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#38
Johnny Crab said:
@LowNloud1 Don't worry about it or invent "a problem" about it in your mind. If it works, it works.
As far as moving around a lot, this guy didn't seem to have a problem "waiting for pigeons to land on him"(<<< borrowed from a manager we had in the 70's who got us to run around like early Styx or Sabaton).
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That's actually pretty animated, for Entwistle. :D
 
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#40
Is age just a number? Yeah, I think so. At 62, still gig regularly, in a couple different projects (various age ranges), rehears and record a whole bunch and work during the day.(carpentry/electrical/plumbing, remodel). I think that's what keeps me going. If I were to do nothing I would probably feel like crap and wither away.
 
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