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I'm 52 and have played with many in their 20's.. I still move and carry (or Roll) my SVT CL and 810 cab from show to show plus all my other gear.. Age is a "Mindset" when playing,keeping the body in tune is the challenge ! 
I'll be 70 in November. I play with 20-something's, 30'somethnings and cats my age. I play funk, rock, hard rock, blues and jazz. who cares? do you think anyone cares how old Leland or Pino are?
Michael Schreiber
Commercial User
Don't worry. Really. Ever seen Lemmy from Motörhead jump around? And he was the frontman.
I think it's good to reflect on one's strengths and weaknesses.
In your case, I'd suggest; don't fret too much about what you can't do - feel free to focus on what you can do.
Obviously, that's enough to make good music and entertain the crowd.
Might be even better with less doubts, so feel free to play, enjoy and make others enjoy your playing \m/
If you're going for a boyband look... ok, you have a strong point. But otherwise, just go with it and enjoy it as long as your bandmates are happy and the audiences too.
Even that isn't out of the question. Dick Clark was a teenager for almost seventy years!
Very interesting topic. Thanks for having launched it.
I'm 58, and have been playing saxes in bands on and off for good 40 years, going from young to... less young, but mostly in jazz bands, a genre where grey hair are rather welcome. I currently play the bary sax in 2 big bands, one where I'm almost the youngest, and another where I'm rather on the veteran side. No real issue related to age anyhow. In both I take an over average number of solos, which at least testifies an intact energy and drive. My back sometimes reminds me of the 7kg (14 pounds ?) of that specific horn. BTW, I find my newly bought 5 stringer feather light ...
But: picking up the bass at 58, with, as main musical drivers, "non-straight-ahead" Jazz, Fusion, Blues and maybe some more ethnical stuff in mind is definitely less forgiving. What's that "old fart" (love the expression) looking for ?
I'm 58, and have been playing saxes in bands on and off for good 40 years, going from young to... less young, but mostly in jazz bands, a genre where grey hair are rather welcome. I currently play the bary sax in 2 big bands, one where I'm almost the youngest, and another where I'm rather on the veteran side. No real issue related to age anyhow. In both I take an over average number of solos, which at least testifies an intact energy and drive. My back sometimes reminds me of the 7kg (14 pounds ?) of that specific horn. BTW, I find my newly bought 5 stringer feather light ...
But: picking up the bass at 58, with, as main musical drivers, "non-straight-ahead" Jazz, Fusion, Blues and maybe some more ethnical stuff in mind is definitely less forgiving. What's that "old fart" (love the expression) looking for ?
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Yes it is.
I'm a 14 year old stuck in a 60 year old body.
I'm the oldest guy in the 3 bands I work with. The others are 30-45 years old.
I'm aware of it and so are the young patrons at our gigs.
They tell me.
I stay focused, play the gig , get payed and do it again.
Haven't lost a gig yet.
I'm a 14 year old stuck in a 60 year old body.
I'm the oldest guy in the 3 bands I work with. The others are 30-45 years old.
I'm aware of it and so are the young patrons at our gigs.
They tell me.
I stay focused, play the gig , get payed and do it again.
Haven't lost a gig yet.
Age can matter, sometimes for legit reasons, sometimes for stupid reasons -- sometimes for no other reason than that folks have the preconceived idea that it should or will matter (self-fulfilling prophecy).
If it's really going to be an obstacle, that will take care of itself. You mention "great chemistry" and that you're "ascending in the local area" and "the money is getting good." Has a younger version of yourself been subbing for you while all this has transpired? If not, then we might reasonably presume that your net impact on the group (you with your age and lack of jumping around [not necessarily a negative], but also your personality, musicality, and way of working with others) has been a positive one.
There are a lot of closed-minded people in the world and, the more closed, the less afraid they are to open their mouths, so, yeah, you might get some guff for your age some day, but people similarly discriminate based on all sorts of other factors. Similarly, while age can play into how folks gel or don't, there is so much other crap that can get in the way of making good music with people -- let alone working together as a viable band -- that you should count yourselves lucky if that's the only potential hangup.
Don't fall on your metaphorical sword (or axe?) for the good of the group just yet. It's just possible that they wouldn't be better off without you.
If a musician (especially the Bass player, 'cause as you know- WE hold it DOWN!) can & does PLAY-
Then, to anyone who would even consider the age to be a factor: I say this-
You are superficial; you are about the "image" rather than the pocket, and you need an attitude adjustment right quick.
I realize that image and appearances are part of "show biz", and may be important for say, a "Boy Band" but let's get real: Even those acts which are "fabricated" -One Direction, etc. NEED seasoned pros to make something out of them in the studio.
My .02.
Then, to anyone who would even consider the age to be a factor: I say this-
You are superficial; you are about the "image" rather than the pocket, and you need an attitude adjustment right quick.
I realize that image and appearances are part of "show biz", and may be important for say, a "Boy Band" but let's get real: Even those acts which are "fabricated" -One Direction, etc. NEED seasoned pros to make something out of them in the studio.
My .02.
I'm 50. Two of the other guys are early-mid 40s. The other two are both 26. It works.
Although one of the younger guys wants to set me up with his Mom. He keeps calling me Dad. Should I be concerned?
Although one of the younger guys wants to set me up with his Mom. He keeps calling me Dad. Should I be concerned?
Umm... Maybe? I don't know. I can think of at least three new slants on band drama it could introduce, though.
Michael Schreiber
Commercial User
As a side note: When searching for a guitarist, we had one 19 year old jamming with us, was very cool, then he said to us "Was fun! But, I find the age is too different."
It takes much to make me speechless, but he did
Not because I was angry, au contraire. I was astonished, because he was the first who had the guts being honest, not making excuses or simply not showing up after some rehearsals. I appreciated that, very respectable.
In general, I think, age may be a factor when you want to be in a band for the fun of hanging around, not for the music, primarily or only. Otherwise, you'd just prefer experienced and reliable players, of any age, right? At least I do. In our band, almost three generations are united, and age is no problem at all; neither psychologically nor physically
It takes much to make me speechless, but he did
Not because I was angry, au contraire. I was astonished, because he was the first who had the guts being honest, not making excuses or simply not showing up after some rehearsals. I appreciated that, very respectable.
In general, I think, age may be a factor when you want to be in a band for the fun of hanging around, not for the music, primarily or only. Otherwise, you'd just prefer experienced and reliable players, of any age, right? At least I do. In our band, almost three generations are united, and age is no problem at all; neither psychologically nor physically
Michael Schreiber
Commercial User
Mahlzeit!!! Michael
Last weekend I jammed with two kids (19 + 20) and it was great!
I am sure they will not invite me again as soon as they find a bassplayer who has their age and
knows how to play nine out of ten Hendrix songs....
I hope this will take a while
because I loved it (pizza and beers, smalltalk about girls...
)bet you will!!!
mornin' Spidey may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
Michael Schreiber
Commercial User
Mahlzeit!!! Michael
Last weekend I jammed with two kids (19 + 20) and it was great!
I am sure they will not invite me again as soon as they find a bassplayer who has their age and
knows how to play nine out of ten Hendrix songs....
I hope this will take a while
bet you will!!!
may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
Haha, that's great. So true, I also enjoy that aspect with younger ones. Not arriving with a sad face after work and whining over all-day problems, but living today, chasing dreams and feeling no mountain's too high. Of course, there are also old ones who still have the fire in their eyes; the ones many would regard as crazy, weird - improperly behaving for their age; the ones I call examples / role models
I hope you'll have many more jams together \m/