Is age just a number?

#141
age is not just a number. it's reality. LOOK is a reality in the band biz too. Appearance, and therefore, age, does count. it's just reality. A guy in his 60s is going to look odd playing with a bunch of people in their 30s. no matter how good you look. and its not just age. Attractiveness counts. Do you think that bands, in general, with attractive, fit people, dressed for the part, will get further than a bunch of slobs in a lot of cases, all other things being equal? Yes. We can rail against it, but it's reality. I put my picture and my age in my CL ads. Why? Because I don't want to waste my time or theirs if they want someone who looks a different way or is a younger man than me. I just sort of expect it. And similarly I have rejected band projects because of the way they looked. I am not ready yet to be in the "Old Guy Grey Beard Overweight Rednecks With Limited Prospects Band." I'm just not.
 
#142
QORC said:
age is not just a number. it's reality. LOOK is a reality in the band biz too. Appearance, and therefore, age, does count. it's just reality. A guy in his 60s is going to look odd playing with a bunch of people in their 30s. no matter how good you look. and its not just age. Attractiveness counts. Do you think that bands, in general, with attractive, fit people, dressed for the part, will get further than a bunch of slobs in a lot of cases, all other things being equal? Yes. We can rail against it, but it's reality. I put my picture and my age in my CL ads. Why? Because I don't want to waste my time or theirs if they want someone who looks a different way or is a younger man than me. I just sort of expect it. And similarly I have rejected band projects because of the way they looked. I am not ready yet to be in the "Old Guy Grey Beard Overweight Rednecks With Limited Prospects Band." I'm just not.
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Depends on the genre, IMO.
Every genre which is not primarily about the music: OK, you may have a point. Definitely in KPOP, for example.
Every genre which is about the music: No, I disagree.

Just look at successful bands. Are they pretty? I mean yes, but in a respectful way.
Respect they owned through their music, not their looks nor their age.
 
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#143
I would agree, it DOES depend on the kind of band, the genre, the goals. No doubt there are exceptions. I'm just saying that how one looks - and age plays into that - DOES matter to a lot of bands and musicians. I just expect that my age puts me out of range for some bands, or that I'm not really grungy-looking makes me undesirable to other bands. No matter how good I am. I just expect it. it's like dating - there is a lot of preferences that bands have that I cannot meet or control
 
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#144
QORC said:
I would agree, it DOES depend on the kind of band, the genre, the goals. No doubt there are exceptions. I'm just saying that how one looks - and age plays into that - DOES matter to a lot of bands and musicians. I just expect that my age puts me out of range for some bands, or that I'm not really grungy-looking makes me undesirable to other bands. No matter how good I am. I just expect it. it's like dating - there is a lot of preferences that bands have that I cannot meet or control
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I agree. It really has to do with expectations, at least for me.
Thus, it is the same vice versa, isn't it? In some genres, you'd get a bonus from the audience, the harder/tougher/experienced you look. Or the more your voice has riped :D I'm still thinking of Lemmy. Also ManOwaR or Doro: I like them for their music and the fire in there eyes; when they play live, they really are alive in every respect. I doubt, a teenage band could transport that to me in the crowd in that context. Songs like "Mountains" work best if played and sung by someone who seems to obviously know what he's singing about. Just saying that it can also be an advantage not to look too young.

So again, I agree; you brought it to the point, IMO: expectations
 
#147
QORC said:
age is not just a number. it's reality. LOOK is a reality in the band biz too. Appearance, and therefore, age, does count. it's just reality. A guy in his 60s is going to look odd playing with a bunch of people in their 30s. no matter how good you look. and its not just age. Attractiveness counts. Do you think that bands, in general, with attractive, fit people, dressed for the part, will get further than a bunch of slobs in a lot of cases, all other things being equal? Yes. We can rail against it, but it's reality. I put my picture and my age in my CL ads. Why? Because I don't want to waste my time or theirs if they want someone who looks a different way or is a younger man than me. I just sort of expect it. And similarly I have rejected band projects because of the way they looked. I am not ready yet to be in the "Old Guy Grey Beard Overweight Rednecks With Limited Prospects Band." I'm just not.
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The "problem" or at least my difference of opinion in this post is that it goes from one extreme to the other:

attractive, fit people, dressed for the part, will get further than a bunch of slobs.

Is there no middle ground? Especially with respect to the OP's subject matter. I don't see an age differential as being this-
The youth- attractive, fit, dressed for the part
An "Elder"- slob.
I know that's not what you meant necessarily, but my point stands.

An "act" whether Boy/Girl Band; or Motley Crue rawkers, yeh, they are looking for and need an appearance, a type. Just as is done in casting for movie roles.
Musicians- It does not matter- The Philharmonic, the Lincoln Center Jazz Band, a Fusion/Jazz ensemble- Age, even appearance unless extreme would not /should not matter.

How about say Chuck Rainey? (I mean, we're Bassists here, huh?) Is he too old to hold it down? If anyone thinks so- get a brain-wave check, you're not functioning.

My sig other was a pro dancer once. She got and lost gigs because in the chorus line, they are looking for types, heights, figures etc. for the particular show. That's the dance-biz.

For me at least, when you're talking about the Music (and in my objective: The FUNK!)
You bring it, I do not need to see I.D. to check age.:roflmao:
YMMV, IMHO, my .02 etc.
 
#148
B-line said:
The "problem" or at least my difference of opinion in this post is that it goes from one extreme to the other:

attractive, fit people, dressed for the part, will get further than a bunch of slobs.

Is there no middle ground? Especially with respect to the OP's subject matter. I don't see an age differential as being this-
The youth- attractive, fit, dressed for the part
An "Elder"- slob.
I know that's not what you meant necessarily, but my point stands.

An "act" whether Boy/Girl Band; or Motley Crue rawkers, yeh, they are looking for and need an appearance, a type. Just as is done in casting for movie roles.
Musicians- It does not matter- The Philharmonic, the Lincoln Center Jazz Band, a Fusion/Jazz ensemble- Age, even appearance unless extreme would not /should not matter.

How about say Chuck Rainey? (I mean, we're Bassists here, huh?) Is he too old to hold it down? If anyone thinks so- get a brain-wave check, you're not functioning.

My sig other was a pro dancer once. She got and lost gigs because in the chorus line, they are looking for types, heights, figures etc. for the particular show. That's the dance-biz.

For me at least, when you're talking about the Music (and in my objective: The FUNK!)
You bring it, I do not need to see I.D. to check age.:roflmao:
YMMV, IMHO, my .02 etc.
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That was my first thought, too, but @QORC has a point; expectations.
One example: When Judas Priest, old people, sing about "We don't need no parental guidance here," Priest fan or not, I skip it. Old people singing teenager songs doesn't feel authentic to me. Same as if a youngster would sing Mountains (from Manowar). It just ain't that way, IMHO.

Different example: KK Downing supported the (back then) teenager rockers Sturm und Drang, playing a gig with them. Since they're making solid rock for all ages, not just teenager topics, I find it awesome and suitable.

So, what the songs are about and what the band motto is (or whatever one may call what I mean) surely matters to me.

Maybe it's safe to say: As long as it's kept true, age doesn't matter?
(true in the sense of staying true to oneself)
 
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#149
Michael Schreiber said:
That was my first thought, too, but @QORC has a point; expectations.
One example: When Judas Priest, old people, sing about "We don't need no parental guidance here," Priest fan or not, I skip it. Old people singing teenager songs doesn't feel authentic to me. Same as if a youngster would sing Mountains (from Manowar). It just ain't that way, IMHO.

Different example: KK Downing supported the (back then) teenager rockers Sturm und Drang, playing a gig with them. Since they're making solid rock for all ages, not just teenager topics, I find it awesome and suitable.

So, what the songs are about and what the band motto is (or whatever one may call what I mean) surely matters to me.

Maybe it's safe to say: As long as it's kept true, age doesn't matter?
(true in the sense of staying true to oneself)
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I hear you, Michael

But...:smug:

I'm not familiar myself w/ those you mentioned (KK Downing & Sturm/Drang) and Judas Priest has kind of always been off my radar! Nonetheless...
I can remember the Who saying "Hope I die before I get old".Well, some of them did!

But the rest are still playing concerts, IMO not such a good thing, but that's only because I'm not a fan.

Yep, age matters where image is concerned, no question there. Hollywood actresses in particular stress about this all the time.
Everyone ages unless they get hit by a truck while texting on their 5G smartphone or such, As I get older-
Insofar as playing my bass:
I'm getting WAAAAY better and find that my playing abilities are evolving. I would not trade that for anyone's criteria of what age fits whatever they're trying to sell.

P.S.: I'm not that old!:roflmao:
 
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#150
B-line said:
I hear you, Michael

But...:smug:

I'm not familiar myself w/ those you mentioned (KK Downing & Sturm/Drang) and Judas Priest has kind of always been off my radar! Nonetheless...
I can remember the Who saying "Hope I die before I get old".Well, some of them did!

But the rest are still playing concerts, IMO not such a good thing, but that's only because I'm not a fan.

Yep, age matters where image is concerned, no question there. Hollywood actresses in particular stress about this all the time.
Everyone ages unless they get hit by a truck while texting on their 5G smartphone or such, As I get older-
Insofar as playing my bass:
I'm getting WAAAAY better and find that my playing abilities are evolving. I would not trade that for anyone's criteria of what age fits whatever they're trying to sell.

P.S.: I'm not that old!:roflmao:
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Haha, sorry for those bad examples. I agree with you. Just tried to extend "image" to "meaning" or content. Imagine an old guy like me singing about teenager problems with parents... that would be satire, at best. Wielding my bass would hardly distract from that fact :D

But focusing purely on the bass playing: Absolutely, I fully agree. There are good, committed, reliable, focused players in all levels, from novice to awesome, in all ages, IMHO. That really is a mind thing, primarily. A question of attitude, not age.
 
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#151
Michael Schreiber said:
Haha, sorry for those bad examples. I agree with you. Just tried to extend "image" to "meaning" or content. Imagine an old guy like me singing about teenager problems with parents... that would be satire, at best. Wielding my bass would hardly distract from that fact :D

But focusing purely on the bass playing: Absolutely, I fully agree. There are good, committed, reliable, focused players in all levels, from novice to awesome, in all ages, IMHO. That really is a mind thing, primarily. A question of attitude, not age.
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Not bad examples at all!
And if you DID sing about teen probs w/ Mom/Dad, it may not be on point, but at least you would do it with conviction from having been there! Age = Experience!:D

Plus, maybe it could be arranged so that the "Young ones" could take a verse as the teens w/ angst, and then you (or whomever) would sing a verse as "elder Parent" or something in response!:roflmao:

(BTW, if anyone actually does that and makes $$, I want a piece!)
:cool:
 
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#152
B-line said:
Plus, maybe it could be arranged so that the "Young ones" could take a verse as the teens w/ angst, and then you (or whomever) would sing a verse as "elder Parent" or something in response!:roflmao:
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Now, that'd be a great idea. That'd be something one really could pull in a true way; staying true / being oneself, I mean.
I'm impressed! \m/
 
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#153
Michael Schreiber said:
Haha, sorry for those bad examples. I agree with you. Just tried to extend "image" to "meaning" or content. Imagine an old guy like me singing about teenager problems with parents... that would be satire, at best. Wielding my bass would hardly distract from that fact :D

But focusing purely on the bass playing: Absolutely, I fully agree. There are good, committed, reliable, focused players in all levels, from novice to awesome, in all ages, IMHO. That really is a mind thing, primarily. A question of attitude, not age.
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I too thought your examples were apt. Your example of KK working with a younger band reminded me of a story John Taylor's Duran Duran told me. He was a producing a young band and guested on a couple tracks. He was pleased when the band invited him to reproduce his basa parts at their showcase gig -- until they informed him that they wanted him to play behind a curtain to disguise his age! This was nearly ten years ago, as well.

In any case, I agree that a young man singing "You make me so irrational with new emotions I fear for my sanity" is romantic, whereas a septuagenarian singing the same type lyric begs the question of where the singer has been sequestered all those decades.
 
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#155
Michael Schreiber said:
No way! How mean... thanks for the hint. Maybe I find an article about that. Curious to read how he reacted to that :D
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He related it me in a wry fashion, indicating good-naturedly that the irony of the request was not lost on him. He told the joke realizing his age was the punchline, and that, well, that's just how it goes.
Sterling human being, John Taylor.
 
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#158
B-line said:
Just remember my Royalties!!:roflmao:
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Haha, you bet I will. Even more, if we really can build on that idea, one day, be prepared to get involved and take part.
Since you're creative, you'd be also perfect for writing the script for a music video. Shoot, I've not even any lyrics, but am already getting carried away :D
 
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#159
Michael Schreiber said:
Haha, you bet I will. Even more, if we really can build on that idea, one day, be prepared to get involved and take part.
Since you're creative, you'd be also perfect for writing the script for a music video. Shoot, I've not even any lyrics, but am already getting carried away :D
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Cool! I've seen quite a bit of Europe, but have not yet been to Deutschland! My bad.

...Or perhaps a soundstage here in Las Vegas would be more appropriate!:roflmao:
 
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