TBird
Wholenote
Posts: 298
Formerly Known As: greg1948
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Post by TBird on Nov 10, 2020 8:22:15 GMT -5
Living up in NJ most of my life, I'd not had much time to devote to my guitar playing. I did have a regular bunch of guys to rehash the songs of our "yout", but we never played out commercially. In 2013, I retired to FL ( age 65) and discovered lots of old geezers playing at the beachside venues and clubs, and especially at open mics. It took awhile, but I have gradually worked my way into the music scene and started gigging regularly. Most recently, I had my own band and a steady gig at an American Legion club.
It was when I tried to get into the better venues that I started encountering the attitude of the managers who were old enough to be my sons. "Nah, our audiences don't want "classic rock" anymore". When I see photos of the bands now on the circuit here, it seems the band members are all in the 40-50 yr old range. It's obvious that us septuagenerians have aged out of the market. Hell, most folks my age don't even go out any more, and if they do go to a bar with a band, they'll nurse a drink for an hour and go home.
Now with COVID still rampant, the service clubs have suspended live music. So I'm in limbo, wondering how much longer this aging wanna-be is going to keep on going. I do love playing for an audience, but my time is coming to an end. It is ironic, but in the last few years, I'm playing and singing better than I ever have before. Oh, well, I can always hit the nursing home circuit and play for people my age.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Nov 11, 2020 10:49:22 GMT -5
Yeah, the boomer musician demographic figuratively (and literally) moved to the retirement community, Covid put them in hospice.
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Post by tahitijack on Nov 11, 2020 11:13:09 GMT -5
It might also have something to do with genres. Jazz musicians seem to play on and attract an audience as the age. I'd still pay to see Earl Klugh, Larry Carlton or David Benoit.
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TBird
Wholenote
Posts: 298
Formerly Known As: greg1948
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Post by TBird on Nov 12, 2020 7:42:45 GMT -5
I know at my age, jazz would be more a more appropriate style, but I'm nowhere skilled enough to play that kind of music. I appreciate jazz guitarists, but I'm still a rock-and-roll guy at heart.
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Post by Rick Knight on Nov 15, 2020 16:43:53 GMT -5
There were places in Missouri that wouldn’t hire a band like ours, doing a mix of 60s, 70s, and 80s material. Having arrived in FL just in time for the COVID shutdowns, I still don't have a handle on what goes on around here, but my expectation was that the demographics would be good for at least some of that mix. Based on the number of Elvis fans I've met; I’m currently more concerned that people around this area want older music than I want to play, not newer.
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Post by rickyguitar on Nov 16, 2020 4:01:19 GMT -5
But not ancient history
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mikem
Wholenote
Musician soundman musician soundman
Posts: 230
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Post by mikem on Nov 16, 2020 7:12:19 GMT -5
As someone that has gigged all of my life (school music teacher by day/ musician by night) I knew that what I did had a "shelf-life".
For me 50 was the magic age where I knew that I'd have to either adapt or hang it up, so to speak.
Up until my late 40's I regularly played professional shows, clubs, and the wedding band scene.
After a while gray hair turned to white...
To be honest, what 25 y/o bride is going to want a 60+ year old band playing at her wedding? Not many, if any.
What 25 y/o professionally-employed kid ("in the drinking age") wants to go to club to hear classic rock? btw: I recently asked my 25 y/o son that exact question, his answer z-e-r-o.
IMO: older musicians (as I am) can still play jazz and make it happen. I've seen more and more jazz/fusion bands pop up at outdoor art shows, etc.
The jazz is more modal/Miles styled and is easy for the "plain-fold" to listen to....goodbye bebop:( Younger musicians can cheez-through some modal stuff (throw in an electric violin), run up and down their pentatonic scales and make it sell.
I plan to put such a group together once the Covid mess subsides.
I, myself, have transitioned to classical music (playing flute/clarinet). I have a trio that gigs 35 or so weddings (ceremony/'tails hour) annually on average (except for this year).
I feel that being older helps me book my trio.....maybe the brides think that they are talking to Mozart - lol.
Hey, it's music..
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Post by rickyguitar on Nov 22, 2020 14:23:11 GMT -5
Isn't country music a little more welcoming of old farts?
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Post by 6l6 on Jan 26, 2021 19:13:53 GMT -5
The Open Mics I play (in non-pandemic times) around the San Francisco Bay Area and in Truckee, CA (Lake Tahoe) would be in trouble if it weren't for Boomers like me (I'm 75). I would say that 80%+ of the performers are Boomers. In Truckee, however, most performers are in their 20/30's but still welcome this geezer every time I play there.
That said, the 50/60's Classic Oldies Band I played in from 1985 to 2012 came to an end because the people who used to hire us were our age and had retired. The younger folks who replaced them didn't want to hear "their grandfather's music". I get that.
For me it's going to be Open Mics to the finish line. That's OK though because I don't need the money from gigs and I really enjoy getting together with fellow musicians a couple times a week. All I need to be happy is to get rid of the COVID and get the venues up and running again.
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Post by walshb 🦒 on Jan 29, 2021 9:01:56 GMT -5
I'm also a classic rock guy and in this area, I don't think I'd have a problem getting gigs, in fact I have, within the last couple of years. But switching to blues may be the ticket, if you like blues. That's been my experience, anyway.
It's easy, fun, and when you get the right crowd, even more fun, and appreciated. Even with recent developments, I played out more times last year than I ever have, doing blues.
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Post by LesTele on Feb 2, 2021 16:55:32 GMT -5
I’m looking to get back out gigging (after a long absence) when it’s possible again. If any of the venues are still open.
I’m in my late fifties, with background in folk music and I think there’s a audience for new wave/Celtic music that I aim to fill.
I’ve always had Joe Strummer tendencies. The roaring Twenties could be my time😀
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