Some thoughts on gigging for 50+ musicians

Rocker

Interesting:

ElectricXII

 I'm 60 and still gigging, and I disagree with him about venue owners in the past caring about music quality.  It's always been about the money, "or keeping people drinking", as he puts it. 

Danny1969

My main band is probably Portsmouths most popular rocky / indie covers band .. we can sell out a 440 cap venue 
Only one of us is younger than 55

stickyfiddle

His points aren't wrong, but they're nothing to do with the age of the players. 

Venues book whoever they think they can make money from, either from the event itself, or from long term reputational improvement from having great music (the latter is rare, of course...).

Crowds have never "got it" and most venues have never respected musicians. But he also seems to be talking very specifically about the North American bar band thing, which isn't the same as the UK pub thing. Longer sets, lots of requests, etc etc 

Also I massively dislike his use of AI and clickbait "compoface" thumbnails. Musicians should be better than that. 

ALSO there isn't a single clip of him playing music on his channel, which I find very odd. 

Benz3ne

4 of the 5 members of my band are 60+. I bring down the average age somewhat. They're in it for the love of playing live. They have some clout in the rugby scene, too, so we tend to be pretty well-off for gigs (pub gigs locally, friends/friends of friends venues, presentation evenings, charity work).

DefaultM

I think as long as the stage is big enough for them and all the amps you’ll be fine. 

fretmeister

Anytime anyone mentions age and gigging I get an urge to put together a punk band and just go out and make a lot of noise.

Col_Decker

51 and regularly gigging in a tribute here. Plus got a first practice with a new originals band tonight, youngest member is 50

darthed1981

DefaultM said:

I think as long as the stage is big enough for them and all the amps you’ll be fine. 

Came to post this joke, you beat me to it.

bobeffect

Our Vocalist drags the other 3 of our low 60's average down a bit. She's in her mid 40's thankfully so we've got some age credit there and having a female front person helps too. Anyway, it's about what you play and how you play it that matters more I think. The kids and the Old foggies seem to like our stuff so we continue try and to cover a few bases with setlist to appeal.

RickLucas

I don't do this for a living, and that's probably why I still like to go out and play, but only in places where I would otherwise go as a punter, or on a self-promoted show where people of the same age (or usually older) have paid to be entertained, and therefore behave appropriately. 

DefaultM

darthed1981 said:

DefaultM said:

I think as long as the stage is big enough for them and all the amps you’ll be fine. 

Came to post this joke, you beat me to it.

It made my wife laugh and then roll her eyes at herself for laughing, so we can share that.

Roland

There’s so much rubbish on YouTube. It used to be opinion, which you could take or leave. Nowadays it’s designed to be controversial to trigger interaction. 

Our singer is the youngster at 50. Drums and bass are recently retired. Venues actually like us because we’re are mature and reliable. 

CaseOfAce

His videos seems to make a point of statin' the bleedin' obvious whilst masquerading as sage wisdom - not for me.

Following my stint of over 10 years in a local pub / function band (we never did weddings - we simply weren't good enough) I reckon I could write a book describing the high and lows, the need to knows and sheer nonsense I experienced in amateur musician land which makes be baffled when I see such middle of the road musings such as this. 

CaseOfAce

Roland said:

Our singer is the youngster at 50. Drums and bass are recently retired. Venues actually like us because we’re are mature and reliable. 

"I remember being knocked out by their exuberance, their raw power - and their punctuality. That band was Britain's now-legendary Spinal Tap." - Marti DiBergi

GoFish

stickyfiddle said:

....

ALSO there isn't a single clip of him playing music on his channel, which I find very odd. 

Is he 5 Watt World after a shave and haircut? 

merlin

Col_Decker said:

51 and regularly gigging in a tribute here. Plus got a first practice with a new originals band tonight, youngest member is 50