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I would like to play some serious music, but it seems like everyone my age has been there and done that. Are only young people starting bands these days? I would love some constructive criticism of my listing on this site, too!

I would like to play some serious music, but it seems like everyone my age has been there and done that. Are only young people starting bands these days? I would love some constructive criticism of my listing on this site, too!

I am 50 and started a new 'direction' in my musical path.

After 35 years of performing / touring / etc. I switched gears (it got tiring and I want to be home with my family) and started recording what I want, the way I want, put the word out, and began selling downloads on my Bandvista website.

I've had 2269 views since Thu, 17 Mar 2011 and half of them downloaded a composition or more. It has led to other work as well.

I remain in total control of my work (if you don't like it, don't buy it), I work when I want (which is all the time, lol!), and enjoy being home with my family!

Win Win!


Concerning your situation, I would examine the audience that you believe you could reach and build something around that. For instance, you're probably not going to hit mainstream pop, but on the other hand you could very well be a great jazz singer, and no one cares what your age or image is.

Just a thought, good luck and Reyn til Runa! (Seek the Mysteries!)

I would like to play some serious music, but it seems like everyone my age has been there and done that. Are only young people starting bands these days? I would love some constructive criticism of my listing on this site, too!

Karen, I'm starting at 50 + and I promised myself i will NEVER operate under any delusions of grandeur about what I am doing musically. Having said that, I am now officially the greatest Musician of our times.. Truly the biggest legend of my very own mind.


Collaboration is much more difficult as we get older...I think its because our minds are already made up... damn it!

My only suggestion is that you find your best genre, and make your own art of it... Stick by it. I partially agree with what Etu was saying about Mainstream Pop. That just really 'belongs' to a much younger crowd. (I always joke with my friends and tell them the only reason McCartney and Clapton, etc are still around is because they are critical roots history for young kids to learn about. Jagger is around to embellish 'say no to drugs' lol!))

The mainstream can be done..but its is intensely physically demanding and to earn the trust of that audience, you have develop the whole performance enchilada that goes with it. (That's actually true of any genre). Its hard to get an 18 year old to buy into the 'sexiness of a 50 year old'.

Any way good luck to you and above all...do it for the fun! : )

Ma'am

After playing bass professionally and then as a sometimes guy, I have reinvented myself as a lead guitarist and I'm having a lot of fun, writing a lot of songs.

And yeah I'm headed toward geezerdom but having just seen Dave Brubeck (at 93!) peforming parts of a new Sonata he has written I think I'll just blow past age and keep wailin'.

A couple years ago I wrote a song that is my theme called "Encore (Second Time Around)." Second time around will be the last time - life has boundaries. If you are going to do it - do it now.

Good side - much fun and tools that were not available back in the day. But a real challenge since at our age we have a lot more responsibilities. I Sometimes miss the complete sense of irrepressible nuttiness that propelled me the first time around.

How it works: since I sold out starting a band has become a lot different. For cover music lyrics and chords, tabs etc are easily obtained as are tutorials on any subject you can think of.

Have to learn how it works to a certain extent at least to be credible. (This forum has been very helpful to me in catching up on the current thinking)

Still helps to be in a major city - particularly LA or NY. I'm not and it costs me.

Muscians in our age group? The ones I've talked to or played with since I started thinking about a new outfit have been very uninspiring with an exception or two. No spirit. Competant? Some of 'em yeah. But pitching the same old whines about how hard it is to play original music which is an issue for me.

Younger ones? They start from a better plance then we did and many are hot as the dickens. Often view us as fogies however or not radical enough. (If they only knew...)

I'm hoping to grab some people that still believe, don't care the age group, and push my own material as far as I can until I get decrepit or the country falls apart.

Tough road. But you'll know wether to travel it - when I looked at the lyrics to "Encore" there was simply no question for me any more.

Best of luck.

Talbot

[quote="MikeTalbot"]Ma'am

You called me Ma'am! Now I know you are from the south, but now I feel REALLY old.

All of my replies are from men who have been in the industry at some point -- is it harder for a woman? reading some other threads suggests that this may be the case.

Ma'am

You called me Ma'am! Now I know you are from the south, but now I feel REALLY old.

All of my replies are from men who have been in the industry at some point -- is it harder for a woman? reading some other threads suggests that this may be the case.

You would probably find Chaeya, who posts on general chat quite often, very helpful in deciphering the industry from a female point of view.

I agree with Mike, the age is all in the head thing. Just gotta be realistic and sensible.

BTW since you had asked, re: Craigslist song. Its a nice beat...I think the lyrics/melody doesn't suit the structure of the instrumentation. Not saying its bad...just saying its almost like you have two different songs going there. I would probably want to broaden the scope/range of the melody, and craft out a a tight meter in the lyric. It has all the elements of a pick-me-up jazz tempo.

Many years ago I wrote a song of similar subject...i.e the online dating services, except i went on about having fabricated the woman of my dreams... based on a single pic and her intense talents for writing poetry. She actually existed... (Was a Lit professor at University Of Boston) amd I had actualy fallen for her... Never having met her I was juxtaposed with my 'idea' of who she was and the so-called love I 'felt"... Needless to say, the song didn'ty qualify as a love song...In hind sight I should have titled it "I'm an idiot"

Karensic,
There are players of all ages out there. Plenty of people in your age bracket.
Just realize, for most young players it starts with what they see then what they hear. Don't be discouraged.
Being in a band is so much work in the begining it's just not worth it to me. So i work alone for now. Just writing and recording. I enjoy it... even my kids like some of what i record.
From your recordings i think i favored the blues/jazz bits. Because the night was ok i've just heard done too many times. Lots of effect on your voice. Becomes distracting to my ears.
Good Luck to you.

i want to thank you guys for your thoughtful input. i really appreciate it. i am going to give this a try, but clearly wont give up my day job! i know that in many ways as we get older we get both more and less patient -- more patient in understanding the fact that life can throw a lot at people and so understand the reasons we become who we are and hopefully more tolerant of people's foibles and weaknesses-- and less patient with the seemingly trivial stuff. I'll see if I have enough patience to go through the band formation stage.

I am intrigued that so many of you have opted to work on your own. I wonder if it is an expression of the latter. Perhaps it is because i am also a painter -- something that is completely an independent and sometimes isolating activity -- that I seek some form of collaborative expression. Maybe this could take the form of a more simple collaboration such as songwriting

I just spent some time in Brazil studying guitar with two terrific artists and it made me see that there is so much more to learn and discover. I'm glad I posted because I am learning much from you all.

You can do whatever you commit yourself to doing....at any age, if you're doing it because you love to.

I also agree that if you can accompany yourself well on an instrument and sing, then practise to be a solo artist, while taking every opportunity to jam with others when you get it.

And no matter what anyone tells you, anything is possible while you breathe if you'll just be faithful in the small things.

Set realistic goals and succeed in them.



.

Karensic:

If you're planning on "making it" in music, then, yes - over 50 is too old to get started...even in country, sad to say.

If you're looking to get gigs & get some extra cash on the side, it'll be difficult, but not impossible.

Ppl of our age are much more likely to get together with others who have like experience, for one thing, unless we're latching onto someone else's rising star as a b/u muso.

The reasons for this are the same as for any other career choice - the newbie mistakes are much easier to take from a young & inexperienced person than they are from someone with a lot of life experience, The market revolves around youth. Surely you don't think you are going to be able to relate to the average raver or movie-goier or iPod user...or have them relate to you. Our society isn't built that way.

Still, there are plenty of outlets for accomplished ppl. It's just harder to prove you're accomplished, when you're just starting out at 50.

I'm finding that to be the case in every career choice I find. I'm 56, getting too old for the construction thing, but there are damned few opportunities open to someone my age who is willing to learn, to start over.

Best of luck. Yeah....keep your day job, if you aren't totally self-sufficient.

I thought a picture was worth a thousand words.

Apparently not.

Not all of us have been into the music scene for some time.

I see it thus from my years of training. ( not in music )

You have to just stop making and listing excuses for yourself and do what needs to be done to get where you want to be.
Sure there are age appropriate considerations, but the most limiting factors are our own lack of dedication.

Irrelevant if the goals are physical or mental ... you just have to take the steps necessary to reach your goal.

How bad do you want it ? Are you willing to do what is necessary to get there?

These are the intrinsic factors that must be handled first.

Not an issue for me because I'm psychotic in my drive.
It will be so because I have no space in my will for it to be otherwise.

"It will be so because I have no space in my will for it to be otherwise."

Damn. That is one radical statement. You just explained something about as well I can ever expect to hear it explained.

Talbot

I'd like to take credit for the statement but it not but an adaptation of one of Musashi's principles from the BOOK OF FIVE RINGS

"It will be so because I have no space in my will for it to be otherwise."

Damn. That is one radical statement. You just explained something about as well I can ever expect to hear it explained.

Talbot

I thought Musashi was the guy who said: "You'll do it ...and you'll love it! Damn it!" - The Five Rings on a Book...

hee hee