I'd given up. Late forties, couldn't get an audition never mind a gig. Too old.
54 years old and another band I'd not even heard back from contacted me, desperate. New Years Eve, they'd chosen someone else but he couldn't do NYE. Bit of a cheek but would I consider it?
I still tease them now about the bloody cheek of asking after not even giving me the audition but I did it and now I'm their regular dep, playing bass in three other bands and hosting regular jam nights. Playing bass every day, taking lessons, learning to read music and having the best extra curricular activity I've ever had.
Give up? I tried to. No point. Bass isn't a hobby, a job, an obsession, it's in my blood.