lowregisterhead

That's great, Blue. In my experience, the bigger the gig, the easier it is - the small gigs where you can see the whites of their eyes make me more nervous, frankly. You deserve to be there. Relax and enjoy it. You'll be epic!

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1494161575' post='3293694'] Age doesn't have to be an issue. There is a guy on this forum who lives up the road from me who has just turned 70 and is still gigging regularly in 3 different pub bands. He keeps getting lighter weight gear in deference of his age and associated back problems, but the next time you see him he is back with his old valve amp and massive cab. [/quote] Brilliant - and long may he continue! I'm a good deal younger than him, but I'm determined to keep playing as long as I physically can, as long as there's someone who wants me to play. Or even if there isn't, I could do the solo looping thing...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1494152705' post='3293633'] I have never thought about any of that stuff. My identity? I'm just having fun playing in a rock band. Blue [/quote] And that too, of course. Perhaps the other matters can become more of an issue when you find you need to make a change for whatever reason. Like you, I'm hoping for another few years, before I have to deal with any of that.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1494146003' post='3293548'] I realised in the last 18 months that a lot of the reason I still owned gear & would give myself a hard time for not playing was more down to a percieved identity than any real desire to play. I'd been playing since I was 14 & pretty much all my friends are musicians. Even though I have hardly played for years I still kept hanging onto the "musician" tag for some reason. When I made the mental adjustment & finally stopped thinking of myself as a musician about six months ago not playing anymore stopped being a source of unhappiness for me. [/quote] That's a good point Rhys - so much of peoples' sense of identity is wrapped up in what they do, and even more so with musicians, IMHO. It's certainly the case for me. Whether it's to provide some consolation that our life isn't as ordinary or mundane as the next man, or to give us some sense of belonging to a special tribe of some sort, along with satisfying our ego with the chance of recognition by the public and our peers. Sorry if I'm getting a bit too deep and philosophical!

[quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1493908927' post='3291755'] Jerzy Drozd is probably wondering why his website has had a sudden surge of visits... [/quote] Because he's 'The Master' obviously...

Jeez. I just counted them up - I've been sacked FIVE times. But as I've been playing since 1975, that averages out at only one sacking per decade, so I reckon that's not too bad! 1) Teenage rock band while still at school. The guitarist had rich parents, all the gear and no idea (and owned the PA) and made a dreadful din. I had the audacity to walk over to his amp and fiddle with the EQ during a rehearsal. Everyone said it sounded much better! Then I went on holiday, and the band 'broke up' and 'reformed' with another bass player by the time I returned. Spineless individuals. 2) First pro band doing a residency in a big northern club. Despite it being the early 80's, I objected to having to wear legwarmers and grin and dance like an idiot all night. Shortly thereafter, the MD took me aside, told me I was being replaced, but gave me a couple of big lines of charlie as a consolation. For some reason, that night's gig was much better! But alas, it was too late. Saved me from becoming a cokehead, I suppose. 3) In my first signed band, I made the mistake of playing all my favourite Mark King licks at high volume while setting up in the studio with their Big American Rock Producer within earshot. Got my cards a few days later for being a 'soul boy in disguise'. Plebs. 4) Years later, I dipped my toe into the strange world of prog rock. The other musicians were all astonishingly good in their chosen style, but the drummer, despite his prodigious talents, was frankly somewhere on the autistic spectrum/had a borderline personality disorder, and the rest of the band conformed to his every demand for fear of losing him. I had to miss a rehearsal, and was the recipient of a furious tirade of invective via email from the touchy tub-thumper regarding my 'lack of commitment'. The inevitable followed. The artistic temperament? I'll let you decide. 5) Joined a function band with guys now much younger than myself. How times have changed. When asked if I wanted to run the band's Twitter account, I admitted I didn't really see what it was any use for. The drummer, who was nearer my age than the others, emailed me to say the rest of them knew someone who 'had become available and they wanted to try him out'. Still spineless after all these years. Despite all of the above, I'm still playing, still loving it, but there's nowt as queer as folk....

I've had a few custom builds done by different makers over the years, and in a couple of instances I encountered a not dissimilar attitude. It was a struggle to get a couple of them to build what I wanted - even happily making concessions for a perfectly understandable belief in their own particular design and style (and having come to them, I knew what they were about) they wanted to make what they thought I should have, not what I was asking for. But in each case I was welcomed as a customer, and it only became a bit of a battle later on. If Master Drozd & Co. aren't even prepared to try to be polite to entice you in initially, they clearly have plenty of other takers for their particular brand of weirdness, so I would leave them to it!

[quote name='Dandelion' timestamp='1491161561' post='3270953'] That's cos she sang that the bluebirds will be over the white cliffs of Dover TOMORROW just you wait and see. She had all avenues covered. [/quote] I'm busy tomorrow. Isn't it always the way??

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1491161708' post='3270954'] Bluebirds are not a native species in the UK. On the other hand, 'There'll be pigeons over the white cliffs of Dover' doesn't have quite the same poetry. [/quote] I quite agree, and I'm all for a bit of artistic license, but are you telling me Dame Vera was spinning us a yarn all along? I'm shocked and appalled.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1491051336' post='3270172'] Care homes are always looking for people to play Vera Lynn songs & that sort of stuff for the inmates, that's always an option. You can check out the accommodation for future reference while you are there, maybe put your name on the waiting list... [/quote] She doesn't half talk bollocks, that Vera Lynn. I was down at The White Cliffs today. Lovely sunshine, not an f-ing bluebird in sight! :-)

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1490888710' post='3268852'] Some 'Old People' pass-times I've noticed are; Driving very slowly,especially during rush hour. Paying for the weekly shop in 2p pieces. Asking for a full ingredients and cooking process breakdown whilst ordering a pub lunch. These all look like splendid fun. [/quote] My god, you're right, they do. I shall implement these immediately.