What Keeps You In The Game ?

[Stub Mandrel]

I've found that joining an originals project is opening up some real learning for me.

 

Another dep gig has got me learning several new tunes and transposing a few I know which is interesting!

 

Finally, the odd jam or guest spot where you get thrown in at the deep end and have to come up with something with no prep is great ear training.

[Bluewine]

2 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

I've found that joining an originals project is opening up some real learning for me.

 

Another dep gig has got me learning several new tunes and transposing a few I know which is interesting!

 

Finally, the odd jam or guest spot where you get thrown in at the deep end and have to come up with something with no prep is great ear training.

 

 

Stub I can go back and forth on this topic. This is how I feel today.

 

I'm 71 years old and I'm lucky I have something as cool as gigging  in a rock band almost every weekend. That's what's keeping me in the game. After almost 60 years I haven't lost the interest in this or the ability to play .

 

Plus I need the money. Lol

 

Daryl

Edited Friday at 22:25 by Bluewine

[Geek99]

I just lose myself in the bliss of playing along with someone, even if not for money. 
I work from home and I have a stack of chores and tasks that dwarfs a Gallagher ego. It’s nice to be out….

[Sean]

On 24/05/2025 at 20:25, Bluewine said:

This probably is more for you guys that are over 60 but not necessarily limited to that range.

 

I'm 71 and most of the musicians I grew up with and started playing with are no longer gigging and have zero interest in it.

 

Share your thoughts and position on why you're still gigging and why you think some guys lose interest.

 

Daryl

You look remarkably good for 71, Daryl. My old man has that thing going on too. he's 88 going 68.

 

Anyway, to answer the question. 

 

I've always done it. It's a part of what I am. Not bass per se but playing live music in a band with other people. Bass is #1, though.  

 

Basschat is a source of inspiration, trying new gear, buying and selling, listening to new music, it all feeds the monster and gets me back out there. 

 

This year has been a series of steep learning curves with so many areas of bass, it's what makes me get out of bed. 

[Bagman]

I'm in my 50's - I play and learn every day 

 

I'll "retire" to play more music 

 

There is always something to listen to , read, transcribe, play 

[jazzyvee]

On 24/05/2025 at 21:04, Beedster said:

I play music because I love playing music. I hope that never changes 👍

Exactly this. 
 

 

[jazzyvee]

I’ve turned 65 this year and been playing in bands on and off since the mid 70’s mainly as a guitarist but eventually my bass calling pulled me into the deep side and now 99% of my gigs are on bass. Although i get paid for gigs I never do it just for the money and over the years i’ve done many gigs where i was not into the music, or it was a non paying gig, or helping out a friend, but enjoyed the opportunity to play something different. I still have that burning desire to become a better player, especially when it comes to jazz, so as long as that desire continues so will I. It also helps that i’ve managed to acquire both the dream bass and dream guitar i wanted since the beginning of my gigging life to gig with. Shallow maybe but it does increase my level of enjoyment. 👍🏾😁🥳

Edited yesterday at 22:41 by jazzyvee

[Bluewine]

On 10/08/2025 at 13:01, Sean said:

You look remarkably good for 71, Daryl. My old man has that thing going on too. he's 88 going 68.

 

Anyway, to answer the question. 

 

I've always done it. It's a part of what I am. Not bass per se but playing live music in a band with other people. Bass is #1, though.  

 

Basschat is a source of inspiration, trying new gear, buying and selling, listening to new music, it all feeds the monster and gets me back out there. 

 

This year has been a series of steep learning curves with so many areas of bass, it's what makes me get out of bed. 

 

I think Bass Chat has to be the best community for sharing experiences, history and stories.

 

There is apart of me that's a little superficial.  I like being shuttled to a stage in a new transport van. I like it when a stranger wants to engage me in conversation just because I was playing on stage with a band. Last week I was recognized by two strangers. Once was at a Foreigner concert, " your that Maple Road guy" and he gave me a thumbs up. The second time was at the local Aldi store and an older women gave me a " Hey Maple Road ". Isn't there a little of this in all of us?

 

Daryl

[peteb]

7 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

I think Bass Chat has to be the best community for sharing experiences, history and stories.

 

There is apart of me that's a little superficial.  I like being shuttled to a stage in a new transport van. I like it when a stranger wants to engage me in conversation just because I was playing on stage with a band. Last week I was recognized by two strangers. Once was at a Foreigner concert, " your that Maple Road guy" and he gave me a thumbs up. The second time was at the local Aldi store and an older women gave me a " Hey Maple Road ". Isn't there a little of this in all of us?

 

Daryl

 

Yea, of course there is! 

 

It's really the lowest level of fame, a bit of recognition because someone has seen you on stage. I was in a couple of bands that were quite well known locally several decades ago. When I went into a pub, quite often someone would recognise me. Later on, I would meet someone through work and it would turn out that they used to be a fan of a band I was in. To this day, people will come up to me in pubs and start talking to me as if they know me. I will chat away for a bit, always referring them as 'mate' or whatever, then after they've gone the person I'm with will ask 'Who's that'? Of course, I've no idea, but generally they will have seen me play over the years and probably talked to me after a gig one time. 

 

It's no big thing - it's not like someone genuinely famous walking into a bar and everyone trying to work out if its really them. I imagine that real fame may become a bit tiresome after a while, but the odd person vaguely recognising you because they used to like a band you were in several years ago is cool. 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

8 hours ago, Bluewine said:

There is apart of me that's a little superficial. 

 

I think many of us enjoy the feeling of community around live music. If you play regularly and also go to local gigs as a punter you get you know a lot of people and vice versa.

 

I nay be biased but I have found that hobbies and interests that require a bit of effort and understanding like music tend to attract more open-minded, friendlier people.

 

Music is something that can bring enjoyment to a large number of people at once. When someone recognises you from a gig that's a buzz for both of you from that musical connection. 

[casapete]

22 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Music is something that can bring enjoyment to a large number of people at once. When someone recognises you from a gig that's a buzz for both of you from that musical connection. 

I’m often surprised when people recognise me as I have one of those generic faces that you see

everywhere! When I was touring with the theatre band, me and the crew would often get people

coming up to chat when we were eating out before the show, which was nice.

Now I play mainly locally, I think it’s still nice when people say hello, especially musicians I haven’t 

seen or worked with for years. Our monthly residencies attract lots of musos and it’s always good

to catch up with them, even though I play like sh*t when it’s bass players…..

[Bluewine]

2 hours ago, peteb said:

 

Yea, of course there is! 

 

It's really the lowest level of fame, a bit of recognition because someone has seen you on stage. I was in a couple of bands that were quite well known locally several decades ago. When I went into a pub, quite often someone would recognise me. Later on, I would meet someone through work and it would turn out that they used to be a fan of a band I was in. To this day, people will come up to me in pubs and start talking to me as if they know me. I will chat away for a bit, always referring them as 'mate' or whatever, then after they've gone the person I'm with will ask 'Who's that'? Of course, I've no idea, but generally they will have seen me play over the years and probably talked to me after a gig one time. 

 

It's no big thing - it's not like someone genuinely famous walking into a bar and everyone trying to work out if its really them. I imagine that real fame may become a bit tiresome after a while, but the odd person vaguely recognising you because they used to like a band you were in several years ago is cool. 

 

Yes, very true. I've been the bass player for Maple Road since 2009. I've been out gigging in the Milwaukee WI area most weekends for 16 years.

 

Daryl

[Lozz196]

On 25/05/2025 at 00:27, Lozz196 said:

I just love playing music, if I’m honest I don’t really like all that comes with a gig anymore, but playing I just love. I’d be happy to only rehearse and record nowadays.

Well since the above I’ve decided to leave both gigging bands, leaving me in just one band (classic rock covers, no singer) which doesn’t gig and had no intention of. Still playing and having a laugh, none of the stuff I no longer like.

[BassAdder60]

37 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Well since the above I’ve decided to leave both gigging bands, leaving me in just one band (classic rock covers, no singer) which doesn’t gig and had no intention of. Still playing and having a laugh, none of the stuff I no longer like.

I’m in a similar situation today after packing it all in and then missing playing bass 

I jam once a month also rock covers and it’s a blast and less pressure, more like a social occasion !

We have said if we found a singer ( unlikely ) we could do a few gigs such as festivals or support but not the regular pub circuit where rock seems to have died on its feet !