OK... so age is now taking effect...

[la bam]

OK, so as many of us will probably have already come across, or will do soon.... Little awkward bits of getting older are now taking effect on being in a band. 

 

Like what? 

 

We'll, my main two are:

 

1. (this kills me to say..) weight of basses. Even though I'm fine with the weight, I can really feel it when the gig is over. 

So, a lighter bass for longer gigs (we do an average of 90 mins in one go) is an option. Any other ideas? We are fully no backline and iems so I've already saved on that. 

 

2. And this is causing the most hassle.... Eyesight. 

Its going worse as I get older, but now I can't really see a set list on the floor. Worse, I can't see what patches I'm on on my (albeit small) zoom ms60b+. 

 

The thing is, we are in a touring band (theatres /larger venue etc) where the look is just as much as the playing, so I can't have a stand, or anything obvious. I don't want to wear glasses, but if I did it still wouldn't work as I can see fine close up, but not further away.  So... on this one I don't know what to do? 

Get an ipad? A larger pedal with a large display so I can read it? (we do switch through a lot of different patches and sounds). 

 

Any other tips people have come across?

[Doctor J]

Lose the vanity and wear glasses, varifocal lenses allow you see up close and far away.

[Wombat]

You can get varifocal contact lenses now too…

[Rosie C]

10 minutes ago, Wombat said:

You can get varifocal contact lenses now too…

 

 

My optician suggested one eye short vision, one eye long vision, but I dismissed that out of hand as a crazy idea.  

 

As it happened, I failed the test for contacts - the callouses on my left hand fingers from bass-ing and mandolin-ing meant I couldn't feed the lens, and I couldnt' manage the "left lens in with the right hand" thing. So I wear glasses, though I am considering a monocle!

 

[Geek99]

20 minutes ago, la bam said:

OK, so as many of us will probably have already come across, or will do soon.... Little awkward bits of getting older are now taking effect on being in a band. 

 

Like what? 

 

We'll, my main two are:

 

1. (this kills me to say..) weight of basses. Even though I'm fine with the weight, I can really feel it when the gig is over. 

So, a lighter bass for longer gigs (we do an average of 90 mins in one go) is an option. Any other ideas? We are fully no backline and iems so I've already saved on that. 

 

2. And this is causing the most hassle.... Eyesight. 

Its going worse as I get older, but now I can't really see a set list on the floor. Worse, I can't see what patches I'm on on my (albeit small) zoom ms60b+. 

 

The thing is, we are in a touring band (theatres /larger venue etc) where the look is just as much as the playing, so I can't have a stand, or anything obvious. I don't want to wear glasses, but if I did it still wouldn't work as I can see fine close up, but not further away.  So... on this one I don't know what to do? 

Get an ipad? A larger pedal with a large display so I can read it? (we do switch through a lot of different patches and sounds). 

 

Any other tips people have come across?

Ppointed question? How old are you? What was your sight like before ? 
I was slightly shortsighted and age is making me go full on golden eagle rather than mr magoo

[Lozz196]

19 minutes ago, Doctor J said:

Lose the vanity and wear glasses, varifocal lenses allow you see up close and far away.

Good call, maybe having varifocals but as shades could also be an option in retaining “coolness”. 
 

 

[Geek99]

8 minutes ago, Rosie C said:

 

 

My optician suggested one eye short vision, one eye long vision, but I dismissed that out of hand as a crazy idea.  

 

As it happened, I failed the test for contacts - the callouses on my left hand fingers from bass-ing and mandolin-ing meant I couldn't feed the lens, and I couldnt' manage the "left lens in with the right hand" thing. So I wear glasses, though I am considering a monocle!

 

I wouldn’t actually dismiss it  - it’s a quite sensible suggestion 

my eyes switched dominance following an op wherein my weaker eye was made stronger. My brain switches to left eye dominant for distance and right eye only for close up  - took

about a week to mentally adjust 

Edited 14 hours ago by Geek99

[Bluewine]

30 minutes ago, la bam said:

OK, so as many of us will probably have already come across, or will do soon.... Little awkward bits of getting older are now taking effect on being in a band. 

 

Like what? 

 

We'll, my main two are:

 

1. (this kills me to say..) weight of basses. Even though I'm fine with the weight, I can really feel it when the gig is over. 

So, a lighter bass for longer gigs (we do an average of 90 mins in one go) is an option. Any other ideas? We are fully no backline and iems so I've already saved on that. 

 

2. And this is causing the most hassle.... Eyesight. 

Its going worse as I get older, but now I can't really see a set list on the floor. Worse, I can't see what patches I'm on on my (albeit small) zoom ms60b+. 

 

The thing is, we are in a touring band (theatres /larger venue etc) where the look is just as much as the playing, so I can't have a stand, or anything obvious. I don't want to wear glasses, but if I did it still wouldn't work as I can see fine close up, but not further away.  So... on this one I don't know what to do? 

Get an ipad? A larger pedal with a large display so I can read it? (we do switch through a lot of different patches and sounds). 

 

Any other tips people have come across?

 

I've seen many famous headliners well into their 70s using iPads and music stands.

 

Daryl

Edited 14 hours ago by Bluewine

[Geek99]

14 minutes ago, Bluewine said:

 

I've seen many famous headliners well into their 70s using iPads and music stands.

 

Daryl

He’s talking about himself again 😛 

Btw I see that pretty lady again in the summer fest pictures 👍

Edited 13 hours ago by Geek99

[neepheid]

24 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Good call, maybe having varifocals but as shades could also be an option in retaining “coolness”. 
 

 

 

I played last night in shades because I left my regular glasses in my car... at the drummer's house.

 

I wouldn't recommend it - could hardly read the set list on the floor. I imagine I looked hella cool though 😎

 

[markbunney]

I just got an Ibanez EHB to help with weight/back pain.

 

Its really light and am loving it so far.

 

I also just got a Shure GLX tuner/wireless as it has a large display.

 

Last week on my old tuner I managed to tune one string flat because I couldn’t see the display properly, which made for an awkward first song!

I need glasses for reading and close up stuff, but don’t really like playing with them on.

[Jackroadkill]

As far as the set-list goes, how about making a card up that can be slipped in a back pocket?

[Geek99]

8 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

I played last night in shades because I left my regular glasses in my car... at the drummer's house.

 

I wouldn't recommend it - could hardly read the set list on the floor. I imagine I looked hella cool though 😎

 

A bass is enough - no shades required

the reaction at my local om to zombie with bass was far superior to a previous rendition by same singer/guitarists with no bass. One fist-bumped me and the other high fived me and shouted “bass solo!” (No pressure) 🫨

I threw a bit of Gary moores “cold day in hell” 

[Geek99]

Just now, Jackroadkill said:

As far as the set-list goes, how about making a card up that can be slipped in a back pocket?

Good idea. Or tape it to your top bout 

[tauzero]

Sit down. Eases the problem with weight and you're closer to the floor so better chance of reading the setlist and seeing which patch you're on.

[Bluewine]

1 hour ago, Geek99 said:

He’s talking about himself again 😛 

Btw I see that pretty lady again in the summer fest pictures 👍

 

The 99° degree weather was not good.

 

Daryl

[prowla]

7 hours ago, Wombat said:

You can get varifocal contact lenses now too…

I tried some varifocals spectacles and they were awful: the edges of my 32" 4k monitor became curved and I couldn't read things by moving my eyes but instead had to keep them still and move my head to read; I also couldn't use my peripheral vision.

I really couldn't recommend them less..

As for contact lenses: I was recommended not to have them for astigmatism, as every time you blink you slightly shift them.

I think that varifocal contacts would exacerbate that issue and you'd be looking at the world through a wobbly fish-eyed vision.

[prowla]

Regarding specs, maybe ones with a heads-up display could be an option - they might even become a "look"!

[prowla]

Some other options:

1. Use bigger writing.
2. Get a tablet on a stand and pretend it's controlling an instrument.
3. Investigate autocue.

[Wombat]

1 hour ago, prowla said:

I tried some varifocals spectacles and they were awful: the edges of my 32" 4k monitor became curved and I couldn't read things by moving my eyes but instead had to keep them still and move my head to read; I also couldn't use my peripheral vision.

I really couldn't recommend them less..

As for contact lenses: I was recommended not to have them for astigmatism, as every time you blink you slightly shift them.

I think that varifocal contacts would exacerbate that issue and you'd be looking at the world through a wobbly fish-eyed vision.

 

8 hours ago, Rosie C said:

 

 

My optician suggested one eye short vision, one eye long vision, but I dismissed that out of hand as a crazy idea.  

 

As it happened, I failed the test for contacts - the callouses on my left hand fingers from bass-ing and mandolin-ing meant I couldn't feed the lens, and I couldnt' manage the "left lens in with the right hand" thing. So I wear glasses, though I am considering a monocle!

 

I’ve been round both these blocks.

 

i used to have the ‘one eye reading, one eye distance’ and, as only an occasional wearer, it felt like you were walking round in circles for 5 mins but  the brain quickly compensates.

I struggled with early ‘versions’ of multi focal lenses so went back to one short one long for a while.

Recently they bought out lenses for astigmatism so I now have one for that and a multi focal and I can see so well I’m thinking of wearing them more often.

Anyhoo, I can’t see without glasses so play in them if I can’t be bothers to put lenses in ( or we’re playing somewhere posh and it’s unlikely there will be a fight 😂).

The bass player is the studious intellectual anyway so we look cool in glasses anyway?

[Hellzero]

You won't like my comment @la bam, so don't read it, even if the solutions are in there.

 

Easiest way as it's what's your heading to with your vanity is stopping playing in any band.

 

Sounds harsh, but your behaviour is exactly that: harsh and selfish...

 

Wearing glasses is not an option, it's mandatory and concerning the distorted view with varifocal it's linked to the type of lenses, the cheapest one will give that effect and as you go up the range and price, there are excellent varifocal glasses that will allow you to read from left to right without any distortion or problem as well as from bottom to top : this is what they are really intended for and need a very tiny bit of time to get used to them IF you wear them all day long (took me exactly 1 second to get used to them and I only need glasses for close sight, but chose to have the perfect correction even for my very good far sight, which is now excellent).

 

But, excellent varifocal glasses are expensive, around 2 to 3 k£...

 

Think about it another way: I guess you're driving a car without glasses and not seeing anything at a remote to far distance, it's simply criminal and I hope you'll never get involved in an accident where it's proven that it's linked to your poor sight!

 

Concerning the weight of instruments, you could play sitting, using a Dynarette (https://www.thomann.co.uk/hopf_dynarette_high.htm) as this accessory will relieve all the weight, or use a lighter instrument for ALL sets, your back will thank you.

 

Now I'm certainly pissing against the wind as you seem to prefer the ostrich way than acting for the better ... and you know it.

 

Sit on your vanity and see the positive of all the above and I hope you're not dying your hair too or wearing a head covering to hide your baldness...

 

Told you you wouldn't like my comment.

[snorkie635]

38 minutes ago, Wombat said:

 

I’ve been round both these blocks.

 

i used to have the ‘one eye reading, one eye distance’ and, as only an occasional wearer, it felt like you were walking round in circles for 5 mins but  the brain quickly compensates.

I struggled with early ‘versions’ of multi focal lenses so went back to one short one long for a while.

Recently they bought out lenses for astigmatism so I now have one for that and a multi focal and I can see so well I’m thinking of wearing them more often.

Anyhoo, I can’t see without glasses so play in them if I can’t be bothers to put lenses in ( or we’re playing somewhere posh and it’s unlikely there will be a fight 😂).

The bass player is the studious intellectual anyway so we look cool in glasses anyway?

Agree with final sentence. Our guitarer is spuriously ineffectual.

[MichaelDean]

I've needed to wear glasses all day due to astigmatism in both eyes since I was 13. I don't get on with contacts either. It felt like I was drunk when I had them in as they moved everytime I blinked, shifting my vision. 

 

At 38, no one has ever told me I don't look the part when playing. I mean, they might have said it out of earshot, but never to my face 😂. I did wear my prescription sunglasses on stage when I was in a hop hip band (at a Christmas party in the photo below!). That worked out surprisingly well. The transitions between the songs for the whole set meant I didn't need a setlist too.

 

If you need to wear glasses, just wear them. If you need a light bass, get one. There is no point suffering for the sake of vanity - be kind to yourself and your body!

 

[zbd1960]

Ignoring deficiencies in eyesight is not sensible, and in the case of driving, illegal. You need an eye test to determine what is going on and what the options are. 

 

I was 16 when I realised my distance vision had 'issues', so I had to wear glasses for distance and owing to a weak left eye, I needed to wear them all the time.

 

As is common with most people over 40, reading became affected and I had to switch to varifocals. There are different qualities of lenses and inevitably the more expensive ones are better. I never had any issues wearing varifocals, some people do. I opted for lenses typically costing around £400 plus frames.

 

Then in my mid-50s I discovered I had sudden onset cataracts. I had replacement lens surgery in both eyes and the new lenses in my eyes corrected my distance vision, so I now only really need glasses for reading. I use 'occupational lenses' which are so I have a mix of reading and intermediate reading - so I cna read music etc. They have a greater depth of field so things farther away remain in focus.

 

Your eyesight sounds like it is opposite way around to mine, but there will be solutions, probably not cheap ones if you want good results.

 

Ignoring eyesight issues is storing up future problems.  

[la bam]

OK hold on... there seems to be some people waking up angry this morning for no reason.... vain seems to be being mentioned a lot....quit playing etc etc.... I'm the least vain person out there

 

I wear prescription glasses for driving as its my longer vision that is slightly off, so that takes care of that. I can then see perfectly. 

 

Close up I'm absolutely fine, what I'm not fine with is tiny small pedal displays on my zoom ms60b+ which is the size of a normal boss pedal on a dark stage with awkward colour contrasts, and the angle it is shown. So I have the juxtaposition of the glasses would probably be fine for reading the pedal and set list, but absolutely awful for playing the bass, as it would look all out of perspective, ie a lot closer to me and larger than it actually is. 

 

The question is/was relating to what ideas/tricks/methods do people use when father time starts catching up. Ie larger screen displays, higher screens, audio cues, different straps.. .. Etc