I'm gonna turn 54 this June. My youth has passed. Years ago, back in the late 70's and most of the 80's I was a touring, full time, yeah, thats all I did, musician. I look back and enjoy the memories of that care free life back then. Now it's a day job, wife and kids, rent, bills, etc.
What's keeping you younger guys from being a full time musician? And whats keeping the guys that are out there doing it full time, doing it?

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Life is like a sh*t sandwich. The more bread you have, the less sh*t you have to eat.

Food. Bills. Health Insurance......I could go on-N

That plus talent

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

I did it in the late 70's and through the 80's (obviously didn't become a rock star) and so decided it was time to grow up, get a real job, do the "wife, 2 kids, and a mortgage" thing.

I still play and "sit in" with friends from time to time. Playing for beer and a few bucks in dingy clubs is fun.

Best recent gig was playing at a small Blues recital with my 15 yr old son on Bass. Very cool from a Dad's perspective.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

The only things that keep me from gigging are arthritis in my hands and chronic back pain.If the arthritis left I'd be able to put up with the back pain.I really miss playing in a band it's just something that gets in your blood and never leaves-plus the extra money would help support my out of control GAS habit.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

If I was independently wealthy I'd play guitar full time.
But I was never able to make a living at it.

Closest I ever came was teaching guitar--but it was a part time job, and I never had enough money.

Reality of living I guess is why I don't play full time.

If I could make a living at it--I would.

I love playing guitar.

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It wasn't Willy-Nilly, it was at crows.

Right now, school. I wish I had done that genius kid thing and graduated high school early. Then I would have a lot less to worry about now, and a lot more time to practice.

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Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckslaird
Instagram: http://instagram.com/beckslaird

I do it full time but it's not just with my own band. I session for others doing studio work, I do community projects involving music and I promote a lot of club nights for other bands so it's round the clock. I also occasionally write with people but I've gone off that for the most part.

What keeps me doing it is that it's all I have ever wanted to do so I make sure I am doing it and I stay as productive as possible. To put 100% into anything you have to live and breathe it.

I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. I am by no means a guitar virtuoso but I can hold my own and hard work and nothing else has paid off through the years which have had their ups and downs considerably.

CC

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Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

I'm 54, in the exact same boat as you and with two grand kids to boot. Performing wise, we apparently have similar backgrounds as well. In addition to what you've stated, I'll also add that there's no huge draw anymore for our kind of music, we don't look like slinky space rats any more, the comparatively late hours vs. little pay nowadays coupled with our aging constitutions all make a 'comeback' not high on the priority list. Oh, and let's face it, a HUGE part of our motivation was for the women which is also right out of the equation now. FWIW, money is very tight for most of us nowadays but in terms of the, "big picture", I'm more content now than I've ever been. YMMV.

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You dig?

talent

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

That too..... -N

Wife, Kid, School, Ministry and Laziness...


Honestly i think the laziness factor is the biggest problem. I'm hoping to get back into playing soon though. I'm really into blues guitar and am going to learn it.

I'm self taught so i'd like to be disciplined in a style!

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2007 Fender MIM Strat Midnight Wine
1965 Univox HR-2 "Lawsuit" ES-335 Knockoff
Ovation Celebrity Shallow Bowl

school and lots of homework.

Interesting topic! For me, confidence has always been the biggest hurdle. These days, though, I can add three awkwardly-spaced kids (14,11,2) and associated lifestyle changes to my list of excuses.

Nothing! To be totally honest! I am still having way too much fun in the Army to retire, so I stay in and enjoy the adventures that are in being in the military. Once I retire which I could anytime I wish(already have 24 years in) then I will do music full-time..
ABS