I'm now over halfway through the busiest gig week I have had in a long time. I usually don't schedule so many performances so close together, but I took gigs on what I knew were open dates without checking to see how many other dates were close by. I frequently get calls from people who want me on short notice and I rarely turn them down - I want them to keep calling, of course!

I started with a Monday night 2-hour solo gig, then played 2-hour gigs on both Wednesday and Thursday with my Rock Hounds partner; now I am playing again tonight (should be 3 hours) with a new blues group and then solo again for a couple hours on Sunday. The fingers hold up fine, but the voice takes a bit of a beating as I do almost all of the singing - sometimes ALL of the singing, depending who I'm playing with and the song selection that night. No one else is singing tonight...

I'm sure I will make it through to Sunday with no problem, but it has reminded me of the OLD days when I used to play every weekend in Minnesota in the 90s, frequently Wed thru Sat - four-night gigs. Now those were the days!

Of course, it's nice to make an extra $600-700 for a "week's" work this time of year. I've got to support my bad gear acquisition habit - yeah, Santa already left another guitar under the tree. I might even pick up that new Nativity my wife wants for Christmas.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

It's good to be wanted, and even better to get paid for it. Staying busy will keep you young. You're lucky your voice holds out for that much exercise. I don't gig but I noticed my voice is getting weaker. I tried to do a cover demo last week and I got horse before I could get a final take. Do it while you can. Post a sound clip. I always like to hear what other forum members are up to.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

I'm not sure if it will keep me young or not, seeing as I am now 62 years old. But I have been performing live and doing most of the singing for 48 years now and I'm still going. It helps to keep songs in your best vocal range and though sometimes my partner says, I've never done it in that key before, I make him break old habits and do it my way.

I've always loved performing and wonder how long I will be able to keep it up without a roadie? It seems I always have plenty of gear with me. Some one in the bars is always asking if they can help me load out, but if they can't walk empty handed, I know I don't want them carrying my guitar!

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

I'm about your age and glad to see you mention "performing" because
most of the bands that I see coming up now don't *get* what performing
is.

You've probably done the 9pm -2am shows at some of the roadhouses and bars
that I used to do 6 nights a week and a matinee on the weekend also?

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

This week I'm not playing and I feel kind of guilty for it,I always play with my son's band and they can get by without me...what I usually do is join them after the first set and go till the end,usually around 2:30/3:00 am.
This weekend an old friend and his family is in from out of state and we're going to be doing some daytime running this weekend.
CRGuitarMan,I plan on retiring in a year and a half,and hope I can make some extra money playing,right now I'm just playing for the pure fun of it.....I'm glad to see you're staying so busy.

Thanks, guys. I think the geezers know more about real performing these days than the younger kids - with the exception of some who frequent these Forums. It's all about paying your dues and just keeping the fingers moving and the amps going in and out of the bars. I formed my first band in 1964, my first "real" band in 1966. That's me on the tallest amp with the 30' curly cord! I miss those plaid pants!



I have always loved performing and I still go crazy if I'm not out gigging at least a few times a month. With the busy schedule of late and the preponderance of solo gigs, I found myself wondering lately if I should keep going. I have a number of very regular venues that I play in and I told myself that I would sit out January and February instead of schlepping my gear through ice and snow.

Nope, ain't gonna happen. I tried to backpedal a little, but I just booked my 4th January gig this morning. They did offer to up the ante a little bit because of the cold weather that's coming. In the end, I just didn't want to let any jobs get away from me. Say no once and it can be tough getting back in, that's the way it's always been. Bar owners aren't always the smartest guys on the block, but they do seem to have the longest memories!

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

Wish I could be complaining about the same. As an old bar band warrior I long for those days of three and five nighters, but things change there isn't the availabilty of venues offering live music that there was in the heydays and paydays of the 60's-80's. I'm lucky now to get two night a month.......God this gettin' old is gettin' old. congrats on the gigs and enjoy

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Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancin'

i'm in your age group, and haven't had 5 gigs in the last 7 years. i miss it a lot

keep playing- it will keep you young

That's great! CRGuitarMan Gotta have the 30' curly cord. We would perform constantly. That's how we made our money way back. Fun but grueling schedules. In some strange way I really thrived on it. Now once or twice a week or so is fine.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

Recently I was going through a bunch of music stuff still packed from years ago in MN and out fell one of our table teepees (folded brochure) that we used to set up on tables wherever we played. It had our fall 1995 schedule on it and I could not believe all the dates - every single weekend from August through October, mostly 2-4 day gigs, along with an assortment of outdoor performances, street dances, fall festivals, etc. No wonder I was able to buy all that music gear back then.

When I moved back to CR in 2001 I actually thought I could make more money gigging here than in MN - boy, was I wrong! Lots of great venues, but karaoke had not yet reared it's ugly head in MN - here and now it is rampant. That's one reason I do mostly solo and duo gigs - you can charge enough to make some money, but not so much that you have to compete so hard with DJs and karaoke. Lots of bar owners will go with live music if they don't have to pay so much. Of course, there's no shortage around here of kids with thrasher bands eager to play all night in exchange for an open bar tab. It's crazy out there.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

Okay, just wrapped up gig number 5 out at the Clarion Hotel on the SW side of town. It was a private event in one of the ballrooms, well attended and I even handed out a few Promo-Paks to interested parties. I have to admit, though, it was nice to get home, get all the gear out of the truck and get the guitars and electronics back down into the Music Room. Next gig is the day before New Year's Eve and then New Year's Eve and that will be it for 2011.

I'm looking forward to a calm couple of weeks with the clan before I head out again.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

That sounds great, enjoy the break, then start again.

I've got next Saturday night (Christmas eve) with just myself and a
keys player (who I've never met) for a house party, then tentatively
for a local Amvets hall for NYE, but I might sub that one out to a
friend who would fit right in.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!