Had a good turnout today at a local nursing home assisted living place. Lots of good reviews.

I try my best to get the crowd into it. I'm usually playing for about 70 minutes or so plus some hand pumping afterwards. I do really enjoy it.

BUT

I took on a half time teaching job when a teacher quit, mornings, at a local school...every morning from 7:30 a.m. to noon. I like it but I'm tired by noon.

As you may guess, a half time teaching position brings in a lot more $$$ for a half day than a one hour gig...which in reality is about 4 hours with loading, travel, play time, loading again and travel home.

So by the time I get to the afternoon gig(after teaching in the morning)I'm a wee bit tired. I like to entertain and seem to do OK there but it's all the little mistakes with chords, lyrics and leads that I'm doing more of than in the past.

The upside is that the teaching job more than pays for new keyboards etc. My gigs sure as hell couldn't pay for a PA 4X and I'm doing OK $$$ wise in this area.

The downside(of teaching)is I'm short of energy to entertain as I would like to.

I'm not even sure why I'm posting this thread...other than its this group that may understand.

Ask yourself a couple of questions, some of which may be difficult:

1 When was the last time you had a physical;
2)Do you get tired easily when doing other physical labor;
3)Do you get enough restful sleep;
4)Are you over weight;
5)Do you get any aerobic exercise.

I only mention this because I have had to ask myself these same questions. I am going to be 75 yrs of age (did I say 75???) and I have started to drop some pounds and get some exercise on a regular basis ... I know I feel better when I can do that ...

Good luck, whatever you do ...

BTW ... I noticed that you joined S-Z on my birthday 2 years ago ... I was just a kid of 73 then ...

Just about a week ago I was telling someone about when I worked a full time job in Manhattan NY and would play gigs on the weekend ... Fridays I would commute from work on a bus about 1 1/2 hours, get home take 20 minute 'power nap', shower get dressed and go play a gig ... Saturday I would work outside around the house for 4 - 6 hours, or play an afternoon wedding, another 'power nap' and shower, put on the tux and play a wedding or a dinner dance, and very often play another gig on Sunday ... I didn't know what the word tired was back then ...

I agree with Tony's questions. Additionally, either they pay part time teachers a lot more in your part of the world, or you're not getting enough for you music jobs. My daughter was a full time high school teacher here in Maryland and I always made more than she did by playing music.

Gary

In general this can be improved by regular cardio workouts, keep your boddy busy and it will generate more energy, even at higher ages..

So do you walk/run/cycle or do hard labor or visit a Gym regularly?
Ever since i started working out i have huge amounts of energy..
And i am only 48...


Also do a physical checkup, could be mny none pleasant things like to high blood sugar...

Are you overweight ?....that can definitely cause fatigue,...
I lost 87 lbs in the last 45 weeks and feeling so much better. eating right healthy and walking exercise at least 1-2- miles 3 or 4 times a week will help your stamina greatly.

Hi guitpic,

Nice to know a fellow HS teacher on this forum! I teach high school Spanish and I'm considering accepting an offer to be the school bands percussion director.

I know what it's like to rush out of school in order to get a NH home gig. I really have to limit where and when I perform. My school day is from 7:30-2:45. I normally arrive by 6:30AM and leave around 4PM but on days I have a NH gig I leave right when the kids are dismissed. That's why I try to take no more than one NH gig a week and the facility must be no more than 30 minuets from my school.

So yes, I know what it's like arriving to gig a bit drained. Luckily once I get started I get a bit of a rush because I love performing. I try to perform material that I know really well so I don't rely on charts. If I have a brain fart, I try my best to cover it up by improvising, playing a vamp, or trying to keep on going. No one is perfect, mistakes happen... I think the top pro know how to keep on going and gracefully recover from any musical mishaps.

Now what is even harder for me than rushing to the nursing home gigs, is playing a late night gig on a week night. That can make for a very draining next day of teaching. Luckily we have several personal days that we are entitled to take off, so if I have a late night gig during the week, sometimes I'll take a personal day.

I love performing and enjoy teaching. Although I'd love to be a full time performer I'll wait to fully pursue that dream until I can retire with my full benefits and pension. Job security and health benefits, paid vacation, paid sick days are very important to me and I could not give up on that.

Thanks for the great responses.

Health wise I am dealing with a moderate myelodysplasia. I see an oncologist for that.

Overweight? Yup but trying to get that in control.

I workout daily before school and, as a PE teacher(fill in)I join in with students from time to time.

Yesterday, when I went to the gig at 3 p.m., I had been up since 4:30 a.m., put an hour in the gym, and then taught all morning.

The gig actually went pretty well.

Now, I'm dealing with a cold and taking easy this afternoon as I play again Thursday and Friday.

Tx for the comments all.

Montunoman, good insights. I wasn't expecting to be teaching daily, but a teacher quit and the director asked me to finish out the year. I've done this on two other occasions at this school.

The school I'm at is a good one but designed for students with emotional and behavioral problems...an area I've spent a few years in. They really are good kids...just struggling but each day teaching is quite the challenge.

Gary, re: pay for music, I'm doing about as well as any other performer in this area for what I do. And, I just raised my prices again.

I live in west central Minnesota....a bit rural here. If I lived in the Twin Cities, where my kids live, I'm guessing I could double or triple my fee.

Take care and thanks for the comments.