When you retire, quit going out to gigs, will you still play music?

A couple of things prompted this question.

(1) For the first time since I was 15(now 69)I'm hanging up the gigging thing, for at least a few months. This is due to the shitty weather up here, lack of interest on my partner's part...my wife, and the fact that the $$$ often doesn't justify the time/effort.

That said, I stil love the music.

(2) A very close friend of mine(age 67) is a retired MD/Internist. He and I started a band back in the 60's. We both retired to this area. He now has terminal cancer...in a lot of pain and weak.

Still, he will go out and play music whenever his physical limitations allow. His love of music is that strong.

So what do you all think? Is it over when it's over?

Thoughts? Gary? Others?

Honestly, I think that if I retired I wouldn't spend much time playing music. Don't plan to retire until they stop calling me to play though. I would keep the gear for the occasional family or charity thing. I wouldn't work on learning new songs or techniques or equipment though.
It's certainly an individual decision. If playing music brings you pleasure then never stop!

I think I’ll stop performing when the calls stop coming in ,when I get tired of trying to hustle gigs, or when moving equipment around is just too much physically. But if I have to give up performing for whatever reasons, I think I would still keep up with my music to whatever capacity I could. I really don’t have any other hobbies so to speak. Between the piano, keyboards, guitar, drums, Latin percussion, harmonica, voice, music theory, harmony, ear training, sight reading, transcribing, licks, music history, song writing, arranging music technology and just learning tunes, I keep myself pretty busy! I could easily spend all day , every day for the rest of my life just studying one of those areas... Now my wife on the other hand, is not motivated to sing if there is no gig. For me gigs can get in the way of my other musical interests, because of all the preparation time required for the gigs ,I have to give up studying some things I enjoy but never perform like Bach and bebop. I do love to perform, but I think I could find plenty to do musically outside of performance to keep me busy for the rest of my life.

For me, I can't remember a time when I didn't play music, and I think I always will. The one proviso being how my health holds up. At 75 I'm going as good as ever - just lucky, I guess. Hope it holds up.

I stopped "gigging" due to health issues and general lack of interest in the nursing home scene. The band I worked with gave up too and one member passed away. I still play at home for my own amusement and still think about going back out. But I haven't done anything about it.

If you played for just for the $$$$$ you might stop playing music when you retire.

I played my last job at 83, I am now 87, and I still play my guitar and keyboard. Last night I was singing Christen and Christmas songs with my Ipad.

No, it isn’t gonna stop until I do.
John C.

The major part of my life involves music, and so it shall always be, in one form or the other.

Up until age 55 I had never played for pay, it was for my own enjoyment. Even when I can no longer play for pay I'll always play music. If I had to choose a way to pass on I'd want it to be while I was sitting at a piano and not while I was in front of an audience.

Ill still play at home for me..I'm on the fence right now. Aside from my own desire, I've recently lost yet another person close to me that served as inspiration to continue. Thinking its time to hang it up, I recently got two new gig requests...and accepted. You mentioned your wife..I imagine the support of others many of us are close to can impact the decision greatly. But either way I have played since 6 years old, I won't quit totally after public performing ends.

The moment I can't cut it on a professional level, I'm done.

Love Tony Bennett, but he has looked pretty confused and sounded bad lately.

Believe it or not, I really like Johnny Mathis, but at 82, he is beginning to show some issues when performing. Still, Run To You, on his latest album is really fine.

R.

I retired two years ago because of heath issues. I didn't want to retire. I was making a damned good living, working nearly every day, sometimes doubles, and an occasional triple. I mainly did the senior circuit, best pay, best hours and best audiences. I also filled in for friends at restaurant and nite club jobs, plus I also did some private parties and political fund raisers.

Now that I am retired, I still play the keyboard about two nights a week for an hour or so in the office where it is set up. Most of the time, I'm trying to learn songs that I never performed regularly, or new songs (old songs that I never heard before). The pain in my lower back and neck is excruciating at times, my inability to breathe without supplemental oxygen has taken it's toll. Sometimes I cannot get through a song without coughing uncontrollably, which is disheartening to say the least. And, just a few weeks ago I was told that I have macular degeneration, which leads to blindness. Last night, I was trying to play a song from the movie "Ballad of Cable Hogue", a beautiful, lively, Irish song that I heard for the first time while watching the movie on my Fire Stick. I got to coughing real bad and completely lost the sight in my left eye. Docs think I may have dislodged by lens implant. After a couple hours and some eye drops, I got most of my sight back, but my left eye is still a bit fuzzy. Scary!

I guess I'll continue to plink on those plastic keys till I'm unable to cope with the other stuff, then I'll just spend my time sailing with some hot honey on Chesapeake Bay until I cannot do that anymore. Gettin' old ain't fer wimps and sissies!

Gary

Unless you mean the kind of 'honey' that comes out of a jar, I think Carol would make sure you're not doing it too long ...

My honey comes in a bottle these days. Far less expensive, great tasting, no hassles.



Gary

...neither is hanging out with hot honeys .

chas

Back to the OP ...
i will 'retire' when the business tells me to by not calling me for gigs ...

Even after that, I believe I will continue to play even for just my own enjoyment until the Lord takes me away ...
I say this for a couple of reasons ... When we had the band in NY and someone would say they 'used to play' we would wonder what that meant - how does anyone 'used to play' ... we couldn't imagine never playing an instrument again, and still feel the same way ...
Also, when I relocated to Rhode Island and left the band behind, having lost the 'security blanket' of my 4 friends and band mates, I did not play professionally for 7 years, but I played constantly at home, especially on weekends when I would play for hours straight ... My wife said to me that she did not want to chase me out of the house, but that I should get some business cards made and go out and look for gigs ... I got a gig in the first restaurant I went into ... the owner told me to sit at the piano and play a few songs ... I did and started playing there two weeks later ... and the rest, as they say, is history ... so, no, I don't think I will ever stop ...

As others have said, when the gigs stop coming. They have been sparse here as I'm an unknown and different then what they're used to. Haven't got the urge to pursue the NH but may do that soon. Love to get a premenent resaturant gig but thats hard to find.
I am playing at home for my own enjoyment a lot more that I did when I just played at hoem to practice something for a gig.
Time will tell but I'll always play one way or another.

Interesting topic.. I quit playing and making up new music about 6 months ago... Sold all my gear on ebay... I took up music in 2002 and from "you suck" comments at that times managed to turn it around and worked hard to get the right sound and by the end of the journey, I thought I had some pretty solid songs and thumbs up when I posted... In the end it became a miserable to write songs and took a lot out of me to do it... So, 6 months later I am good... Will see if I ever want to take it up again... But for now Netflix and kicking back with my spare time is good...Plus I have 4 dogs that get more time!

Beachbum...
Many of us here followed you on your song writing and performing journey. I enjoyed watching your progress and how your writing, playing, voice and recording techniques developed over the years. I'm glad you found satisfaction in it and wish you the best.
Eddie

Beachbum, I had a school of music with over 400 students/ The question that was often was, “How am I doing”. My answer was always the same;
“As long as you are enjoy your playing you are doing good”.

IPORTANT:
Most comments that are made by people are made to
MAKE THEMSELVES FEEL GOOD. There are others who care.

Star posting again, there are people who are sincere in their helping.
John C.

Beachbum, frame your situation as a hiatus or sabbatical, etc. The music is in you, it WILL resurface at some point.

Yes, otherwise if you really wanted to completely music you wouldn't be visiting this site. Either way good luck too you, and I've always enjoy your songs, singing, and playing.

+1

chas

beachbum ... You were given a talent that should be shared ... don't let it lie doormant ... Take a break if you must, re- charge the batteries, and then get back to it ...
Best wishes ...

Uh, the 'Spelling' police are going to be all over this one .

chas

PS: I got to it before Uncle Dave .

AAAARRRRggggggghhhhhhhh !!!
That's what I get for doing it on my phone and not reading it before I sent it ...
I KNOW it should have been doorment !!!

I've been playing to an "audience of one" all my life. Making and/or creating music and songs is good for the brain. Mine sure lets me know how much harder I need to be working... but I'll never be a "Don Mason." Some of us possess that "gift" and some of us "not so much!" As for me, when called below (probably)... I'll have that keyboard glued to the fingers of one hand... and a chess set glued to the other.

Changing topics in mid-stream...Gary, how does Jim Beam's "Honey" compare to "Southern Comfort?" LOL!

---West Mayberry Dave

Just sayin'..

The 13 Best Bourbons In America

1/14. Jim Beam Signature Craft Bourbon Whiskey 12 YO. ...
2/14. Jim Beam Devil's Cut Bourbon Whiskey 6 YO. ...
3/14. Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 9 YO. ...
4/14. Blanton's Original Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey. ...
5/14. Lidl UK Western Gold Kentucky Bourbon Whisky. ...
6/14. Hogs Bourbon 3 YO. ...
7/14. ...
8/14.

Just sayin'

I thought MY post was about going SOUTH!!

Just sayin'

Sorry, Tony:

I get carried away sometimes... LOL! Literally! When I had a "day job"... I developed a taste for Scots Whiskey... but that's no longer in my wish list. Just sayin!

----West Mayberry Dave

Thanks guys for the response - I did not mean to highjack the thread I was just replying to the notion of giving up music...
Maybe we will call it a break until I am ten feet under - I guess then we will call it a day....

BB:

You didn't "Hi-Jack" the thread... we did... and for that, I apologize. Giving up music is not possible... it is an addiction... and maybe you will rest a bit, gather steam... and rejoin the "fray" in a little while. Remember, IT (music) is in control. We are it's servants.

Donny and Gary led me astray! ----Dave