Keeping Busy!

[stratpurist]

I have been gigging on and off since I was 15. I retired at 62 and now play in three bands. Back in September I started as a fill-in/replacement in a working band with a play list of about 130 songs. The original guitar player has been back on and off since February so in addition to the other full time band I'm in I have to keep up with their set lists. Meanwhile I've been working with a startup for the last summer and we played our first gig in May as a 3 piece. I was never a guy with a daily practice routine but it has become a necessity!

I hear from folks who whine that they can't find other musicians to play with. One of the bands I found through craigslist - as it turns out, the band that works the most [9 shows in June]. The other bands came through networking. Going to open mic venues, going to venues to see other bands, etc. It takes some effort but so does anything worthwhile.

Gear-wise, my cheapest strat [$180 on craigslist] is now my #1 player after some tedious setup work.

[Deleted]

Cool deal! Wish I could get out and play more. I miss the stage. LOL!

I too started playing in (Pro band) at 15 years old. I was making really good money back in them days.

I retired at 62 as well. But due to pain, I don't play out all that much. I play at church and sometimes I will jam with some people.

I don't know how many songs I know these days. When I jam with others they will ask me if I know this or that song and more times than not, I do know the song they want to play.

So now now I fill my time working on tube amps and guitars, and being an associate pastor at my church.

But I find myself missing being on stage at times. I never got into drinking or taking drugs. I loved to play. I still love to play. Guess I'll play until I have no more life in me. Playing guitar has been such a big part of my life. I have been playing since I was 9 years old. (Late bloomer) HA! Been on TV, Radio, and so many concerts I can't count.

I have had my really good times and some really bad times in music. But all in all I would not trade the experiences I have had from playing music, for most of my life. I have got to meet some awesome people and gotten to play with some awesome people. Meeting awesome people still goes on even today. And playing with some awesome people still goes on.

I still do a lot of trading, buying, and selling guitars and amps, oh and working on both. So I get to meet a lot of cool people through that as well. I try and keep busy as I can. I am 63 now... Like I said I still play, and will until that day I pass on. I can only hope that there will be an awesome guitar waiting for me on the other side. EB