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Post by shyamwestwind on Aug 7, 2011 12:28:35 GMT
Do musicians ever really retire ? I think not !!!
I've been singing since I was 16 and I'm going to hit 65 next month and I suppose I'm just lucky my voice is still holding up.
If I had not been a singer, I'd have retired at 58, from the Fertiliser Company I worked in and I cant help wondering what I'd have been doing !!!!! I've absolutely no clue !! Yes I do have other hobbies, like cooking, computers (essential hobby ?) . I used to like carpentry, but its tough to do that now. Actually, except for cooking some exotic stuff, I dont think I'm good at any other stuff.
I'm going to be 65 and though my body's kinda "packing" up, I think I will continue to sing , even if it means singing, siiting in a wheel chair !!!
I really would love to know your thoughts and feelings on this and your reasons for that.
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Post by steelfixer on Aug 7, 2011 12:43:05 GMT
i dont think you can generalise on that some people say i'm too old for it's now time to call a halt others will just carry on till they die i think you are the latter shyam BRIAN
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Post by weeo on Aug 7, 2011 13:21:27 GMT
I think I, and probably most of us, would carry on until either the voice goes,or the gigs dry up and as long as we are able.
And also of course and i think more importantly, the audiences still want to hear me.
Hope that day is a long way off!!!!!
Regards
Eddie
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Post by weegeo on Aug 7, 2011 13:41:44 GMT
Another good topic from Shyam,
A lot of questions and some soul searching!! I don`t believe a musician truly retires,he/she may stop doing gigs but i`m sure[actually i know lol]that when we`re out `socilalizing`we listen to whoever is playing and listen for the chord sequence or the beat of the snare and even if the vocalist has gone a little `flat`in this way we are still `plying`our trade.
Stopping gigging is a different thing altogether and this may happen for various reasons!! in my own case i have been gigging for 48 years and i saw no end to my career as i still enjoyed it and i have a fairly loyal support but unfortunately health situation has curtailed what i am now able to do and i sometimes have to sit at home on weekends whilst the guys gig,this i find really frustrating as i watch the clock i know what they are singing or playing but i try to get out and gig as often as the `oul`body lets me lol unfortunately i sit at home more now but it`s not retirement just an inconvienance lol anyway just a few little thoughts from the corner of weegeo
weegeo
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Post by shyamwestwind on Aug 7, 2011 14:06:33 GMT
weeo ........... Eddie , your words reflected my thoughts entirely ! I think the AUDIENCE is the deciding factor - we will carry on as long as they want us ! weegeo ....... I can truly understand your feelings on this George - it is a depressing feeling, but music helps rid the depression and we all need to overcome this feeling and somehow push ourselves to do what we love. I KNOW YOU'LL DO THAT, George .... You are younger than I am so dont you ever think of retiring before I do !
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Post by rogerb on Aug 7, 2011 14:27:07 GMT
Retirement for me is somewhat enforced when I'm in Cyprus. The authorities there now make it nigh impossible for an (ex- pat) entertainer to work legally. When I first went to live there over ten years ago there were only a handful of Brits working as entertainers and a blind eye was turned to we few, in fact we were welcomed as being an asset to the tourist industry. I had a good six years when I could have as much work as I wanted - even in the low season. As more Brits began to move out there and more 'karaoke stars' appeared on the scene, the government were keen to protect the local musos and began to enforce the law requiring non-national entertainers to have a work permit. Fair enough, except that a separate work permit is now required for each venue and they seem to have stopped issuing them anyway. The only way it can be circumvented is to give all your fee to charity. Generous though I may be, that does not sit very well with me for every gig! Nowadays when we're in Cyprus I confine my musical activities to singing, purely for pleasure, with an excellent mixed choir. We do several shows a year and the odd charity concert.
When we're in the UK I get the odd dep gig with a big band.
I don't believe my interest and passion for music will never die but I think the performing side of things will become less with advancing years. Has anyone else noticed how gear gets heavier these days?
Good subject as always for which a big thanks to Shyam.
Roger
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Post by rogerb on Aug 7, 2011 14:31:42 GMT
Just re-read my post - double negative. It should read I don't believe my interest and passion for music will EVER die..............
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Post by shyamwestwind on Aug 7, 2011 15:40:15 GMT
Roger, I'm not certain if this will help, but have you thought of singing/playing a kind of fusion music that combines the music of Cyprus with our music ? This is something which always attracts the local people and could make their eyes open to the permits etc. Get a good catchy rhythm and put some of the local lingo into it or use their rhthm and put some English words to it.
Just a suggestion from one who finds it works in our land of myriad languages. Try it Roger ..... it'll be interesting and it might open the doors to a realm of "never never never" (retire , that is !!!!! he he he)
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Post by shyamwestwind on Aug 7, 2011 15:54:17 GMT
RETIRE  ?? Lets re-TIRE the crowd with music to exhaust them !!!!!!! LOL |
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Post by weegeo on Aug 7, 2011 20:23:38 GMT
I wish i could bottle your energy Shyam i`d make a fortune lol btw i am only 3 years behind you my good friend this is such a good topic for various reasons!! you ask if we notice the gear getting heavy lol it`s been that way for a few years now we just didn`t notice lol. Here`s another observation has anyone noticed that the majority of really good acts are all within the same age as ourselves does this fill you with joy or worry about who or what is coming behind us lol just another little thing to think about.
weegeo------------ in the corner pipe in hand and slippers on the feet
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Post by shyamwestwind on Aug 8, 2011 5:47:09 GMT
"the majority of really good acts are all within the same age as ourselves " - ABSOLUTELY !!!!!!!! GEORGE, Its true, but its because the younger lot have to grow up, like we did !
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Post by simmo123 on Aug 8, 2011 12:38:22 GMT
 Hi folks,interesting subject,some great comments from Weegeo,Rogerb, Shyam,Weeo etc,Ole Simmo's problem is i don't have a lot of history when it comes to performing,got a cheapy guitar back in the early years of arriving in Aussie late 60's early 70's,i remember it was $30,it was an unknown brand,nylon strings & it was possible to get most of my hand under the strings at the bridge owing to the action being so high,learnt about thee chords managed to master Tom Dooley & a couple of other 3 chord songs then owing to the normal pressures that faced the newly arrived "Pommies"at that time the guitar was disgarded for about 20 years while the important things like getting established with a home for the good lady & at that time two ankle biters (kids) which soon increased to four,so what with working the early years working on remote mine sites up bush & being away for up to 6 months at a time the music was definitely put on the back burner, the benefit was that we had our very own little house albeit very tiny & quite a few km out of Perth.I remember the basic wage at that time was about $28 per week but because there were not the luxury items available like tv etc we managed just fine,$200 would buy a decent but old 6 cylinder 1960's 6 cylinder Holden station wagon which today in good cond are fetching many 1000's of dollars.I am getting a little sidetracked from the original thread but i just wanted to give you a little background on my somewhat limited musical career,my next foray into the music came after this period,by then my younger brother & & family had also been living here after also paying there ten pounds & arrivving 7 years after us,young brother had owned a guitar in the UK so before long i got out my old relic & re- learnt the chords that i knew from all those years ago,he also aquired a guitar,the next years consisted of a hot & cold period when it came to having a practise etc,working for myself became more important what with all of the kids to bring up but i did non the less find time to keep having a muck around,we were always popular when having a bbq etc but had a very limited song list.Young brother took up Bass we had a period when we met up with another really good muso who helped us no end up to the point where we would go out & play with the help of a drum machine to mainly older folks at small functions,this continued for a while up until we all got to busy with work commitments,my part in the group was mainly the vocals so in a lot of songs i would pretend to strum my guitar which by now i had got myself a steel string acoustic.Later after we stopped performing i found that working for myself in a commercial mowing business i had built up over a few years maintaining parks, verges, for the local council plus some industrial sites,three private schools & a 20 acre private estate & a bit of rural work as well,with all of this happening i had no time for any music right up until i got out of the business in my 60's,the rest is history,i had time on my hande so i started going around a few age care homes giving the folks some of the oldies music which lead me into the world of midi,i now am playing regually at nursing homes etc & of course not forgetting my latest adventure into busking which although at times challenging is also very satisfying... a 3 hour stint on the pavement is tough going but enjoyable,in short folks a quick insight into Ole Simmo's music history..I will be 72 years old this October & feel like i am just getting into my stride,Mrs Simmo is right behind me all of the way. all the very best wishes to all of the forum members & a big thank you to all of those wonderful members who have made this possible The Simmo's.
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Post by shyamwestwind on Aug 8, 2011 14:15:32 GMT
Simmo dearest, you really are an inspiration to all of us and I must thank you for sharing your wonderful stories, inviting us into your life and making us proud of being your friend.
We wish you many many years of music and we know thousands will be happy hearing you and being with you. Bless you, Simmo ........... and if I may say so ....... Atta Boy !!!!!!! Keep it up !!!!!!
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Post by geordiebennett on Aug 8, 2011 20:48:35 GMT
Hi simmo,
Do you remember the Ark Royal being in Freemantle about sixty three,it was big news there in Perth because it was such a big ship.I played in a group on the ship and we done a gig in Perth,the local paper advertised for hundreds of girls to go to the gig so the lads had someone to dance with,it was absolutely bunged and a brilliant night.
I'm sixty eight and still doing regular gigs here in Spain,I have thought about retiring sometimes but I can't imagine not playing anymore.I started when I was thirteen in 1956 playing in a skiffle group,there were four of us and we got five shillings each for playing at a young farmers club.I always think that if I stopped giggng I'd still keep all my gear and play to myself. I think of all the time and effort I've put in to getting my midis to sound the way I want them,it's hard to throw it all away.
Geordie
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Post by shyamwestwind on Aug 9, 2011 4:07:17 GMT
Keep the music going Geordie . All our memories will only keep us yearning to do more and thats what we should and will.
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?? Lets re-TIRE the crowd with music to exhaust them !!!!!!! LOL
Hi folks,interesting subject,some great comments from Weegeo,Rogerb, Shyam,Weeo etc,Ole Simmo's problem is i don't have a lot of history when it comes to performing,got a cheapy guitar back in the early years of arriving in Aussie late 60's early 70's,i remember it was $30,it was an unknown brand,nylon strings & it was possible to get most of my hand under the strings at the bridge owing to the action being so high,learnt about thee chords managed to master Tom Dooley & a couple of other 3 chord songs then owing to the normal pressures that faced the newly arrived "Pommies"at that time the guitar was disgarded for about 20 years while the important things like getting established with a home for the good lady & at that time two ankle biters (kids) which soon increased to four,so what with working the early years working on remote mine sites up bush & being away for up to 6 months at a time the music was definitely put on the back burner, the benefit was that we had our very own little house albeit very tiny & quite a few km out of Perth.I remember the basic wage at that time was about $28 per week but because there were not the luxury items available like tv etc we managed just fine,$200 would buy a decent but old 6 cylinder 1960's 6 cylinder Holden station wagon which today in good cond are fetching many 1000's of dollars.I am getting a little sidetracked from the original thread but i just wanted to give you a little background on my somewhat limited musical career,my next foray into the music came after this period,by then my younger brother & & family had also been living here after also paying there ten pounds & arrivving 7 years after us,young brother had owned a guitar in the UK so before long i got out my old relic & re- learnt the chords that i knew from all those years ago,he also aquired a guitar,the next years consisted of a hot & cold period when it came to having a practise etc,working for myself became more important what with all of the kids to bring up but i did non the less find time to keep having a muck around,we were always popular when having a bbq etc but had a very limited song list.Young brother took up Bass we had a period when we met up with another really good muso who helped us no end up to the point where we would go out & play with the help of a drum machine to mainly older folks at small functions,this continued for a while up until we all got to busy with work commitments,my part in the group was mainly the vocals so in a lot of songs i would pretend to strum my guitar which by now i had got myself a steel string acoustic.Later after we stopped performing i found that working for myself in a commercial mowing business i had built up over a few years maintaining parks, verges, for the local council plus some industrial sites,three private schools & a 20 acre private estate & a bit of rural work as well,with all of this happening i had no time for any music right up until i got out of the business in my 60's,the rest is history,i had time on my hande so i started going around a few age care homes giving the folks some of the oldies music which lead me into the world of midi,i now am playing regually at nursing homes etc & of course not forgetting my latest adventure into busking which although at times challenging is also very satisfying... a 3 hour stint on the pavement is tough going but enjoyable,in short folks a quick insight into Ole Simmo's music history..I will be 72 years old this October & feel like i am just getting into my stride,Mrs Simmo is right behind me all of the way.