Too old to ROCK????

[arkjack]

I was reading the email from Michael this morning about being "too old" to get a deal.... I guess the music world isn't looking to tap the great talent that exists in the senior (meaning older than 30.....) performer gene pool.... and it baffles me as to why....??? From my days, I remember one of my big inspirations was an old black man named Jim Jones who played a blues band at the shore bars.... Gibson fatbody ES35 and all the chops and licks.... a pleasure to watch when I was 19... and when I was 19, I could play.... but I sucked somewhat compared to a senior player.... Now after playing 35 years.... I purposely go out to check out players and bands.... its fun to sit and gloat about how far behind some players are... but at least they're out there playing.... and after my 18 month education with Jason Blume and Taxi.... I can look at some of the younger songwriters..... both signed and unsigned... and think... man, they got a long way to go before they hit "good".....So I'm as old as Alan Jackson, younger than Garth and George, around the same age as Cheryl, Clint, and Travis... Dwight... only a little older than Faith, Tim, Kenny and Toby... but plenty of years on Carrie and Taylor, Jason and Josh..... and of course, a whole generation under Willie, Kris, and Kenny..... I make it a point to keep a reasonable rock star body.... and a good tan... a tinge of color in the scalp when needed... ( and it still grows compared to some...)... (BTW, the young girls at the pool and beach labeled me as "Buff"... how 'bout that??...) So I just wonder where the "only sign young acts" mentality in the industry comes from? You're as young as you feel, and its not all about the look.... you need to be entertaining... and seasoned performers are often more entertaining just because of experience.... and the ability to keep it all together.... personality..... So I just thought I'd throw out a little conjecture... that just because you qualify for AARP membership, doesn't mean you are washed up as far as being a breakthrough act.... I say if you got it, keep all your dreams... Film TV writer, hit songwriter, and entertainer performer.... I'm taking off a couple days to go "tour" (and fish - of course).... Maybe I'll write some great songs.... maybe I'll record some film tv tracks at studio B.... I'm still way behind on the 50 by 90 challenge...That's my contribution to POSITIVITY .... a day late....ArkJack

[ddusty]

ArkJack,I feel your pain, as we are also on the north side of 30.It's the pop world where we are fossils. They are trying to sell videos and ring tones to 15 yo kids.Another thing to keep in mind, a lot of the artists you mentioned who are of the same age as you have been around for 10+ years, meaning they were younger when they "hit".Obviously it's not impossible, but ML is only reporting on what he sees. Many of the listings for career artists specifically mention "Youthful sounding" or "Young" right in the header.Here are quotes from current listings:"Cool Independent Label with major hip-quotient is looking for young, ""New Listing Youthful MODERN/ALTERNATIVE ROCK ARTISTS""New Listing Young & exciting INDIE/CHAMBER POP-ROCK""Youthful and talented MALE "IMO it stems from the departure of the album and the career artist and they put the focus on the single and the video.If you can find a way to change this, i will be the first one to sign up for it...Rob

[onoffon]

Let's just say it comes from the "image is everything" mentality...The industry would rather sign an act that has an easily marketable image, even if they can't play instruments or it takes pitch correction in the studio to make them sound like they can sing on key. Why do you think more and more "artists" are caught lip syncing in their live performances?As for ONOFFON, there's not a label in the world that will have anything to do with us... too bad. We barely even play out anymore in the cultural cesspool that is the Los Angeles club scene...I know that when I perform with my rock cover band, I bring it every time I play. People come up to me and tell me that I'm the best bassist they've ever seen - I play with more intensity and feeling than anyone else - and they never tell me I'm too old, even though I'm 52 and proud of it.It's actually kind of fun - you can see it in the faces of the people when you're setting up. They're looking at you like 'oh God - who do these old guys think they are?' - and then we kick their freakin' *sses! We'll go from White Room by Cream to No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age and not skip a beat - they don't know what hit them.I don't even care anymore - I just do what I do and have a great time doin' it...What else is there?

[vermeer]

One thing people never mention is how youg people are more accomodating (as in "easier to manipulate"). Let's face it: most record deals are not exactly in the artist's favor. If I'm 19 or 21, I'm more willing to sign a bad deal for a chance to do what I like. Prince did it and made millions despite also never "recouping". The other thing has to do with responsabilities. When I was younger, I could work all the time and have no life. Now at 37, I have other people to consider and can no longer leave home for months at-a-time. Too many responsabilities and too much to lose. Not worth it.I actually don't mind the age barrier. Rock'n'roll is a young person's game and doesn't age very gracefully. For that, you have blues, country and jazz.Vermeer

[clonsberry]

Well, contrary to what my kids or the music industry think, I still think I'm in the upper percentage of "cool". If my dad played heavy metal guitar (with a fair spattering of metal), rode a motorcycle and was trying to be a songwriter in the middle of his life, I would've thought he was the coolest guy walking.It certainly is amusing to watch. Musically, it's no different. I'm not sure how much classic rock style music is asked for or would make it thru Taxi other than libraries. Everything seems "dated". Though I'm pretty new to this as a profession, I'm not sure how the songs would fare if I submitted Stairway To Heaven or Smoke On The Water (with it's memorable opening riff that's the first thing most guitar players learn to play that I've ever talked to.)Now, on the other side of that.. classic rock is a huge market. The blues will never die and we see people like Joss Stone coming out with albums like The Soul Sessions (which is an unbelievable CD!.. that I purchased.. which means it made money for the label and the artist) ) and drawing a wide audience. They may not play much Ol' Hank in Nashville anymore but I still pull it out of my collection (because I bought it so there's your CD sales) pretty frequently.This issue is societal not specifically the industry. But the industry, right or wrong, is the customer. So.. it's coming down to the music I write for me and the music I write for sale. In either case, I'll give it all I've got and put that "experience" to work.P.S. Personally, I think some smart person in the industry is going to put together a band of really "experienced" guys and have them play classic tunes.. maybe during Super Bowl halftime or something.

[kg]

My two cents: you're not too old unless you think you are.The extra buck-fifty: look fantastic for your age no matter what it is.

[sgs4u]

You guys are old (so am I, 47), as far as labels putting your picture on the cover of a CD for sale. They won't do it. But Arkjack, I bet you could make a CD and create a market for songs to fish with. A great picture of you're buffness standing beside a fish as tall as you. A scratch and sniff CD cover. A few fishing charter companies start buying your CD's a customer give aways. There are a lot of very wealthy people who like to fish. I would say the same thing to someone who golfed. Or played hockey, like me. Or make your own CD of music to help people to get through taxes. You already know what'll work! Presto - a new market. I'm not kidding. The ticket to selling CD's is to sell them in a place where there is no other music being sold. If you can find a way to move a thousand CD's at once, like a great big boat manufacturer putting them in new boats' stereos, should cover all your expenses pretty quick. Then you make more new recordings as fast as you can. You just have to sell your face, concept and music to the right people. There's where us geezers win the battles. Use logic to move your product, not fairy tales about being on stage in fron of 100,000 adoring fans.

[davewalton]

Quote: You guys are old (so am I, 47), as far as labels putting your picture on the cover of a CD for sale. They won't do it. I still have lots to post on my Taxi Land trip but one thing I'll touch on here is BAD and/or woefully out-of-date/out-of-place promo photos. One of the few horrifying experiences on my trip was enduring a few glossy 8X10's of things like a guy standing in front of his Casio keyboard wearing a t-short and running shorts (not making this up) as part of his self promotion as an orchestral film/television composer who's style embodies the most modern of scoring techniques. Don't send a promo photo for "Teen Pop" if you look like this:and don't send a promo photo for Rap and Hip Hop if you look like this:Dig deep down and use some common sense folks! BTW, for film/tv stuff, no one has ever asked how old I am and I don't send photos that's for sure (and no one has ever asked for one). I guess it's pretty much about the music. If they like it they do business with me. Being a performer is, unfortunately, a different story the majority of the time.

[Casey H]

Heck, I don't even buy green bananas anymore!! Casey

[gitarrero]

dave, your sense of humor enriches this board....