Leland Sklar's "you're too old to play gigs when..."

ginormous

Understatmentologist
The master session and road bassist, from his Facebook page --

"You're too old to play gigs when:

1. It becomes more important to find a place on stage for your fan than your amp.
2. Your gig clothes make you look like George Burns out for a round of golf or Dolly Parton with no bosom.
3. All your fans leave by 9:30 p.m.
4. All you want from groupies is a foot massage and back rub.
5. You love taking the elevator because you can sing along with most of your set-list.
6. Instead of a fifth member, your band wants to spring for a roadie.
7. You lost the directions to the gig.
8. You need your glasses to see the amp settings.
9. You've thrown out your back jumping off the stage.
10. You feel like heck before the gig even starts.
11. The waitress is your daughter!
12. You stop the set because your ibuprofen fell behind the speakers.
13. Most of your crowd just sways in their seats.
14. You find your drink tokens from last month's gig in your guitar case.
15. You refuse to play without earplugs.
16. You ask the club owner if you can start at 8:30 instead of 9:30.
17. You check the TV schedule before booking a gig.
18. Your gig stool has a back.
19. You're related to at least one member in the band.
20. You don't let anyone sit in.
21. You need a nap before the gig.
22. After the third set, you bug the club owner to let you quit early.
23. During the breaks, you now go to the van to lie down.
24. You prefer a music stand with a light.
25. You don't recover until Tuesday afternoon.
26. You hope the host's speech lasts forever
27. You buy amps considering their weight and not their tone or "cool" factor.
28. Feeling guilty looking at hot women at the audience, 'cause they're younger than your daughter.
29. You can remember seven different club names for the same location.
30. You have a hazy memory of the days when you could work 10 gigs in 7 days and could physically do it!
31. Your date couldn't make it because she couldn't find a babysitter for the grandkids.
32. The set list has to be in 20 point type..
33. Your drug of choice is now coffee…
34. It seems impossible to find stage shoes with decent arch support."
 
Re: Leland Sklar's "you're too old to play gigs when..."

"You stop the set because your ibuprofen fell behind the speakers"

:chairfall

"Your drug of choice is now coffee..."

Guilty
 
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Re: Leland Sklar's "you're too old to play gigs when..."

"Your drug of choice is now coffee..."

My drug of choice has always been coffee.
 
Re: Leland Sklar's "you're too old to play gigs when..."

I wish I had been that smart.

I used to have a bright piece of tape on the ground so I knew to stay back and not fall off the stage. For the record - floors hurt, the next day.
I can remember arriving at more gigs than I can remember leaving.

You think you're really cool at the time "Look at me, I'm so rock and roll", but after a while nobody wants to work with a train wreck.
You don't feel so cool when no one will give you a gig or a session.
And cleaning up sucks.
 
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Re: Leland Sklar's "you're too old to play gigs when..."

When I was drumming, I used earplugs. People complained that I played too soft... ironic, because they cranked it to 12, the reason I wore plugs in the first place!

I don't drink coffee when I'm working; it dries out my voice.

My stepson is a waiter in the restaurant across the street, but his best friend waiters at the room I'm in.

In the room I'm working these days, I start @ 6 PM, and go to 9.

Otherwise, Lee's pretty much on point, just like his playing.
 
Re: Leland Sklar's "you're too old to play gigs when..."

Hell, I'm 31 and some of this list applies to me.

But really... you're too old to play gigs when you're dead. And you should stop when it's not fun anymore.

Luckily for me, I'm neither dead nor do I not enjoy it anymore.

I love playing live.
 
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