When It's Time To Slow Down, But Not Quit

It's going to happen. "The old grey mare ain't what she used to be". The only way to escape this inevitability is to check out early. Not my plan.

Lars Ulrich of Metallica fame has a personal trainer on site in the office. The band tours in 2 week bursts having giving up the 1.5 year tours. Booze way down. Sensible eating. Boundaries around his work ethic. Goal: avoid burnout and last another decade or more on the heavy metal merry go round. 

Terry Clark of Boss Brass fame rebuild his technique to survive as a player in his 70's. So far, so good. Time is spent playing, teaching, and walking the dog.

As always, we need to pace ourselves, sleep enough, fuel up with healthy choices, and manage stress with down time and exercise. The smart folks get professional input before undertaking any radical change. You don't want to drop dead in the gym.

For me it happened in my late forties. I was tired and didn't give a fuck anymore. Thirty-two years of playing, booking, recording, and producing on demand: Weddings, corporate, studio, civic, theatre, clubs, you name it this guy has done it. From Billionaires to Paupers with all stops in between. One day I said, "I'm done". But, I'm still a musician. Now what?

I found answers, your answers will be different. 

• Moved to Toronto
• Built a teaching business that utilizes my professional experience. Niche marketing in a lucrative market: Toronto
• Took up the drums at 50
• Joined the "arts" community as a drummer and keyboardist
• Got remarried
• Kept my hand in professional music by earning the right to play with the most creative musicians I know
• Life-long learning: music education in both formal and informal settings. Earned my ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto. Studied Jazz with some world class tutors including: Rufus Reid, Bobby Shew, Terry Clarke, Paul DeLong, and Gregory Hutchinson. 

 
If you have been at it for decades, there sensible solutions to your problems too. 

• Build secondary business
  • teaching
  • retail
  • back office
  • management
  • booker
  • publishing
• Play for fun
  • jamming
  • community orchestras
  • summer music camps
• Drop the crap gigs
• Get into shape. There aren't many old fat guys.

Cheers,

David Story
http://www.musiciandavidstory.com/

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