"The Price of Musicians" thread reminded me of something I wanted to post to the coffee house. Pardon me if I say this awkwardly:
 
I think there is a group of musicians (us) who are a subset of the baby boomers who had a unique mind-set: That is the belief that we can grab a few guys who can kinda play guitar, drums and keys and actually make a go of making music. And even if you never did get ahead doing so, you sure had a hell of a good time trying!
 
I don't want to exclude any non-boomers - You are welcome to this secret society - But I think that maybe this came to a head with my generation, and we never got over it.
 
I really enjoy making music with Sonar...but nothing can match my garage band days! Even at the time I knew I was having a good time. Us guys always mentioned to each other that we couldn't believe we were getting paid to do this. I miss it a lot. Not getting home at 4:00 a.m. Not dragging a Rhodes piano up two flights of stairs...but the rest I do.
 
I wonder if this same sort of thing still exists today out there in music land. I'm sure I don't know. I hope it does. Nothing can beat it.
 

rbecker
 
I wonder if this same sort of thing still exists today out there in music land. I'm sure I don't know. I hope it does. Nothing can beat it.
 

hey,drop by here on any Wednesday night and you will find a bunch of 60 year olds rocking out.
never heard anyone mention "band pheromones" before but ,occasionally everything gels and clicks and the collective buzz is pretty intense.
no different to most team sports-except with music, "everyone`s a winner baby"
                                                                            "that`s no lie"   
when that stops I will retire. 
cheers  
 
 

It does still exist, and it's not just old guys doing it. There are still 20-somethings bangin' away in the garage. The main difference is few get paid to do it anymore. Clearly, nobody does it for the money and never did.

There are still quite a few guys in my age group (50's) who played out back in the day that are still doing it. It's just a different mind-set now for most of them. It's for the stage buzz and the shared fun of playing together. Most are doing it for once or twice a month gigs.
 
As for the younger folks in their late teens or 20's, it's different scene now. There aren't near as many venues available to earn your stripes. It's not as easy as it once was to get steady gigs or do regional tours on a shoe string. Also, the talent pool has shrunken IMO. There just aren't that many decent players around to build a decent band out of. I'm speaking of smaller cities, not hubs like LA, NY etc.
 
As for missing it, I sometimes miss the performing part of it. It was always my favorite part. But there is zero part of me that would be willing to put a band together, even though I'm confident I could put a group of seriously talented pro-level players together and whip up a rehearsed commercially viable set list in about 30 days. Money for a PA and related stage gear wouldn't be an issue. It would be SO much easier for me now than it was when I was doing it. But there is no way I'd put myself or my family through it. I clearly remember what it takes, and that's time. A lot of it. I'm not willing to be that selfish anymore.