Oh great.  I'm older than every member in your band.  Here I was in a good mood and now I've just learned I've outgrown being cool...  Guess I should start buying Ensure and Depends now, life is over! 

I'm not ashamed to admit I drink Ensure all the time. It tastes great and is really good for you....especially if you don't eat 3 or more meals correctly like me. :) Depends...well, I'm not quite in need of them yet...but I recently saw this new "briefs" version that raised an eyebrow for me. I sure wouldn't mind....umm...nevermind, yes I would. ;)
 
-Danny

Karyn
The "older audience" will mostly only go to see the bands they liked when they were young, if they're still going...  As you pointed out, parents have way more "important" things to do than going out enjoying themselves.
 
You either seek out the bars/clubs where the older generation hang out and play those, or you update your style to the 21st century to attract the current gig going crowd.
 
Be aware though, that even if you find a venue that supports 'classic' rock groups that's filled with 'our' generation they still won't be jumping up and down at the front of the stage.  They'll be stood at the bar with their pints moaning that the band is too loud....

Oh bugger, I think I saw you last weekend when I was doing live sound.
 
You were at the bar .................
 

For those who might want to know, when working with Do-It-Yourself Depends, don't skimp on the duct tape.  I'm just sayin'...

"how do bands find older audiences - "


unfortunately,unless you actually were successfull in your 20`s and doing a "comeback" and preferably have had at least one hit to fall back on,or you played in a band called Anvil,then you`re stuffed.
Read the gig guide in Classic Rock magazine-it`s the 80`s again and the punters who can afford the tickets are the cashed up baby boomers-the "older audiences" you speak of.
we are an original 3 piece in our mid to late fifties who do support gigs occasionally and have found the main thing going for us is we use the best equipment available to get the best sound possible and never play without a soundcheck-never.
as for our audience:most are muso`s ,easy to spot,huddled in their little groups checking out the gear and the chops and we play for them-if you can keep your peers interested you are doing your job-if we can get at least one person up dancing and the muso`s nodding then it`s a good gig.
Ageism is sad but you can always close your eyes at a gig and just listen-all the rest is just smoke and mirrors anyway.
i would come and listen to your band if you were a bit closer.
cheers 
 

Consider the possibility that it is not age per se that is related to the distance between band and fans, but rather a fear on the part of the audience that you may launch yourself into a mosh if given the opportunity to prove you are still cool at 40+.

You could try stage diving,  always a croud pleaser.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eventually someone will come to the front to catch you out of sympathy...

Karyn
You could try stage diving,  always a croud pleaser.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eventually someone will come to the front to catch you out of sympathy...

Or stare at you writhing in pain on the ground (but they'll expect you to do this at every show from then on).

spacey
Well if I were looking for an audience (at my age) I'd get a gig on
a cruise ship.
I wouldn't mind the Alaska trip out of Seatle for starters.
 

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