Oh, let's talk about age and the myth that you lose your creativity or ability to experiment or think outside the box when you have lived more than a certain number of years. Many people will tell you that you have to be under 30 to get signed, or to start a music career. Well, I'm here to tell you that's hogwash. I started in my 30s and I'm still going strong, working hard at growing my skills and doing my thing and maybe even, in my own little corner of the world making an impact. And it ain't just me. I was just reading the story of a mid-50s Indie Artist who got signed to a label less than 10 years ago -- meaning he was on the high side of 40. Now, he said, you have to be great to be signed by a label. But great isn't defined by age.
I'm not saying that there aren't terrifically talented people under 30 doing great & exciting things. But I am saying there are terrifically talented people over 30 doing great & exciting things.
I haven't seen The Bucket List yet, but I heard an interview this morning. Before writing the screenplay for that movie they interviewed a large number of people aged between 65 and 100+, and asked them what they regret. One of the top things was... they wish they hadn't wasted time on things that didn't matter.
When I began my music journey 17 years ago, one of my prime motivators was ... not wanting to wake up one day at 80 years of age, saying to myself 'now, why didn't I try harder to....'
I've wanted to be a singer since I was 5 or 6 years old, and I let societal & familial ideas of what you should do for a living and how you should live your life dictate what I did. I lost far too many years and was far too unhappy to ever go back there again. I do music now full-time and I am endlessy grateful that somehow I found the way to do that. It didn't happen overnight but the last 17 years have been a slow growth to who I am today. And I have miles to go, and tons to learn, and much more to experience. Who cares how old I am? I'm still alive, and I want to Live, not just take up space.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."
– George Bernard Shaw
I call myself the shy singer because that is who I was and am. I have grown from the place of acute social phobia and extreme stage fright into the person I am today... I attribute this personal growth to the study of singing. As I began to become aware of the things that inhibited my voice, I saw these same things inhibited me in life. The process of finding and releasing my authentic voice became the process of finding and freeing my Self. I write this blog to share my journey with you.
Vikki Flawith: The Shy Singer
Victoria Denyx: Author
Copyright (c)
All writing posted here is copyright (c) Victoria Flawith & (c) Victoria Denyx 2005-2023. All Rights Reserved.
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11 comments:
Vikki, thanks for this - I needed to hear that today!
Feeling my 39 years and wondering if the moment has passed me by...
It hasn't, I just need to keep trying! :)
Hi Vikki:
Stuart Wilde says, "I have all the time in the world."
There are a lot of people who were on fire as youths and then lost their fire with age.
But there are others who came on strong late in life, like Grandma Moses and Colonel Sanders.
Hey, for The Colonel, maybe the 11 Herbs and Spices was his 'Hey Jude.
I was a hot shot for a minute there, signed to a publishing deal and with record companies buzzing around. It didn't happen, but I always thought the pure thing of receiving inspiration and being able to capture it without messing it up too much was the real thing.
I'm working on a song that I think could make me a lot of money. First time I've felt that in a loooong time. Another way of saying it is...This tune might really connect with people...
Translation: I think this pup might make me some real scratch!!!
One thing I've noticed though, is that when you are 25, people are not just listening to the songs you are singing, they are also participating in a young person who "might make it".
That's the subtext of everything, everywhere you go.
Fast forward twenty years. Now, even now, playing in a cheesy little club, there's a little bit of that vibe, but mostly, people expect if you are "old", you should be able to do it well.
They take if for granted, and the astonishment level is much lower.
Maybe I'm kidding myself, but I think I'm a better singer and player than I was before. People seem less excited about it all then they used to be.
Reminds me of a line from East of Eden...no it was 'The Grapes of Wrath'.
"Strawberries don't taste the same anymore, and women's thighs have lost their clutch".
Tom St. Louis
http://www.gmsiamovie.wordpress.com
Wow... I'm turning 30 and I'm a bit worried about this thing.
Damn... they should start tagging human beings "valid thru 25 years old".
And that's a feeling like... "I have to make it til I'm 21...
Then I turned 25, and thought... 27... I'm turning 30... maybe 33.
Know what? I'll keep doing it for the rest of my life!
Aa' lasser en lle coia orn n' omenta gurtha! (May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown)
two quotes from Satchel Paige come to mind:
1) "How old would I be if I didn't know how old I was?"
2) "Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
Very nice quotes!
Indeed...
How old would I be if I didn't know how old I was?
Depends on the day I think.
Sometimes I feel like 13, sometimes like 30... and sometimes... I just don't know.
But really... does it really matter or is it just another "common sense nonsense"?
That post really helped me. Thank you so much.
Thanks a lot for this... You gimme courage to achieve my dream, I always wanted to be a singer or musicians since I was 6, but I never had a chance to have any music lessons,now I'm on my end of 25yo, and that dream still and always be on my mind, I've Been thru to some online audition, but never passed once, I was thought that maybe it just because I'm too old to try, or maybe I just have no good enough voice, since I read your blog, I have another courage or trying harder and never give up, now I'm gonna practice harder and try to go to the another audition,, thank you so much, u give me some spirit of life :)
Im 26, overweight and just realizing how stupid i was to waste my youth in a crappy relationship not matriculating. Just stewing in my juices trying to figure out what i want to be and just barely realizing; singer,actress, filmaker, is the answer. Im planning on taking acting classes/ purchasing the singing success kit and applying for production assistant positions,and moving to l.a. I wont waste anymore time. Im gonna try and find my niche. Thanks for this. I was starting to feel like my time had passed me by. Yes the acting and singing is probly just a hobby but working in films some way is gonna happen. Ive been talking about it for too long to just give up. A line from the film cosmopolis,"There was a time when I used to be younger than everyone around me,one day,that began to change" I cant let the dark cloud of {30} that is steadily approaching effect me so negatively anymore.hollywood is filled with carbon copies,i just have to remember i have a purpose and message and i have dreams and gifts for a reason.
I'm 34 now and I've been writing, and singing since I was 4. I actually wrote my very first song at 4. I wanted to get into theater after high school. Because singing is my love but I also have a love for family so I thought that was more important. I set my dreams aside to raise my 4 beautiful children. Now that my baby will be 7 next month I feel 2016 is my year to shine. I've never stopped writing and recording but now it's like.... How do I get back out there?
Sigh.. Am caught between being a mom and letting go of my artistic dreams.... My hubby tells me to let it go and focus on just the kids... But inside of me, I simply cant... And I dont have his support...
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