I'M TOO OLD!
Garbage. Sure, you may be "too old" to get signed as the next American Idol, or even try out for that chance, but there is plenty of stuff you can still do. To be honest, many of those idols can't write, and need people like us to crank out the material that will make them look good. Get those demos together, find out who has signed them, and send off those CDs. True, they might already have a whole album's worth of material lined up for them, but whether they flop or fly, they will probably get a chance to get a follow-up disc right behind that first one. Find one of the finalists from one of the competitions that will work in your style and try writing something they could use, if nothing else. It will still be good practice, regardless. You can also still write soundtrack music for movies some new talent might be up for, or just DJ at raves if nothing else. There are loads of places where it is product output, not age that matters. Genres like classical, jazz, blues, country, bluegrass and folk have always been open to everyone, and many folks would like to hear new tunes mixed in with standards. Sorry, age is just no excuse. Even rockers can still at least do parties, and many toss their own tunes inbetween covers of favorites, and you probably will be making more money than most all-original bands while you are at it.
DO WHAT YOU KNOW
If you are a 5-octave singer or a virtuoso guitarist or both, let it rip! Don't care if some rep might have told you that no one will be able to sing it but you-that is nonsense, and any good singer can just break it down to a lower key, third or whatever if they want. Trust me, studios are full of hack guitarists that can play anything put in front of them-they are there because they have ability, but most can't write those riffs to save their life, unless it is to just come up with the occasional basic solo. Walking bass lines and concert-sounding piano and violin parts will be memorable, and there are loads of straight-A school band geek musicians that could play them if handed just a CD to listen to, and even faster if given a lead sheet or tab. Write that lovely jazzy solo, hit that high or low note, and write that lyric that a good singer will be proud to say because it has substance and is poetic-fans will eat it up. I can't say how many times I've seen a performer get a standing ovation because he or she got up and did a solo, even though some detractors thought they didn't know how to play the part-you will only make the fans love them more for the attempt. Don't dumb things down for people, either-even if asked to play long and slow notes, make those the most beautiful and melodic you know how, and show how good you can write melodies, not just play notes fast. If you are any good, it will show, and don't be afraid to let yourself shine, no matter what you are asked to do. Let those influences show, too. They are a part of your "sound," and even if that changes year to year, people should be able to tell at some point that it is you, not you trying to sound like someone else.
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