Most people have made and/or received a “booty call” in their lifetime, some more than others. I admit that when I was working very irregular hours in the late 1990’s, I made many of these calls myself. I even received a couple. Yeah, lucky me.
But this piece isn’t about the shear physical pleasure of meeting for late night sex. Instead it’s about changing direction as you get older. With all the layoffs, firings and downsizing in companies these days, it’s a topic that applies to lots of people. That’s especially true for anyone over 60.
I’ve read lots of articles that say “60 is the new 40.” It’s not that easy to find meaningful employment at 40, let alone as a sexagenarian. I speak from experience. As a top-selling QVC presenter for over 15 years and as the host of some of the most successful infomercials in history, you’d think my employment opportunities would be everywhere. Nowhere is a more accurate term.
Recently, I was a very successful guest for ShopNBC/ShopHQ. My sales were high and the hosts really enjoyed working with me. Enter the consultants and some less-than-enlightened executives who thought my grey hair and older appearance wasn’t right for the younger demographic they were trying to attract. And, since it’s a broadcast company, they can claim a “casting exemption” to any age discrimination worries.
I’m sure many of you are in the same situation. You are at the top of your game but, because of your age and the advanced pay that usually accompanies it, you were fired, laid-off or downsized. The difference between the three terms? The company says you were fired, you tell friends and relatives you were laid off and the term “downsized” has made it to your resume.
So you’re over 50, maybe even 60, and unemployed. What can you do? Trying to find a job in the same field that said you were too old and well paid seems counterproductive. I know this from experience. As soon as companies realize I’m 63, they find a reason to not hire me.
Anger is a natural first reaction. I look at some of the younger hosts on the TV shopping channels and just shake my head. Hey, I was on-the-air when I was young. But I at least understood the fundamentals of sales. Most of these folks are the cutesy TV shopping version of Fox News hosts. They’re nice to look at but offer very little substance.
So did I stay angry? For a while, yes. But then I pulled my head out of my butt, cleaned the shit out of my eyes and decided to take matters into my own hands. I looked at many business possibilities, opening a music store, a wine bar or even a radio station. I asked myself the most important question a person considering opening a business can ask – “What do I know about running a successful music store, wine bar or radio station?” The answer was a resounding “nothing” to each category.
What did I know a lot about? TV Shopping…oh yeah, the age thing. I could always consult…but I would be joining a lot of other unemployed DRTV folks who had hung out their consultant shingle. Too much competition. Time to check into my lifelong passions.
I have always enjoyed target shooting and I’m really good at it. Okay, who needs a sniper? How much does it pay? What are the hours? None of those questions had satisfactory answers.
I also love to play the guitar. I played some studio sessions when I lived in Nashville and it paid pretty well and there was lots of work. Oh wait, I currently live in Northern California. Not much studio work out here and I have no desire to play in coffee houses and clubs for $50.00 a night.
My passion has always been music and songwriting. While there aren’t many well paying positions for a guitar player, I have written some successful songs over the years. Some official city songs, jingles and even a very popular Christmas song. Many of my song parodies were played on national TV and radio. While there were no mega hits in any category, it’s something I really enjoy and I do very well. As a lifelong writer, lyrics are easy for me.
While I have tried to have songs published before, I have never made a full time concerted push. Until now.
The audio track for my song “Booty Call” is the first demo recording in this current push. I really like the way the lyrics rub up against each other in this song and the music video would be incredible. It has been #1 on many major Internet radio stations and has even had some airplay on terrestrial stations. There are several other finished demos. One of them, “She Sang Every Sunday,” is the best ballad I’ve ever written.
A full time push to be a successful songwriter. It’s a daunting task, especially for someone over 60. But the end reward is worth it to me. I will work at it every day. If there are no positive results in a couple of years, I examine my other passions and see if any of them are worth pursuing. (Do snipers get regular bathroom breaks?)
For those of you in a similar situation, take control of your life and pursue your passions. Even if you have to take a “day job” to stay afloat, never stop pursuing the things you love. It’s never too late for a booty (or success) call!
Steve Bryant - Thoughts on Success, Music and Media 