What lovely comments. In the Seattle and surrounds we enjoy an embarrassment of riches when it comes to opportunities for adult amateur musicians. I am a *very* intermediate player (don't practice enough and still working on the basics) and still I participate in two bands, my sax quartet and the various sub opportunities. The sub opportunities are the most challenging because I'm basicially sight reading, which is a weakness I'm working on.
As far as starting your own group goes, the pluses are that you get to pick the music, the players, and the gigs. The downside is that people are always in transition so you can end up looking for subs for every gig. Also, since I don't have a roadie or sound guy, I often end up doing that too. When I'm lucky, my grandson helps me schlep the fronts, sound system, music, instruments, and lighting.
