Telebass

We do have a similar situation this month - an hour at a party (7 to 8) in one part of Mid Cornwall, then a pub gig at 9-30 about 6 miles away. That's easier than yours, but still a lot of frantic load-out/load-in!

Sold Stephen a bass neck. A very nice transaction, with good communication! Thanks, Stephen!

Now, that's busy! But it's a problem I'd like to have, up to a point!

What a nice guy to deal with! Thanks, Chris!

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1367405395' post='2065143'] I think the problem is we may have been playing in bands for 30years, but there is a vast difference in experiences. I've been in about 10bands and played with a few hundred musicians. If you need a written wish list then you probably haven't picked up the nessecary skills you need to spot and deal with fakers early. Essentially, everyone comes with their own merits and little foibles, including ourselves. Transport and pro gear are a given. Pro playing ability, ability to keep a diary and reply to messages in a timely manner are also a must. Coming to rehearsals having already practiced the required tunes to gig standard is also a must. Musicians are by definition, arty and aren't good at the organisational sides of things. So you have to work round that. Getting 4 people who enjoy the same music, want to play the same number of gigs, and in the right locations is another. However, set a timescale, 3 months to learn 20/30 tunes, get photos, record a demo video and get gigs. Then a rehearsal once a month to add new tunes if necessary. Communicate this with potential band members before even auditioning them. Weed out people who just want 'to be in a band' because 'being in a band' isn't what being in a band is all about. [/quote] Wise words.

Entirely possible.

Oooops, that does sound a bit unbalanced!

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1367330024' post='2064272'] As a wish list it's good. I have a wish list of a bunch of guys, probably enough for 2 and a half bands, all knowing the same set, and claiming to be the same band (mostly deppy types) who can throw a line-up together on short notice, not have to turn up if they don't fancy it and still keep a full schedule without upsetting anyone. Preferably all multi-instrumentalists, so that switching is easy, and all able to sing well enough to cover pubby things. That way commitment isn't an issue, and the whole thing is relaxed and nice. It will never happen though. [/quote] Yup, that just might be perfect! *Dreams on*...

Put it this way - if i were doing 100 gigs a year with my present band, that would be around 8-9k. As my only income, it might not attract much tax, but for someone with a day job, I imagine there would be some tax payable, assuming expenses wouldn't cover it. "so you're after 4 blokes with roughly the same tastes and abilities with no other commitments and no full time jobs?" No, because it wasn't an ad, just an idea! I do realise that if I put out an ad worded like that, I'd probably get bombs in the post...and deserve them! I just thought that putting the ideas in my head down would be a better start point than "What do I do to start a band, then?"

As I keep repeating, this wasn't the wording for any sort of ad, and although i value every comment, few seem to have read it in the spirit in which it was intended. Basically, I was asking what does one do when starting from scratch? While sitting in the sun over lunch (that was a bit of a novelty after all this bad weather), I thought of another thread to this. If I were to go the tribute route, then I could be a bit more picky, and everyone would surely understand that this would mean a fair bit of commitment. Ah, maybe I'm a dreamer. Trouble is I seem to be the only one!

Oh yes... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/203704-courier-disaster/page__hl__courier%20disaster"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/203704-courier-disaster/page__hl__courier%20disaster[/url]

Like I said, it's a wish-list overview, not an ad. All your comments are useful. I do actually have a PA, for example. But so many vocalists, so-called, do not even own a microphone. No vocalist worth his salt (at this level) doesn't have a mic. It's like expecting to borrow a bass every time you gigged...As to rest of the kit: the reason I mentioned big amps is that I'm tired of playing the band volume up to meet the 'I've got to crank it to sound good' merchants. That very thing cost me a slice of my hearing...at only 50W. Some people would find short notice stuff impossible. Indeed! So don't apply...If it sounds like I'm aiming at being full-time pro, then yes. Why not? I fail to see why there aren't more that aspire to the same, even if the goal is never quite reached. If need be, I would run it as an employer, but I'd prefer not. I did omit the genre. Yes, covers etc. But as I said, I'm not about to actually present this to the band member world as-is! I just find it hard that, among so many musicians, so very very few appear to think enough of themselves to really give it a go. . It may sound naive, but I just don't understand that. Many thanks for the comments, it all helps. I've never done it all from my end before, not in over 40 years...

I've decided that the only way I'm going to gig as much as I would wish is to do the whole thing from the ground up myself. Plainly, the first and most daunting task is to find like-minded musicians who want to do this as much as I do and as often as I do. Given that, here's a stream-of-consciousness band spec. This is not gospel as such, but a cloud-nine ideal. Can I ask some of you to read it, bearing in mind that I know this is a wish-list and probably not real-world? ============================================================================ Band/s – an[b] ideal[/b] overview… Please read right through! The band will be a four-piece, ie 2x guitar/drums/bass or vocals/guitar/drums/bass. All band members should fit in to the following scenario: Firstly, and [b]most importantly[/b], I would like this to be an ego-free zone where the band members have fun, and earn a reasonable income doing so. But secondly, it will be a successful business which will provide us with that reasonable income. It follows that the earnings will be declarable. [b]Transport[/b] Have your own reliable transport always available. This DOES NOT mean a reliable lift. No car, no need for you to apply….The reasoning here is that if we all have good wheels, if and when someone suffers a breakdown, there’s enough slack in the system to be able to fit everyone in and get to the gig. [b]Equipment[/b] Your own reliable equipment that is suitable for this band. Examples: the Guitarist/s must have a suitable amp, preferably no more that 50W. Marshall full stack NOT acceptable. Ideally, 15 to 30W and mike up. Vocalist and backing vocalists will have their own microphone and stand, minimum spec Shure SM57 or similar, and a good XLR cable, 10m. Additionally, a standalone frontperson (ie not an instrumentalist) will have a PA system suitable for the task. Why? It’s the amplifier for your instrument, dummy…Not exceeding 600W/side, and not complex. There’s no need for racks of kit. Any venue that needs kilowatts will have their own, or we’ll charge them for the hire of one. The drummist must have a kit that takes no more than 40 minutes to set up, and their own set of microphones, should such be required, preferably with a sub-mixer. [b]Commitment[/b] This band will aim to reach a minimum gigging level of 100 gigs/year. If you only want to gig once a week, it’s not for you. I would like it to be able to do short-notice gigs any day of the week, should such arise. This will make it difficult if you are in full-time work. Consider it carefully. Given what I am asking, membership of other bands/projects is likely a no-no. And rehearsing has to fit in here somewhere also! This ‘exclusivity’ bit is something I myself hate to be asked for, but given what I’m aiming at, I can’t see a way round it… Anyone who has childcare issues or is a shift worker is probably not going to be suitable. For example, if you’re a single parent with 7 kids, then no matter your childcare backup, you’re unsuitable by definition. (Experience speaking here, folks…). If there is enough response but not enough time commitment, I will consider two bands: basically, one for Fridays, and an as near as dammit identical setup for Saturdays. Hopefully this will give enough flexibility to cover gigs at other times, should we be so lucky! ========================================================================================= I fully understand that there is an element of pie-in-the-sky here, but only an element. Surely there are people out there who do this beyond the hobby stage? If so, where are you? Yours, in hope, Den

And, of course, what Jah said. Use yer eyeballs, often!

Realistically, 'competent', if you're not a sparkie, means having done a simple course at the very least. I was an electronic s calibration engineer in a previous life, so it was part of my job to be fully qualified, so a C&G certificate was taken. Still only a one day course, followed by an exam. Other folk on the course had never had reason to do electrical stuff before, and they struggled. The thing is, the length of time between tests is down to the equipment owner. If you gig a dozen times a year, then a PAT test every two or three years is entirely reasonable. If you gig three times a week, annually would probably be more prudent.

And another for Markbass, albeit this time paired with a Barefaced Super 15!

Fakedy fake fake fake!

I'm in one quite busy band, at 55-70 gigs a year. However, as it's my main income, I'd really like to double that, but this band is unable to accomodate such a large increase in work (translation: their wives won't let them...). So I keep looking foe either a) a new band that will be happy to ramp up the gigging to 120+, or a side project that will dovetail nicely with the first band. the result? I have yet to meet any other musician who would happily gig twice a week plus. In forty plus years! Where the hell are you all? And the dovetailing? Has never worked. At all. And there are those here too who would have you gig once in a blue moon and be exclusive to them. Idiots. Edit: that came over all twisted, no? Ah well. It was.

Hmmmm. And none of them, not one, can hold a candle to a 57 style Precision, especially in black/maple. Not even in the same ballpark. There ain't no better bass. IMHO...

And, as someone mentioned on here a long time back, if they ask for your cert, ask for their fixed installation certificates. Most will walk away.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1367262395' post='2063407'] The risk with that approach is that if a piece of your faulty equipment causes a problem and you don't have the PAT records to justify the stickers then you move into the realm of fraud as well as negligence, which won't look good in court if a frayed mains cable has just electrocuted someone. Just saying. [/quote] Exactly. Either do it, or don't do it. Don't pretend. It's not THAT expensive (OK, I have a vested interest here...), but it makes no sense to fake it, because it isn't the stickers they will eventually ask for, it's the certificate. The stickers are so that if they are so minded, they can cross-check what's on the certificate with what's sitting in front of them.