mcnach

I've played many charity gigs over the years. The better organised ones that also appeared to rais the most money were also ones where we all got paid reasonably well.

I have said many times that I tend to play for free, I'm just charging for all the other time that the gig keeps me busy and not playing: travelling, setting up, waiting around...

I'd second this. I have bought 3 basses from Maruszczyk directly between 2013 and 2016. It worked out just fine, but communication wasn't the easiest. Having someone else like Bass Direct dealing with them sounds like a very good option: you ensure BD know what you want, and they do all the talking.

I was going to suggest this. I have one, it's great. It only does one thing, but it does it very well in a very controllable manner.

Sometimes we could use a few lights to add a little bit of colour. We're not looking for anything big or complicated, so at the moment we've just got 4 LED lights that we can attach to various stands/contraptions. Unlikely we'll ever expand beyond another 4, at most. They can work with DMX, wired, and I'm thinking that it would be great to be able to have some better control than just letting them do their thing on their "auto" or "sound" modes. The problem is I have zero idea about this. I see some pretty budget-friendly small controllers, anything from £30 to £60, that look like they might work... but I only say that because they have 6-8 faders, and a bunch of buttons to save/recall scenes and programs, but I really do not know if those would be ok or not. What do I want to achieve? I would like to be able to sync perhaps two lights at the back and two at the front, separately. Or all 4 together. I would like to be able to trigger programs easily from stage. Also turn off/on manually. Can they work with footswitches at all? I don't expect anybody to write a tutorial just for me, but the range of videos and other material online is quite daunting, so if anybody has some suggestions about particular videos/sites/docs that could educate me (and recommendations for a controller), I would really appreciate it. Some of the stuff I've seen seem directed to people who already have a clue. Thank you, you colourful beautiful people.

I find it disturbing that you don't think what happens (points) over there will not have a serious impact on what you do (points) over here. I wish I had your calm outlook, and I sincerely hope you're right.

And appeasement is not dangerous and damaging? How many times has That Guy being in a similar situation while collectively the world did precious little nothing? Those of you who still have older relatives and experienced war in Europe might want to talk to them.

Then by all means let everybody walk all over you, if that's the life you want. :shrug:

5-string I generally avoid open strings unless I especifically want them for some reason (some one-string riffs with the open string as a pedal tone, for example). It just makes it easier for me to transpose on the spot without thinking. I like the 5-strings not so much for the lower notes that I rarely use (lowest I go is low D, usually), but because you have two octaves within a 5-fret span, it is just a lot easier to play once you get used to having an extra string. Otherwise, just one 4-string tuned Eb. If you're desperate for open string possibilities, a capo might be a consideration, if you're just needing it occasionally.

I like the one where we don't have to keep revisiting the same situation again and again.

It's almost as if he had learnt that he can say whatever he wants to without any significant consequences, eh?

Yup. Putin needs to go before anything really changes for the better. However, he needs to be deposed by his own people.

That's what's really worrying. They cannot NOT have anticipated push back... so what's their plan? What else are they doing that we do not yet know?

Has anybody tried one of those little lavalier mics, so that one can use it to hear other people -but with the ability to switch it on/off at will-?

Well, if a hitman is involved, they might as well do a buy one get one free deal.