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[quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1496141754' post='3309028'] I'll bet that was annoying, all the effort of getting there, setting up etc only to get cut short. I wouldn't have been happy... [/quote] We still got our fee, and it was only an hours drive, but yes, frustrating. I can only assume that someone made a call that other bands were entertaining enough to run over their set-time, where as we were not entertaining enough to play the full slot. Either that or some form of politics. Never mind!

An afternoon festival in Derby on Saturday. Perfect location, great stage, fantastic sound... no-one there. There was nothing but a small beer stall with 3 taps, and a small burger stall. Not even public toilets. I guess there are other factors involved but IME these things generally involve booze, which tends to require more selection of beer, and some public toilets to cater for the effects, plus some random tat stalls and some rides/games for kids. Great festival on Sunday but we were pulled off after playing 25 minutes of our 45 minute time slot. The organisers kept trying to blame the other acts for running over, but if they can cut us short, they can do it for everyone

I bought a mic from Chris, he got back to me straight away, got it to me within 2 days perfectly packed, and chased up to make sure I'd got it - couldn't ask for better than that!

marshall echohead - great reverse mode!

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1495641564' post='3305548'] My living room is larger than that. Maybe I should start charging my guests for their drinks? I can't imagine a room that small being able to pay me enough to leave the house... [/quote] We can't all be rock stars Bill

A folk club up north. I don't want to be too specific. It's a function room at the back of a pub. One guy who's been playing in bands all his life runs this night called an "acoustic club". He books acts from out of town (us being one) as though it's a gig. I believe there's a fee but I don't get involved in that side of things. Anyway, it's just an open mic, he gets his mates to play a few songs each, some are good, some are crap, then puts the band on at 10, asks you to play until 11:30, then asks you to leave your gear on stage while his mates play some more open mic. There's only ever 20 people in there at the most It's probably worthwhile - I'm sure we sell albums and merch etc. but it's just a bit soul destroying.

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1495630312' post='3305427'] I run everything in the PA no matter the size of the room. The difference is akin to listening to a small table radio versus a decent stereo system. Management might not care about how it sounds, the audience might not care about how it sounds, but no matter. I care about how it sounds. [/quote] There's a pub I've done a few times, the room we play is probably 15ft long, 10 ft wide. The bar runs along the length on one side. There is very limited room for the band and their equipment. We can just about fit in some PA tops on stands. The (cut down) drum kit goes in the corner, the bass amp squeezes in beside it, the guitarist DIs through his Pod, and vocals go through the PA. I guess you're thinking we could fit some subs in too to make a nice full range PA, and put some of every instrument into it, at a very low level, and this will be nicer tonally, than just the vocals in the PA? I have to disagree. I mean, I wouldn't mind some kick drum in the PA but the snare is already too loud when played at regular velocity. I'm having to play the snare very quietly for it to be the right level at the back of the room WITHOUT any PA support. You would prefer I play even quieter and mic it up?

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1495562463' post='3304891'] It's actually important to put drums in the PA, the snare in particular. Even a ham fisted troglodyte's snare doesn't carry all that well throughout most rooms. Having the bass in there as well doesn't hurt, but not for the lows that carry well, for the mids and highs that don't. Just be sure to high pass the channel at 100Hz and/or roll off the bass EQ so it doesn't stress the PA. The same applies to guitar, for the same reason. It's not about volume, it's about dispersion. [/quote] It depends on the style of music, the size of the room, and the overall level of the mix. I'm talking about very small pubs. I have an extra heavy beater for the kick drum, and I actually have to take it easy on the snare to get the mix right

It probably wasn't a massive assumption, the "promoter" probably said it'd be fine I turned up to a gig last week, the drummer on before me said "where's your kit?" and seemed pretty annoyed that I hadn't brought it. The promoter told me he was bringing his kit. I just did as I was told! We found a house kit anyway, but still, we agreed to talk to each other directly in future

I play in an originals band that still manages to get the odd pub gig where we take our own PA. For these, the bass never goes in the PA, but neither do any drums

ace! Thanks

If you want a consistent pedal board you're not having to tweak all the time, you need a way to balance the outputs of your basses, or just use one. I mean in terms of tone as well as volume

lovely thread!!! All the best, keep bassing

Hairy Dog in Derby on Friday - cool venue! Not as many in as I'd hoped. I messed up a song - I really struggle with this one song, it gives me crippling cramp in my right hand (I'm on drums) and as soon as I hit something slightly out of time it really throws me off. I've been practising loads too :/ Still, we seemed to go down OK Water Rats in London on Saturday. This is an ace venue! Had a really good night, managed the above song with no hiccups, went down well, good fun!

I saw a band walk on to their own intro tape, wait until it had finished, then tweak their instruments and introduce them to the crowd. This looks a bit silly IMO - if you're going to have an intro tape, you should walk on and then kick into some music straight away

another one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXxYOhV6DWg

It's only up the road from me and I'd never heard of it! Just checked it out and it looks good... I'm gigging away this weekend though, have a good one!

I'm really enjoying this thread

I thought it'd be easy to play basslines on a keyboard with my left hand while playing drums with my right hand and feet. The beats I'd written to specifically match the bass pattern seemed so simple when someone else was playing the bassline. It took me a good hour to learn how to do one song. I had to go through it slowly, figuring out how each part "played" with the other and then try to remember it

It's probably mainly the rhythm that you're messing up? I find I have to be able to figure out exactly where the bass notes go, in terms of rhythm, in relation to the drum beat/vocal/lead riff. Kind of like when you're first learning to play drums, and you have to figure out "this kick drum goes with the right hand here, but in between the right hand here" etc.

ace!

Hereford on Friday night, home town on Saturday night... good fun but the crowds were thin, which seems to make the non-stop weekend even more tiring :-/

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1494316717' post='3294841'] I don't understand why so many players think they should get hearing protection [i]after[/i] the problems have started. That's like deciding to put your seat belt on after you've been thrown through the windscreen!.. [/quote] It kind of is, but it's never too late to protect what's left of your hearing. I play with quite a few musicians in their late 40s and none of them wear ear protection. I try telling them, but they say "it's too late for me". It's never too late to protect what you have left!!!!!!!

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1494274070' post='3294651'] Since I'm currently not in a gigging band, I'm playing a lot more guitar than bass, that being how I compose. So if I'm now a guitard, that's fine with me. Although I'd prefer to be called a guit@rshole. [/quote] guitarshole - perfect! Even funnier than guitard, and much less offensive. Personally I refuse to be defined by the instrument(s) I play, but others are welcome to if it helps them take the piss

I can tune my (6 string) basses in about 10 seconds. They generally never go out of tune, but if I have 10 seconds spare, why not? It's important to me to be in tune When I'm on guitar I'm sure it takes the same amount of time, but I've never actually seen a guitarist tune in less than 30 seconds. What's the deal with that? And guitarists who insist on trying to tune by ear, despite the fact they have a digital tuner on stage? Weird