peteb

It seems that he has hit his target but I've put a few extra euros his way anyway. I hope that he gets the treatment and it is successful...

Now this is interesting - a video blog of Janek Gwizdala interviewing Seth Godin about his [font=sans-serif]philosophy [/font]in the context of being a professional (mainly jazz) musician in the current market. Please note the complete absence of any chordal bass noodling, use of a looper pedal or JG singing tunelessly along to his own playing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paBrXTk-tpM

So you're playing the same set with a limited repertoire in a genre that is based on an improvisational format where presumably you will never play a song the same twice and you want to rehearse weekly to play one gig a month?? I'm afraid that I'm with your bandmates on the one...

For me the following has to be in place: 1) everyone can play 2) there is nobody involved that I can't stand being in the same room with 3) the band has a coherent plan about what it is going to play, where and what it's target audience will be 4) that I can live with the type of music they play 5) that it will involve playing live As far as playing is concerned, everyone has to able to do what they need to rather than necessarily be a virtuoso. A band is only as good as it's weakest link,so the weakest player has to be acceptable. However it must be said that there is always an obvious attraction to playing with very good or exceptional players! It doesn't matter too much if a band will only play a handful of gigs a year, if they are going to be good gigs and they don't expect me to rehearse every week. There plenty of other projects I can be involved with to fill up the diary. The same goes for distance - if the gigs are worth it I'm quite happy to travel. I even welcome getting away from the local scene to play to a different audience and see new places!

[color=#1D2129][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] RIP Chris Cornell[/font] [font=inherit] I always will remember his tribute to Whitney Houston just after her untimely death, mainly because my Dad passed away just a couple of days later. I never thought that just over 5 years later it would serve as a tribute to Cornell himself. Such a genuinely gifted guy but despite all the talent, looks and success, some people just can’t leave their demons behind. Such a shame…[/font] [font=inherit] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCY5lF7KV84[/font] [/font][/color] [color=#1D2129][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][size=3] [font=inherit] [font=inherit] [font=inherit] [font=inherit] [font=inherit] [font=inherit] [/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/size][/font][/color]

[quote name='MrDaveTheBass' timestamp='1495100082' post='3301227'] This reminds me of one memorable time when I had my gas meter read. I let the guy in and opened the cupboard where the meter was, at which point he produced a box of matches, lit one and started to proffer it towards the gas meter! Fortunately, I had my wits about me and was able to grab his arm and blow the flame out before he was able to get near the meter. A look of bewilderment came over his face as he said, "what did you do that for?" He looked even more confused as I started shouting at him, asking him what the f*** he was doing waving naked flames at my gas meter. "But my torch batteries have run out, and it's too dark to see the numbers!" Even after I'd got a torch and shone it at the meter for him, he still had absolutely no idea why I was so freaked out. [/quote] I would be much more likely to report this guy rather than someone trying to be slightly over friendly and talking nonsense about bass guitars

It's not like gear fails all the time but Murphy's Law ensures that when it does its on a big gig! In nearly 40 years, I have broken one string onstage, had a handful of wiring problems with a bass, had an amp go down 3 or 4 times and one cab failure. Most of these were simple 20 minutes repairs (except the amp, which was a major fault that was eventually corrected) but more than enough to ruin a show. I do occasionally take one (passive) bass to a gig when there are logistical issues, but never when it is a bigger show. PS. I drive a Volvo these days and even that has failed on me once (big time - the central computer crashed, cost £1.5k to fix)...!

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1494659472' post='3297610'] I wound up thinking that the only thing the MU were interested in supporting were the pit players, orchestral players and film/tv players. [/quote] I've never been a member for that reason. They don't really seem geared up to deal with musicians playing in your typical beat combo! However I do keep meaning to join, just to take advantage of some of their other benefits (public liability and other insurance, legal support etc)...

I can never understand why folks here are so against taking spares to gigs,just commonsense to me. The biggest gig I've played in recent years was to 2,000 bikers with no soundcheck when my main bass decided to pack up in the intro to the first song. I just pulled my spare out of the gigbag and no one (including the drummer) had any idea there was anything wrong! Would have been completely screwed if I had only brought one bass...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1494624897' post='3297504'] Thanks Pete, Sound will be a big topic of discussion at rehearsals prior to the show. We have been burned by awful sound at Summerfest in previous years. We have to find a way to getting better sound from these union guys. Our sound guy will be there but I'm not sure his input is welcome, Blue [/quote] TBH / IME etc - it probably won't be! Hopefully you will get a soundman who has been in bands himself and will respond to any 'reasonable' requests that you make. It will help if you appear to understand how it all works - again 'reasonable' is the keyword! Don't get too hung up on it - a good performance will win over most crowds even if the sound is a bit crap...

A Walter Trout track – that’s cool…! Don’t expect too many favours from the sound crew, but if you’re friendly and give them a couple of reasonable requests you might get lucky and get a stand-up guy who do his best for you…

[quote name='Micky b' timestamp='1494521526' post='3296744'] Great feedback peeps! Much appreciated. I also couldn't seem to find an American standard online anywhere. Thanks again Mick. [/quote] Just seen a s\h 2013 Am Std P bass on a Facebook musicians market page up for sale for £750

[quote name='pineweasel' timestamp='1494442851' post='3296068'] I've not tried a Pro but you can still find the well regarded American Standard which it superseded for substantially less money, so I would look for one of those. [/quote] The last American Standard was excellent (or at least the one I tried out was)

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1494451010' post='3296181'] FWIW I read that as simply being realistic, even if it was, to some degree, stating the obvious; if you build up a good rep, then you might be able to command more. (even true in Sussex, so I believe) [/quote] I certainly didn't read your post as being patronising, just as you say realistic & stating the obvious [quote name='blue' timestamp='1494449628' post='3296159'] Not in Milwaukee. Actually your right, no matter what, a local band is never going to get more than $500.00 out of a bar.. Blue [/quote] It's just basic economics. The market will find a price where bars can make enough money to justify putting live music on whilst still making it worthwhile for bands to play. The average punter just wants to be entertained and hear some decent music - they don't care how much the band is paid or if they have three people onstage or six...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1494436586' post='3296001'] If you are offering 3/4 part harmony with good musicians you should be playing venues that can afford at least $600.00. I personally don't advise play pubs for $250.00. Sounds like you have put a lot of work into the band. Set your pay accordingly. Blue [/quote] When it comes down to it the market will determine what a band will get paid. It doesn't matter how good you think you are or how many people are in the band, if a 3 piece playing the same venue can draw a bigger crowd then they will get paid the same fee or more...!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1494358626' post='3295367'] Depends, if you play for a living and it's how you support your family, then that's a different story. If it's not how you make a living and your wife is cool with you gigging every Friday & Saturday night then your the exception to the rule. Blue [/quote] I think that you are exaggerating the impact of being a gigging musician on relationships. Of all the relationships I have been in over the years, I don't think that playing in a band has been a significant problem (god knows there have been plenty other issues). They all knew that I would be away gigging regularly when I met them and were generally pretty supportive. I would say that the same applies for most of my muso mates (with a few notable exceptions)...

Surely if the singer is off pitch in a Sabbath / Ozzy tribute band then he is just being authentic??

[quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1494185850' post='3293905'] Brilliant - and long may he continue! I'm a good deal younger than him, but I'm determined to keep playing as long as I physically can, as long as there's someone who wants me to play. Or even if there isn't, I could do the solo looping thing... [/quote] Just seen Neil Murray in Snakecharmer tonight, playing a half full theatre in a small Yorkshire town. I sneaked back into the room after the show to check out the rig he was using, only to find Neil chatting with the roadcrew and helping to pack his own gear down. He has to be well into his mid 60s and this gig is hardly the highlight of his career, but if he is still happy to be out there playing I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be...!

[quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1494155743' post='3293660'] And that too, of course. Perhaps the other matters can become more of an issue when you find you need to make a change for whatever reason. Like you, I'm hoping for another few years, before I have to deal with any of that. [/quote] Age doesn't have to be an issue. There is a guy on this forum who lives up the road from me who has just turned 70 and is still gigging regularly in 3 different pub bands. He keeps getting lighter weight gear in deference of his age and associated back problems, but the next time you see him he is back with his old valve amp and massive cab.

[quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1494149820' post='3293590'] That's a good point Rhys - so much of peoples' sense of identity is wrapped up in what they do, and even more so with musicians, IMHO. It's certainly the case for me. Whether it's to provide some consolation that our life isn't as ordinary or mundane as the next man, or to give us some sense of belonging to a special tribe of some sort, along with satisfying our ego with the chance of recognition by the public and our peers. Sorry if I'm getting a bit too deep and philosophical! [/quote] The identity thing is certainly true for me, but I don't see it as a negative thing - it's (a large part) of what I am and what I do...!

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1493969714' post='3292167'] Sorry blue, but I just find this remark very strange. Perhaps I've just been lucky, but I could never be in a band situation where I was made to feel this way. For me, it's 100% about the music and if I think something isn't right, it gets vocalised. [/quote] Unfortunately there are plenty of bands out there just like that, where only input from one or two members are welcome. It doesn't sit too well with me either - I'm pretty opinionated and don't like holding my tongue, but I have done just that on occasion

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1493666389' post='3289865'] I am toying with the idea of getting an all tube head but couldn't live with anything too heavy. 20kg would be about my limit, I think. From what I have read I could do a lot worse than the Stoneham Y1200 - [url="http://stonehamamps.co.uk/product/yi200-head/?"]http://stonehamamps.co.uk/product/yi200-head/?[/url] - it ticks an awful lot of my boxes. I am after an 'old school vintage tone' whatever the heck that is - nothing too broken or distorted. But what would be other possible contenders at that power/size/price/weight? [/quote] I used a Stoneham bass amp at a festival in the north east a bit ago and was very impressed, if that helps at all...

Just had a listen. Personally I think that the tune is quite weak but the arrangement and the bass playing are great. Impressive...

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1493465326' post='3288540'] I see a conveyor belt of players coming out of the music colleges who are at a technical level, a level of ability that couldn't have been dreamed of when I started, but the one thing that many of them can't manage is to sit on a groove. Do they teach simplicity at these colleges? If you want a dozen great notes in the blink of an eye, they are the players for you but if you want solid, soul wrenching and effective playing don't ask any of those guys. [/quote] So it's not just me then who thinks this??

There are a number of points raised here, most of which are true to some extent but the situation is not quite as grim as many are suggesting: [indent=1]1. There is still a decent following for live classic rock. To say that no one under 60 cares about this type of music is nonsense. I’m seeing an audience on a weekly basis predominantly made up of people in the thirties or forties, but with a fair sprinkling of 20 somethings.[/indent] [indent=1]2. However, kids don’t see rock music as the be all and end all as many people my age did when they were their age. They have many other competing attractions and even those who do like rock music don’t see it as their only outlet for entertainment.[/indent] [indent=1]3. We have an ageing population in the west and part of the reason why you tend to see more old than younger people at gigs is that there are actually more of them.[/indent] [indent=1]4. People generally do not have the same level of disposable income as they used to, which has seen the downturn of the pub trade in general and music pubs in particular. This is especially true of the younger end of the market. You have to make a gig more of an event to get an audience out now.[/indent] [indent=1]5. As someone said above, this has thinned out some of the worse bands and the worse venues. IMO this is a good thing! The better bands and venues are still doing alright.[/indent] [indent=1]6. The situation is somewhat different in many parts of mainland Europe, where people will still pack venues where there is a live band.[/indent] You have to bear in mind that things change and rock and roll is no longer the ubiquitous force it once was. However, there will always be a demand for decent live entertainment, especially music.