Adrenochrome

Yes, some DI Boxes will do this with attentuation: http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/DI20.aspx I think some you can rung from a speaker output as well if that works better.

No. However, we have played a number of very big motorbike rallies, and at the better ones we have been very well looked after - free entry & camping all weekend, free food and drink from the organisers' backstage area. So, same fee but treated better, and less spent by us, all seemed very fair.

[quote name='Jenny_Innie' timestamp='1425825394' post='2711081'] How can a nation so rich in pop music history even begin to think this is a suitable representation of ourselves in a competition? [/quote] We don't. I thought it was accepted as a big joke that we can't win, therefore not worth taking seriously.

I retired aged 41 from regular gigging with my main band last year due to health problems (now fixed with a Pacemaker). I kept the acoustic side project going, and I'm now depping for about 4 bands - I'm almost as busy as before I retired, played last weekend and am playing twice this weekend!

Embrace your mids

I wouldn't play for free the first time - a modest fee to cover your expenses would be fair I think.

I play more classic rock in bands than I should. It probably makes up only 5% of what I listen to at home, rest is pop/punk/electronic/metal etc. Most decent players I know listen to more eclectic and 'interesting' music than they actually play.

I've only ever done a maximum of 3 days, usually sleeping in a van without facilities. All the major points above are correct - take any and all opportunities to go to the loo in comfort, get a wash, eat some healthy food, sleep as much as you can, rehydrate when you can etc etc. Take loo roll/pillow/baby wipes etc etc.

Undamaged strings, cleaned properly and regularly, usually last for years and years with little change in performance. I think many bass players like that new 'sproingy' sound, and also change them just cos they fancy a new set of strings rather than they NEED them.

I agree with the OP, it isn't about being famous. 2 examples: 1. My cousin is a pro sax player and had taught, sessioned, played live, mimed as a backing singer etc etc. She is not a famous name but is definitely a full time professional musician. 2. My next door neighbour has a 'regular' job and works with the guitarist from Cathedral (now defunct). He is at the top of his genre but doesn't earn enough to live on so works part time. I'd almost describe as part-time pro.

Wear it with attitude, own the stage. My japcrap EB0 is really small on me but I sling it low, throw it around like a guitar and I think it works.

Yep, had the same with the Thornhill Arms in Stanningley and the Golden Lion in Pudsey, and to a lesser extent the Coniston and the Brewery Tap in Idle. Funnily enough the Lion & Crimea in Castleford never tried it and they co-existed very well with punters often swapping pubs at half time.

Most [b]fun[/b] would have to have been my Peavey Megabass, especially as I was doing mainly originals gigs at the time. In rehearsal studios or at multiband gigs I'd plug it into whatever was in the room as you could run 4 cabs quite easily, a couple of 4x10s and a 1x15?, no problem. I once gigged an old Marshall Superbass that was insanely screamy when cranked to gig volume and worked okay for the garagey-punk band I was in. [b]Best[/b] amp is easily my Hartke 3500, my current amp. An absolute workhorse, always sounds good with any cab, nice drive sound from the pre-amp.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1422354916' post='2671441'] Personally I wouldn't feel comfortable just rooting out something that has a distinctive bassline. I don't get anywhere near 'note perfect' on covers that I do but I try to get somewhere fairly close. You never know who's in the audience (I don't mean fellow critical muso's, I don't really bother about them) and it might just be that a certain part of the bassline is what really 'makes' the song for them even if they don't actually realise it is the bassline that is doing it. So you are selling them short by fudging 'their' special moment. [/quote] This. Audience members will often know that it doesn't sound quite right, or doesn't sound as good - even if they don't know what's missing.

Nothing wrong with what you've got in my opinion. If you didn't want to be too obvious you could do Helden instead of Heroes, and do China Girl more in the style of the version Iggy did with him.

Ace! The little things make a difference, like when a venue gets a few soft drinks in for the band. It's not just the cost, it's not having to queue up for ages at the bar and just feeling like you're appreciated and looked after.

None - no need. I have a slim, light, ergonomic bass that sounds good through the PA.

Did you try the two10 stood vertically at all? I think vertical is recommended for clarity.

[quote name='scalpy' timestamp='1419072975' post='2636194'] Cheese Louise the volume some of you guys must play at- excuse me for being frank but it must be borderline insanity. [/quote] I absolutely agree with you. I depped on Saturday with what was my main band until recently. The drummer has got a new louder snare and the backline level has gone up again. I had to have my earplugs rammed inside my ears as hard as possible just to be able to think. Ridiculous and unhealthy in my opinion.

I'd expand it beyond just playing - anyone who earns their living through music. My cousin has been a pro sax player all her adult life (after finishing studying) and she's taught, depped, played in bands, played to backing tapes in India, done session work, mimed on TV (even pretended to be a backing singer for Craig David on daytime TV!).

Interesting! My main band was going from strength to strength and getting loads of good bookings (and offers) and we'd written a few decent originals to go with our covers. I've had some major health problems and so I had to retire from regular gigging . 3 operations and one pacemaker later and I'm now the stand-in for the new bass player in the main band, as well as keeping going with the acoustic side project, . I have a gig on Saturday with the main band a gig on Boxing Day with the acoustic project, so I have enough to look forward to at the moment. And I'm also well enough to attempt a 7 mile off road race on Boxing Day morning so I have plenty to be thankful for.

I learned violin until into my mid-teens (hard work!) and taught myself to play guitar using a nylon string classical guitar as guitars weren't an option when I started. As a guitarist I got to the stage of jamming at parties etc but never joined a proper band. When I got handed a bass to try for the 1st time aged 25 I found it really easy but I was used to playing guitar with fingers and thumb, I knew where the notes were and as a big lump I found the bass fitted me very nicely. I've very rarely played guitar in public since but feel completely at home on the bass

[quote name='mike313' timestamp='1418656999' post='2632028'] Does anybody had the same problem? How could I go about "erasing" treble clef from my brain? [/quote] Yes, I've never been able to read bass clef with any fluency as an adult, having learnt treble clef as a child.

I don't have recent experience but I lived in Southampton from mid 84 to mid 89 as a teenager. The number of venues steadily declined and we used to get the coach to London to see name bands play, and very occasionally the train to Portsmouth to see a band at the Guildhall. We lived North West of Southampton so getting to the New Forest and Bournemouth/Poole areas was easy, walking the dog on the beach at Hamble in winter was good, I have some nice memories. I think for Northerners used to the dramatic landscapes of the Pennines/Lakes etc the countryside nearby was interesting enough for us (watermeadows nearby, coast nearby). Schools in Southampton were fairly average.

1. wait for the venue to call back (easier for a well established band). 2. always bring a diary in case they want to sort a date immediately after the gig (many do). 3. if not 1. or 2. then make the landlord/lady commit to a good time to ring them/visit them and stick to it. ...we use/bring paper diary and smartphones with calendars, and we usually book multiple gigs. When I was in bands that were just getting going there was a lot more chasing venues required!