Happy Jack

It probably seemed like a good idea at the time.

In an area of largely spurious "heritage", the 12-Bar Club is one of the few places that I'll be sad to see vanish. Almost any documentary you can see about the music scene in London in the 60s will have footage of either a band playing in there, or of punters queuing outside it. But the Marquee left Wardour Street many years ago, the Astoria was demolished a few years back, and somehow the contemporary London music scene seems to have survived.

[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1418547251' post='2630976'] That was a bad idea so the horns were nailed back on. [/quote] I'd pay good money to see that bass ...

I don't think the Korean Squiers kissed on the first date ...

And a belated +1 on Nik's comment about Hamster (and Mrs. Hamster) ... low profile but high input.

Who on earth would want the recorded music of One Direction?

IME leaving out the One can often make your drummer a happy man ...

One reason for NOT approaching the manager at the end of the gig is because, putting it bluntly, so many of them are piss-artists. At a very rough guess, I'd say that half the pubs we played this year the manager was as drunk as his regulars by the end of the evening.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1418374383' post='2629596'] Indeed. I took my seven year old daughter to see a pub blues band last weekend. She really [b][i]got[/i][/b] what the music was about and felt a real kinship with the bald, overweight, dull musicians who were going through the motions and almost staying in time. The long noodling guitar solos in E really impressed her too. It's definitely the way forward. [/quote] Yes, it's great when they get started on the roots of it all at an early age, isn't it?

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1418336585' post='2629409'] ... or call in to their pub again during the week when it's quiet and you know they'll be there. Never via text or email. [/quote] This. Always this.

New Venues (i.e. places we've not played before): I offer a package of three gigs, spaced about two months apart. The rates will be something like £160 for #1, £200 for #2, and then a standard rate of £240 for #3 and subsequent. Existing Venues (where we have played before): I talk to the manager/landlord when I drop off the posters for #3 of the existing package ( a week or two beforehand) and suggest we get the next set of three in the diary at that point.

Vote with your wallet. Abandon the oversold stadium gigs for people who already have too much money, and try supporting your local bands at local venues. Not an easy thing to explain to a teenaged daughter who wants to see One Direction, but then neither is re-cycling.

Why you no play West London, huh?

http://youtu.be/qMM3MgS4yxc

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1417717407' post='2623443'] so you expect drummers to play with an inferior bass player so they can improve but not the other way round? [/quote] Damned right! Why would I do anything else?

I don't do compromise. I insist on playing with drummers who are better / more experienced / more talented than me. Strangely enough, I'm not trying to be funny. I genuinely believe that I'll only improve as a bass player if I face the challenge of not embarrassing myself in front of the other half of the rhythm section.

... unless you have your eyes open. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-Vintage-Fender-Precision-Bass-F-Series-1968/161481162075?_trksid=p2060778.c100276.m3476&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140725133651%26meid%3D35792b02306d47a1a1d5202e88d53fb7%26pid%3D100276%26prg%3D20140725133651%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D390976767015

Nah ... those links are for decoration only.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1417692726' post='2623062'] So you're saying that it s OK to have a dodgy singer i.e. the person that is the focus of your audience. There's definitely something wrong with that. [/quote] Kevin Ayers Bob Dylan Steve Harley Tom Waits This could be a LONG list.

The going price for second hand spikes seems to be £10-£12. http://products.trovit.co.uk/sports-equipment/running-spikes Hope that helps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deco

Well if it "[i][b]holds tuning very well[/b][/i]" it must be worth it.

Hmmmmm ... you might get more of a response if you posted this in the 'Amps' section.

That mind-reading course I went on was a complete waste of money.

I'd be scared to take any of those to a gig in case they got repaired.