blue

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1425419352' post='2707241'] Time wasters [/quote] Easy remedy for that one. Learn to spot the attributes of time wasters before you commit to working with them. Blue

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1425420746' post='2707263'] The day job was my gig killer - it took total commitment and left little energy for other stuff. Luckily those days are over and the next phase is underway. [/quote] Nice! and good luck. Since I retired from traditional 9-5 work band life has been a dream. Side topic; A lot of guys over here work only because they need the health insurance. I would think that is not an issue you guys have to deal with? Blue

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1425404460' post='2707008'] And as I keep saying, from where I'm standing it's the complete opposite. There are far more gigging opportunities in my home town now than there were 15 years ago and even 35 years ago when I first moved here when getting to see a local band live at the weekend was a near impossibility. Furthermore I've probably done more gigs in the last 4 1/2 years with my current band than I have in all my bands over the previous 30 years. You just need to be entertaining and be prepared to put the work in to get the gigs because they are most definitely out there. As for the question in the OP. In my case it will be either death - my own, or a massive change in priorities in my life. And since playing music has been pretty much the most important thing in my life for about 40 years now I can't see that changing out of choice anytime soon. [/quote] Big Red X, We have the same band ideology. Those that read my threads know playing bass guitar and rock is the main focus of my life. I have also gigged more in the last 4 years than ever. The reason I finally understood what was important to me in a band, gigging, pro attitude and good people as band mates. I was lucky and and found those 3 elements in my band. Blue

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1425418717' post='2707220'] Smoking in pubs is another turnoff IMHO. One minute you have a reasonable crowd, then they drift in and out . [/quote] I'm lucky, in Wisconsin smoking is prohibited by law in any bars or restaurants. Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1425405671' post='2707017'] I just have no desire whatsoever to entertain other people. When I've been on stage in the past I have felt no connection whatsoever with the audience. If I felt anything at all it would best be described as indifference or even contempt. I'm also very much a loner & just don't like the whole "band camaraderie" thing, it's the same reason I've never had any interest in team sports. [/quote] [i]"Band camaraderie"[/i] doesn't have to be an issue. I think it's more important to younger guys than older guys. My band has been together and gigging for close to 9 years. Were all in different stages of our lives, don't have much in common except the direction of the band. There is no camaraderie and we still work very well together. No desire to entertain, nothing anybody can do about that. I'm sure you get what you need from playing bass at home or with friends. Blue

I see several reasons for leaving bands and gigging has to do with personalities of the band members and the musical direction or focus of the band. Once you truly know What you want out of a band experience you have to have a keen instinct in picking bands. You can't do a whole lot about health issues and gigging ,however stopping gigging due to personality issues and music direction can be prevented. For me, while I love playing bass and believe continual improvement, I never look at bands and make decisions based on the music they play. If they are organized and conduct and manage the band like pros and maintain a healthy book of business I'm usually a good match. I'm an old school hard rock, funk and blues guy, however I will chose a polka band with gigs over a great rock band with no history of gigs. Side note and some of you will agree with me. You really want your eyes and ears open at auditions. You should be able to tell and spot potential personality problems. I think it's pretty easy to spot jerks. Also in the decision making process, there is no shame in understanding the experience level of all members as well as their family situation. Me personally, if member are young with young families that's a sign that there could be conflicts with gigs and would weigh heavily on my decision to join or not. In most cases bad band decisions can be prevented. Blue

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1425364467' post='2706484'] Not sure I'm with you there from a personal point of view. it's quality over quantity, one door opened for me, it was a good one and my life has more meaning now and purpose in a wider context. [/quote] That's awesome! The more doors there are, your chances for quality increases. But, I get where your coming from. I wish the 4 hour bar show door would close and the door to 80 minute headliner shows would open for me. Blue

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1425363675' post='2706482'] Health issues. However one door closes, another opens, and life moves on. I've been lucky, that the opening door had some good stuff behind it. [/quote] And the younger you are when doors close, the number of new doors increases. Blue

For me it hasn't happened yet. However,there are 2 things that would probably bring my gigging to a halt.[list=1] [*]If my band were to break up,I would be out of business for a long time. In Milwaukee bands with paid gigs on a consistent basis are almost impossible to find. [*]I'm 62 and at some point (knock on wood) health issues will probably prevent me from doing these back breaking 4 hour bar shows. [/list] Blue

[quote name='FretNoMore' timestamp='1425358710' post='2706476'] Your list should perhaps include "health issues", for instance back and hand problems that aren't uncommon for bass players. [/quote] Your right, I thought I had listed. It should have been number 1. I am dealing with left hip pain. I was up to taking 600 milligrams of ibuprofen to get through a typical 4 hour bar show. Blue

[size=4][font=Arial]Open discussion about why your no longer gigging.[/font][/size] [size=4][font=Arial]Here are a few examples, I'm sure there are others.[/font][/size][list] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Lost Interest[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Health Issues[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Fear of playing in front of people[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Could never find a band that played music I like[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]No personal connection to live performance only interested in at home projects[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Too much trouble for the money[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Gigged for years and grew tired of it[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]History of bad band experience[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]No market or opportunity for gigs in your region[/font][/size] [*]Marriage and other personal family responsibilities [/list] Blue

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1425282917' post='2705727'] Yes - I believe you've mentioned that once or twice... [/quote] Yeah, and it's really not anything to brag about. It is what it is. Blue

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1425311761' post='2706094'] Should have mentioned this earlier. Your path is clear - you sack the lot of them, keep the name/web site/lights/PA that you have paid for anyway and you then get in replacements that are seasoned gigging musos that are wanting first and foremost to gig and have decent contacts to make that happen. Job done. [/quote] Agreed, this looks like the best idea. It's really your band, you should be calling the shots. Blue

Infrequent gigging seems to be a common issue for many in this forum, however it also seems it's by design. A lot of guys have other things going on in their lives and the band is really more of a fun after thought thing. If that's you, you really might just run the no gigs/no rehearsal idea past your band members. If your in the minority and your a true[i] "gigging/making money"[/i] guy, I would suggest investigating new band opportunities with working bands and something closer than 2 hours. Blue

It's something I have always wanted to do. For those interested check out this Valve Rig Run Down; [b][size=4]Rig Rundown - Cheap Trick Robin Zander and Tom Petersson [/size][/b] [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qQcYLDoEcY"]https://www.youtube....h?v=-qQcYLDoEcY[/url] Blue

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1425208227' post='2704979'] I don't like the feeling of being underprepared or under-cooked so I'd tell them that you aren't at the level you were and it will take a few months to get back to that... as long as you believe you can, that is, and then just look to gell and communicate. Good luck with it.. [/quote] I agree. If I'm really interested in a band I will know the audition material inside out before I proceed. Sometimes the enthusiasm for wanting to be in a band trumps how well you you know the songs. Good luck, hope it works out for you. Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1425207795' post='2704967'] I sold the bass I'd played for 20 years & did all my gigging with a few years ago now & haven't regretted it for a second, but that's largely because my memories of gigging & being in that particular band are pretty much all negative ones.[/quote] Interesting and that's too bad about the negative gig memories. Either gigging was not in your heart or you made some bad band choices. It's easy to do. I have seen this and heard about this dislike for gigging from other musicians and they all had a few things in common;[list] [*]They were playing in bands with uncool band members [*]The bands they chose to play in had no gigs and no history of gigs [*]They have never made any money from being in a band. [*]They had other interest that were way more important than being in a band [/list] Me, been at it since age 12, I still gig, will never stop and have the same enthusiasm for it as I did 45 years ago. Keep in mind I have no other interests other playing bass guitar and singing in a rock and roll band. Blue

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1425243533' post='2705551'] Seriously?! [/quote] Yes, me personally, I would have a tough time listening and trying to learn about bass lines from a band I was not a fan of. I think you have to have a good understanding of what The Beatles were about and how they evolved to understand the music including the bass lines. For example when my band plays "Get Back", well, I lived through "Get Back". I understand the song from multiple levels. Hence it's an exciting and relevant study for me. I might as well be on the roof top when 'm playing it. Here's an example, I saw a 20 year old on American Idol singing a Beatles classic. She had a great voice, but something was wrong. Then it hit me, she didn't know what she was singing about. How can you sing with any level of conviction if you don't know what your singing about? But that's just me. Blue

[quote name='Kirky' timestamp='1425227859' post='2705276'] I'm 51. I play in an old man's band - blues and soul covers. I love it, but would love to do something more contemporary, but no-one wants an old git in their band.[/quote] Agreed, and it's probably best to tell any band your auditioning for your age up front. Usually if age is an issue ( and it shouldn't unless the look of the band is 21 ) it doesn't matter how good you are, in most cases they will take youth over experience and ability. Blue

Keep the basics, cause you never know. At 62,I'm retired, I have my health and a good band with a book of business. I have the same high level enthusiasm for playing and gigging that I had when I was 12 years old. I have way more gear than I need, however selling any of it is not in the cards for me. I use all of it in one way or another. I'm a gigging guy, I have no plans on stopping and certainly have no interest in bedroom noodling. . Blue

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1424775554' post='2700229'] While true that it's difficult enough to find ANYONE who is really good at what they do and persuade them that you have something to offer, [/quote] Agreed, as most have said finding a good drummer that can commit to joining a team is very hard. We auditioned drummers last fall and it was tough and we had a lot to offer for a bar band ( 8 years of stability and a book of paying business )The problem we ran into were,[list] [*]Inexperienced drummers, [*]Had family responsibilities we thought would conflict with our schedule [*]The guys that showed up unprepared. [/list] Somehow we fell arse backwards into the best drummer available in my opinion. The guy was a laid back, nice guy, experience all over the board, great timing and funky as hell, a real pro. Be patient. I would stay away from anyone you have reason to think commitment could be an issue. And while many here will disagree, going with a drummer with commitments to other bands is going to be a real problem sooner or later. Blue

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1425171666' post='2704774'] bloody metronomes. . its like a boring office job when you go and play/practice the bass.! playing or practicing the bass should be and always should be a musical experience, with sounds to inspire you. great if you want to play endless scales and muscle memory, but why. throw it in the bin. there are so many more avenues to practice timing than that. [/quote] I'm sure there are more avenues to improve timing. For me the metronome is one of the better avenues. For me practicing with a metronome, band rehearsals, gigging or recording are always a positive musical experiences. I guess I'm lucky, I can't think of one aspect of my musical activity that I could equate to a boring office job Blue

[quote name='beerdragon' timestamp='1194449265' post='84953'] I must be getting old because I couldn't hear a note I was playing during certain songs and kept thinking I was playing flat. I would have thought if you could'nt hear what you were playing it meant you were at least in tune with the rest of the band, hit a few wrong notes and they seem to stick out like a sore thumb plus the stares you get from other band members. speaking from personal experience that us. [/quote] Happens to me a lot especially in small bars. I can be standing right in front of my rig and right behind my stage monitor. Makes for a long frustrating night. Blue

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1425146784' post='2704519'] [b]Hour of the Dog, Alley Cat Club, Denmark Street, London - Friday February 27th 2015[/b] A bit of a chaotic night. I was supposed to be doing two sets with two different bands, but due to a fairly major error by the promoter, Cowboy Hat and that Fuzzbox Voodoo did not play - I did do the planned set with Hour of the Dog, albeit about an hour late, which was a bit of a pain to say the least for those who came to see us but needed to get home via public transport. So apologies to Happy Jack, Billy Apple and bluejay, who staunchly made the effort to come and see us! Thanks guys, and I'm very sorry about the bands which preceded us - they were, shall we say... not really up to the standard one would have liked, to say the least! The gig itself was very enjoyable. There were a fair few there, the atmosphere was typically rowdy for the Alley Cat and we got an enthusiastic reception. We also got good feedback after the gig too, which was nice. I was using an Ashdown combo which was surprisingly good and the on-stage sound was better than you'd expect. The only downside was a lack of monitoring level for the vocal, but hey. Silvia (bluejay) took some pics (thanks, Silvia!) and so did the current mrs discreet (on her iPhone), so here they are. Should these go in the Live Pictures and Videos thread..? Sod it, I'll put them in both to be on the safe side... I thank you! [/quote] Again, love the stage look of your band. You guys look like a band not punters. Cool venue too. Blue

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1424603666' post='2698120'] dog and gun maidstone last night - (formerly Conan's) LH500 head got it's first outing with the kick-backs and performed admirably nice to hear a decent amount of power coming through the 410 at last - our guest singer even managed to persuade our lot to live dangerously and do a song which we have never rehearsed (signed sealed delivered) which went down rather well not 100% accurate but plenty of groove and drive in all the right places so looks like its finally in the set list [/quote] I think your band has a nice likable look. However, I wish you had worn a black shirt. Blue