blue

I might be a little low, but I would start off with finding the lowest interest rate on $100,000.00. Blue

If you were starting your own business, A working Rock Band. What would your model look like? Where would you start, How would you finance or get the capital, How much capital and primary investments How would you recruit musicians. How and where would you book the band What type and size venues You don't work a full time job and can dedicate all your time to your venture. You band should be ready to hit the road in one year with a sound mission statement. No need to get granular. Just give us a high level summary of your ideas or what you think you would do. Blue

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1501023685' post='3341941'] Me too. Easily done with the right attitude, ability and contacts. It's getting tougher but I'm hanging on. [/quote] I hear you. I'm ok but some extra gigs outside of my band wouldn't hurt. Blue

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1501023428' post='3341940'] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] Not quite a senior, but it is conceivable that I could be in a similar(ish) situation in a few years time...! [/font][/color] [/quote] Cool, It's not a bad really. Blue

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1501021730' post='3341926'] I get a sense of; Massively. [/quote] Not me Vlue

Many times I'll see a tube clip and someone is playing something in a position or using open strings or doing something that makes more sense than the way I was playing it. And easier too. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1501017126' post='3341882'] Can i ask how you managed to go from "normal full time job" and being amatuer to being professional. I'm assuming you were gigging weekends kind of thing even when you were workng in normal job. I'm interested in how you made the transition and what were the main reasons and highlights or downsides to it at the time. I've only ever known guys in their teens to early 20's managing to go pro/ Dave [/quote] I still battle with the word pro. My story is actually very untraditional. Pro usually means your doing more than bar gigs. I had already worked for 35 years. My major bills suddenly disappeared. Both son's done with college out of the house and working. Home was paid for,I don't carry any loans. My expenses were so low I decided to primarily live off of gig money.And I have assets. So I'm not like a 20 something that managed to go pro. I would never define myself as a pro, others can if they like, I won't. Aren't there other seniors here that are in the same boat as me? Blue

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1501017517' post='3341887'] That would be Chuck Burgi (he also played on the original Bon Jovi sessions) [/quote] Hi Pete, Yup Chuck and Al Anderson both did quite well. Interesting that both of their careers really broke in the UK. I'm still in touch with both. It's kind of cool that Chuck, Al and Joe Walsh, we all went to good old Montclair High School. Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1501015089' post='3341861'] "If I don't gig I don't eat" your words Blue. [/quote] A true statement, and it's something I won't have to worry about anytime soon. However,I won't be eating much lobster in August Blue

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1500230603' post='3336358'] Hi Blue. The VM is made in Indonesia more than likely by Cort. [/quote] Interesting, when I hear Indonesia I always think bolt on neck. Is yours a set neck or bolt on? Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1501010088' post='3341791'] The point is that they're not working for anyone, they have their houses paid for, cash in the bank and decent pension, they can and do enjoy playing just like you but the ONLY difference is the don't HAVE to. [/quote] My point only applies to those working in careers for other people. I'm comfortable and more than happy with my plight in life. BTW, my home was paid for years ago, and one of the reasons I can do this. Blue

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1501000891' post='3341691'] They are the same thing IMO. [/quote] I disagree. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1501007281' post='3341759'] i'm having a meet with the function band hopefully this week. Most are already in my Blues Rock covers band but as you say if its too much of a commitment for me i'll back out rather than waste time. Made that mistake last year when i retired with a 70's covers band. I thought plenty of gigging would take up the time lost from workng. What i actually found was it became more of a job to me and too much commitment for me. I took a step back till they got someone else. I had been their 18th bass player in 10yrs Guys were all great and i'm still mates with them and go to their gigs but you are right there are other guys out there that want that level of commitment and obviously the money. I'm not a great bass player either Blue. I'm probably better than average but i'm no Jaco, Victor Wooten or Mark King but i can do a little of most things or enough to get me by. I have always practiced tho even when i had given up bands for approx 15yrs i still practiced at home. Typicaly when i was younger i practiced every day for approx 2-3hrs. I still practice every day even now altho some days its just for an hour or maybe 2hrs max in any one day. I think i was like you when i was younger but then i found that my job was more interesting and i wouldn't give up a good full time job (with great salary ) to take a chance on playing in bands. I knew a few guys that did tho and only one of them did well for himself. Doogie White who sang with Rainbow altho he didn't have a great paying full time job at the time . He's done pretty well for himself over the years tho. I don't have a prob with people not agreeing with me on some things Blue. Its just life and wouldn't fall out over it. Dave [/quote] For the 35 years I was in the work force ,I also had what I would consider a nice salary. I hated every day of it and was a huge pain in the arse. How I lasted 35 years is beyond me Small world, one of my high school band mates and friend played drums with Brand X and Rainbow. He's now on tour with Billy Joel. BTW, if we all agreed with each other all the time it would be a pretty boring forum. Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1501000964' post='3341693'] To be honest it's more a case of being in a better place financially from what I can see, most people no matter how much they love playing don't want to be in a position where they need a four hour gig most nights just to keep afloat in their mid 60's.[/quote] First of all I'm not "most people" To be honest,I'm fine with it. Actually enjoying life like never before. To be honest, I'll take the fun of playing in a rock band for 4 hours over working 8 hours a day and making some other bloke rich. Cheers Blue

I think the draw back for beginners is learning and having the ability to cop and mimick the bass line. But with limited theory or knowledge of panatonic scales, I'm afraid you'll fall into the habit of being able to play songs but not understand what your playing. That actually can be the kiss of death. Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1500994245' post='3341583'] I don't want to say it's all in the fingers but to be honest it's all it the fingers! [/quote] Exactly your tone cones your fingers. Are you pehaps talking about your sound or effects? Blue

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1500999762' post='3341670'] I think you should stop digging now mate, while we can still see your head. [/quote] I'm not digging, it's just my opinion. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1500975899' post='3341375'] I have a lot of respect for guys that do it professionally like you. In my opinion i feel you have to be more committed to playing, not better at playing but you need to put more into the full package to get the gigs. Personally i don't need to put that much effort in but i can still enjoy the odd gig when i get asked to play them by friends etc That might all change soon as i've been asked to join a function band and they are all in it for the money. Dave [/quote] Look at the gig schedule. If you can't commit, I suggest turning it down. There's other bass players that want and need the money. Your right Dave, are perspectives are polar opposites. Playing bass in a rock band is the only thing I've ever been interested in. And, yes I have to put a lot into it and not for the reasons you might think. I'm not a great bass player. Even after 50 years it's something I still struggle with. Playing bass is something that never came easy to me like some. I have to practice all the time to stay on top of things. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1500975368' post='3341370'] I would have thought that the top pros are leading the way in bass style and expanding its boundaries and are all paid and i tend to rate them as the leaders in bass. Of course there are great pro bassists who are not technically fast or show-offs but can produce a great bass run even tho its simple. It just fits the song. Again i don't like to rate people on whether they are paid or not. Some un-paid bassists i know are just incredibly talented but they have other commitments nowadays and don't play in bands as such. Dave [/quote] I should have clarified my statement. I did not mean better in terms of ability or skill. I meant that some that boast about not being in it for money come off as thinking they're slightly better idealogically. Blue

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1500808814' post='3340255'] There has been a thriving 50s and early 60s r'nr and rockabilly scene in the UK for decades. Sadly it is now slowly withering on the vine as the folks from my generation and the one above me die off. Work it out: earliest rock and roll recordings are from the late forties, so people in their teens then are now in their late eighties. And of course every generation removed from the original has less and less connection with the original music played live by the original players. I started very young - mid 50s - and there are very few players from even my era still on the scene. Locally there is ONE active drummer and ONE active singer left. I am teaching the only surviving local rhythm guitar player to play a bit of lead. We had played together in the very early sixties and he quit in 1964, only to take it back up again a year or so back. Quite an emotional experience in its own little way. Only him, Jenny the second drummer and Bob the second bass player in his 60's band still alive & Jenny no longer plays. In her day she was a great little drummer though. Nothing fancy but rock solid. She told me a few months ago that she would have loved to be "one of those drummers who could do solos" and never really realised at the time how well respected she was. Again she stopped playing seriously in around 1964/5. [/quote] Nice commentary on the genre Ivan Blue

[quote name='ben4343' timestamp='1500964433' post='3341280'] I wouldn't class any of those as tutorials... Useful for learning a song? Depends on the viewer, but probably. An attempt to teach viewers the song? Nope. Even the video posters are titling them as covers (i.e. just a bit of self-expression) so I think it is a little unfair to penalise them for being poor tutorials.[/quote] I'm not sure you read my tbread introduction. I chose my words and definition rather carfully. Blue

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1500960360' post='3341267'] Tutorials/play alongs are great. I'm all for them, good or bad. I'm not necessarily bad at picking out bass lines, it's just that as a bass player depping in various bands who keep adding new material from one gig to the next, it saves me a ton of time. I don't think you're guy in example #2 is that bad really, the sound and camera angle aren't great, but at least he can play. I've seen a lot worse! Exhibit A.... I'll also give you one that I think is 5 for 5. Not a particularly difficult song, but I couldn't quite pick out the run at 2:42 until I saw this guy play it.... [/quote] That would be a difficult song for me, I'd definitely use it if I had to learn Changes. Blue

I'll start. Brass In Pocket, The Pretenders 1. https://youtu.be/llDmsnTMXeE On a scale of 1-5, 1 being poor and 5 being very good I'd give this lady a 4.5. Reason being, if I we're learning this song I could use the clip. First of all I think she's playing it accurately IMO and I can see how she's doing it. 2. https://youtu.be/bUgKywYgm1c I'd give this guy a 2. The bass guitar volume level and camera angle is so poor I didn't watch the clip in it's entirety. Blue

Tortorials, I don't think there's been much in-depth discussion on what the real value is in them, pros and cons and good vs bad tutorials. Let me mention 2 things up front. First I'm a baby boomer growing up with not much more than the needle on a record player to learn songs. So, I'm biased. Second I'm using the term tutorials loseley. Many of this clips are not necessarily instructional. Anyway let's throw a few examples out there. Ad your comments, why you feel the clip is good, bad or whatever. Blue

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1500945903' post='3341258'] Not sure you have to be making a living at it to want to be paid. I don't make a living at it by any stretch of the imagination but I want paying. I'd walk in to some of the gigs we do, take a look at the postage sized area behind a pillar that we're expected to play in, look at the half cut coked up dicks who've been there since early afternoon and say "nah, not doing this" and go home if I wasn't being paid. Les [/quote] Good point Les. I need to be paid just for being in the part of town our gig was in last Friday night. Blue