blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1500111709' post='3335665'] It's not a personal thing Blue, it's a cultural thing. [/quote] I get that, I guess. Blue

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1500096548' post='3335563'] That facility had escaped my attention. Thanks for the heads up Blue. I save clips locally [i]then[/i] adjust the speed when I need to but it is useful to know that you can time warp a YT stream without a pitch change. I'll look into that a bit more for myself because it isn't (legally) possible to save some YT clips. [/quote] https://youtu.be/x7df8E4lvPs Blue

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1500107717' post='3335630'] Did the punters enjoy your bit? If the answer is yes, then coupled with your reply you have the answer. The whole performance is much more than a sum of its parts.[/quote] I think most of us here can sense and feel when we have engaged a crowd, be it large festival or small bar. I didn't feel it. Blue

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1500098800' post='3335568'] I have only been here for a little over a year but I think you are perhaps the only BCer who likes to bring up the fact that you are in it for the money quite so much. [/quote] No more than others bring up they're not in it for the money. Blue

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1500102054' post='3335580'] [attachment=249090:BigEars.png] I resemble that remark! You are right. I had a very limited selection of music that I wanted to play until I started to be less self indulgent in what I listened to. I started to broaden my taste as a consequence just by getting out of a rut of my own making. Rhythm Stick? I know it. I can crawl through it with a degree of accuracy and sometimes feeling but I can't yet nail it. I like to have a good old go at it at it for exercise and then leave it for a while. Every time I come back to it it seems to benefit from the interval where I play anything [i]but[/i] Rhythm Stick. I'll never be another Norman Watt Roy but I will get topside of that tune one day. It's good to have goals. Oh, and by the way, I actually do resemble Big Ears these days. When I copied the image above I realised that I was the butt of that quip more than anyone else. Next opportunity you get, book a busman's holiday for a fortnight playing Open Mic nights and jams over here my friend. That'll be different enough for you. It may help you with your perspective on things. Seriously. It'd be a good old laugh if nothing else. I'd even lend you a guitar and combo if you wanted. There must be other multi instrumentalist members in the East Midlands who'd get involved in a pop-up band for the duration...? As I only play bass, I'd be happy to roadie and be involved as required elsewhere like BVs or something. Just an idea. [/quote] Playing anywhere in England would be a big deal for me Blue

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1500098800' post='3335568'] I have only been here for a little over a year but I think you are perhaps the only BCer who likes to bring up the fact that you are in it for the money quite so much. There are many more here who don't feel they have to. I am still wondering why you felt your band should not be doing gigs like the support spot for Frampton at your last festival. I mean, you said; [i]"No boost of any kind. I didn't think we were very good. As a matter of fact I don't think we should be playing those types if gigs." (sic)[/i] Do you think the punters noticed? I am puzzled by the statement because I'd have thought, even for a one off, it's a feather in your cap as a bassist. I can understand if you feel your band should be headlining. That's natural ambition. Otherwise I fail to see why you said what you said unless it is that you don't like playing festivals and you only happened to mention it after playing the last one...? Treat this as rhetoric if you want. I wont probe any further as this is clearly a personal issue you have about the gig. [/quote] It was a very cool slot and hard to get. To answer your question, I indicated I didn't think we were very good. I think there are bands more deserving of that kind of gig than us. Blue

[quote name='mac1012' timestamp='1499965700' post='3334891'] Hi there i joined this site a few months ago but due to work comittments and blah blah blah i never got going on the bass as i had intended to. Someone from my local church has long trem loaned me a squire jass bass and very nice it is , although i wouldnt be the colour of my choice being blue and white but i figured it would be ok to get me going. i have been playing around with it the past couple of weeks and been enjoying it very much , getting used to fretting a bass , building a few simple riffs and practicing the C scale and E Minor penatonic. So time to get serious and i am on the look out for a book , a member on here has kindly sent me a idiots guide for bass download which is good. i am wanting a book that is similar to when i learned flute a few years ago in such as a progressive book that builds note by note etc and eplains were the notes are on the staff in relation to the fret board etc and builds on good fretting technique etc. I have been looking at the alfred series that looks good and has been mentioned on here as being suitable for beginners. i have seen a couple of other basic books in my local music shop but one was teaching the C scale with open d note etc and the other was teaching using fretted notes higher up , so i couldn't decide on either lol What is the general consensus for a beginner is it the standard scale pattern i leant on the guitar for the C scale or is the fretted note pattern more advisable ? i know its prob both but wondered what would be best for a beginner. Or any other bokks that may be suitable for a beginner. Thanks Mark [/quote] YouTube, query any bass study you want. Even Scott's Bass Playing has some free tutorials for beginners. And you can use YouTube clips as a metronome. Just enter whatever bpm you want to play along to. Blue

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1500076044' post='3335539'] Some extremely disingenuous interpretations of the context that "the punters don't notice the difference" is used in. The punters don't notice if you're using a flanger instead of a chorus. They don't notice if you play a slightly different line to what's on the record. Nobody has ever claimed that the punters don't notice the difference between a good performance and a bad one. Stop making stuff up just to troll the site (again). [/quote] The thread is about not using punters response to a performance as an excuse for shoddy performance. The thread is not about what punters notice or don't notice. It's clearly articulated in my thread opening. And I don't see any trolling anywhere it from anyone in this post. Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1499810611' post='3333846'] This is where you have to start being careful. It's one thing getting paid £50 into your bank account for each gig. Once you start getting all the bands money paid directly to you and then start paying it out, it can start to look like something else. Ultimately the HMRC aren't interested in chasing bands for money. It costs them more than they'd receive. [/quote] Agreed, Not sure how it works for you guys. Over here "the man" does not play. If he wants your money he's going to come after you like gangbusters and you will lose. Blue

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1500016495' post='3335093'] Yes but what if they have poor technique and he copies it ? [/quote] You really have to pick the clips where someone is doing it right. Some guys have posted great song tutorials. And some, it's like, why did you post this, it's crap. Blue

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1499868139' post='3334174'] I still prefer the tobacco burst, same as my Gibson and my Epi. There is no way anyone [i]needs [/i]3 Thunderbirds, but I won't let that stop me! [/quote] I'm with Dave on the traditional classic look of the tobacco burst. Blue

[quote name='louisthebass' timestamp='1500054867' post='3335418'] Something I plan to do in my 60's if I can still play reasonably well - would love to just have an old school 50's type Fender P strung with flats playing stuff by the likes of Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Fats Domino etc.. Some really great 50's R&R bands on the circuit in the Sth East - The Kingcats, Greggi G, Vintage, The Jets, and The Roosters are all working regularly doing jive nights [/quote] There's a decent size market for local bands playing 50s rock & roll in Millwaukee. I really wish I could get in on it. Good gigs, good money and it's fun. Particularly fun if your old enough to remember it. The genre even at 64 is a little before my time. However, I have clear memories of my Mom listening to it. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1500063615' post='3335476'] But how many gigs have you played. That counts as a lot of valuable experience. Many musicians i know that play regularly have that confident attitude that has been gained over many years and playing many gigs. I knew them when they were far younger and they were never as confident as they are now. Maybe age has provided that confidence but think its more to do with their gigging experience. I don't believe they have improved on a technical level as they are still playing same style of music, same songs, same routine riffs that they played years ago but they now do it far more confidently giving an aire of professionalism IMO. Dave [/quote] I'm lucky that I'm gigging every weekend. However, the thing with experience is, what type of experience. I just wish my experience was more diverse. It's like how many times can you read the same book. I know, I'm lucky I have gigs. I was looking at Bass Players Wanted on Millwaukee Rocks last night. The page was empty, not one ad had been placed. Blue

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1500065552' post='3335488'] Confidence is a weird one though, I don't suffer nerves particularly, in fact barely at all and never have. I know a guy who is a truly truly amazing musician of the rare gifted variety. He rarely plays in public because he suffers from horrendous nerves before any performance which ruin his enjoyment. I find it tragic that someone so brilliant has this one thing that prevents him being able to do what he enjoys most. He works in music every day and it pays his bills but he would love to be able to cure his nerves. I have always taken the attitude to everything in life that you do your best and who cares what others think, I know he is very self conscious and terrified of making mistakes which no one else would even notice. [/quote] That's a really unfortunate circumstances. I thought I was going to be nervous to the point of having an anxiety attack at that Frampton gig. However once I got back stage I was like "C'mon, let's get on with this" Blue

Not impressed, but I sure as hell want the gig. Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1500041779' post='3335318'] Yes. But the experience is cumulated. In my case it's sporadic but over several years. For a pro I would expect that experience to be gained quickly in a few years. [/quote] Experience is a great topic for discussion. I have 50 years of experience. 50 years of the same limited experience. I have; 1.No travel or tour experience 2.No high level contract negotiation experience 3.No experience making sure band members have the proper passports and visas and no records with the authorities (felons) 4.No band management experience 5.No recording or video experience 6.Very little experience playing with really good musicians. 7. A lot of experience standing in an inch of piss for 4 hours and getting home at 3:00 in the morning. Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1500047306' post='3335372'] Well, I got myself involved in a band. Older guys, practiced hard and sounded great in rehearsal, pro gear, pro attitude to getting and pricing gigs, looked smart, great setlist, on paper it was a licence to make money. Unfortunately as soon as they stepped on stage they all fell apart musically. I think I did 4 gigs before walking away. Shame because the drummer was excellent, but you can't play a gig with just drums and bass while everyone else is making mistakes and forgetting whole sections. Sometimes attitude and application just isn't enough. [/quote] This happens more than most will admit. An unfortunate experience, don't let this experience turn you off and away from bands. Question, did the band have a "star" meaning an very good front person? Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1500041902' post='3335320'] In some cases yes. But I think Blue is talking about attention to detail in music. [/quote] I've been talking about attitude. Blue

[quote name='grumpyguts' timestamp='1500017343' post='3335098'] From players who tour with big name bands to people like me that get a relatively small number of gigs per year - it's a big range. You would expect a player on tour doing the same set every couple of days would be pretty solid. I try my best and am generally never happy. The fact that most people don't notice errors doesn't stop me aiming higher and working at improving my ability. Being well practiced should allow me to enjoy the gig and not worry about errors, this is a good thing. Blue makes his living playing bar gigs and not working in an office, warehouse etc. Sounds great but is no doubt a lot of hard work - so it's a serious business. Is there enough money playing pub gigs over here to make a living? [/quote] You know for me it's a little different than most. I'm 64, single (divorced) family raised and gone and very low living expenses. Blue

By the way guys, I'm no great bass player. Marginal at best.I"ve been playing forever, but there are probably people with no more than 2 years under their belt that are a head of me. It's always been a struggle for me. Something I'm constantly working at. I make my share of mistakes, I don't like it, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over them. Nothing comes easy to me. Blue

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1499990368' post='3335051'] I very much doubt it. You're coming across like you only do it for the money and you've contradicted that notion more than once in other threads. I don't wear the fact that I don't play primarily for the money as a badge of honour. It was merely a response to Big Red's comments. [/quote] I made a choice and I now have to live with it, dependent on the money. But it's still a lot of fun. So why do I feel like the "bad guy". Blue

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1499989334' post='3335045'] That's [i]your [/i]perception, not ours, so ask the question of [i]yourself[/i], not us. [/quote] Your right, it's just my perception. Where it comes from, who knows? Blue

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1499980991' post='3335010'] I'm not particularly bothered about shifting T-shirts and CD's as I'm not in it for the money.[/quote] I'm sitting here looking at my gig schedule and I'm figuring out which bills will be paid and when. Seriously, am I the only bass chatter that us in this for the money. And why does it seem like not being in it for the money is some sort of badge of honor? Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1499969521' post='3334920'] How did you get to that level of experience tho. ? Surely you must have put a lot of hrs in to practicing at home or you have played a lot of gigs over the years. At some point in a professionals playing career they must have put the hours in to achieve the level of experience that you mention. Altho i personally have never quite reached that level i can see how it would be a lot simpler to learn new material at short notice. Is it not the case that they have reached that point either by playing and gigging more hrs than the average Joe who is working a full time job elsewhere. I guess that is where their commitment has taken them to a higher level of experience than many amatuer musicians. There will always be the exceptions to the rule but i'm talking more a general point of view rather than every individual. Dave [/quote] How do they get to that level? Attitude, hard work,conviction, disipline, gifted, and smarts are probably all a part of it. I also think playing with like minded people and playing with musicians that challenge you helps. It will be tough for young guys in bands with guys that have the ability but are just plain lazy. I'm sure a few of you have been through that. Very frustrating. Blue

[quote name='tommorichards' timestamp='1499975903' post='3334968'] If any of you have faced a similar problem before, i'd like to hear how your experience was, what happened in the long term, with regards to the band/ bass playing in general. I've even tried going back to songs i used to love to play, but there's not as much as a connection as there used to be. Help. [/quote] Are you gigging? I've been playing bass guitar in rock bands for 50 years. Not uncommon for baby boomers. Playing bass is still as fun and exciting to me as it was when I was 12 years old. However, I have gigs booked to look forward to. Live gigs is why bass playing has stayed fun for me. Blue