blue

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1493842035' post='3291250'] I got myself sacked once. Joined a band and instantly regretted it but was too cowardly to just tell them, 'you're just not my thing guys'. So I made excuses and missed rehearsals, until they obviously realised I just wasn't into the band and eventually I got the 'Dear John' text (thankfully). [/quote] Gjones, I think that's the reason most guys get sacked. When for whatever reason you make a mistake and join the wrong band. Blue

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1493836507' post='3291177'] I got sacked from a band I was never asked to be in in the first place because I wouldn`t cough up £6000 to help buy a rehearsal studio. I told them if I had a spare £6000 I`d clear the - at the time - £3000 balance on my credit cards, and spend the rest (admittedly said rather flippantly) on hookers and doughnuts. The drummer who was also in the same position as me, as in having never actually been asked to join was fired. It was said that it was "musical differences" but we both knew it was the cash thing, as he never mentioned hookers, or doughnuts come to think of it. [/quote] When I join a band I always make it clear that I have no interest in funding recording projects or any traditional band savings programs. I'm in this to put money in my wallet not take it out. Ok, I'm a Yankee and I realize we have cultural difference here. Blue

I've lost auditions, been in bands that folded and I have quit, never been sacked. I usually join established working bands. I don't complain or get involved with any of the type of issues posted by others. I don't care about or get involved with songs choice, parts, arrangements. I do what I'm paid to do. I catch a lot of heat for this position. For me it's a business, a job. Now let me qualify my position. It's an incredibly fun business and fun job. For some reason some feel if it's a business or job it's not fun. Not true. Blue

Every once in a while regardless of age you'll catch a newbie at a gig that is simply amazed at the sound 3-4 guys can make. Hard for me to believe there are some young folks that have never seen or heard a live rock & roll band. Blue

I have no idea. Unfortunately it's a part of the business I'll never have to deal with. I'm a bar band guy playing bass in a bar band. We're not recording artists. Blue

[quote name='IainS' timestamp='1493742390' post='3290365'] When you're in a three piece band and both the drummer and singer/guitarist consistently turn up late because they're both so stoned they don't know what time of day it is, it's probably time to leave. So I did. [/quote] Controlled Substance use at gigs or rehearsal is a deal breaker for me. Blue

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1493730487' post='3290201'] Regarding the future of bass playing (and bands in general) in the 13 years I've lived in France, I've sold loads of redundant gear for whatever reasons and every time, without exception, it's been to, or for, a young player who wants to join a band and play live (or is already doing so) I've found it most refreshing to see young people's enthusiasm regarding getting into playing and forming bands. It's not all doom and gloom. They're out there, and they're keen. [/quote] Very cool post Leschirons. When and if I have to get rid of any of my bass guitars I will give them to young serious enthusuastic​ players. Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1493732220' post='3290228'] It doesn't offend me in the slightest, if I got offended by narrow minded old men who repeatedly state opinion as fact then Basschat would be a pretty stupid place to be a member of. I continue to read his posts in the remote possibility that one day he might say something that will change my opinion of him. I also see other people replying to his posts who seemingly feel the same way about them as I do & I'm always interested in their responses. [/quote] RhysP, Keep in mind, admittedly I will post provocative threads. But my threads are not trolling mechanisms. They're merely to generate other positions and opinions.In that respect I'm somewhat successful. BTW, I'm older, not old. I'll never be old.😀 Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1493725179' post='3290118'] So you interpret his remarks differently from me (and possibly some others on here too). I regard his constant belittling of bedroom players, start up bands & anything else that doesn't fit with his myopic mindset as little more than trolling. [/quote] RhysP, Start up bands have there place, We definitely need them especially now. Are these start up bands for everyone, absolutely not. Bedroom players, definitely a place for them. However​, it's like anything else there are guys in the bedroom for good reason and some in the bedroom for all the wrong reasons.IMO Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1493464282' post='3288532'] Fine, but the big difference between you & Blue is you don't feel the need to start argumentative threads about pretty much the same bloody subject every week or so. [/quote] Debate threads, opinion threads not argumentative. Blue

[quote name='converse320' timestamp='1493678941' post='3289951'] We are seeing the emergence of new bass stars, who don't gig, maybe don't record, but who are still very successfully monetizing their skills - welcome the increasing numbers of online bass teaching resources. Guys like Scott are having a huge impact on how people spend money and are increasingly important. Bands - less so. [/quote] Agreed, 64, Interesting. I discuss band issues gigging issues with a few guys that I grew up with. Guys I was gigging with back in the late 60s. They'll say things like; "You should tell them this or that,do this or that.If he can't play or can't learn the material get someone else." I don't have the heart to tell them things just don't work like that anymore. I'm lucky I have steady gigs, I'm in no position to rock the boat. Blue

New Direction for Bass & Players An ad states they have pedal steel, 3 vocalist,guitar drums and mandolin for jazz standards and country swing.They're looking for a bass player. Should be able to rehearse on weekdays. Out of curiosity, I inquired. Told the BL I was currently active, playing around 65 shows per year. I asked if they were working with an agency or self booking. Also asked how often they gig, once, twice a week, once a month? His response; "You wouldn't be interested, this is just for fun" Then he made some derogatory remark about gigging. An example of how gigging is not fun for some musicians. Blue

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1493657722' post='3289790'] Someone has just posted a couple of videos from our second gig on Saturday night, I think it shows how knackered we were at one pm after several hours of playing plus a one hour drive between gigs! Rather cliched songs, not our regular fare, but the guitarist read the audience well and these went down a treat. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNOfEyZQvTE"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNOfEyZQvTE[/url] [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPXoZK_Qruc"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPXoZK_Qruc[/url] [/quote] Nice! Blue

For those of us that do this for a living, we usually say; "Never quit your band unless you have found a an opportunity that's better for you're Blue

[quote name='gazzatriumph' timestamp='1493637450' post='3289547'] I've been in three bands over the last six years and there always seems to be one person that pee's me off , I try and do get on with most people but in the end I take so much and leave. I've not been in a band now for six months and to be honest I've not missed it, I thought I would, I just seemed to have lost any drive or enthusiasm to be in another band. Has anyone else gone through this and did the urge to join a band again come back. I'm seriously considering selling my gear but just holding back just in case. I'm 54 by the way. [/quote] Depends on what your looking for in a band and what your focus is. Our band members have very little to do with each other. I think it's way we get along so well Blue

Chris Squire: I switched to round wounds first time I heard him. Blue

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1493453355' post='3288384'] I think he means elevator music, Blue, we call them lifts over here. [/quote] Ahhh, very clever. Blue

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1493552432' post='3289048'] Wretched. Low audience turnout. Bad acoustics. Bad sound all round. Monitoring was a mess (= unhappy singer), FOH had way too much Bass and Drums in it (I know, because I recorded it). Guitar and organ just seemed to vanish from the mix somehow. I wanted to be somewhere else for the middle third of it at least. Zero vibe and everyone really cheesed off. It was the kind of evening that makes me wonder whether playing original material is worth the effort at all. The only thing that saved my desperation was that the quite decent, upbeat and well rehearsed covers band who followed us got no applause either, so it wasn't [i]just[/i] us. Everyone had a s****y night. [/quote] Happens to all of us. Most of the time the next gig will be fantastic. Blue

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1493465326' post='3288540'] I see a conveyor belt of players coming out of the music colleges who are at a technical level, a level of ability that couldn't have been dreamed of when I started, but the one thing that many of them can't manage is to sit on a groove. Do they teach simplicity at these colleges? If you want a dozen great notes in the blink of an eye, they are the players for you but if you want solid, soul wrenching and effective playing don't ask any of those guys. [/quote] I asked a young rather inpressive bass player that posted a bedroom video on Facebook if he had any live band application of his work. He blocked me. Blue

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1493465326' post='3288540'] I see a conveyor belt of players coming out of the music colleges who are at a technical level, a level of ability that couldn't have been dreamed of when I started, but the one thing that many of them can't manage is to sit on a groove. Do they teach simplicity at these colleges? If you want a dozen great notes in the blink of an eye, they are the players for you but if you want solid, soul wrenching and effective playing don't ask any of those guys. [/quote] I don't have a lot of fast fancy riffs. As a matter of fact,I try to keep my playing as simple, accurate and as commercial as possible. Blue

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1493464585' post='3288535'] There are a number of points raised here, most of which are true to some extent but the situation is not quite as grim as many are suggesting:[/quote] Probably not Pete. We actually played a really cool well appointed club last weekend. Fantastic crew, stage manager and sound engineer were great to work with. And OMG, the caliber if the sound gear and lighting was top shelf. Upscale crowd of all ages. An example of the exception. Unfortunately, back to reality​ tonight. Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1493464149' post='3288531'] How is recording & writing film scores "completely different"? [/quote] That or my position is merely opinion. IMO film scoring would be more meaningful type of work and also more fun than the typical bedroom player. For those who love solo bedroom playing, I say keep it up, do your own thing and definitely have fun. Please don't let my opinions inpact you and don't take them seriously. Blue

I guess the direction might be at home recording and solo YouTube offerings. I don't think that's really a good thing but it sure seems to be the way things are going or I should say where things are headed. Blue

[quote name='Kirky' timestamp='1493462826' post='3288514'] Reading this I feel very lucky to be in (near) Leeds which has a wealth of venues with live music available every night of the week. For originals we have the Brudenell Social Club, a fantastic venue with 2 rooms and frequently gigs on in both rooms. Smaller original venues like Wharf Chambers, Headrow House, Hyde Park Book Club are always putting something on. For covers in Leeds there's the Duck and Drake, the Grove, and wider afield there's hundreds of pubs that have bands at weekends. And I haven't even mentioned the larger venues (O2, Arena). Here's a [url="https://www.facebook.com/dianesgiglist/posts/1343793445697552"]weekly Facebook post[/url] that someone puts together locally showing gigs on this weekend in the Yorkshire area - a really lively scene. Blue, I'd suggest finding out about the local originals scene (there must be one, no matter how small). Go along and check out what's happening - it might not be the sort of music you usually listen to, but I bet there's something you'll enjoy, and you'll get out and about and meet some musicians who perhaps have a different viewpoint to you, but will enjoy playing to you and meeting you. I'm not suggesting that its somewhere you'll pick up gigs, but as a musician you might really enjoy the often very original and vibrant (and sometimes challenging) work. [/quote] I've played in 2 originals bands before my current band. The originals scene here is dead for the most part. There are only 3 originals clubs in Milwaukee. Lindermans, Garibaldi's and Frank's Power Plant. I still frequent these clubs when I'm not gigging to see what's happening with younger musicians. Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1493462536' post='3288511'] Do you have some kind of cognitive impairment that doesn't allow you to understand that not everybody plays for the same reasons as you or are you just a mean spirited troll? I know musicians who would stop playing if they couldn't gig, the entertainment part of it is the most important thing. I also know plenty of musicians who have no interest in playing live & spend their time working on recording & writing projects, film scores etc. Both types of people love & enjoy what they do passionately. [/quote] I would hope I'm not mean spirited. At times I'll post something orovacative but not mean. Of course people play for different reasons. However, you won't convince me that playing alone in the bedroom is more fun than playing with other musicians to a live engaged audience. Recording and writing film scores is completely different. You won't get an argument out of me there. Blue