blue

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1489268161' post='3255678'] The nonchalant stance perfectly captured. You have a good band Blue. [/quote] Thanks Tim, Blue

[quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1489269585' post='3255691'] Tidy little band you have there blue. You can tell you all approach it with professionalism, and are well rehearsed (or play regularly). The singers voice reminds me of sheryl Crowe. Keep up the good work mate! [/quote] Thanks Damon Jenny is the star. Wish I could have posted a more recent bar clip. Blue

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1489266581' post='3255663'] ... and channelling Dusty Hill [url="https://youtu.be/z-g0pYD9wqk?t=6m42s"]here[/url] on the demo reel [/quote] Dusty from ZZ. LOL Blue

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1489263467' post='3255643'] Enjoyed that, cheers for sharing. There's actually a few Maple Road vids in the links on youtube beneath the clip, including an 18 minute demo reel which at one point has you up front and centre playing what looks like a rather snazzy T bird style bass on All Along the Watch Tower, not an invisible bear in sight. [/quote] Yeah, I saw that demo reel, I think some of that has the bass player I replaced. I've been with these guys for 5 years. Blue

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1489262783' post='3255636'] Nice Blue, very nice. Although surely you are a professional rather than amateur musician? [/quote] Thanks Cosmo, I would say I'm an amateur musician with a pro attitude. Blue

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1489262030' post='3255623'] It works for me Blue. Watched and enjoyed. Rock on! [/quote] Thanks Len Blue

Hope the link works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skVMVtnBE7Y I'm posting it to give an example of what I mean by US Midwest Bar Band. We are not a pro band by any means. We are an amateur band (11 years and going strong) that just happens to work a lot. Good people, gigging , making money and most of all having fun. Blue

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1489255007' post='3255552'] Neither of them has a particularly engaging stage presence IMHO. They were probably jealous because you were getting more attention. I'm beginning to realise how common that is! [/quote] That's unfortunate. We have a female front who is also our lead guitarist. She gets all the attention and that's by design, the way it should be. She is the star. A lot of bands like ours , at the local level don't have a star. We're lucky to have one. Blue

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1489174670' post='3255038'] So what was the reason you were let go - was your dissatisfaction obvious? You can't expect everything to be perfect. [/quote] Exactly! This is rule number 1 for knowing and understanding how to be in band. Blue

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1489142760' post='3254676'] I'm not much of a bedroom player tbh, getting out there in front of people is what its about for me. I'm not ruling out another band or even another classic rock band if the right one. However I've now had no breaks at all between bands for the last 3 and I have other interests so I will be making use of the timing to do other stuff for a few months before I consider other projects. I knew the score, I had been in a band briefly with guitarist and singer 8 yrs ago before it folded. Since then they have pretty much only worked as a duo with backing tracks until getting a full band back together a couple of years back. I was curious to see if they had changed their ways a bit in the intervening years but some of the old problems started to become apparent and in truth I was ready for a change. [/quote] I hope you find a change that is good for you. Being out with a band with a steady flow of gigs and money is where it's at for me. If my band folded or if I was asked to leave, I would be sunk. No working band is going to hire a 64 year old bass player in my neck of the woods. Blue

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1489142855' post='3254678'] I think if I had to "simplify" the bass line so I could sing lead or BV I would drop the vocal part. My job, and what I enjoy most, is playing bass. I like singing but not to the extent I would compromise my playing. [/quote] I'm not the band leader and don't have that option. It's not about what I like. I can be replaced fairly easily and financially I can't afford to lose my job. Blue

[quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1488981202' post='3253462'] I'm still no virtuoso but I do take satisfaction knowing that every time I practice it's not ad-hoc and it is leading somewhere.[/quote] Excellent, when guys are sitting down playing stuff you already know, your not practicing your jamming. Blue

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1488969635' post='3253299'] There is a 4. The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to PREPARE to win. Some have lots of talent, but lack the desire to put in the work needed to be a success.(Whatever that means) If you poses the natural talent and are prepared to also work harder than the rest, you will make it. Most are a mixture...... 1. Not the most talent but work hard. 2. lots of talent but fairly laid back. [/quote] All successful musicians I know that have reached the international touring and better than average living level from music have always told me they attribute their success to, always being prepared. Blue

[quote name='grumpyguts' timestamp='1488986746' post='3253518'] How does Mark King do all that stuff and sing at the same time? [/quote] I've seen some of Mark's video clips. You might notice he's all over the bass, singing in perfect pitch and he's usually chewing gum. As far as I can figure, Mark is actually from another planet. Blue

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1488962201' post='3253212'] I seem to manage ok but if need be I will sacrifice the bass line to get the harmony in.[/quote] Me too, I will simplify the bass line which allows me to sing. Blue

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1488956984' post='3253152'] Still have problems breathing when singing and playing. Seems like I can only do two out of three!! [/quote] It's good to hear I'm not the only one. Blue

Singing and playing bass has always been a huge challenge for me. I'm getting better and the separation from my fingers and voice is getting a lot better. I don't have a great voice, however my band has allowed me free reign with backing vocals. Because we gig a lot, I've had the opportunity to really work on this. I still have a lot of room for improvement. I really like singing and being on the front line. Any stories about singing and playing bass you guys care to share? Blue

I think there's a #4. 4. Those that are too old for anything to make a difference one way or the other. I still woodshed, I'm retired and find myself playing hours on end into the we hours I'm still practicing exercises for speed and how to use scales to make my bass line musically sensible, unique and interesting. My main focus is to keep working and to increase my income flow. Blue

Any MIJ Ibanez. Blue

[quote name='pbasspecial' timestamp='1488828856' post='3252182'] good luck with finding the right people. I know lots of average local musicians or quality ones who live an hour away. Neither still want to rehearse/gig that often. Feel your pain buddy. [/quote] Agreed, after a certain age a lot of guys can't be bothered anymore. They've done and they're sick of it. Me, mentally I'm about as tired of it as I was when I started gigging in 1966. Meaning not tired of at all. However, physicaly, my body is giving me another message. The message is ," you can hardly load in or out and driving home late at night on back Wisconsin roads when it's 25° below zero is questionable". So, I guess if I had a roady, a bass tech and a driver I'd be all good again.😁 Blue

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1488830697' post='3252201'] Indeed, bands. What can be said that hasn't already. I give up to be honest. I've wasted a lot of time on people who like the idea of being in band but aren't willing to put in the time or work. I've got other things to do to the point that if I'm not in a band I don't really care anymore. [/quote] I've been burned in the past. But the "being burned" experience taught me how to spot BS opportunities and how to spot them fast. Blue

Anyone with a history of bad band experience with short lived results has to look at themselves. We should really figure out what we want out of a band experience, it might be that what you want doesn't exist or at least doesn't exist in our area. If we want stability and gigs, we should seek out established cover bands with several years of consistent bookings with minimal to no member turnover. We also don't want to quit a band because of a few little things we don't like. Sure, someone will suggest starting our own band. That's fine if you have leadership, management, and sales skills and prior experience. Do we have the resources to start a band? Blue

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1488553504' post='3249989'] Most bands in my circle just divide things equally, but not all operate that way and that's ok as long as both parts are clear about what what each will provide before committing.[/quote] Same with me and these are bands making about $500.00 for a 4 peice. It's not enough money to quibble over. Now, if your playing 3k gigs, that's a different story. Blue

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1488574422' post='3250269'] We'll agree to differ then. Demanding or expecting a larger fee than the regular guy/girl certainly seems to be valuing yourself more to me. All of the bands in my circle divide things equally. I wouldn't play with the ones that don't. Each to their own I guess. It's the music that counts. [/quote] When the work is equal that's fine, however the DEP has more work to do than the other regular members. More work means more money.IMO Blue

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1488537386' post='3249732'] yeah, but the dep doesn't have to put up with all the band drama crap [/quote] A lot of bands won't tolerate bad non-existent productive drama. Blue