blue

[quote name='HengistPod' timestamp='1487235653' post='3238183'] As my band is finding, it can be very hard to find people. Our girly singer threw a flake and walked out at New Year, and we've been looking for a replacement since. It's not for want of people answering ads. We've had at least a dozen who sounded enthusiastic, loved the set list and thought they'd be able to fit in really quickly. Then, almost guaranteed, they pulled out the night before the "audition". One guy turned up and was absolutely awful (but funny). Another guy turned up and was totally brilliant - amazing singer, professional, owned an enormous PA. Hands were shaken, promises made, then he told us he had a few solo gigs booked so we better compare schedules. We compared schedules - he was booked every Fri and Sat until April 2018. You have to wonder why these people even reply to an ad ... though I suspect he just fancied having a blast with a band rather than backing tapes. Got a bloke coming down on Friday evening, but honestly I fully expect him to pull out today. Not that he's given any indication of that, but the law of averages and all that. So ... no, it's not easy! [/quote] I think this is why bands hate the audition process, no shows, cancellations and goof balls, to name a few. Blue

I think flats are great, I don't use them, but they have a unique mojo all to their own.I could see using them at some point in the future if they were really necessary or requirement. My statement is not entirely true. I forgot my German made Hofner Limited Edition Club Bass with Cavern Club PU spacing has flats. It's a really fun bass to play. I'll probably will gig with it this weekend. Blue

[quote name='Barking Spiders' timestamp='1487090711' post='3236967'] Heavy funk, breakbeat/hip hop influenced stuff is where I'm at. [/quote] It's where I'm at too. However I'm also into gigging 2-4 times a week and getting paid. At the local and regional level If I had held out to play in bands that play what I like I'd never have the opportunity to gig or make any money. Depends on what your looking for. If gigs and getting paid are not requirements for you I think you will eventually find something. When we're looking for paying work we have to be very flexible on what we will accept. I know rock guys that are playing in country cover bands because they have paying work. Blue

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1487009579' post='3236242'] Thanks, Blue, it was. Like your post above, it was one of those 'hot gigs' where everything comes together and the place just takes off. Takes me a while to come down enough to get some sleep after that though! [/quote] Same for me, I'm still high off of our New Years Eve gig. From the first note everything came together. It's magic. Blue

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1486940243' post='3235803'] A double helping of top gigs for us - first of all Friday we had a gig at a new venue with a dep drummer. Although it sounds like recipe for disaster it couldn't have been further from the truth! A good crowd who were ready for every Thin Lizzy track we could throw at them, and a return booking later this year. Last night saw a return to The Greyhound in Beeston and another cracking night was to be had. The young sound tech Richard certainly knew his stuff and just like the night before, the enthusiastic crowd loved it from the first note to the last. Again, a return later in the years is penciled in After a few weeks away from the live scene over Xmas this was just the return we all wanted. [/quote] Very cool, I love 2 and 3 gig weekends. Blue

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1486885829' post='3235188'] Friday night: short-notice gig at the Thistle Park Tavern in Plymouth, due to a cancellation. Did it as our original 3-piece line up as per when we started - a few weeks off 10 years ago! Blimey, where did that go... Really enjoyed going back to a trio, and the punters loved it too. Must do more as a 3-piece! [/quote] Nothing better then When a trio is burning on all 6 cylinders. Blue

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1486970690' post='3235870'] We played the Rolleston in the centre of Swindon last Saturday, good venue, small but well attended, have bands on at least twice a week, so the audience are really into it. Had our home crowd of Saints (people from St Helena) in, our drummer and guitarist are from the island. We always go down well with these guys around. We're moving away from a fixed format for our songs and allowing more room for jamming, seems to be a popular move with the audiences. [/quote] Sounds like a cool fulfilling gig Dave. Blue

[quote name='martthebass' timestamp='1486979266' post='3235930'] After a couple of months depping in another band I was back with the 80s band for a local gig this weekend. A place we had played a number of times before with good crowd participation, this time however there must have been something in the beer because I can't remember the last time I played to such an unresponsive bunch......tumbleweed at the end of most songs even in the second set. Nights like these make me wonder why I bother :/ [/quote] It happens to most of us, all gigs are not great. It's a part of the business. You play your best regardless , get paid and go home. All it takes is one "hot gig" and you'll feel great again Blue

Despite PA issues and problems with my gear Friday night was a more than respectable gig. We played an 7- 11 at The Grafton Live Arts Center. It was fun to play to something other than the typical bar crowd. Big room with large tables, large dance floor in front of the risers set up for us. Bar in the rear of the room. Really nice size crowd and more dancing than we've had in ages. And we're not a dance band. It was a 60 plus crowd that still appreciates the 3 guitars , a drummer and vocal harmony format. Blue

I saw Al only once. Great jazz artist and jazz singer. Blue

[quote name='James Nada' timestamp='1486667554' post='3233736'] Phwoor, the new Epi looks great. Is there any indication of £RRP? [/quote] I'm not big on Epi Birds, however they do look pretty nice. Blue

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1486492592' post='3232269'] Hi, I have a drummer buddy who has always fancied playing bass and has a craving for a Thunderbird. He's just waiting to start a new job in the summer and getting the money together to pull the trigger He was looking at Epiphones and is now wondering it it may be better to save up and get a used Gibson. I mentioned that there are other fine used verions such as greco and Tokai but to be honest I don't know much about them. Any recommendations of what to look out for on the used market? [/quote] I traded up from an Epi Bird to a 1991 Gibson Thunderbird. Huge difference, I'd say save up for the Gibson. Don't get hung up on whatever this mythical problem called " neck dive ". I've never experienced it. Blue

How many of us check our onstage sound to our house sound? Blue

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1486635602' post='3233374'] I find the best way to get a great sound is to always play in exactly the same place in the same room using the same bass through the same rig at the same volume. As soon as I try playing in a different pub it all goes to sh*t. [/quote] Bingo, this is an on going challenge. I saw The Stones play our Marcus Ampitheater and Daryl's sound was muddy and boomy. Blue

[quote name='ChunkyMunky' timestamp='1486627300' post='3233285'] I'm eyeing up an isolation riser for whatever bass cabinet I'm going to buy. It's an initiative to improve my live bass tone but I'm also thinking on how else I can improve it all? Manipulating the natural acoustics of a room? Shaping the tone to mesh around the kick drum? What do you fine creatures do to ensure a great bass tone live? I'd love to hear your suggestions and try them out. [/quote] Sounds like a good idea, you must be playing some big gigs. Blue

Nice job! Blue

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1486178336' post='3229894'] Out of interest Blue. Are there not bars, clubs. that people just listen to music. I mean like Ronnie Scotts in the US, or the Jazz cafe in London. Of course there are always alcohol sales, but the music and venues I've ever been to the crowd are there for the music. Does it depend on how big the band are.? [/quote] Yes, we have clubs like Ronnie Scott's right in Milwaukee, for example Shank Hall. Not sure why they call it a "Hall"it's a club actually a small bar. They primarily book headliners. I saw Stanley Clark there. They don't book book local bar bands.Most shows have ticket prices between $35.00- $50.00. Blue

[quote name='Maude' timestamp='1486141256' post='3229619'] I have offered to the risk away from landlords by playing for the evening and they can then pay me what they see fit. If he hates it, don't pay us. If he loves it, pay us the going rate for bands in his venue. Somewhere inbetween, pay us somewhere in between. Just make sure you tell him you're prepared to do it this way as you're confident he'll love you, all you ask is he's fair in any payment. If you don't mention that bit you could come across as desperate. There's a risk they'll say you were sh*t and not pay you, but in my experience if you were good he'll want to book you again so will have to pay you. I've never not been payed this way and a couple of places have given us extra above their normal rate. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. [/quote] In the States bars usually have a list of bands they book and are not really open to letting new bands in, so it's tough. It's all about alcohol sales over here, not how good a band is.Meaning if your band is playing, there's a good crowd and the bar staff are raking it in at that cash register, your a good band. Personally unless your a teen band offering to play for free might make a band come off amature. You have to sell a band similar to how you would sell any other service.Set a price for your band and stick to it. Blue

Is everybody in the band on the same page in terms of wanting to gig? I ask only because after only 4-5 gigs over the course of a year some band members would have left the band? How much do you want to gig, once a week,twice a week, once a month? Blue

We're a blues/rock 70s Vintage Midwestern Bar band. "Do we play what by Rush?" Blue

We're a blues/rock 70s Vintage Midwestern Bar band. "Do we play what by Rush?" Blue

[quote name='Joebethell' timestamp='1478809889' post='3171883'] Guild Starfire [/quote] Very expensive. Blue

Henrik Linder, Dirty Loops. Blue

[quote name='Graham' timestamp='1485502125' post='3224365'] The photos you've put up before do look fantastic [/quote] It's not a bad pic. It was taken by a pro at Summerfest on the Harley Stage. You can see I drifted away from my mic. If a picture is being taken, I'm going g to be in it. Blue

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1485421112' post='3223778'] A link for you Blue. [url="http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/skegness-named-alongside-syria-and-north-korea-as-one-of-worlds-worst-holiday-spots/ar-AAmam81?ocid=spartanntp"]http://www.msn.com/e...ocid=spartanntp[/url] [/quote] Cool, we opened for Morland & Arbuckle at an October gig and they were excited about this gig. The Great British Rock & Blues Festival weekend, is held at the Butlins resort in Skegness, Lincolnshire from Friday 20th to Monday 23rd January 2017. [b] Line-up[/b] Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Top Topham's Early Yardbirds, Billy Boy Miskimmin, The Blues Band, David Knopfler & Harry Bogdanovs, Paul Jones & Dave Kelly, Lil' Jimmy Reed, Toronzo Cannon, [b]Moreland & Arbuckle,[/b] Shemekia Copeland, Martin Harley, Giles Robson and Band, Billy Branch, James Harman, Magic Dick, The Rainbreakers, Popa Chubby Band, Eric Sardinas Band, The Texas Flood, Kenney Jones & The Jones Gang, Snafu, and Sugar Man Sam and The Voodoo Men. . Plus Blue Matters new band stage, and more. Blue