blue

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1479944008' post='3180560'] I was going to suggest this one too. Jerry Jemmott absolutely kills on it. The studio album Completely Well should be mandatory also! [/quote] Yes indeedy, I forgot about Completely Well. Blue

Hell, at some gigs I actually think I have a super power. I'm the "Invisible Man". Blue

[quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1479938300' post='3180489'] I still aspire to be in a decent gigging band, genre optional (I've broad tastes). [/quote] Greeneking, regardless of where any of us live, how long we've been playing, finding a proper gigging band with good people is a tough nut to crack. Blue

[quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1479801366' post='3179305'] I am possibly one of the few who does gig but doesn't really enjoy it overall, because of this exact thing. I get completely demoralised if there is an empty house.[/quote] I use to feel the same way, until I broached this topic with a few Pros I know that headline international tours. When I asked how they deal with poor attendance at shows. They all had the same answer, "It's nothing I even think about". Now, whenever I get to a show regardless of the attendance I play the role of cheerleader. I talk to all band members make jokes and stress the importance of having fun and having a good show instead of being demoralized. Blue

[quote name='Monkey Steve' timestamp='1479921904' post='3180338'] I guess it depends what you're after - and it's about knowing what you want out of the band. [/quote] Exactly, that should be the first thing a guy should define before he starts looking for a band. Seems obvious, right? I think it goes over some guys heads. And defining what you want out of a band experience is hard for some and easy for others. Blue

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1479931461' post='3180428'] I assumed timing was innate and easily felt by all musicians until I started playing in bands. In fact, I actually thought timing was innate to humans. Both of these were wrong. [/quote] Because I came into playing bass in the 60s and early 70s when blues was really popular and really how I learned how to play I thought improvising was a natural thing and everybody could do it. Probably because in my part of the world and at the time everyone in the circles I ran in could Back in those days we had serious jam sessions improvising all night We didn't have what younger folks call the "open mic" thing. Blue

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1479931461' post='3180428'] I assumed timing was innate and easily felt by all musicians until I started playing in bands. In fact, I actually thought timing was innate to humans. Both of these were wrong. [/quote] It's not, I've been playing for over 50 years and I still periodically practice my timing with a metronome. Blue

[quote name='thepurpleblob' timestamp='1479922350' post='3180345'] I too, pretty much, only know songs. Well, I can get by with some basics but I've no background in improvisation. I just haven't done it. It's not really required in a wedding band. [/quote] Well , the key to blues is improvisation. If your a quick learner and have a sincere interest in the blues and your motivated you can do it. If you don't have that motivation and interest factors, you might want to re-think the whole blues thing and look at other options. This is why I tell young players, regardless of your genre of choice, rock, rock & roll, jazz, metal, pop,prog or punk start with the blues. It a great foundation for any genre. I like the blues, it comes naturally to me. It's not a mechanical or technical type of thing. However, if I had a choice I'd go with a wedding band. Those that read my post and know the business know why. Blue

BB King , Live And Well. Pick up a copy. I'm lucky as it's the genre I grew up with and spent hours on end for years in basements and garages as a teen playing the blues back in the 60s and early 70s. This background is why improvising comes second nature to me. I thought everyone could improvise until I went to an open mic a few years ago. Me and the drummer laid down a blues groove in G minor. The young guitarist comes over to me a whispers, " I only know songs". Sad Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1479905647' post='3180154'] Don't join a band if you think you can change the material they are playing. Currently having a bit of a battle with the band I joined as the singer (who joined a bit before me) seems intent on getting rid of a load of the tunes we play in favour for tunes he likes and is obstructive when tunes are suggested that fit with the current style and image of the band. He's treading on thin ice. . [/quote] This again gets back to doing homework on any band your persuing as well as making sure you know what your looking for in a band and band experience. When I joined my band 5 years ago, I was hired to play bass and sing background vocals. I was not hired to make calls on material or any other aspect of band management. Worked out fine for me. Blue

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1479807345' post='3179359'] The problem with bands is that they contain other people... [/quote] Not if the people they contain are good people. Blue

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1479816776' post='3179474'] Don't just accept sitting at home as an alternative. . . . get a good dep drummer. [/quote] That's not an option for all bands. Some bands can't find a decent primary drummer or a dep. Blue

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1479770448' post='3179225'] WOT? You always look more than stellar! ...and I hate you intensely for that! [/quote] Everybody looks stellar when you're 15 years old.😁 Blue

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1479770448' post='3179225'] WOT? You always look more than stellar! ...and I hate you intensely for that! [/quote] I'm a "dandy" 😁 Blue

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1479775548' post='3179252'] what? who is passing any judgements here? I have not seen anything but friendly compliments and no sense of competition at all. I don't know where you got that from [/quote] Me either. Blue

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1479591217' post='3177774'] Is this whole thread not just a "Look at me, i'm better than you" fest. We play, or I do, music cos we love it, who cares what we look like doing it, especially our peers. [/quote] No,it's not a look at me thread. It's fun and an education to see what other bands are doing. Blue

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1479766641' post='3179193'] you've all got a downer on keys players...be smart - employ a keyboard player who can't play - or can only use 1 finger on each hand.... it's worked for me for decades. I love being in this band...even though it's a band that uses keys [/quote] A lot of bands including ours would love adding a keys. However in the bar band business it's cost prohibitive. No bar band I know can afford keys. Blue

[quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1479576569' post='3177612'] If this has been done before, apologies, but here goes... So I've noticed especially at this time of year, we are playing to pretty quiet pubs, Im talking perhaps 20 people in the bar at best, not always, but more often than not it's quiet. There's no way the bar has taken £300 but in some venues thats what they pay us, its never less than £200. We always get asked back, never been told not to return in 6 years at any venue. Personally, I can't see this business model surving for much longer, and some boozers do close, only to be reopened again by some bright new hopefuls. Anyway my feelings are mixed. I do play for the money, I need it, everything I earn at work (self employed), I never see, it goes straight on the family, so the gig money is my spends. However, playing to half empty pubs is dispirting. I often feel before the gig, whats the point? I usually enjoy it once we get going but when I look out at that empty bar, it saps you. So...if you had a choice, the band gets £100 but its packed full of sweaty happy punters or..... the band gets £300 but it's loyal old Fred and his dog Which would you choose, and why? For me I would have said when I started out, the former but now I need the dosh. [/quote] In my part of the world, US Midwest the pay is pretty standard for bar bands. It's a $100.00 a man position maybe $125.00 a man. But you can make it up in the Summer time when festival and fair season starts. The pay is significantly more. To answer your question, I'm going to play my best have a good time whether I'm playing to old Fred and his dog or a packed bar of happy punters. However we won't book $300.00 gigs. Keep in mind all bar bands play for four hours in the US. 8-12 is the standard. We played a 9:30-1:30 last Friday Blue

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1479763674' post='3179146'] Yeah, but me, I [b][i]did[/i][/b] have several cameras. I could've gotten others to take pics with my gear. It just never seemed important at the time, which now feels like a shame. [/quote] Yeah, even now when everyone has a camera my band has very few current pics. Most folks have no clue on how to take a decent band pic. It's not easy and some bands and people don't photograph so well. I'm one of then. Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1479759786' post='3179084'] That's a cool picture Blue. [/quote] Thanks An old friend from back in the day posted it on Facebook Book. Blue

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1479758741' post='3179074'] I fully agree with SR Pete in all of this. Me, I wish I had any pictures at all from early gigs. It just never seemed important back then. Cherish the pic and the memories, Blue! [/quote] Well, remember not many kids had cameras at that time. No cell phones with great cameras. Blue

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1479758298' post='3179069'] Didn't Joe Walsh spend a bit of time in your neck of the woods, Blue..? [/quote] Yup, Joe Walsh went to Montclair High School too along with All Anderson (The Wailers). Joe was a year or 2 ahead of me but I knew his younger brother Mark who played keyboards. Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1479761308' post='3179110'] I meant free time to practice before you even get to gig stage, many bands here don't get beyond the practice room, I've been in some of them! I'd rather slip into an existing band or be involved at the start but with a group of known players/singers rather than hunting them out. [/quote] Depending on what you want. But yeah, I would venture to say most start up bands,are not together long enough to see their first gig. Blue

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1479754229' post='3179024'] Yea but thats a whole different ball game. Most of us do this for fun, we might make a few quid by accident but its rarely the motivation. Anyone looking for the perfect band is looking to be disappointed. If you are looking to make a living at it you have to take pretty much what you get. [/quote] I'll tell you this about me. Yes, I have to be paid but, it has to be fun and I have to be playing with good people. Blue

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1479750569' post='3178978'] Good idea. I'll do just that. I'll explain it to Mrs G. Can I ask you to explain it to my bank wrt the bank loan on the house?... Please? [/quote] Well, that's why I don't have a Mrs.G or any interest in a Mrs.G I have an interest in performance, rock & roll and gigging. We're all different.😁 Blue