blue

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1476100953' post='3151223'] I gigged a lot in my youth but I haven't played bass to a live audience (other than my disinterested children) for about, ooh, 15 years or so! I am what Blue would refer to as a [i]"bedroom noodler"[/i]. I also play bass guitar (fnar, fnar ). But... I churn out music on a frequent basis and my stuff does actually get listened to and occasionally played in clubs / on the radio / as a soundtrack to video blogs, etc. No substitute for standing on stage, of course, but I'm very content with my lot for the time being. [/quote] Skol, you really don't fit my definition of bedroom noodler. Blue

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1476088327' post='3151027'] I'd like to gig until 70 if possible but if I don't, as long as there's an acoustic guitar laying around, that'll do. It doesn't have to be bass for me. I could quite easily spend my time working out the chords to old Burt Baccarach songs [/quote] Been gigging for 50 years. My plan is to do it for another 10. I'll be 73. Blue

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1476115257' post='3151456'] Everyone learns in different ways, and wants and only really needs to learn what they need given their circumstances. As long as you yourself is happy, that's all that matters. Like on the have you ever gigged thread. Why should you gig if you're quite happy not doing so. [/quote] You shouldn't have to gig. Some guys just don't connect with the stage or live performance in front of an audience. Those guys are perfectly happy playing for themselves in the bedroom and should be allowed to do so. Me, I love turning people on, I can only get what I want from gigs. Blue

Gigging, put under the gun, being challenged in a live situation forces some of us to learn. Gigging really helped develop my ear. I can hear all the notes being played and not played, what notes are being played, how and where they're being played. I also know what is out of my league and beyond my abilities. You won't see me sitting around trying to learn Joco solos. Blue

[quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1476054832' post='3150940'] Gigging is my 100% reason for playing bass. If I wasn't in a band I wouldn't play. I don't see the bass as a solo instrument and I have no interest in playing on my own at home. I'm not saying that I think there's anything wrong with that, it's just it's not for me. Whatever makes you happy. I do my solo acoustic singer-songwriter thing when I'm not doing band/bass stuff. If I wasn't in a band I'd have more time to do that. [/quote] Same for me, it was really my attraction to the stage, the turning people on and the attention that got me. I do understand that all bass players don't connect with the stage or live performance to an audience for various reasons. Blue

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1476052834' post='3150917'] Gigging was all I intended to do when learning bass. Played at home or the Albert Hall, the bass is the greatest instrument. Whichever venue you choose is fine. IME nothing in the world feels as good as standing in front of 500 watts with the room rattling and your trousers flapping. And breaking news. . . . The 20th November is the 50th anniversary of my first gig. [/quote] Congrats, that's very cool! Blue

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1476054432' post='3150934'] Ah, I would love to be in a band that would be willing to play The Weight. [/quote] We haven't gigged it yet, the vocals were a bit of a challenge. I'm thinking it might work for some gigs and not for others. If it doesn't seem to click our BL won't call it . Me, I'm completely committed to my vocal harmonies and bass lines. But yeah, I'm like you, in that I really think it's an awesome song. Blue

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1476023896' post='3150498'] To a certain extent, this - again - depends on context. One Chicago-style R&B band I was in we'd play a background music mix tape of laid-back 1930's blues stuff over the PA for an hour or so before went on. The audiences (being greying old blues fans) liked the songs and it warmed them up but not so much it would 'compete' with our more uptempo set. We'd walk on just before the end of the last song on the tape. Another band, we used walk-on music but very much in a piss-taking sense. Sometimes it would be cheesy TV show themes (The Sweeney, Crossroads, Blankety-Blank). Other times it would be short clips of ludicrously heavy classical stuff; the finale of Mussorgsky's 'Great Gate Of Kiev' was a particular favourite of mine. Most uplifting. [/quote] Some bands can pull it off we can't, not sure why. We stream progressive blues and rock before we start and in between sets but we don't walk on to it. Blue

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1475963097' post='3150175'] Your gigs must be quite a feat. Surely you will run out of different songs eventually?? [/quote] We are US Bar Band, we play 4 hour gigs. Just the opposite, a lot of our good stuff never gets played because we can't fit them in. Bar bands have to have a minimum of 40 good songs to gig proper. We probably are closer to 60, not including "Lay Down Sally", "The Weight" and Further On Up The Road" which we recently added. They're not quite gig ready yet. Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1476037172' post='3150716'] I used to gig but I never really enjoyed it that much. Never had stage nerves or anything like that, but at the same time I never got anything from gigging other than the feeling I could be at home doing something more enjoyable. Apart from the odd one-off I haven't gigged regularly since the early 90's, have done some paid session work since then though which was quite enjoyable. The last couple of gigs I've played have been playing acoustic guitar, not bass. I might still do the odd gig if the offers are there, but I have no desire to go out searching for a band or do it regularly. I'm not even that interested in bass these days, but I've still got a lot of knowledge & experience that occasionally comes in useful on here. [/quote] I'm lucky playing bass and singing in rock and roll bands has been a complete blast for me for the last 50 years. For me it's always been the best use of my time.I have no other interests or aspirations. I'm cool with that. Blue

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1476050593' post='3150905'] I hope I'm still playing at 63 [/quote] Cool, stay in shape. It's not easy, when I get home at 3:00am I feel like I should be on a respirator. Blue

[quote name='rushbo' timestamp='1476049101' post='3150888'] I guess it's because Bass is typically an accompanists instrument - ie it exists to back up another musician/s. Of course there are honorable exceptions, but for most of us who gig, we're there to make the Guitarist look good... [/quote] Unfortunately that's the truth. But I'm working on little tricks to get my share of the attention. If you sing it helps. Blue

[quote name='elephantgrey' timestamp='1476028910' post='3150571'] I haven't gigged for 6-7 years now, since the band i was in then imploded. Just havnt really found another band since then. I've jammed with a few people but nothing's really kicked off, so i'm mostly a bedroom worrior now. [/quote] Elephant Grey, if my band of 11 years strong ever broke up, I'd be in the same boat. For those of you that have been out there for decades know how hard it is to find established bands with good people that have a strong book of business. Blue

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1476028615' post='3150566'] This clearly calls for a poll... Gigs Regularly/Not gigged in several years/Only jam nights, not playing for an audience/Never Gigged or played in public [/quote] At least a gig a week, some times 2 or 3. In the summer during festival and fair season I've been out 6 days in a row. I'm single, I love it. Blue

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1476028156' post='3150559'] I think that if I gave up gigging, at 54 years of age, I'd probably jack it all in and sell the lot. [/quote] For those that don't know, I'm 63 and plan on staying in the game for another 10 years. What else would I do? Blue

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1475957129' post='3150131'] Ack, you have it all wrong. It's the [i]attitude [/i]of these famous pro-bands that you need to adopt. I don't give a toot for celebrity or fame (I have neither, go figure) and we're all just flesh and blood after all; it's just that some people get popular, the majority of the rest don't. We generally pull in 30-40 people, sure these people don't necessarily want to see us, but they do want to see, listen, embrace and support live music. They clap and pogo. The rest of the population stay home and watch TV. Their loss. The main thing is that it shouldn't matter if you're playing to ten or a thousand, you get up and you play your guts out. Simple. [/quote] That's a different discussion and I don't necessarily disagree with your point. Here's my point; What works for famous acts playing large venues doesn't work for local unknowns playing small clubs. Here's an example,many famous big name acts use video and walk on music. IMO, if a local unknown band uses walk on music in a small pub it's would come off as weird and pretentious. Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1475952014' post='3150070'] We've been known to play the same song twice. Only ever had one person comment. And they liked it. [/quote] Our BL would never call the same song twice. Blue

[quote name='mrtcat' timestamp='1475923504' post='3149774'] Upbeat and popular is a must for 1St song for me. Even better would be a lively medley. [/quote] What if the place is more than half empty, wouldn't you want to save all the upbeat popular stuff for when the room is full. If the room never fills I guess it doesn't matter. Blue

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1475929950' post='3149844'] Two good examples of thought would be Good Souls and Come together. This former is a powerhouse with the right band and says the band means business and the latter is a well known tune which you sound check too. I don't think you need 'popular' as such as long as the opening number is a statement... if only to say to people, stick around, the band is worth watching and listening to. [/quote] We always play Get Back and Come Together back to back. The BL decides when and where we'll play them. She won't call them at all at some gigs. Blue

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1475934416' post='3149905'] I think you've answered your own question; it depends entirely on setting / context. On some occasions, starting with a balls-to-the-wall attention grabber is likely to have severely counter-productive consequences. [/quote] Exactly, setting and context of the room. For some situations it's better to save your good stuff for after the crowd is well lubricated. Blue

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1475942803' post='3149975'] In with a bang. Start the second song off the last note of the first one so they know they're listening to a different song. I remember seeing some video of Green Day backstage and they had a little jam area set up for warming up. Getting loose and up to speed is an essential. [/quote] What works for famous pro bands usually does not work for local unknown bands playing small clubs and pubs. Blue

Opening Number Depends on many factors, venue, length of set, demographic and size of the crowd. Do you want to open with your best number to a relatively small pub crowd. Seems that Moon Dance would be perfect for that. A large festival crowd at night, yeah start with a crowd pleaser but end with your best. Blue

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1475412701' post='3145700'] Anthony Jackson, Matt Garrison, Michael Manring, Janek Gwizdala, Lawrence Cottle, instantly spring to mind as being players with amazing technical ability, who use it only when needed. Personally, I'd rather have the ability and use it when required, than not have it. I've personally always strived to be the best player and musician that I can be. Consequently I studied with some great players and teachers.I'd practice for hours and hours, maybe 30 or 40 hours a week. Then went to uni and did a music degree. In life I'd rather set my goals high, I may not ever reach them, but I'd achieve more than if I just settled on being average. That's just me though. [/quote] Another good story and outlook on music in general. Nice one! Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1475432741' post='3145877'] If I was the sort of person who set my goals high it would be for doing something a lot more important than music. Music isn't going to save the planet, it's not going to cure cancer, it's just trivial noise at the end of the day. [/quote] Rhys, do you know there are a significant number if people that music is the only thing that makes them happy and brings joy into their lives? I'm not sure music can cure cancer. I'm also not sure everyone understands the power of music. Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1475706357' post='3148197'] Well you're completely & totally wrong. Wind your f***ing neck in. [/quote] Will do. Blue