blue

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1474970617' post='3141862'] Is the music any good? And can you get on with whoever is responsible for writing the lyrics and doing the singing? Everything else can be fixed after you join. [/quote] Not if they don't want you to fix it or better yet you were hired to play bass and they don't want your input. A good example of why you need to know what your looking for and ask question so you know if the band will afford you those opportunities. Blue

[quote name='Trueno' timestamp='1474963136' post='3141769'] Good list of questions. I just plunged in head first (when I was playing sax) and went straight from amateur to heavy gigging band almost instantly. Still great fun though... and I would ask those questions now. I won't be joining another band, but now I would ask about gear-hauling and tearing down. My main requirement, post-gig is to tear down and bog off home asap. My very last band would want to sit around drinking beer and luxuriating in the fans' attention... sometimes even coming back the next day to clear up the gear. Not for me. [/quote] We're a get paid, tear down thank the owner, leave and hopefully get home by 2:30am. Blue

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1474930965' post='3141672'] Are we taking fame or pioneers? The shadows (and cliff Richard) defined rock and roll in the same way Elvis did. And without those the beatles wouldn't have existed. I won't ever deny the impact the beatles had on the music we play, but I wasn't there so I don't really know what I'm talking about I suppose [/quote] You might be a historian for all I know and know exactly what your talking about. My position, personal position is ,I was there my Beatle experience is different not better. Blue

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1474931144' post='3141673'] I would ask how long my gigs were... And if they were free. If they were 4 hours and i had to haul gear for free I wouldn't bother [/quote] Doubt that would actually happen. However asking the band's position on free gigs might be an important question for some. Blue

Gibson Custom Shop ES -335 Bass,$2,200. Blue

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1474927378' post='3141643'] No shadows, no Beatles [/quote] That might be a good debate, however what happened to The Shadows, why didn't they have the international fame "the boys" have. I know from you guys The Shadows were huge in the UK, but not so much in the States Blue

I had a bad experience with a band managed by a husband and wife team. Never again Blue

[quote name='12stringbassist' timestamp='1474926367' post='3141624'] That's a great list of questions. The question raised about song selection is a very important one. I struggled to get my choice of songs in, as they hadn't heard of groups like Suede or Cheap Trick and they very much 'did what they did' and ideas came from one place only. Frustrating, but I just knuckled down and took the dosh until I had had enough of this foolishness myself. After being the driving force of a previous band, to be treated as 'an also ran' in that band rankled, but the money compensated. [/quote] Thanks 12 String. A good example of how were all different and want and require different things from bands. I'm not really big on song selection or band management. It's nothing I think I'm particularly good with. I can offer experience, solid committed bass playing and backing vocals. Blue

Thus might seem picky, but I'm not a "stand back by the drummer" bass player. I require upfront premium real estate on stage and allowed to provide backing vocals. If that's not possible the band is not a natch for me. Blue

[quote name='Kirky' timestamp='1474923868' post='3141600'] This tells you a lot about what you need to know. I'd also ask about the writing/song selection process. [/quote] Definitely an important question for those joining originals bands and want involvement in song writing and band management. Blue

[quote name='ChunkyMunky' timestamp='1474923012' post='3141593'] If only I saw this a couple of months ago... [/quote] We've all been there, don't feel bad. Blue

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1474749114' post='3140280'] I have extreme Thunderbird GAS at the mo..... [/quote] You have good taste. I recommend the Gibson model or Custom. If you can find a vintage 90 or 91 you'd be set. For used or vintage make sure there hasn't been any neck damage. Blue

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1474731943' post='3140124'] I have a lovely Maruszczyk Elwood 5 string jazz bass, it is superb, but im longing for a Lakland 55-02 Deluxe that i have seen.. what is wrong with me.!!? Why is the grass always greener on the other side.? [/quote] It's not. Blue

An old topic, but a good one to revisit. First and foremost, it's probably not a good idea to join a band if you haven't defined or even know what you're looking for in a band. You probably have a life outside of music and playing bass. What can you realistically commit to? Make sure you ask questions. Here are a few of my favorites. 1. How long has the band been together 2. Tell me about turnover, how long has your current line up been in tact. 3. How many gigs did the band play last year. 4. How much travel is involved. 5. Do you book through an agency or book yourselves 6. Does the band own commercial grade lights and sound 7. Why did the last bass player leave 8. How is the band paid, equal split or is there a heirachy system Those are 8 pretty basic questions, there are more. What questions do you ask? Blue

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1474918871' post='3141558'] Yeah... but - you would. [/quote] History will say The Beatles were the pioneers traveling in unchartered waters. More support for the "you had to be there" crowd. We watched the the whole thing evolve in real time over the a short 10 year time span. Remember, for the younger generations. You have bands that we weren't there for. Blue

[quote name='ColinB' timestamp='1474890167' post='3141231'] The only Beatles cover that I prefer to the original. (n.b. I said "I prefer" not "is better than". Should save me from a tongue lashing by someone.... hopefully!) [/quote] There are some cool covers of Beatle songs.i like Stevie Wonders We Can Work It Out and Otis Redding's Day Tripper. I never prefer or think they're any better than the original versiont.They're just good covers. Blue

Depends, if it's innocent I can give someone a pass. Drunk and disrespectful is another thing. Like the guy that wants to talk to you while your playing, I have a rule. No eye contact and ignore him. Blue

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1474746025' post='3140246'] I was going to suggest that, but then thought it may be fair to say that The Beatles influenced the punks to not be like The Beatles? [/quote] I say, no Beatles then no Punk Rock. Blue

[quote name='Passinwind' timestamp='1474746759' post='3140252'] Nope, not at all. Many kids these days tell me they wish they were our age (1953 here) so as to have experienced the 60s first hand. I enjoyed that at times, but best evah? Nah. [/quote] If you were into music and you were born in 1952 you won the lottery ticket of life. Blue

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1474825961' post='3140844'] I think there were a number of factors which contributed to the 'common experience' thing. [/quote] Skankdelvar, very astute commentary. The best I've read. Blue

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1474666618' post='3139814'] heck - I guess that means you're [i]really[/i] special! [/quote] No, as a matter of fact I thought all 8 year olds were getting into rock and roll at the time. Nothing special, very normal in my opinion. Blue

[quote name='Gottastopbuyinggear' timestamp='1474797658' post='3140518'] All in all a pretty good night, rounded off with a very welcome (and free!) pint. Now I just need to prize my share of the fee out of our drummer, which will cover about half the cost of the equipment insurance I decided at the last moment might be a clever thing to have... [/quote] Congrats I've gotten spoiled over the pass 5 years I've always been paid in cash 5 minutes into "tear down". Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1474806172' post='3140614'] The landlord grumbled and said his customers didn't like it and we were to heavy for him. [/quote] Sounds like real low end management to me. Either the alcohol sales were there or not. That's all bar owners I know care about. Blue

I gig a lot of pretty well known and popular bass guitars. However my G&L ASAT Bass (in Blue Burst) for the money is tge best bass I own. I bought it used. It's a mint condition ASAT from the 1991. $500.00 with case verification papers. Really a great value. Blue

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1474575088' post='3138995'] As The Boss is not answering my calls at the moment I'll have to ask you. Which one influenced him the most? [/quote] I'm not a Springsteen fan. However, I can't deny he's not a great entertainer. Bruce seems to know Paul pretty well. Blue