blue

[quote name='spencer.b' timestamp='1471944022' post='3117090'] So it really bugs me when guys on here have suggested they care too much about the music to do it for a living and they're better off cos they can pick and choose what gigs they take, I've got a family and mortgage etc and I'll regularly dep a well paid function to do musically rewarding gig for next to no money [/quote] My kids are adults and are on their own. However I have a mortgage and bills I am responsible for and are all funded from gigs. Agreed all that stuff about being better off because you can pick and choose your gigs is highly suspect. It probably means your not positioned to play for a living and not what you want to do. It was a life goal for me and I achieved it. How many can honestly say they have always wanted to play for a living? My point, it's not something most blokes ever wanted in the first place. Blue

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1472149214' post='3118924'] Yes, when you're playing with a full pro PA, sometimes the stage is the quietest place to be in the room. [/quote] I'm the biggest advocate of low stage volume. However not many guitarists can grasp the concept. Blue

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1472114067' post='3118555'] I agree. I would also extend that particular discussion to cover the big differences in how bands are enjoyed in every country, not just yours and mine. I have an eye on Europe. Germany being one of the time honoured places where work used to be plentiful for small bands. Imagine how it'd be to do some of the beer festivals. [/quote] Agreed, it might be a good productive discussion. Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1472111266' post='3118510'] You constantly tell us you have to gig to survive, we call that living on the bread line in the UK, it stops you having the luxury of being able to walk away from a job you hate until you have another. I know of lots of professional players that have earnt enough money that they have a financial buffer to not need to take any old gig, one is a member here who is on a retainer that gives him enough money for the whole year before he leaves his house (which is paid for) the function gigs, dep gigs and anything else is as you would say in the states, gravy. I'm not criticising your situation, just trying to make you understand there is more than one position you can be in financially, The type of profession is not important either, my wife works in a cafe,some people there will spend this week's wages on food and rent, missing a week will cause them money troubles, my wife could afford to walk out and wait for another job to come in as long as I'm working and still be able to live fairly comfortably. [/quote] We don't call my situation living on the breadline over here in the States. There's no shame in being in a bar band or playing bars. I think people have predisposed notions about bar bands. Number 1, a bar band is not the same as a cover band, number 2 we don't only play bars. We get more than our share of the festival and fair business. Playing for a living is not for everyone. Back on topic, volume will always be an issue for those of us in rock bands,cI doubt anyone of us can escape it by quitting and joining another band. If there are guitars your going to have volume issues. Again, not a good reason to quit a band unless there are other issues. Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1472072602' post='3118335'] Not all musicians live on the breadline playing bar gigs, just like any job you can get to a point where carrying on isn't possible. [/quote] Pete, do you personally know any musicians living on the " breadline" whatever that is, playing bar gigs? I'm interested because I don't. I'm also slowly learning that the playing opportunities in the UK are quite different than in the States. I'm maintaining my position. Volume would not be a reason to quit a band. Bass players are always going to deal with volume issues in rock bands as long as there are still guitar players. No gigs, that would be a reason to quit. Most won't quit their job until they have another. That's the way it is in the States and for many different reasons. Remember most over here get their health insurance through their employer. Oh, by the way, I don't eat bread. And I know several musicians with no work that would love a book of good paying bar band business. I'm not sure bar and pub gigs are the same.Might be a good thread and discussion. Keep in mind there is no negative connotation to bar gigs over here. We have national headliners that play bars over here. We all can't sell out Wembley. Blue

If your not making your living from playing music you can quit anytime for any reason. If playing in any band is your only source of income,you don't quit until you find another band that can pay you at the same level. Blue

I am a big fan of just about any bass that's MIJ. Blue

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1471850628' post='3116248'] Blue, I'm sure you do this to wind us up. I'm sure you permit adjectives over there and theres nothing that prevents you from calling yourself professional musician, or for some of us to consider ourselves amateur musicians. Being paid has nothing to do with it. [/quote] One thing is certain, whether I'm a pro or not, I bring a strict professional and rational attitude to every gig. Blue

A very in demand guy. I think Eric calls on Willies service a lot. Blue

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1471819662' post='3116193'] Yup.....it's a coolest job in the world, when the crowd is up for it and the place is bouncing. [/quote] That was my band Friday Night at Kim's Lake Side. We had that place turned on. It was actually surreal. Like I can't believe I'm a part of what's causing all the excitement. Blue

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1471813432' post='3116128'] In some slightly perverse way, I actually like submitting my yearly accounts to my accountant. I might not earn as much as I did in high-level IT, but when you know your guitar earned every penny that paid all of the bills, fed and watered your family and kept a roof over your head... I feel very, very lucky to be able to call this my career. I hope I can do it for a long time. [/quote] I feel the same. I make a small fraction if what I made when I was doing my traditional 9-5 insurance analyst job. Now I just love it when someone asks me what I do for a living and I say; "I play electric bass guitar and sing in a rock and roll band" Especially when it's some bloke who's intention was to "one up" you with his awesome day job. Blue

Who knows? I don't play any of the newer fancy bass guitars. I play a vintage Hofner Club bass, Gibson ES-335 bass, Gibson Les Paul Gold Top bass, and two MIJ Fender 1950s reissue s. I'm lucky when I can dial in a good sound. My tone comes from my fingers. Blue

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1471686617' post='3115006'] Had my amp fail during the first song at a gig in Swindon a couple of months ago. Took 2 or 3 mins to dig out my DI box and hook it up to the (house) PA. It was less of a disruption to the gig than having the police in during the first set to remove a punter who knocked himself unconscious trying to get on stage with us! My spare bass remained unused at the the side of the stage. [/quote] Dave, I had my amp fail at a smoking hot gig Friday night and I also did the DI thing right into the PA. Not a great sound and I had to give up my pedals, but not disruptive to the gig. Lucky me that our sound tech as able to pull out my amp and switch over to the PA rather quickly. The point here, don't think it won't happen to you. Especially those of us that are out gigging consistently. Blue

Donny Hathaway Live is my favorite album. But keep in mind it's a compilation of at least 2 different shows and there's a ton of editing. I'm not sure "Jealous Guy" is completely live. Blue

For starters drop the were "just" a pub band. Your a pub band and there's nothing demeaning or lower rung about it. Blue

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1471787238' post='3115830'] From your definition then, neither Wes Montgomery, Errol Garner, Buddy Rich or Dave Brubeck would be classed as musicians because they don't read music ? [/quote] Excellent debate point. Blue

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1471747027' post='3115537'] It's a strange one. I do get paid to play bass. But even if I didn't I would consider myself a musician.it's just the way that I think. [/quote] Tough question. I play music in a rock band for a living, but I'm not sure that makes me a musician or a pro. I think when people outside of music business recognize you as a musician or refer to you as a pro at that point your a musician. Blue

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1471367086' post='3112562'] [/quote] Funny as hell.😁 Blue

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1471592667' post='3114182'] Indeed! Takes me quite a bit longer. It would take me longet than 3 mins to find the spare string! Compare and contrast- to unplug the non-functioning bass, take it off, put it down, put on the spare sat on the stage next to me, plug it in - takes around 1 minute. But then I am the sort of chap who has the 'platinum' household insurance policy, I get to airports 3 hrs before my flight is due to take off, I always allow extra driving time whenever I go anywhere etc etc. [/quote] With my dexterity and anxiety it would take me around 20 minutes. I haven't changed a string in 30 years. I take my basses to my guy who checks the intonation and puts on new strings. Blue

I'm not married. However any woman I have dated had no interest in bands or basses. Bkue

Great article and pic Dave. Wish I could be there. Awesome! Blue

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1471542975' post='3113886'] If you're Rush or Pink Floyd maybe you'd have a rack full of guitars and basses. I'm talking the average gigging pro bassist. Try taking a rack of instruments on the tube for instance, most London based musicians travel by tube. Pretty much everyone I play with is pro, they turn up with what they need. Invariably there's not enough room for a rack full of guitars in bars or clubs. [/quote] There's room for my spare locked in the trunk of my car, which is parked in the bars parking lot. Blue

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1471546737' post='3113912'] A bass is a very simple instrument, it won't explode into a million pieces. Any emergency can be sorted with a set of screwdrivers. My pickups are connected, via solderless terminals, to the wiring loom. So no soldering required. In my 35 years of gigging, I've never needed to make a quick change because of a failing/broken bass.[/quote] Yes, a bass is a very simple instrument, not much can go wrong. 50 years of playing, never had a bass fail. I still bring a spare to every gig. Blue

[quote name='lefrash' timestamp='1471541275' post='3113867'] Never take one... Never regretted it. If you snap a string it literally takes 3 minute to replace it. [/quote] I think you mean; "It literally takes me 3 minutes to replace it" Blue

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1471523769' post='3113646'] Ive played at least 1000 gigs and never had anything major go wrong with a bass. I carry tools to repair any electronic issues. What's the worst that could happen? The rest of the band would have to go on without me. Big deal. [/quote] Depends on the gig, for me it would be a "big deal" and unprofessional. Blue