SpondonBassed

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1485513033' post='3224460'] Hey, go for it! I didn't play a note until 55 went through the feeling foolish stage and within a year was playing with a band and paid gigs a year after that. Nearly ten years on I've been terrorising audiences all over the South West for seven years. Still feel as if someone is going to tap me on the shoulder and say 'come on you don't really know how to play that thing' but until they do.... [/quote] [quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1485528319' post='3224674'] It takes time to find people - I had several weeks where I couldnt find anyone as everyone seem to be in a clique already, or that I had no confidence to do a solo spot (I feel bass IS an ensemble instrument), once people noted how bass filled out a performance (I really enjoyed upstaging those weedy solo acoustics), and once performers got a better response, it was easier to find people to play along with. Be patient is my advice, leave your bass out in sight of all and someone will invite you.Me? I absolutely loved watching people clapping or tapping or even just nodding. Lots of people told me bass made a nice change to hear. [/quote] Cheers chaps. The experience reflects what you have each said. I've been asked to go along to help set up at lunch time for next Thursday's Open Mic where we'll get to run through some stuff. I've also got a promise of some opportunities to practice outside of that. The goal was to play with a fellow living being and break out of endless, soulless play alongs. Score. Quiet though the night was also was it productive. All in all I'm happy with the results. Not bad for the first night eh?

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1485519076' post='3224542'] If you want to check out our FB page [url="https://www.facebook.com/PaulandWendyWarning77/"]https://www.facebook...WendyWarning77/[/url] there's 3 videos of us 'performing' at open mics, if it's your thing we could perhaps have a go at meeting up at an open mic, no Thin Lizzy I'm afraid [/quote] Cheers. I have issues with Facebook scripts and can't watch them in real time due to my script blocker. Have you a download site that does not pester please?

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1485513059' post='3224461'] If this is your bag, I can recommend the open mic at Matlock Bath, which isn't far away I guess. I can't remember the name of the pub, but it's billed as an evening with Molly May - she organises it and sometimes plays. We did it as a band (they don't usually do bands though) just after new year and there was even a good/friendly crowd even then. Good sound guy too. I was pretty surprised by the turnout. [/quote] I have a friend who sometimes plays there with Agent Utah. Cheers. It's now on my list. The Fishpond http://www.thefishpondmatlockbath.co.uk/?event=a-night-with-mm-60

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1485511001' post='3224426'] This exactly - I play a semi-regular rock acoustic night with a guitarist and people have often commented favourably. I'm regularly stunned by people's low expectations...if it sounds vaguely like something they know then it's usually well received. Phil & I have often commented how good it *could* be if we actually rehearsed some of the tracks together! [/quote] I have Dancing in the Moonlight under my belt, so to speak. Lizzy and Phil were heroes of mine. I may do more as things unfold. I'm chuffed to see you have a tribute band. I looked you up and I will check you out soon seeing as you're often playing quite near according to your 2017 diary. Keep up the good work!

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1485506766' post='3224393'] I usually pick something on the night with my acoustic guitarist chum and we rough it out in the corridor then wing it. [/quote] I had hoped to do that but as I said, despite turning up well before the official 9pm start, the organiser was already on stage doing his thing and there was no-one else to do ensemble with. I am given to understand that last night is not typical of the venue. Being a weekly open mic and being in Derby, it has good catchment and I reckon it is worth sticking with for this phase of my development.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1485506217' post='3224391'] you are a braver man than me, I'm way out of my comfort zone playing stuff on the fly, or 'winging it' they never seem to play songs that I know (how to play, that is), at these sort of Jam sessions the same songs do seem to crop up a lot [/quote] Yes. It isn't something I'm comfortable with yet. I would have loved to have played some of the songs that I've practised as play alongs, just to bring them to life. Out of my list of 21 songs, none of them were familiar enough to the singer/guitarist for him to feel comfortable so I tried to brace his songs as best I could with very rudimentary lines. Lots of bum notes, odd moments of blind panic, that sort of thing. The "audience" was a party of three women; two were celebrating their friend's 72nd birthday with shots! At one point the old girl was doing the Can-can from her seat. I am so grateful that she wasn't facing the stage. For me the "discomfort", for want of a better word, is exactly why I'm doing it. At 54, if I don't take my axe out the bedroom now, I ain't never gonna get no wood chopped.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1485503756' post='3224375'] I'm planning a weekend of open mics with an old university mate starting tonight. Think we might be mixing Cake by the Ocean with Donovan's Intergalactive Laxative that'll surprise them. Not a pretty image [/quote] Is that the one with a long drawn out brown note solo? Hahahahaha. Funny enough we jammed Mellow Yellow last night. I have to say I wasn't quite in the zone to do it justice but once requested, always remembered. I am glad you mentioned the opportunities for meeting other musos. I prefer it that way than using social media.

Cheers chaps. It was a quiet night. Only a handful of people there. January bites. Although I had my own kit with me and I had turned up before time, the music had started early and so I didn't feel it wise to set up while the stage was occupied. I got called up to play the "house" bass. It was a Fender P of some description or other and I didn't really have any affinity with it. I stood and played for a bit with the singer-guitarist organiser but we didn't have any common ground on song titles. No matter. The twelve bar blues served well enough. Chatting afterwards we've arranged a few numbers to have in hand for the next time there is a quiet night. It's a weekly thing so in fairness I should attend for at least a few weeks to get an idea of what the "busy" nights are like. More to come. Give it a week or two maybe.

[quote name='40hz' timestamp='1485260146' post='3222522'] 35-95 Elites Stainless Steel. [/quote] Are you bassist for the Jesus and Mary Chain? Crikey, they must sound really toppy.

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1485424060' post='3223817'] No mention of Play That Funky Music yet? [/quote] http://basschat.co.uk/topic/299193-crowd-pleasers-the-perfect-set-list-from-a-punters-point-of-view/page__view__findpost__p__3223499 So good it needs repeating. Dead easy too. I might nick that for my repertoire.

I'm going along to tonight's open mic night at the Horse and Groom in Derby. [url="http://horseandgroomderby.co.uk/"]http://horseandgroomderby.co.uk/[/url] I'm bringing bass and combo and hoping that I can get something going with the regulars. If you come along, please say hello, heckle, throw fruit or whatever. I'm the one with the Buster Merryfield beard. [attachment=236657:BusterMerryfield.png] Not me - I never earned a medal in my life! Gawd help me.

[quote name='Harryburke14' timestamp='1485415337' post='3223725'] [/quote] Speechless with embarrassment?

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1485383538' post='3223659'] My point was, it seemed like the promoter was up to some "funny business" and wasn't going to pay Gene what he signed on for. Blue [/quote] The guinea was used to confuse the simple minded and foreigners alike back in our dark days as a nation of Jimmy Savile idolisers. It was an instant five percent mark up for the Arthur Dalys of the time - there being 21 shillings in the guinea to 20 in the pound. Many thought that "guinea" was quaint english slang for the pound. I get the impression that there was more to the alleged rip off though. [attachment=236656:Arfur.png]

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1485373311' post='3223503'] So it's over to you youngsters - please remember that bass is a rhythm instrument which should only have 4 (FOUR) strings and should be played accordingly on the bottom 9 (NINE) frets only Don't hide in your bedrooms playing with yourselves. Join a band and get out there and play gigs, lay down the groove with the drummer, entertain people and have some fun. Best wishes to the lot of you! Jazzneck. [/quote] Cheers! I hope you are going to stick around on the forum. Even if you don't I wish you all the best. Good idea that - slide guitar.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1485353338' post='3223323'] 1 Pound = $1.258. How the hell did that happen? [/quote] I know. I think someone spotted that Great Britain just isn't that great these days.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1485312420' post='3223062'] Educate me, pounds, quids? [/quote] 1 Pound (sterling) = 1 Quid 1 Pound plus one Shilling (£sd) = 1 Guinea 1 Pound (£sd) = 60 Groats

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1485342011' post='3223217'] The Queen song? Cracking choice! [/quote] Thanks. It's what made me dust off my fretless.

I've not played to a crowd since 1987. I picked up the bass again four years ago. I haven't got my band off the ground yet so please feel free to criticise these. I am about to test the water, so to speak, at a local open mic night. As a non singing (apart from backing noises) bassist, I hope someone will step up with me to supply guitar and vox and if I'm lucky, drums to some of these; Rock the Kasbah I Fought the Law I Shot the Sheriff Good Times Le Freak Dancing in the Moonlight It's the Same Old Song Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now Heatwave Queen Bitch Superstition I wish All my Loving Day Tripper Lady Madonna Michelle The Letter '39 Low Rider Roxanne Walking on the Moon Thanks T-Bay for this topic. It's come at exactly the right time to help me refine my ideas. There are others but they are more to expand my repertoire than for public consumption.

[quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1485249261' post='3222375'] I'm probably going to regret asking, but Mr Pratt seems to be a 'marmite' character on this forum, what has he done to deserve that? He seems a pretty normal well rounded type of guy? [/quote] Don't go there. Long before I'd even heard of Basschat and its predecessors I believe his enjoyment of the forum was ruined somehow. Not sure of the circumstances but words were had and he left (I think). I like the bloke's public persona from the bit I've seen and I'd be happy to buy him a drink or at least offer him a handshake if I ever met him.

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1485214873' post='3222279'] Anecdotes about one's offspring's approval of the Zep are (genuinely) rather lovely but does it [i]ever[/i] cross our failing and enfeebled minds that our progeny might charitably be indulging us in the mistaken belief that the [i]apparently[/i] continuing eminence of our long-dead favourite band means we are still relevant? That such a kindly deception is meant to ease our eventual and inevitable passage into that land of ice and snow and the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow? [/quote] Iceland is the afterlife?

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1485209806' post='3222228'] 45 - 105. These seem to be the "regular" gauge so I`ve figured that if I get caught short it will be easier to [s]get hold of[/s] [i]mooch[/i] a set of regular gauge than others. I used to use Rotosound 50 - 110s and so few places stocked them this was my reasoning for going regular. [/quote] Fixed. Heeheehee.

Chap I know bought a TNT80 combo out the local paper for £80 last year. He loved it. Mind you he also bought a bass for around the same.

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1485204227' post='3222129'] Good grief, I hope they came with Handles like this (and free cheese). [/quote] I know.

We could do with a little lecture on String Theory from Dr Brian Cox right about now. Newtone; 45, 65, 85, 105, 125 rounds. I have some 45 to 130 Picato flats coming soon (Thanks Hubrad). Double ball ends can make some strings hard to get. Glad I ain't fussy. Just checked on some spares I have for my Hohner; Round superwound Funkmaster 606s - 30, 50, 70, 90. I used to be a right slapper you see.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1485177708' post='3221761'] I'm thinking the kids in Milwaukee are different to the ones here? Bands like Sabbath and maiden are still a big deal here to younger fans, concerts like Download Festival are mainly frequented by younger folks afaik. [/quote] Um... Have you never seen Happy Days then?