Bluewine

That can be entertaining, but, keep in mind walking out into a crowd , standing on tables is a skill. You really have to be good at it and know what your doing. If you don't the audience will sense it and cringe. Blue

Agreed, and you really have to be comfortable doing it. The audience knows if your sincere or faking it. Blue

I'm blessed, I've dealt with depression and for me it was all work related. When I left the traditional workforce and retired instantaneously my depression was gone and out of my life. Motivation, you mentioned no motivation to practice. My question is what are you practicing for? That's usually at the core of motivation. Gigs motivate me to practice or even wanting to impress a bass teacher with a great lesson might be a source of motivation. Depression is awful, I hope it leaves the OPs life soon. Blue

I remember going to see headliner Doyle Bramhall III at Shank Hall (small club/ bar). Great guitarist and song writer ,however he had absolutely no stage prencence or real connection with the crowd. It was all about his guitar playing. And as I said earlier these days that only gets you so far. His opening act was a young husband and wife team and they had their stage appeal stuff together. Very entertaining. Blue

I do think, and I'm not sure why, you guys from the UK are more natural showman then we are here in the States. Blue

For me, the last 7 years have been the first time in many years of gigging to have a front parson that's a natural. First of all she's a young female with not only a beautiful voice she plays soulful blistering leads reminiscent of the early 70 hard rock and blues genre. Were very fortunate to have a 60 plus following. Webring back a lot of memories for these folks. We have had instances where people will come up close to the band and sit on the floor to listen and watch, like the "old days". Our BL comes off sincere, she has a great sense of humor, and she can take control of the audience. They love her. While we have our short comings her stage prencence more than over compensates for them. Blue

Agreed, and great point. Looking like a band , 4 people on stage coming off like they know each other and having fun goes a long way. Blue

I'm awful on stage, my best move is " no move". Blue

I'm a fan. Blue

I don't think we're that far apart. Blue

I always liked the idea, concept, and time of The Bay City Rollers. I liked the sound too. I think I look at the value of a gimmick, hype and the non- musical feature a lot different than I did back in the 70s. Blue

Not a new topic, but worth revisiting. I'd like to keep the discussion at the working bar/ pub band level. Original or Cover shouldn't matter. Used to be ( back in the early 70s) bands were judged primarily on musianship. If you weren't around then, even at the bar level crowds would come out to actually listen ( not necessarily to dance) to bands. If you had a bunch of guys that had something going on, great musianship,& material, you didn't need much more than that to draw a crowd and stay booked. But now it's different, even at the bar/ pub level personality and likability factor comes into play, IMO. In my neck of the woods the days of 3-4 guys with great chops no longer gets you very far. So we're do you stand on personality and fronting skills. Do you want to be with the guys with great musianship but poor stage appeal or the band that has a great sincere personality and energy but only ok with musicianship. It's a hard call for me. This discussion could go anywhere or nowhere.

Well , I can't debate the one. However, we have a 4 hour bar band busines culture and I understand your Pub business is more like 2 hours. Blue

My comment was directed at cultural differences nationally and internationally for bar bands not compression. Blue

I recently removed my EBS Multi-Comp from my chain. Never really understood how it worked or what it was suppose to be doing. If I can't hear a difference it's worthless to me. Blue

Lot's of varibles, even in the States. What we do and what happens in our Midwest for bar bands can be different on the east and west coat. For me and other Seniors still gigging so many things have changed, attitudes, what motivates musicians, disipline the list goes on. The main thing that bugs me are those that don't see the value in learning to play material correctly. If you want to switch things up and add your own spin after you know a song that's fine. But starting out derrière backwards is not my disipline. Blue

I realize I'm a Yankee. But how can anyone not want money? I can't imagine myself after stainding on my feet performing for 4 hours and after tearing down and packing lights and sound at 2:00 AM saying; " Oh no, that's ok I don't want any money. I do this completely for free" Blue

I can only speak for my little region around Milwaukee. Originals bands unless they're famous or known to some extent passing through town don't get paid. Blue

Lot's of varibles, even in the States. What we do and what happens in our Midwest for bar bands can be different on the east and west coat. For me and other Seniors still gigging so many things have changed, attitudes, what motivates musicians, disipline the list goes on. The main thing that bugs me are those that don't see the value in learning to play material correctly. If you want to switch things up and add your own spin after you know a song that's fine. But starting out derrière backwards is not my disipline. Blue

Yeah, becareful. Some folks here go insane over Beatle issues. Blue

I haven't read all the comments. Wow, technology has come so far. That pre-amp looks like an auxiliary power booster from a 1950s space movie. You know, I've listened to some isolated Motown bass tracks from back in the day. The playing was awesome but sound ( not tone) was questionable. Blue

Did Anyone Notice or Comment When You Switched Your Compressor Off? The proper question would be, "Did Anyone Notice or Comment When You Switched Your Bass Off?" Blue

Agreed, amateur is the way I'd decribe these guys. More than likely guys that haven't paid their dues and don't know how innapropiate and poor their communication was. I'd say this happens a lot, bands only care about solving their issue and others involved don't matter. I would bet there are guys here that have learned material, auditioned for bands never to hear word one back from the band. Blue

These guys seem imature. If you don't need the money, I'd diplomatically decline the gigs you have committed to and explain why. Blue

True, playing along with groove tracks can't hurt. My point, I wish I had a proper vehicle to employ what I've learned. Like discreet mentions, say you bulild up your chops and playing in tempo and then the drummer you play with struggles with tempo. 😢 Blue