TimR

Yes. You wouldn't want the roof closed at a gig!! http://www.saracens.com/stadium-roof-closed-for-heineken-cup-final/

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1418846366' post='2634075'] And a modern stadium that will have factored in live sound/gigs being part of its income so would probably have engineered it to a degree. The old Wembley had a crowd 'roar'...which was great for football as the atmosphere was very good, but it was also a dustbin ( which helped achieve the 'roar' ) and the more modern stadiums aren't so closed in...and have less crowd sound. One doesn't compliment the other .. [/quote] That's what I was thinking. I remember they closed the roof for a Rugby final a while back. Don't think it was done because of the weather. Rugby is an all weather sport (except on frozen ground).

You would be surprised how quick it is to learn 30-40 songs when you know that the rest of the band already have them off pat. When I auditioned or my current band they sent me a setlist on the Sunday and said we should meet in two weeks after I had learned 3 or 4 of them. I told them I was free on the Thursday and learned 3/4 of the setlist in 4 days. They were standards and I thought numbers I should have really known anyway. I didn't even know if I would get the position! It depends on who leads the band musically when you play. If the current guitarist is leading the band and the vocalist is taking ques from him it could be hard work.

It's a fairly good place for some knowledgable answers to some obscure questions. There are pro players here who probably don't identify themselves as such. Mostly non-famous ones. There are electrical engineers on the IET forum who discuss complicated electrical problems they have. Not all professional bass players are obsessed with gear. I've met a few that have no interest in their amplification other than it is loud enough for them to hear themselves clearly. So it's a goo place to come and ask is X worth the money etc.

[quote name='spacey' timestamp='1418831483' post='2633822'] Everyone takes parts of the PA, everyone turns up at a set time, everyone sets up and has a job assigned to do, everyone packs up and nobody goes home until everything is packed away back in cars. Then we share the pot equally. Works perfectly. [/quote] Until someone leaves... Our band worked perfectly until we started changing members. Eventually there were only two original members. Finding people is hard enough without setting out what everyone does. In one band I played the singer was a liability. Good singer but you didn't want them carrying anything or spending anymore time at the bar before we played than necessary. And I don't want to be storing someone else's PA at my house thanks. .

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1418830697' post='2633809'] "pro" is an almost entirely meaningless phrase/word. The only definition that really makes sense is "someone who gets paid" although "Having a professional attitude" often seems to get shortened to "pro". I think lots of musicians are under the impression that there's some kind of mythical set of rules or skills that separate the "pro" from everyone else, but reality doesn't really work like that. [/quote] Indeed. We're all just making it up as we go along. Some just look like they know what they're doing.

We did have silly arguments about getting paid extra for setting up PA or for dealing with the client. Two big things that should get acknowledgement and some recompense. But then it got silly with sax player turning up 5mins before start and leaving as soon as the gig finished (and using a music stand) getting the same as drummer who had to be there 45mins before and was still there 45mins afterwards. And someone wanted extra for rearranging setlists and printing them out... All got very silly.

A friend of mine plays trumpet in a well known big band. Their rates are pretty much set. They get travelling expenses, overnight accommodation, travel pay etc. This is why each gig can command a similar price for the band but the manager can then use the extra that he doesn't divide up to pay the extras on other gigs. ie some gigs are less profitable than others. Some may even make a loss. I tried to do this with our function band but the players where having none of it. I was suggesting £100 a gig each whether the band was getting paid £500 or £1500. But then they wouldn't agree to play the £500 gigs for £70 each and moaned when we weren't getting gigs. Musicians and business. Never mix. That's why there are so many agents about. Lol.

It depends on what people are doing. If loads are up dancing then no, no gaps, straight into next tune. If people are watching then yes, gaps for people in the audience to say a couple of words to each other is fine. Rest their ears for a few seconds. For the singer to engage a bit with the audience. You can't keep blasting your tunes at people. It's not a one size fits all thing.

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1418783636' post='2633379'] Under pressure to sign ... [/quote] That's the sticking point. A fairly important point as well. Most consumer contracts have a 14 day cooling off period. Ok, this is a contract between two professionals. I would expect both parties to act proffesionally about it.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1418775352' post='2633357'] I haven't read all of the reply's so sorry if this is redundant. I know some of you guys say,[i] " Oh, it's too smooth and polished for me "[/i]. Well I would bet there are some $100.00 a man bar band guys like me that would like a shot at this type of opportunity. You know, see how the other side lives, make some real money with better hours and working conditions. And were willing to play the game. Am I right? Thing is if your not networked, how do you get a chance at this type of opportunity.I would love the challenge. The function bands over here rarely announce openings to the public. Then for some of us, we have to expect that [i]"look"[/i] and age will come into play here. Much more than in the bar band world. Blue [/quote] [quote name='blue' timestamp='1418775352' post='2633357'] I haven't read all of the reply's so sorry if this is redundant. I know some of you guys say,[i] " Oh, it's too smooth and polished for me "[/i]. Well I would bet there are some $100.00 a man bar band guys like me that would like a shot at this type of opportunity. You know, see how the other side lives, make some real money with better hours and working conditions. And were willing to play the game. Am I right? ... [/quote] I'll try to clarify my comments. I suspect that bands like this rehearse a show. There's probably not a lot of shuffling the songs around, even the patter between songs will be rehearsed and the same each gig. You're effectively getting a West End (Broadway) show at your venue. There will be lighting cues and keyboard triggers and samples and some click track sequenced parts. You must have second call players. If the bass players granny dies you can't cancel a £10k gig. Maybe not in this particular band but in many others you have musicians who are playing Bob Marley reggae one minute and then Guns and Roses the next. Very few players can transcend styles convincingly. Most session musicians specialise. These bands are the next level up from function band.

I would go for attitude. Behaving in a professional manner. You might not be able to play blistering runs, but how often do you need to? A long as you know when and when not to use a stand. And how to put the thing up without taking the singer's eye out. .

There's loads in off topic that have run for decades...

No roof.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1418758850' post='2633064'] I wish I had a 5 week contract to play. Blue [/quote] PM AndyBob I believe he may have an opening somewhere.

Brings to mind images of the Circus Lion Tamer. Bass held whip like behind you as you use the music stand to fend off crazed drunks screaming "Dakota".

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1418744741' post='2632893'] Does the piano player need two pianos? [/quote] That's clearly two too many.

It's all about marketing and deciding what kind of people you want to your gig. Is Simon Cowell marketing X-Factor to as many people as possible and creating a bland content or is he targeting a certain market? Are middle aged bass players part of his target audience. What do we actually lose if someone walks out of a gig because we're using music stands? Who knows? Maybe ten other people stay because we are? Who do we want at our gigs? We're marketing to people who will jump about and drink loads of beer. Not to some muso nursing his one pint of real ale who comments on the bass player because he's not playing the exact line as played on the single even though he has the music in front of him. .

Out of the 20 of us who've contributed so far only 7 play Dakota. That's about 30%. We play less than 20% of the songs listed there. And Mustang Sally, the one song every says every band plays isn't even on the list. I'm wondering how true it is that "Every band plays the same old songs." It certainly isn't true here.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1418742155' post='2632863'] ... I found it all a little bit too [i]straight[/i]... the smart-dress/suit/get the audience going with fake bonhomie and patter, etc became a bit wearing... hard to explain, ... [/quote] Anyone who has done it understands.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1418741100' post='2632851'] Let's think outside the box and do a Venn diagram. [/quote] Venn diagram. We can add in if you use a spare bass to it as well.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1418740595' post='2632842'] just wondering what everybody's reaction would be if an agent changed his mind about a series of gigs after the contracts had been signed [/quote] Depends how far down the line you've gone with it. We're talking about overnight. The agent has probably gone home and waited until he had the signed contract. Or should have.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1418731001' post='2632704'] One page about stands and eight pages of "no, it isn't" and "yes, it is". Just the usual. [/quote] It's a bit strange. No one seems to be interacting. Just giving their opinions. It's fairly typical of internet where one person imagines a certain scenario and then expects everyone to fit. I imagine most of us wouldn't use music stands or music to play a gig if we were confident with the music. Who uses charts for Mustang Sally? So from there on in it's up to the individual band leader to decide what he wants the band to look like on stage. We could just as easily be talking about blue jeans and trainers in a club. If the club owner wants the club to have a certain feel that his perogative. It's not up to the individual unless the band leader says so. As long as there's no arguments who really cares, there are a million and one reasons why people leave bars while the band is playing. Personally, as I said before, I like to make eye contact with the audience. I can't do this if I'm reading music or fretboard gazing. It's part of stagecraft. You are playing the part of a bass player. If the part requires a stage prop of a music stand then you use one. I've played gigs where we all had black music stands with the band name on it because that's the image the band leader wanted. I had no music on it though! Until this thread, no one has ever told me they left because we were using music stands. Maybe we should have a friend of the band doing exit polls of the audience to find out why they left early.

He recieved your confirmation at close of business? You don't know he's actually seen it? He may open both emails when he gets into the office today. If he's a decent agent he'll just accept what you've done as an error and offer you the Jan work. If he gets nasty, just remember, you're better off not working for idiots. Be polite and say no but you're still available in the new year. Turn down or accept that work as you feel fit, if and when it appears. Always talk to people and never wind yourself up about what they might say or do until they say or do something. Stress is mostly imagined.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1418717516' post='2632526'] I don't think they want those numbers from pub bands...that is just what they get because bands can be lazy and give the set no thought. Of course, there is a point of diminshing returns as pubs pay poor money.so players go after better gigs, ..but that doesn't mean at all, that function bands are always better as I know plenty- well, more than a few that wouldn't/couldn't get work elsewhere- it just means that a poor band is a poor band anywhere. And bands that take the easy way with 'classic' sets probably have no other cards to play anyway. I am always 'amazed'...well, again, not really, that bands don't put any effort in, go for the lowest common denominator set list and then still wonder why no one notices them... They are the bands that people should walk out on.... But it is funny... and I do take note of this... certain bands do ok in some towns and bomb in others and the main reason for that is the set... but bands that have more about them than just the set, get by most places, IME. [/quote] Judging from results so far in the BassChat ultimate top 40. We're not all actually playing the same songs. That's quite an outdated view. In fact we can only, so far, agree on 23 songs .