TimR

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1417355157' post='2619438'] The last two bands I've joined have set out to do something different, you get two songs in and "do you do any kings of leon, sweet home alabama, sweet child?" etc , I suppose you have to give them what they want? [/quote] Quite. You're being paid for providing a service. If you don't provide that service what happens? Surely it's about a balance. You play a few obscure songs that a few of the audience like and you play a few of the big numbers. Someone said 3:1 was the ideal ratio of well known to obscure. We've been stripping out a lot of the obscure numbers from our set because we can see the audience losing interest. Reading your audience is a very important skill. I've always been against writing a setlist, turning up and playing it. Unless you have played the pub lots of times and already know the audience you will get. I'm much more of the turn up, look at your audience and then tailor your setlist to suit. Doesn't need a full rewrite just a tinker. Might even just be shuffling some songs from first set to second or vice versa.

Oh no. That can only mean one thing... Guitarists switching to bass. God help us.

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1417346299' post='2619289'] ... My friend said, "I bet there's some songs that we all play and they're sick of hearing". ... [/quote] I would argue he is wrong. People go to interact with a live band. They like to hear songs they know and if they can sing along or play air guitar to the solo all the better. Your setlist will never exactly match the band the week before or the week after. There's bound to be some crossover but I'd bet that if we all put our setlists up there wouldn't be that same one song that we all play. It's just the musicians who get fed up with playing the same setlist because we're playing it week in week out. It's the same argument I have with our band when choosing new tunes. "Every band plays that one..."

Depends on so many things. The further away from the source the mic is, the less bass it will pick up. Also the more spill it will pick up. If the bass drum isn't tuned and damped properly you'll pick up loads of resonance by sticking the mic into the drum. Ideally the kick drum needs to be properly tuned first. Doesn't matter where you put the mic if the drum sounds rubbish the amplified sound will be rubbish. Quite often once the kick drum is tuned properly it won't actually need micing up.

At NAMM this year. http://youtu.be/4OfXCN_qBFU

What's your favourite colour baby? That's a blast from the past.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1417246322' post='2618479'] Maybe that's what they like to do? [/quote] I think the point is if you want to be out earning money from gigging you can't be too choosy about the songs you play. .

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1417127726' post='2617433'] I think where the majority of us are coming from is that the bass didn`t use to suffer in the live mix, it seems a recent thing. Given the progress in technology and equipment, shouldn`t it be getting better, irrespective of awkward rooms and stages? [/quote] It may be a fashion thing and it also may be that the systems we use at home are getting better. In the 80s CDs were only just emerging and HiFi was a big thing. It might also be a power thing in that we just didn't have the power and technology available for that bottom end. Listen to a 70s record and then listen to a remastered version. There is so much more bass added. Add huge average volume available due to digital sound compression techniques. Not always good. It's a live version of the loudness wars.

Learning the placement and right EQ to use as well as drum tuning are essential. Especially as you're abound to pick up huge amounts of spill from the bass guitar if you're not careful. I used a super cheapo mic from Studiospares. It's a sure D112 copy. Only £30 and good enough to learn with and experiment before splashing out hundreds and deciding it's not worth the effort. https://www.studiospares.com/Microphones/Mics-Instrument/Studiospares-SD101-Drum-Percussion-Mic_448660.htm

I think you're trying to create an impression of some kind.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1417120642' post='2617319'] The promoter in Europe will provide an evening meal, accomodation and breakfast so it is basically eating during the day on the way to the next gig. So depending what you must eat, $20/15eu seems ok on that basis. As for verty little else to spend your money on..??? ,there are always ...er hookers as every European town will have a red light district and if you don't know the town and you want to go where there are always people, then you gravitate towards the red light district. It would help if you left your money back at the hotel.... but strangely this 'rule' goes out the window pretty quickly, for some people. [/quote] We stuck to beer and strippers. But even strippers get boring after a while. 😳

If you read it fully, he lost his house when one tour collapsed.

Although none of it is guaranteed at the start!

That's a fair amount of wages there for 4weeks work. Consider they have no personal travel to pay over that time, no accommodation, the Best Western hotel will include a huge breakfast then they have another $20 a day for food on top. That's another $480 (after tax). When I worked away from 'home' I always came back with pockets full of money. I was able to give my UK landlords enough notice that I was moving out so I actually had no 'home' in the uk so no outgoings. When you're on the road there is very little to spend money on. It's a strange existence, not recommended for huge amounts of time. Especially if you have a family. Most of the guys I knew who had been doing it for a long time were alcoholics on their second or third marriages. I guess the point is they're not making millions but reduce the gig schedule to 4-5 days a week and lengthen the your to 9 months and that's a decent wage.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1417086806' post='2616888'] Shawshank redemption is all I'm saying about the shoe thing, if you have seen it you will get it, if you haven't why haven't you?! [/quote] That whole shoe thing is very deep and clever.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1417083139' post='2616843'] Of course you need to take into account the gig but if you are doing a posh date in LOndon for good money, then you make sure you wear proper shoes... even if you have to change into them. Shoes tell you a lot ... [/quote] They do and they don't. On my random sample of two ladies. One said she looks at shoes and if they're polished well you know the guy has a bit of pride in his appearance. The other one said no one looks at men's shoes. It's all about knowing your audience or even potential audience. For every punter who tells you you're a bit overdressed for a pub gig there'll be another one commenting on how smart you look compared to the regular bands who've not made an effort. Which of these groups, if any, you are trying to impress depends on you. If it's a posh gig and you dress as Blur then you don't turn up as Blur, you get changed into Blur costumes back stage, you do the gig, then you change out afterwards. Push hotels in the West End are slightly different because they have separate entrances for staff and it's unlikely you'll ever be front of house. .

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1417034022' post='2616515'] And unless you are in a fucntion band and can't come up with anything better, don't ALL wear black or black trousers with a white shirt unless you want to be getting the drinks all night. Our brief for a function is smart casual with a fitted shirt, we've not needed to say anymore than that.. Oh and FFS..no trainers. [/quote] This was the main theme of the many long discussion nights we used to have. I eventually managed to convince them that was the way forward. We never looked back. Individual, smart, casual, uniform. Simple.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1417033144' post='2616496'] Respectfully disagree, the baggy T Shirt band happens to be a very good classic rock band and I would say that look is unacceptable. I'd never play with a local band with that look. The second pic with T Shirts that fit, well were a blues / rock band and I'd say we far from great when it comes what we wear. Also, at 61, I'm lucky that I can still wear fitted T-Shirts. Blue [/quote] It has nothing to do with luck. I find it disappointing when people use being over 50 an excuse for being out of shape.

[quote name='M@23' timestamp='1417027416' post='2616365'] This is pretty much all there is to it, right?! Or am I missing something? [/quote] Yes. Why isn't it important to them? As outlined in most of the posts it's fairly important to the audience.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1417025068' post='2616322'] [size=4][/size] [size=4]"[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I give you prog rock, disco, 2tone, punk, new romanticism, goth, rave, heavy metal, hip hop etc etc etc etc. All styles that have emerged since the sixties and all with a strong visual image."[/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]These are not stereotypes..?[/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I was suggesting that the fixation about appearance (Can't judge a book by its cover etc...) was debunked in the '60s or so; not only in music but in real life, too. One no longer had to conform to a clean-cut image, one could be oneself.[/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]If you say bands need an image, it must be true. An image of being ordinary has suited me for over 40 years. Not very exciting; just ordinary. It's an image as good as any other, isn't it..?[/font][/color][/size] [/quote] How ironic.

One thing to be aware of is that many people don't have much imagination. If you are doing pub gigs people will see you and base their descision whether to ask you to do their wedding or big party a lot on how you look, perform, behave and sound. Can get pick you up and put you down into their function. They often don't have the ability, to imagine you in vastly different clothing. Play in scruffy trainers, tshirt and jeans and you won't bet asked. Play in a shirt and they might be able to make that leap.

If you look shapeless, wearing a shapeless t-shirt won't make it any better. You have to add some interest. At least iron it.

Comparing the two photos it's fairly clear to see what the difference is. In the first picture the guys are wearing shapeless tshirts with no logos and nothing to break up the image. The band disappears into the background. In Blue's band they're still wearing tshirts but they have slogans/images on, they're lighter colours and Blue and fellow musician have accessorised with jewelry. It's more about thinking what kind of image are you trying to portray and have you made an effort to portray that image. Then getting some feedback as to whether you achieved that. Looking at photos etc. Above all you have to be open to critisicm of your chosen look. I've been in bands where we've spent ages discussing what to wear. I've found that if you have to discuss it, generally it's not going to work. The best looks are where one band member makes a descision and you all go off and wear something based on that theme. Some people will then need a bit of guidance to achieve that theme but in general if someone has thought about what to wear, maybe gone out and bought something, and doesn't just turn up in what he's been wandering about in all day, it's a start.

[quote name='HengistPod' timestamp='1417006740' post='2615966'] ... Perhaps they all die in freak accidents on the way to that first rehearsal. [/quote] Or on their way home from the previous one.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1416964817' post='2615645'] ... You would think that guy would have a wife, girlfriend that would say, ... [/quote] There's the answer right there.