TimR

Just down a bit. Near Colchester.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1355328932' post='1897023'] Some people would rather play their own music for free to a handful of people than a packed out venue bashing out mustang sally, if they did not we would have no new bands to do covers of at functions, not even sex on fire! [/quote] The object of playing gigs is to get exposure for your music to a new audience and grow your fan base. If you just want to play to your mates then stay local and do 3 or 4 gigs a year. It's a lot easier to retain that kind of audience as they don't have to travel and you're not overplaying your set. Learning your trade doing functions or playing covers in a pub band is a good foundation for any musician. It would be better if there was an MC who decided how much longer you play. Start at 20mins and if the audience like it add 10mins at a time. If the audience start to drift then it's everyone off the stage and next band on. I've been played at too many times. If the audience don't like your music, you won't win them over by blasting your music at them and shouting at them. If people don't like your music you need to ask them why and change, there's far too much self indulgent wailing out there. A lot of it on x-factor...

Unless it's a covers band playing well known good music, 2 hours of live music is about all most people can take. Even at festivals there is something else to do or see. If you're doing an outdoor gig and the weather is nice people will sit on the outskirts and talk etc. I think 3 bands each playing 30mins is enough. I've been to gigs to see a friend's band and stayed to watch the next band (who were dire). I would have left and not waited for the last band if I hadn't known the second band were only on for 30mins. However they overstayed their welcome and at 45mins I was ready to leave.

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1355250818' post='1895981'] Anything to stop him doing the enigmatic, philosophical gazing over the horizon shots that he overworks - and was started by Neil Oliver along with striding across wildernesses with a pulling out helicopter shot. Brian Cox was talking about such images recently and said he was asked by a kid once what he was looking for. [/quote] Hopefully his answer was "No idea, ask the director." He's been on proper programs as well though and makes a good presenter for a keyboard player. Brian May comes across as a bit geeky, like one of those musos...

Depends on the drummer. If he is good with eye contact then on the right of him makes him look out to the audience more. I've played with drummers who permanatly look at their hi-hat and you can't get any eye contact. But then they're usually a lost case anyway. I don't mind on a personal level though.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1355073295' post='1893668'] Well this is one of those things that we just don't know. [/quote] Very good RIP - Great Xylophone player.

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1355137405' post='1894420'] So I watched the X-Factor final last night. It wasn't predicatably won by the boy band, or the crooner, or the gospel singer, but by someone who seemed to have an air of credibility about him - James Arthur. For all the poo-pooing of the X-Factor, this year it seems to have been decided on actual talent. Yeah I know some of you think the show is an omen of humankind's pending descent to hell in a handcart... but this year I think it's actually demonstrated that it's not always a format based solely on haircuts and sh1t-eating grins. Could that - dare I say - even be considered a positive contribution to music? A role model for young 'uns to follow? Nah, thought not. Make room in the handcart, will ya, I want to get comfy [/quote] I turned it over to Predators on Saturday night. The sight of a grown man with tattoos sitting in a bedsit crying is not really that entertaining for me. Far be it for me to say that was probably what clinched it for him. I am aware of the irony that I switched over to Predators in search of something more 'entertaining'.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1355067783' post='1893576'] +1, particularly the 'can my mate have a go on your bass?' scenario. (No, feck off out of it). [/quote] What? Even if he used to be in a band who were really good and used to do tours and stuff?

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1354992412' post='1892801'] This is exactly how the end of Capitalism will come about . [/quote] I suspect you are right. I suppose technically I didn't buy it, I was given it.

How odd. I have actually just bought some lettuce. When I got to the cashier there was no bar code, she couldn't find it in her list either and gave it to me for free. Life is weird.

[quote name='Seb_C' timestamp='1354887564' post='1891639'] Hendrix playing bass is always interesting because you can sort of tell it's a guitarist playing bass. Quite busy, not as tight as you would expect from a top class bassist (i.e. someone who was as good at bass as Jimi was at guitar). Spanish Castle Magic is another example of this. [/quote] Yes, that's what was confusing. According to the SOS link above he wasn't happy with the either piano fill or a traditional bass line. The Live Isle of Wight track is just not happening for me.

Cheers guys. I'll stop slaving over trying to cop JImmi's licks then. Just listened to live at Isle of Wight. I'm not that impressed will Billy Cox' line there but it's given me a few ideas.

Just trying to learn this. It's tricky! Hendrix played on the original. I'm not sure what I'm going to end up playing. Here's some gen on the original recording process: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov05/articles/classictracks.htm

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1354748135' post='1890075'] My sister works for Asda, and she said "Whoops" means they have ordered too many and they can't sell them, or aren't selling fast enough. Still, even at 37p, i wouldn't buy it, unless it was a joke. songs for ME nan? songs for [b][i]ME[/i][/b] nan? the poor chap can't even proofread the 4 words on his album cover, what are the chances he can sing? maybe he sings them all in a broad northern English accent? in which case, it would be a joke [/quote] Seriously? That's a very ironic post.

I looked at your FB page too. In my opinion you have too many photos that don't say anything. You need to have a good spring clean so that only your best action shots and group portraits are up. Delete all the old profile and cover photos. Good luck.

Depends what type of gigs you are looking for. Pub gigs? Get a demo and a basic video done, nothing fancy, just video a rehearsal from a tripod. Just needs to demonstrate that you can play. Then go knocking with it on a CD.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1354460220' post='1886148'] ... Barlow has a reasonable voice, so would expect more from him, justabout. ... [/quote] I'm really confused about Barlow. One moment he saying its a singing contest, the next he's saying it's not a singing contest, they're looking for the x-factor. If the judges don't actually know what they're judging on what's the point.

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1354459736' post='1886145'] ... That's why in Britain today, there will be 10 million people wearing their SuperDry outfit in their magnolia homes with the clip framed Athena poster of a hunk with a baby above the mantlepiece, copy of Fifty Shades of Whatever on the Ikea coffee table, watching the X Factor, while eating fried chicken from a bucket, and looking forward spinning their Adele CD afterwards. Doesn't make them 'dumb' or worthy of hubristic criticism does it? [/quote] OI! Have you been peeking through my net curtains! You've missed my tattoos and Mondeo off your list there.

[quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1354457221' post='1886111'] It's a TV programme. It's scripted, edited, acted and produced in the same way as Coronation street, On the buses, or the News at ten. I'm sure they do what they need to in order to stay on the right side of the law as far as people paying to vote is concerned, but it's just an entertainment show for idiots. Do people really think the whole thing was put together in order to discover talent? [/quote] Are you seriously comparing X-factor to that high quality comedy On the Buses. Have you even seen the X-factor? Reg Varney would wipe the floor with most of the contestants. News at 10? Now don't get be started.....

The boy band will get signed. Who wins doesn't count, it's who is in the final two. The only time the public vote counts is after the judges have decided who they want to keep. It gives us an illusion of having a say. Don't forget that in general people only see what they want to believe.

The press aren't interested. They're part of it.

I'm 43, the other guys are 53,60 and 60. They start to visibly tire halfway through the third set, things start to stop flowing, just when we should be ramping it up. I've joined another band of people my age, my commitments and my type of music. Playing tunes from the 60s is OK but you get a certain audience. At the age of 50, I would work out what music inspires you (70s?) and look for a band of guys your age playing it. You'll have a great time, you won't be out every weekend, you'll probably get invited to social events with them. It's a lot more fun than it used to be when no one is on some great fame power ego trip. Not to say you won't get that, but it's easier to manage if you do.

It really depends on why you made the mistake. If it's due to lack of concentration then buck up your ideas. If it's due to lack of practice then practice more. If it's due to leaping around then practice leaping around and playing. If it's due to distractions there's not a lot you can do and still remain connected with the audience.

Started off with Piano and moved to Violin and worked up to grade 3. Then Marimba, Bass guitar and Tuba. These three instruments are really where it's at for me harmonically. I probably could play guitar and obviously I can play Trumpet or any other three valved brass instrument, but they don't feel right. When I listen to a recording I'm always interested in what the Bass and Drum interaction is, before the melody. Maybe its beauty is in its simplicity/compexity. Sometimes just a single note will do, sometimes it needs a strong groove. Someone once wrote on here that their guitarist had played bass on one song and remarked that bass was a lot harder because you can never stop playing during a tune. He was right to a point. Maybe it's just the way we are?

In before the lock.