Franticsmurf

Just spotted the comment. Just to let you know the pedal and I are still together despite it being a cheesey Valentine's Day thing. 😍 I'm completely out now - as detailed above - as I've had an ongoing affair with an Ibanez 5er. The pedal is happy with our relationship. 🤣

60th birthday party for the sound engineers wife last night, and the Hulla band were asked to play a short acoustic set in the marquee in the garden. Sacrifices were made to the rain and wind gods and it was dry and warm. We played without drums and after a trial run the week before it was obvious that my acoustic bass couldn't cut through in the mix so I went with my Ibanez AGBV200 through a little Vox practice amp. As the MC was our sound man, the mix was good. It was meant to be a surprise so the instruments were hidden away in vans, behind hedges etc until we all gathered in the tent, much to the delight of the birthday girl. We did about 30 minutes and had everyone (around 50 or so) up and dancing from the start. One of the reasons I love playing with this band is that we always enjoy the gigs, and the kinds of audiences we play to are there to enjoy as well, so we rarely get the drunken idiots mentioned elsewhere in this thread. (I've experience them in other bands and 100% sympathise with you). No photos have emerged yet, probably because the party went on way after we'd finished. 😀 Footwear - black Skechers lace-ups. Here's one I took of my kit.

First run through last night for a side project that supports the Hulla band at their festival every year. It's a subset of the main band and we only play the one gig each year. The rehearsals are usually few and far between as everyone has other things they are doing, but its worked out well in the end each time we've done the gig. Last night was meant to be just a chance to go through some of the songs, see what's working and what isn't, settle in our newest member on sax and set the scene for the rehearsals to come. We warmed up with some songs from last year's set and then, completely unplanned, decided to give 'Baker Street' a go. It was on the 'possibles' list but we were going to leave it for a separate session as none of us have played it before. The sax player was quite nervous about doing it but it's a fun, relaxed atmosphere so we went ahead. And after one dodgy start we played a pretty good version all the way through until we realised we didn't know how to end it. 😀 The drummer has a purpose built soundproofed rehearsal space in his garden as he's quite busy with several big bands and depping work. It's just big enough for 5 people to squeeze in. I used my BAM200 into his 1x15 cab and my Ibanez EHB1000s to save hitting people with my headstock.

It's certainly not 'worthless information' and as someone who has owned an acoustic bass for 5 years, I am not 'clueless' about it. I may have a different opinion and experience of them than others here but that's ok. I chose to share my experience so that others could make an informed decision.

So sad. RIP Sam.

My acoustic bass is always amplified when we do 'acoustic' sessions. I tried it unamplified last week (playing with 2 acoustic guitars and four ukeleles) in advance of an acoustic gig on Saturday and not only could I not hear it but no one else could either. I am now using my hollow body Ibanez which sounds better amplified. I don't think I'll be using the acoustic again unless it's for show.

This is the mistress of my downfall. I needed a 5. I got a 5. An Ibanez GSR205 relic-ed by the previous owner more through neglect than intent but not so you'd notice (a screw forced into a bolt insert for the battery cover, some dings and scratches, all pointed out by the seller).

Rehearsal last night with the Hulla band. We have an upcoming short acoustic set for the sound guy's wife's birthday so we went through the 6 songs for that. Frankly, it was poor with little understanding of the difference between an acoustic line up and the full band. In order to be heard I have to amplify my semi acoustic bass and so I offered to step out to keep it 'acoustic', but the drummer turned up thinking he'd play a reduced kit (=a couple fewer toms and cymbals) and the brass section drowned everyone out. The outcome was that the drummer finally saw sense and is not playing (apart from anything else we have to sneak all the instruments into the marquee while the birthday girl is distracted and despite his initial claims that he could set up stealthily, the drummer finally got that it couldn't be done). I'll be playing through a small practice amp and the two guitarists will be using acoustic guitars. The sound engineer is happy and ultimately that's all that matters. We went straight into full band rehearsal for another birthday party that we've been booked to play and I think this may have suffered from the previous acoustic session. It was a bit lacklustre and chaotic. Given that the last rehearsal session we had was one of the best I can remember with them, it was a bit disappointing and we called time earlier than usual. I know we can (and will) do better so I'm not unduly worried.

I hereby give notice of impending Gear Abstinence Failure. A 5 string has been sourced, ordered and paid for but has yet to arrive. In my defence, m'lud, a recent setlist update beyond my control has seen the need for some low B action (so the bigger boys in the band have told me) and they made me get one (and they stole my dinner money, too). Good luck to those who have stayed strong and loyal to this thread. Stay strong, brothers. 😀

Four definite bookings with the Hulla band - including our self organised festival at which I'll also be performing with a splinter band. I would expect us to pick up another 3 or 4 gigs between now and the end of the year, if previous years are to go by. We tend to play private functions rather than pubs and clubs. 8 to 10 gigs per year with the Hulla is the norm. I'm also rehearsing with a new band and I would be expecting to pick up some bookings with them, probably starting in the next month or so.

Evri delivered a package to me ordered from an overseas company via Amazon. The first I knew about the delivery was when, four days later, I asked about the non-receipt of my order. The seller came back with a photo from the Evri driver of him about the drop the package over my garden fence into a part of the garden I can't see from the front or back. And he claimed I'd signed for it. Sure enough it was there - and had been during the only rain shower we've had in days. I have a porch which everyone else uses. Fortunately the contents were ok. I (naively) thought I'd get an email notification 'your package will be delivered today' and confirmation email 'your package has been delivered' as I do with other couriers.

The first few gigs I ever played had this arrangement - the venue put popular paid acts on over the weekend and allowed new bands to play for the door money Tuesday-Thursday. I doubt we would have got many/any gigs in the city centre otherwise, and it helped us build a small but loyal following. I think it also made us think more critically about what we were doing as we weren't relying on a captive audience of pub regulars and, as you say, we had to promote ourselves. We ended up up getting a couple of the much sought after weekend gigs but the band folded shortly afterwards.

If it's a venue with a reputation for having run decent live band nights (not open mic) I'd certainly offer up my services. If it was a new landlord starting out I'd be more sceptical but open to it in principal.

I played with backing tracks as part of a duo (guitarist/singer and me on rhythm guitar) on the WMC circuit for years. I hated it. As a musician, it felt like cheating even though we weren't trying to hide that we were using the backing tracks. I eventually re-recorded all of them so that almost everything but the drums was me playing real instruments. I felt better but it left the problem of not easily being able to extend (or cut short) songs according to the audience. Eventually we introduced our acoustic spot which was just us with no backing. It was so much more satisfying. Of course for the most part the audiences new no different - or at least I thought so until I started playing with a band in the same venues and we used to get the occasional comment "nice to see a proper band and not a karaoke act" or similar. I enjoyed interacting with the other band members, playing impromptu medley/mash-ups, bass and drum solos while the guitarist changed a snapped string or extended outros because the whole place was up and dancing. And I know that audiences react more favourably to a band that is clearly enjoying itself on stage and I never enjoyed playing with backing tracks. Each to their own, I know. But for me I'd rather re-arrange the song to fit the band than have to use a machine.

I am fortunate enough not to have to rely on gig income but I do expect the band to be paid for their time and effort (mostly invisible as has been described above) if the venue is taking money for the event and/or gaining a benefit from running the event. The main band I'm in plays for charity - all the proceeds from gigs goes either to the upkeep of the band, the village hall in which we rehearse and store gear or to nominated charities. Band members get no direct payment (although we benefit from our own PA and stage kit such as mic stands, music stands cables and lighting). I'm more than happy to do this but I have and will continue to refuse to play gigs that do not offer the band a reasonable fee. Our gigs are usually private functions and we have a self organised festival every year but we will take bookings from clubs and larger pubs. Last year our contribution to the nominated charities was around 80% of what we took in fees. Two years ago our 'fee' for a 45 minute set at a local multi band line up was a token for a half pint of cider for each of the band. The venue was packed to the gills from about midday well into the night and when I later found out that we hadn't been given a contribution to our charity I explained that I wouldn't be playing it again. When I gave my reasons - the manager was paid, the staff were paid, the business didn't suffer as a result of the event so I think it only right that the rest of the people contributing to the event were offered payment - we decided not to do it again. When I played in pub bands we were often asked to play at odd times for this reason. The weekend slot between afternoon and evening (4pm-7pm ish) when people were likely to disappear for food or, quite often, immediately after the big sporting event finished (around my neck of the woods, usually the rugby). We'd be setting up as the match was going on and expected to kick off (sorry) immediately after the final whistle.