Franticsmurf

I had a mate and keyboard player in our first band who was so insecure about his playing ability that when he went to try or buy a keyboard he'd bandage his wrist up and pretend he'd sprained it so that he wasn't expected to perform brilliantly. He was a good player but his talents were very much in ideas and composition. He never actually joined us on stage. 😀

I have had several poor experiences at different venues in Porthcawl although we had a good gig at the big place in Trecco Bay about 10 years ago.

It's never a good idea to think like that after a bad gig - if I had, I'd have left my band several times every year. 😀 We're still in strange times, with prices on the increase and Covid sneaking back and I guess people are still a little nervous about heading out. Keep going and keep the music going so that there is something for everyone to aim for and as my namesake said above, the audiences will return.

Hi Jack.

Hi Erik, welcome. 😀

Me too, but it is a fantasy gig. And in my fantasy Jon Anderson is asking me how on earth I played that amazing bas solo in Ritual during the 77/78 Yes In The Round Tour. And then I wake up and I'm crammed into the alcove of the Duck and Grommit wondering how on earth I played the bass part of Mustang Sally so badly. 😀

Hi Pat, love the 'Rhythm Stick' playing.

I've never come across a situation where the bands don't even have the equipment necessary to play a gig. It's one thing to share kit to make things easier for everyone (and, rightly, not everyone is willing to do that). But to not have the equipment in the first place is embarrassing. I've shared and borrowed backline and PA in the past but in every case I or the other bands have had our own equipment available and it's just been down to convenience and/or timing.

I rehearsed last night using mine. It was on for more than 2.5 hours and at the end of the night it was hot but not too hot to touch, more like a newly activated hand warmer. Ideal for winter gigs. 😀

Hi Ian. There may only be one bass in your collection now, but give it three weeks on here and that will change. 😀

This is my philosophy too. It's not good when a problem arises or a mistake is made, but they happen (I've made many in my time). The real character comes through in the way that it is dealt with. Unfortunately, that is usually only apparent when the issue is challenged. I don't like complaining but I will if I think it is justified. Then it is a case of making your point with no emotion and judging the response.

Me on guitar in my first band, playing a biker rally in 1990. The stage was a series of puddles due to a leaking roof. My first gig as bassist, '93 ish, tucked away on the left. Colombus J copy, a great bass as I remember it. Pub gig circa 2012. 2013.

That may well be the reason why the supply in the pub I was playing a few years ago kept cutting out. The whole pub, three times. 😀 I figured out it was something to do with my extension (with and RCD attached) and used another but I was Mr Popular with the staff that night.

Foot tapping is the norm for me. During energetic numbers I may well get caught up in the groove and move about. If one of the guitarists is going for it I may join in if it's appropriate (I wouldn't want to steal his thunder). If I'm doing BVs, I'll move back and forth to the mic. Recently I've had a couple of bass solos spots and I'm stationary during them but afterwards the relief of getting it right means I bounce a little more than usual. 😀

Enjoy the ride. 😀

Hi Jack.

Hi Jan, welcome.

Surely not? 🤣

I have several... ok, I have seven basses (but I'm in control and can stop at anytime 😀) but for the last year I've been using my Stingray to develop my own sound. I like the basses I've got and some of them have pleasant memories attached so I probably wouldn't sell them on (and in any case, they're not worth much in cash terms) but I find myself playing them less and less in favour of the Ray. I like to have a spare bass at gigs and I tend to rotate the rest of the collection in that capacity. And if we're rehearsing without an imminent gig, I'll sometimes use one of the others just to make them feel loved.

This might help - round the back of a wedding venue several years ago. I needed some air after setting up and found the power supply for the whole marquee with the grey cloth wrapped around the connection. My RCD was already plugged in. 😲

It's a great pedal and currently the most expensive one I have on the board. 😀

It's only happened to me twice in my gigging career but it's great when it happens - worth more than the face value of the extra cash.

We went through a phase of all having the right set list, but the singer not following it, resulting in random song order and occasionally a song being started that wasn't on the list. Very annoying and a potential source of nerves - but then we found out he needed glasses but was reluctant to wear them on stage. The cure was a giant font set list and the occasional prompt from me. Sometimes with the headstock of my bass. 😀

Hi Mikey.

I've never encountered that problem but I'm thinking a shallow collar of gaffa tape or card to shade the LED? I guess it depends on the pedal layout.