Rosie C

No Ritchie Blackmore?

I bought some car parts a few years ago, to be delivered to my humble abode in South Wales. The seller provided tracking. I watched bemused as my parcel sat at Heathrow Airport for 2-3 days, then popped up in Australia. Then a week later was back in the UK and was eventually delivered. I assumed some parcel sorter thought "New South Wales", but if not it's a mystery.

Hey, I learned a new word today!

Blackmore's Night two weeks tonight. First time I'll have seen them after being a fan for a decade.

I didn't know we could do this. My current band mostly played mediaeval tunes this year, but we're rehearsing a few Blackmore's Night songs for Christmas - and we wondered how they'd ever get any benefit from us. It is odd how straightforward performing covers at a venue is (through PRS), compared to uploading the same performance on YouTube and navigating copyright strikes.

I married a percussionist, and most of my close friends are musicians. So really it's probably the opposite - do I ever stop yacking on about music?!

I quite agree - at the time I bought it I was taking lessons with a classical double bass teacher and had a reasonable understanding of the correct technique - it very quickly became clear that I wouldn't be able to play an EUB so swapped to an acoustic.

I could have written this post. I bought a "Gear 4 Music" branded EUB which looks much like a Stagg one. The only way to play it that I could find was squeezing with my LH thumb - something my teacher called "strangling the goose" or something, and said would cause tendon problems. I bought an NS stand from Thomann and fitted that - it was better, but still not the same as an acoustic upright. In the end I sold it and now have a cheap 3/4 acoustic which can be played in the recommended "pulling from the elbow" way.

I sold SimBass a bow quiver. Very smooth transaction, good communication, I'm happy to recommend!

I spy *TWO* Goldtone mandocellos, very impressive!

Somewhere in between I suppose. I don't do Facebook much now, but I am very careful what photos I upload - only ones where I look good (or as good as I can expect) and I tend to post positive stuff, not really because I want to curate a perfect-looking life, just I'm not sure anyone wants to hear about it.

I definitely owe you a beer if we ever meet, as your recommendation is perfect, and a fraction of the cost

You had me with "80s Goth"... I'll check it out later!

Thanks! That looks very similar the the Sennheiser ones. I'm amazed the SM57/58 is that old, I thought they were a relic from the 1980s.

I think I will have to go with something like that, thanks!

Likewise, we use E835 & E845 mics. I prefer the way they sound for my vocals to the SM57 that we used before. The only downside I've found is finding mic stand clips - I've lost one and can't find a replacement.

I got the same excuses. The weird thing is my previous insurers didn't mind me doing gigs for free, just not doing gigs for money - so they weren't objecting to carrying gear or being parked at the back of pubs late at night. Enquiries with my previous insurance company revealed they took a very dim view of musicians and would cancel my insurance if I took a paid gig. I figured if I ended up in an accident that resulted in a big claim, and the police recorded the remains of my car had a PA, double bass etc. then the insurance people might try to wriggle out of paying up by saying I'd breached the terms of the insurance. Once insurance company suggested I claim to be a music teacher! Another said that being a music student could reasonably be expected to involve an occasional paid gig. But in the end I did find a mainstream insurer who gave me a good quote despite declaring "part time work as a musician".

Result! All going to plan, ours is going on Friday - being collected by a local church. It's been going to them for six months, so it's been a bit of a saga.