Conan

[quote name='gub' timestamp='1334599427' post='1618341'] Cheers guys what we are charging is about right then for pubs ,just think we need to charge more for the private funtions ,i think the idea of 10 ph pp from when you leave the house until you get in sounds about right . [/quote] Maybe.... but I would also talk to other bands in your area about what they are charging. You don't want to price yourselves out of the market based on someone else's principles!

I think we might be talking at cross-purposes here! For a start, I'm not sure what some people mean by "professional". Are we talking about arriving on time? Being dressed suitably for the function/venue in question? Playing a well-rehearsed set of well-chosen material? Interacting politely and respectfully with the organisers/managers/owners etc...? If one has a "day-job" and plays in a band in the evenings and weekends (therefore a "hobbyist") and does all of the above, does that make you "professional"? Discuss..

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1334587254' post='1618048']You can tell hobby bands a mile off and they deserve to be paid £200 a gig. [/quote] That's an extremely patronising and sweeping generalisation. It is also inaccurate if you are suggesting that bands that play "for fun" are somehow less worth their wages than a so-called professional outfit. The differentiation is not in quality but in outlook. So "pro" bands I have seen were awful, whereas some "hobby bands" as you call them are brilliant. The only difference is their motivation.

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1334577270' post='1617819'] Do you seriously think £10/hour is greedy? But what I'm saying is the value that a lot of places put on the service provided is not very high, if the band does a good job they will get punters in, and keep them in. Its not greed, its business sense. [/quote] Hmmmm. I think the problem here is that most of us treat playing pub gigs as our hobby - and do not look at it in a very businesslike way. I am not arguing with you on the value of what we provide, and I agree that most pubs get more than their fair share of income when a good band with a good following of heavy drinkers plays... However, I'm not sure you'll convince many pubs about your "hourly rate per head" pricing structure. Why would they hire a six piece if they could get a three piece for half the price? I think there has to be a bit of give and take here. Many pubs are closing and others are struggling. They do not have loads of funds to throw into live music. We should be glad that there are still those that are prepared to take a risk and book lesser-known bands, with no guarantee that they will recoup the payment.

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1334574644' post='1617750'] Even at £10/hour on the night you don't get paid for time/money spent practicing, preparing 2+ hours worth of entertainment. Or money spent on equipment (how many min wage jobs do you have to bring your own tools?) even a Squier P and a Secondhand amp will run to a few hundred, not to mention the PA you have to bring, lights etc. Is it any wonder musicians are poor in this country? [/quote] A pub will pay you for the entertainment you provide. They judge the quality for that from the number of punters and the bar takings. If you're lucky the manager might know something about music too... It's up to you how much you spend on gear - and it's not their job to pay you back for that! Being "professional" is one thing, being greedy is another.

[quote name='stevie' timestamp='1333967911' post='1608776']see if you can tell the difference between a cheapo GFS P-Bass pickup and a 'booteek' Lollar at many times the price. [/quote] Totally. I was really impressed with the GFS I put in my Squier P. Quality sound from a very inexpensive upgrade. Highly recommended.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1334329501' post='1614719'] I don't see the problem with people posting questions to others on a bass forum that satisfies their curiosity concerning two different kinds of bass guitars, especially since the OP has described himself as a newer player and many of us here are experienced with gear and such. If you don't like the topic, I would have thought it easier to simply not reply? [/quote] Exactly. Such is always the nature of a "specialist" forum. The fact that so many helpful members are happy to post (and sometimes even show a change in opinion from their posts on earlier threads) and share their knowledge and experience shows that the nay-sayers are in the minority. Personally, I prefer J basses and their derivatives over Ps and theirs. I like both of course - but I just think that a good J can [b][i]almost[/i][/b] do everything that a P can, and a lot more. But a P can never do that "scooped" sound that you get from a J with both pickups on full. Or that burping back pickup either... Full-on rock (and particularly punk) needs a P though.

Just to clarify.... It wasn't John Hall, it was me. I thought it would be funny but it was naughty and I apologise for any offence caused.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1334053840' post='1610072'] '...hand your toboggan to your roadie to take back up the hill...' [/quote] Uh-oh... isn't that elitist?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1334052845' post='1610048']And a Geddy Lee will make your nose a funny shape while you bang on about 'currents flowing and circuits blowing' or some such load. [/quote] Ah, but there are benefits too... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOVh_C7XTHA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOVh_C7XTHA[/url]

So, in answer to the OP - it would seem that nobody knows!! Ugly plate for sure. Are they really £200 better than a Geddy Lee? The GL has US pickups I believe...

Crikey. I've tried[i] shim[/i]ming a neck, but...

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1333980228' post='1609062'] There are far more people in bands because they like to be able to tell people they're in a band than are in bands because they like to perform. [/quote] Eh? Do you actually have any statistics or facts to back up this wild assumption?

[quote name='police squad' timestamp='1333627782' post='1604475']Help!!! don't we mix 10s and 15s anymore. [/quote] Of course we do! It's just that our reasons for doing so are slightly different now!

[quote name='stevie' timestamp='1333654728' post='1604994'] You will notice that the people saying 'I mixed cabs to good effect' are clearly experienced players using good gear. They are saying, almost to a man, I did it and I know it sounded good. So these reasons are false? [/quote] Just because a certain combination sounded "good" doesn't maen that a different combination wouldn't have sounded better. Unless you can to a proper A vs B test with all other factors constant, it's just not a fair test and therefore rather meaningless. If it sounds good to your ears, good - keep using it by all means. But don't diss another set-up of which you have no experience.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1333624307' post='1604388'] [size=2][size=4]Look at his past items, he knows if it carbon or not[/size]. [/size] [color=#A9A9A9](and at 200 quid we do too)[/color] [/quote] Yeah, it doesn't look very much like graphite to me - and it sure ain't diamond!

My band rehearse in the attic studio of the guitarist's house. We turn up at 7:30 and have a chat in the kitchen with some kind of a drink - tea for the drummer and singer, beer or wine for the guitarist and myself, nothing at all for the rhythm guitarist. He is deliquescent apparently. The singer and guitarist then pop outside for a herbal cigarette. Another cuppa or glass in hand, we head upstairs for the purposes of making music. All very convivial and laid-back. The consumption of substances never reaches the point where performance is compromised, and we have a good night with mates. Compromise. That's what it's all about. We are all adults and nobody feels pressured into partaking or not doing so. It's all down to the individuals concerned, of course...