Dave Vader

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1346668599' post='1791623'] Some random observations which draw no particular conclusion: * Even pubs with a rep for live music are struggling. Is live music on the way out as a form of public entertainment? * If pubs were full of happy drinkers they wouldn't need bands, live sports, curry nights, etc. Which suggests that many pubs - particularly the ones that aren't renowned for live music - will [i]not[/i] have a built-in audience. Therefore promotion is more important than it ever was. * Are pubs generally on the way out? Should we be exploring other venues for our gigs - e.g. shopping centres on a Saturday lunchtime, community centres? * Seemingly. covers bands are popular because they draw in a wider range of people than genre bands. But unlike genre bands (blues, jazz, punk, etc) there is no definable audience to whom one may appeal other than 'local people'. As a result, is one overly dependent on a small catchment area, with the increased risk of audience burn-out. * Covers bands are more likely to pull a walk-up audience. Quite a lot of people go to a particular pub for a drink, oblivious to the fact that a band's been booked. They may see the sign 'Live Music' and walk away. They may go in anyway in the hope that the band won't be too loud. We cannot assume that everyone in a pub audience came to see the band. They might all just be tolerating us out of politeness or laziness. * So should we be balancing the need to engage - loudness, dynamics, showmanship - with an awareness that we might need to dial it back a bit. How do we strike a balance between being an in-your-face spectacle or providing some background music? Should we massively dialling up our showmanship? Or should we just merge into the wallpaper and calmly collect the gig fee on the way out? * Could we be better at reading an audience as the gig progresses? Rather than rigidly sticking to the set-order, volume and speed, should we be more flexible in our delivery? Switching songs around, playing them faster / slower / louder / quieter? * Have too many punters been 'burned' by covers bands? Not just the incompetent ones, but the good ones with a limited setlist? Should a covers band have at least 100 songs under its belt so it can keep weekly performances fresh for pub regulars? * Should we keep a fake book onstage so we can say 'Yes' to requests, rather than sniff about 'not being a f***ing jukebox'? * Should we offer something else besides live music? e.g. competitions, 'live karaoke', a frontman who can tell decent jokes, a disco before and after the set? * If a venue is primarily seated, should we be accentuating melody (listening) rather than rhythm (dancing). What is good in a standing venue may be too overpowering in a seated venue? * Do bands for pubs require a different skill set / offering than those which are targeting a music-fan audience? Rather than approach pub gigs with the mindset of 'rock stars in the making', do we need a different toolkit? Should we think more like DJ's and pub guvnors? * Rather than acting as 'a band' with fixed personnel and fixed setlists, should we aim towards looser collectives with greater flexibility of material and personnel? Should it be the norm that 'bands' expand and contract to fit a range of gigs. Loud and big for some venues, small and quiet for others? Sorry about the large number of question marks, but I think we're at one of those turning points when things change and we have to develop some ideas so that we can continue to do what we enjoy doing. [color=#ffffff].[/color] [/quote]we need answers skank, not more questions

Signed is not what it once was, every twat and his mum now has a "record label" which is a cd burner in the shed. Oh, and access to amazon and itunes. The label that signed the singer I play for is a bit of a home-spun operation, but we know this, and are entirely happy with the total lack of money they give us. Your band mates might not be as informed, that site looks more like the "provide a service" rather than do any labelling. They will pay, a lot, and not make much I would guess. Shame...

You can't blame Dr Who, it was over by 8:15, i went straight out and saw a very very dull covers band murdering mediocre songs. It was not good, so I left the thing in the tent and went to the pub. Where I sat outside in the comfy heated shed thing, and smoked away. Next saturday my old band are playing there, i will be outside a lot then too, but may stick my head in a few times to see how they're doing. I have spent all week explaining to locals that I have left, but they still haven't updated the posters with my face on (I did with a pen, but the landlord told me off) Smoking ban keeps people outside. Shame

Sorry to hijack but I had no idea such a thing existed, I have always had my bag up on my back, as it wouldn't go any lower without hanging on the back of my knees. I have many times bounced back on to the platform as my bass denied me access to a tube when running late. A long side hanging bag sounds ****ing perfect for my needs, will follow this with interest.

On a related note my shoulder is currently in agony as I have just realised after 25 years of whanging guitars, my right shoulder get used way too much when I play guitar, and I am getting old and my shoulder says owch. (At least it only came on when i went back to gigging guitars last month) I tried playing entirely from the wrist, but it isn't as good, or fun, or rock and roll.... Goes to show I should stick to bass really...

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fully-Loaded-Custom-Finish-Strat-Style-Body-with-pickups-bridge-project-/290764480962?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item43b2e9e1c2#ht_500wt_955"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fully-Loaded-Custom-Finish-Strat-Style-Body-with-pickups-bridge-project-/290764480962?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item43b2e9e1c2#ht_500wt_955[/url] Yep [quote][color=#800080][size=5][font=Arial, sans-serif]As you can see from the photos, due to the way in which these paint jobs are created, the guitar has a very textured finish - while it has had a number of laquer coats, it is not a smooth finish.[/font][/size][/color][/quote] No, it is not smooth....

Our local bootsale is run by a fellow muso. He buys all the good stuff before they let people in Nice find.

If De la Soul hadn't sampled Steely Dan back in the day I would never have known who steely dan were. Would I have been happier that way? who knows... Sampling is no worse than playing the same 3 chords over and over, and using obvious ****ing blues riffs all the time. In fact it is a lot better See Girl Talk for how great it can be.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1345573064' post='1779039'] Still good to know he's going to be out of the UK in September.....! [/quote] It's an old profile, I think he's back here for good, check the blog itself, in which he has 2 kids.

and this is your idea of late may is it? Bloody late... (pretty guitar thing though, like it)

why must these things keep happening?

oh and.. [quote][size=5][color=#000000][font=Arial]save me the job of splitting the coils on the neck humbucker... that is my standard change to all twin humbucker guitars[/font][/color][/size][/quote] why!?!? Neck humbuckers are lovely, you talk to Peter Green you twat.... utter twat...

Oh dear, it's nuts like that that make you need a zero fret. Equally... [quote][color=#000000][font=Arial][size=1]when you move up to performing at Wembley I will sell you a Gould etc![/size][/font][/color][/quote] no you ****ing won't, you will **** off, I will go somewhere else and buy a decent guitar you murderer of instruments. (Grrr.... old Avons piss all over goulds/shecters/esps any day of the week, but sadly not this one now...)

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1345550448' post='1778648'] [b]un[/b]Luckily my band has a great female singer; [s]we get to [/s][b] who makes us[/b] do Bonnie Tyler and Tina Turner! [/quote] fixed.... IMHO ballads make people leave, play fast dancing songs and don't let the ****ers sit down or they won't get back up. YMMV however....

I like to think he got it like that, and was fooled into thinking it was a genuine custom shop job.

Use audacity and speed it up/slow it down to the required pitch without changing the tempo. Also gives you a few chuckles at the new vocal sounds.

I have a plywood hondo P like this. it sounds luvverly, but weighs a ton. ply is fine.

catblock. worth a few quid...

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1345129139' post='1773990'] Thanks. Strange terminology. I do this a lot playing parts of chords but don't see what stopping has to do with it? [/quote] You stop the string with your finger (rather than fret the note, as it is DB/violin terminology).

Glass on a 'lectric, and Brass on acoustic usually. Works for me, and if it's not tight, stick bits of cloth/paper in there until it is.

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1345044689' post='1772795'] It seems the gigs are fewer and further between than ever. Even ten years ago, would we have entertained pay to play? Or selling a certain number of tickets before the venue would book? Or being expected to play for free and make the cash back by flogging merchandise to the pub drinkers? [/quote] I remember all these scams running 20 years ago, so yes. Yes we (well not us, other bands that went along with it) did.

Stop playing jazz bilbo, you will get more gigs (just out of a 2 month slump myself, so fair enough I get your point)