leschirons Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 (edited) So, been offered a gig that normally just requires a duo ( sax, guitar + b.trax) However, for some strange reason, the agency now needs three people on stage ( it's actually a smooth cocktail set for an hour) so I've been asked. Last time, the sax player took the bass off the tracks and I played. This time is too short notice so I've been asked to mime as the setlist is different. Very good money at minimum 250 + for an hour and I'm being driven there and fed but not sure how I feel about doing it as now, he's asked me to bring an EUB that I've owned for only three weeks as it'll "look better" What can possibly go wrong?😂 Edited December 13, 2018 by leschirons Update 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 (edited) Me and a drummer friend did a NYE gig 7 or 8 years ago like that. The venue wanted a band and booked a duo, so the duo hired us. It really was most odd, well paid though. We only found out on the night when we arrived; the guy took us to one side and told us. Edited November 20, 2018 by ambient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 (edited) Turn up with a euphonium and mime with that. Edited November 20, 2018 by ahpook 2 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickJ Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Does the agent and venue know this is the plan ? I guess if you don't do it then they'll find someone else who will so you may as well pocket the cash. I guess singers do it a the time but it does feel wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted November 21, 2018 Author Share Posted November 21, 2018 8 hours ago, PJ-Bassist said: Does the agent and venue know this is the plan ? I guess if you don't do it then they'll find someone else who will so you may as well pocket the cash. I guess singers do it a the time but it does feel wrong. The agent was at the previous one where I actually played and probably wouldn't care if he knew the situation for this time as long as he gets his money. It's a cocktail gig for a bank. They won't even notice anyone is there at all. We'll be stuck in a corner and mistaken for coat attendants and waiters😂 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJE Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Sounds like my ideal gig, well paid, food, not using my own car and I don’t have to actually remember anything. 5 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 My first instrument was piano and, while an Abba band I had joined transitioned to fully live (with me on bass), I played the part of Benny. There were backing tracks and so I did about 3 months of miming the piano parts. It was utterly soul destroying. Being an ex-pianist, I was able to make a pretty good fist of miming but was always checking out the crowd for people who had sussed out what I was doing. Good money but a hideous experience. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy515 Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Keep knocking back the cocktails at their expense - wont matter that you're slurring your mimed notes towards the end of set. Play with no lead in the jack socket and see if anyone will notice - I very much doubt it!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Organisers are happy, punters are happy, you're wealthier. All part of being a professional musician. Take the rough (except that in this case it isn't, really) with the smooth and keep smiling. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 (edited) Someone posted a 'bass dep wanted' ad on a local FB page a year or so ago. A friend contacted them to ask them for more info. They were told the successful applicant would actually be miming to a track, but it was essential that they attend a rehearsal beforehand. He politely passed on the opportunity. 😜 Edited November 21, 2018 by wateroftyne 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 11 hours ago, ahpook said: Turn up with a euphonium and mime with that. I vote for a tenor uke and a wah-wah pedal. If any punters come up and talk to you, you can have some fun trying to BS your way through an explanation of how you use the wah to shape the uke's tone to sound more bass-heavy. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 I think if I was pretty sure I wouldnt be recognised and there was little chance of any muso's in the audience (as seems to be the case in the OP) I'd probably do it with xmas approaching. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 (edited) Better stand with your back to the audience and play facing the rear wall. You can get your other player to mention over the mic that you're eccentric, and really hate gratuitous sax Result. Free nosebag , free drink, free taxi, cash in the claw, ....and no worrying about missed and duff notes. What's not to like ? Edited November 21, 2018 by fleabag 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zalastar Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Paid for doing no work... what are you, a civil servant? 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Sounds great, I'm happy to dep if you're not interested! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkey Steve Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 at least you know in advance I went to see a mate's band at a festival last year. he'd been complaining about the bass player (actually a guitarist who had blagged his way into the band, knew no bass technique at all, and had a rather agricultural approach to the bass lines where enthusiasm outdid accuracy every time) and I was going to make a point of listening out for how good or bad he was. I'd seen them a few times before, but this time they sounded much better than usual, much clearer, like they had new arrangements for the songs. Then I noticed that I couldn't hear much of the bass, but when I looked at his hands he wasn't playing the correct notes for some of the songs So I had a word with my mate afterwards and asked him about the new arrangements. He looked at me blankly...then the penny dropped "On no, we low-passed him, told the soundman to take him out of the FOH mix. he's coming through the backline so he thinks he can still be heard out front, everybody's happy" In fairness, they did sound much better than when you could hear him playing the wrong notes In the interests of full disclosure,, I'm helping them out for a couple of gigs at Christmas, and the subject of reinstating the "low-pass" has been discussed for any songs that I haven't mastered at that point 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 6 minutes ago, BreadBin said: Sounds great, I'm happy to dep if you're not interested! Me too! 😀 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted November 21, 2018 Author Share Posted November 21, 2018 16 minutes ago, BreadBin said: Sounds great, I'm happy to dep if you're not interested! Bit of a trek for you I'd imagine, Saumur, in France.😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassintheface Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Nowt wrong with that! I mimed with my other 3 band mates to being Diana Vicker's backing band - 5 of her songs, she sang live, we mimed (pads on drum skins etc) and it was in front of 70,000, pitch centre at Old Trafford! Also had a Director's box, free booze and a 3 course meal. Easiest gig I ever did do! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyquipment Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Sounds like pete and ringo early Beatles all over again hah 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Tell them you have a microscopic wireless system and mime from the bar 😝 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Go full Gene Simmons! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 3 hours ago, leschirons said: Bit of a trek for you I'd imagine, Saumur, in France.😂 Saumur..? I'll take that, if you bale out..! A shortish drive, but eminently 'do-able'..! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 (edited) Its like half an evenings work to take the bass off the tracks and re-bounce (assuming they have access to the sessions to do it themselves). Lazy! Edited November 21, 2018 by Sibob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted November 21, 2018 Author Share Posted November 21, 2018 1 hour ago, Sibob said: Its like half an evenings work to take the bass off the tracks and re-bounce (assuming they have access to the sessions to do it themselves). Lazy! Can't comment on that as I'm not a teccy and as it's not my gig, probably not wise for me to call him lazy and to get his derrière into gear for half an evening😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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