OldGit

I've got a Warwick CCL 1x15 combo that may be up for sale soon. It's the non-neo speaker one so weighs a bit more. Mids and tops seem Ok There's a tweeter and a top boost switch. Depends on what you pug into it of course. It's fine with my mega P bass. PM me if you are interested. OG

Gary Oldman: as Sid but he also learned to play, apparently.

The good news: If Mike Huckabee gets the job we may get a bass playing US president [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o1cNQ92W5w"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o1cNQ92W5w[/url] The bad news (IMHO): He's a Republican and a Christian Fundamentalist and, oh dear me, a creationist who believes in Intelegent Design ... Hummmmmmmmmm

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='112920' date='Jan 3 2008, 02:11 PM']Anybody got any ideas what this thing is? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120205034355"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120205034355[/url][/quote] Looks like what they say - a Kay The Japcrap spotters may know though [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=7473&view=findpost&p=80050"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&sho...ost&p=80050[/url]

[quote name='Subthumper' post='112645' date='Jan 2 2008, 11:07 PM']Yup thats it.I'm struggling with the authenticity of just about all of it.I did'nt dare look at his demo vid though someone did ask for a transcription of the solo.haha.Might ask him some silly questions though.[/quote] As he says hisself: Q: hi would u say this is apukka 1966 fender base? A: I bought it as such, but I don't think it is? A '66 would have a strap peg screw hole on the rear of the headstock

Thin Lizzie, Whistle Test, Don't believe a Word, slow version. Phil blinding the camera on purpose, Gary Moore soloing a 5 string Les Paul ... Perfect. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9n981iQz3w&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9n981iQz3w...feature=related[/url] Played with thumb and finger they can just sound like anything else, really: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRaZWeaggkk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRaZWeaggkk[/url]

[quote name='s_u_y_*' post='111911' date='Jan 1 2008, 06:46 PM']Exactly... I have a certain few people I know who have a deep passion for music and are musicians. I ask for their critique, what worked, what didn't work and I reallt value that information. People who don't critique more often than not don't really care enough to. People tell us that that we are good, and really go on about it, so I hope we are half-decent. But we know even after 3 years there's a lot to learn and a lot to try out. I was just talking to our bandleader about how much we've come since we've started. One thing which I would impress on any band starting out is to network, network, network. I feel that we didn't do this early enough and we're playing catch up for a band that has been going for a while now. Ways to improve our network is one of our key objectives as a band, i.e. impressing the right people, spreading our gigs and hopefully fan base to outside London via universities and whatnot.[/quote] Network, yes but ... only once you have done everything you can to maximise your your stage show, entertainment level and professionalism. Generally speaking you only get one chance to impress people like that and if you can't be @rsed to work at it, why should they? It is 2 million times harder to get "the right people" to give you a second chance than a first chance so sorting yourselves out first is essential.

[quote name='2wheeler' post='111856' date='Jan 1 2008, 04:47 PM']I went to see [url="http://www.hugepartyband.co.uk/"]Huge[/url] last night (New Year's Eve). They are all teachers (I think) and now have a good few children between them. They are very good indeed. It's not hard to see where their following comes from: It seems that most people living in York either know them personally, or have children taught by them, or have children at the same schools as their children, etc.[/quote] Wow.. great to know so many people but it's that phrase: "They are very good indeed." that does the trick

[quote name='Breakfast' post='111086' date='Dec 30 2007, 07:23 PM']Once you have got your set down and you're playing somewhere you are happy with don't play too often in any one place.[/quote] +1 Make sure your mates only get dragged along to teh important gigs otherwise you spread them too thin. 75 people going wild for a support band will convince ther est of teh crowd that they too shoudl be cheering and demanding more so keep that quorum for the gigs where it matters. Also don't do loads of free gigs in smaller places and then expect your friends/fans to shell out to see you play at the better venues or to travel to a Battle of the Bands or whatever. Lots will just say "I'll see them next week locally and for free" ..

[quote name='The Funk' post='111719' date='Jan 1 2008, 07:37 AM']After one gig that went well and got good reactions from the non-partisan members of the crowd, I asked a good friend of mine what he thought. He said "I only have 15 suggestions... but if you guys weren't good I wouldn't have any".[/quote] Yes, I've been in that position - watching bands where a few tweaks would make a huge difference but others where the challenge to get them up to a good level would be so great that it probably wasn't worth it, or they just don't want to make the effort for various reasons... So, what were the suggestions and did you try them? Did they work? As you still find it hard to draw a crowd, "So far, nothing has worked for me." what happened? Rather than play gigs where you have to draw the whole crowd why not go for support slots at good venues in your area when more popular bands are playing? You still need to take 50 people along, of course, if you want to get booked back but you could impress people from their following...

[quote name='Russ' post='111092' date='Dec 30 2007, 07:27 PM']Being good works best. Then word of mouth takes care of much of the rest. That's 75% of the battle, right there.[/quote] +1 The best marketing in the business will only get a punter to see you once. Only being brilliantly entertaining will bring them back dragging their mates with them which is what we all need. It's a kind of wake up call because if this isn't happening you need to re-assess what you are doing. Being objctive is hard and getting good feedback is tough too as your mates won't want to tell you you are crap or your material is weak or you present it in a poor way. However if the evidence is there - ie no following - you need to ask them to be honest.

[quote name='theosd' post='108234' date='Dec 22 2007, 05:25 PM']Having a lot of friends, who have a lot of friends; all of whom work and so strive to get out and about. Other than that I can't say, we've only had 8 or so gigs and haven't asked for any of them! We've done next to nothing, really; that's for next year when we have the new demo.[/quote] How do you let your mates' friends know when you are playing? Word of mouth or or posters or fliers? Cheers

Thanks John Food for thought

[quote name='BassBomber414' post='108084' date='Dec 22 2007, 12:15 PM']Guitar Glen has a lot of useful gigging/band/promotion advice see [url="http://www.angelfire.com/music2/guitarglen/gig.htm"]<a href="http://www.angelfire.com/music2/guitarglen/gig.htm" target="_blank">http://www.angelfire.com/music2/guitarglen/gig.htm[/url]</a> Click on the heading links on left margin.[/quote] Thanks But [b]what actually works[/b] for your band?

[quote name='s_u_y_*' post='108086' date='Dec 22 2007, 12:21 PM']OldGit, I may very well try out that "I saw you ad" in the local free morning London newspapers. [/quote] Don't over-do it through .. I got banned (with a big smile) from one paper .. I knew the editor thogh so it wasn't too bad. They just thought it was cheeky. [quote]our drummer has been using a web based service that sends out gig details to all the listings mags,[/quote] That sounds good Can you find the details?

[quote name='rootn5th' post='107945' date='Dec 22 2007, 12:05 AM']My My folks.....dont you think its sad that one of the last, few remaining gig opportunities is to just play people's weddings?[/quote] What do you mean? rootn5th? There are millions of gig opportunities that are not weddings if you get out there and find or create them. However, playing weddings can be loads of fun and rewarding in all sorts of ways. I think its absolutely fantastic that people are still willing to have a live band at their wedding reception and don't just have a DJ or nothing at all.

If you are a band that plays places where you need to bring the audience you'll need a following. So, what methods do you use and what works best? Things I've used before include - Email list for gig announcements - Fliers handed out by attractive people at every gig with the website, next few dates, an invite to join the email list, email and phone number - Same fliers given out to the audience leaving other people's gigs in the same venue or bands like ours in the same town. - Fliers left in the flyer piles in the shops and clubs etc - Posters for each gig in as many places as possible for a week before the gig - Post cards in news agents close to music shops, bus stops and places close to venues and ion the student areas - posters in workplaces especially where young people work and hang out eg college common rooms, halls of residence, 6 form notice boards, hospital staff rooms, (a team of marauding nurses on a night out is a really great audience ) - Poster and flyer downloads from the website and emailed announcement - "discount on entrance tax with this flyer" deals - Getting a good support band who bring a good crowd (who are then possible future followers for our band) - Publicising gigs on online "what's on" websites - Publicising gigs in local paper "what's on" listings, Time Out style local magazines - Running spoof "I saw you" ads in the local paper "I saw you at the "band name" gig last week, you were tall and blond and our eyes met. Will you go to their gig on 2nd of Feb at the Rose and crown? I'll wear the red hat again" - Running "Audience wanted" ads in the musicians wanted free ads section - Press releases and news items for all "interesting" gigs and events - Charity/fundraiser ticket deals - "Buy them at cost, sell them for a bit more and donate the difference to your charity" - "Bring a team" marketing into clubs and societies such as rugby and hockey clubs, nurses homes with a bulk purchase ticket deals - "buy 10 get one free" etc - Prizes for joining the emailing list "Free t shirt for one lucky winner drawn from each month's signups" - Bribing mates to come along and bring a friend - Free coaches to important gigs - Christmas gig prize draws to win a tee shirt - to enter we require your email/postal address What I've not used are - Facebook/Myspace/Bebo automated gig announcements - A street team as defined by the BBC [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/streetp01.shtml"]Street Team stuff on BBC Radio 1xtra[/url] , though there are elements in the list above - give aways like picks or pens with the band name and url So... what else do you do? What actually works best in your experience? Thanks, Simon

We've exchanged emails and he says the US Postal are a pain in the bottom to deal with and, he feels, are not a safe courier. Given my own experiences with the UK Post Office (and having seen Men in Black II) I suspect he is right. However he does ship free to the US and so suggested he could do that to a friend in the US and then he could ship it anyway we chose I'll not be pursuing this for now but it's an interesting store and I'll stay on their GAS inducing mailing list

[quote name='charic' post='108017' date='Dec 22 2007, 10:01 AM']+1 Kudos to volume for even naming himself an unneeded but appreciated gesture. Good on ya mate[/quote] There you go, We all make mistakes. It's how you resolve them that differentiates the good guys from the sphincters

Reminds me of something

[quote name='jonthebass' post='107527' date='Dec 21 2007, 10:57 AM']Indeed a tricky and complicated subject. I think a new Wireless/Radio Frequency thread may be in order, as suggested. Will have a think about it and set it up soon. Where do you think would be a good place to start from your point of view?[/quote] Overview of VHF vs UHF with examples? How the law will change, that licence point and when and where it will apply. Ta