OldGit

[quote name='Basska' post='782339' date='Mar 22 2010, 03:52 AM']I was looking through my e-mail and I forgot to ask you... Sound reflectors! I need to get 2 from you. I'll PM you when![/quote] Feel free

[quote name='JTUK' post='781654' date='Mar 21 2010, 01:53 PM']yes..we will have to do something... it is just that in the rush to get everything out and gigging, this is an oversight..or something we have not envisaged.[/quote] Sure. When you are up to your bum in alligators .... So now, having done a few gigs consolidate and review and refine. Spend one rehearsal in 4 (minimum) actually rehearsing the performance rather than learning the tunes or practicing your sounds and amp settings. I'm a strong believer in planning different types of time in the rehearsal room eg: - learning or writing tunes and arrangements (can happen acoustically in a house or whatever) - section rehearsals eg horns, rhythm section, vocals, where everyone else helps the section rehearse without moaning or insisting on rehearsing their guitar lines at the same time as the vox or pacingteh room shouting "can't we just rawwwwk now???" - loud run throughs of tunes - effects and settings rehearsals where people get time to work out their settings, try a couple and talk to each other to avoid clashes - performance rehearsals where you go through the whole set non stop including the talkie bits, in real time and dealing with tuning, hitches etc

[quote name='Doddy' post='781677' date='Mar 21 2010, 02:49 PM']I don't like the excessive tuning that seems to happen after every song-especially when it's accompanied by silence. One band I regularly work with,the singer/guitarist tunes after every couple of songs and doesn't speak to the crowd much,if at all-but it's his band,so I can't say anything. Whereas another band I work with,who I was with last night,never stops apart from the semi- rehearsed announcements,which there are maybe one or two of per set. You can guess which one keeps the dance floor full. It's not really a case of playing a 'holding pattern' or anything like that,because even then it is usually seen as a chance to give the guitarist a chance to tune.The problem is that a lot of bands play one song,stop,play another,stop etc. If the band has it's act together and is slick,there is generally no time to fanny about retuning that +/- 1 cent,because as soon as one song finishes,the next one starts. One rule-If you stay silent for longer than a couple of seconds,people will sit down.[/quote] Sure, That's what I mean. I'm big fan of the 3x20 minute continuous demi-sets (or whatever the latin is for a third of a set ) with 2 planned talkie spots between. The demis sets have song transitions designed to keep the dance floor heaving but to allow for patch switching and tuning when necessary. The holding patterns are part of it. Way too many bands start songs "just like the do on the record" just because that's how they did it on the record and no matter what that does to the energy levels and dance floor fullness...

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='781850' date='Mar 21 2010, 05:49 PM']Think about structuring things for the singer to say between songs & work bass / drum intros into the set. All redundant if he tunes up at full volume though[/quote] +1 It's a bit naive to assume because they can sing the singer can naturally take to being a front person. Just cos they have the mic and are the centre of attention doesn't mean they do the rest of it naturally. It takes working at and practicing like anything else. The difference is that a good front person performance can make a huge difference to how professional the band looks and how well it goes down. It's a band thing, the band will benefit hugely from it so work together to come up with things to say and do. If the front person has 20 quips prepared to say when someone needs to tune up in an emergency then they will be better at it. Brainstorm ideas, pinch things from bands you've seen with great front people, live albums and DVDs. "are there any girrrrrls in the audience with a little Irish in them" etc. Phil Lynot, Thin Lizzie: Live and Dangerous Also there are lots of ideas on this here Internet. Google "how to be a great frontman" (or woman) and collate a few ideas. Then try them out in rehearsal. It's the front man equivalent of working out a riff or vocal harmony or bass 'n' drums lock in, except a whole lot more people will notice if you (as a band) get it right (or wrong)

[quote name='Sibob' post='781753' date='Mar 21 2010, 04:24 PM']The other way around it is to have the bass player or drummer start a song. Obviously only really works on some songs (Valerie, Bille Jean, Supersitition etc), but its one thing to remember!, then the guitarist can join in his part when ready. Still needs to sort out the time it takes to tune. I've heard from many people that Gibson tuners are rubbish, although I have no direct experience obviously Si[/quote] Yeah That's my "holding pattern" idea. Start it with Bass and drums, keys, or the guitarist that's in tune or just drums. Start and have a holding pattern 'til a cue and then start the song properly. It's not hard. If a particular tune is hard on guitar string tuning make sure the next one allows for the guitarist to tune up whilst something else starts the song off.

[quote name='Ancient Mariner' post='781685' date='Mar 21 2010, 03:02 PM']OK, guitarist here. There's a lot that can be done to fix regular tuning issues, and from discussions on other forums, there's a common manufacturer fault too. Aside from environmental changes (that the player can't fix) the key areas are the nut, strings and (if fitted) trem system, plus basic setup. //Snipppp// If any of your guitarists want to talk to me about how to fix tuning issues then I'm very happy to help them. I'm not a professional tech, but I've been setting up my guitars for more than 30 years, ever since I owned a guitar with a movable bridge.[/quote] Another good reason for playing bass.. +1 on fixing nuts though. I've heard that a lot of times. I think lot of people tune up through nerves when they have no need to.

[quote name='JTUK' post='781572' date='Mar 21 2010, 12:17 PM']We have keys and guitars and they use a LOT of presets. The band is new and the songs need this and both do it quietly but not quickly. Hoping that they get quicker at it. I think the front man/vocals should engage the audience at this time.... but that isn't happening either. It does halt the flow of things.[/quote] Try that "holding patten" thing. It takes away the big hole where the front person thinks they have to speak..... If tehre's a beat going there's less of an obvious pause. Rehearse the front person's talkie bits too, and where they come in teh set. Just as valid and important as rehearsing the guitar solos IMHO and will have a much bigger impact on the sucess of the group as a whole.

This came up in [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=7919&view=findpost&p=781415"]"how was your gig"[/url] so I thought I'd bring it out here. BigRedX said "..... the amount of tuning up the guitarists had to do between numbers which with an audience that didn't know us would have killed the atmosphere dead. Something will definitely need to be done about this because it ruins the set pacing, I mentioned it after the last gig, but was pretty much ignored, but a couple of audience members told one of the guitarists this time so hopefully they'll at least think about addressing it. " I suggested: [color="#0000FF"]Hopefully silent tuning .. That's a bug bear of mine too. Really spoils the flow of the set. Same with keys patch changing .. Just do it silently when the song is ending or the next one is starting without you. You can plan things so they can tune up during intros or outros when they are not playing. Have bass and drums or keys or something lay down a "holding pattern" for a minute or so at the start of a song whilst they tune. Much much better than silence-with-tumbleweed or frontman chatter whilst they do it. In fact have the front person do their chatter over the holding pattern, like a local radio DJ, never talk over silence. Works really well... I played a dep recently with a guitarist with 4 guitars in a rack (for a very average blues rock pub covers band). He changed guitars and tuned between each of the last 3 tunes in the set. Killed it stone dead when it should have had the house rocking for a grand finale ... I did suggest they look at that but it's not my band .... Oh and there's a new TEC Polytune which shows all strings simultaneously now so the guitarist strums all 6 and gets a display to show which need to go up, which are Ok and which need to go down. That should help[/color] Dave Bass chipped in with "Going a bit off topic here but im also fed up with my guitarist having to tune up between almost every song. He does it silently but i feel a right idiot just standing around waiting for the next song to start. Its got so bad that Ive started to play the intros to songs that i don't normally start, just to try and keep the flow going. Oh, and another thing that bugs me is that while i can understand our singer taking a swig of water between songs the guitarist also has to do it, at the same time. That means no one other than me or the drummer can start playing. Ive tired to get them to drink at different times but its just got getting through to them (mainly the guitarist, who doesnt sing much anyway). Sorry, rant over. " I suggested [color="#0000FF"]Video the gig. Show them how it looks or... realise that nothing will stop them and build in set workarounds like holding patterns mentioned above to avoid blank spots, holes where the applause should be etc etc... Lifts the whole show[/color] What do you think?

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='781483' date='Mar 21 2010, 10:49 AM']Going a bit off topic here but im also fed up with my guitarist having to tune up between almost every song. He does it silently but i feel a right idiot just standing around waiting for the next song to start. Its got so bad that ive started to play the intros to songs that i don't normally start, just to try and keep the flow going. Oh, and another thing that bugs me is that while i can understand our singer taking a swig of water between songs the guitarist also has to do it, at the same time. That means no one other than me or the drummer can start playing. Ive tired to get them to drink at different times but its just got getting through to them (mainly the guitarist, who doesnt sing much anyway). Sorry, rant over.[/quote] Video the gig. Show them how it looks or... realise that nothing will stop them and build in workarounds liek holding patterns to avoid blank spots, holes where the appluase should be etc etc... Lifts teh whole show. Let's take this out to general?

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='780760' date='Mar 20 2010, 01:26 PM']Thanks for that. Guitar and bass - early 60s, sax and drums - mid twenties. Nice that it still works without any ageism.[/quote] I think you should get the guitarist and sax guy to swap clothes/hats for one gig though Maybe for a fundraiser

[quote name='BigRedX' post='781415' date='Mar 21 2010, 09:53 AM']Friday saw the second gig with my covers band. It was a benefit for the school that one of the guitarists works at so we had a large captive but appreciative audience and plenty of them down the front dancing. Lots of mistakes but only really ones we noticed and none that we couldn't recover from. Only niggles were how long it takes the two guitarists to set up their gear (longer than the drummer to set up his kit) when they have assembled pedal boards and it takes me about 5 minutes from getting my rig onto the stage area to be set up and ready to play (and most of that time was spent trying to find a mains socket that actually provided power). Secondly the amount of tuning up the guitarists had to do between numbers which with an audience that didn't know us would have killed the atmosphere dead. Something will definitely need to be done about this because it ruins the set pacing, I mentioned it after the last gig, but was pretty much ignored, but a couple of audience members told one of the guitarists this time so hopefully they'll at least think about addressing it.[/quote] Hopefully silent tuning .. That's a bug bear of mine too. Really spoils the flow of the set. Same with keys patch changing .. Just do it silently when the song is ending or the next one is starting without you. You can plan things so they can tune up during intros or outros when they are not playing. Have bass and drums or keys or something lay down a "holding pattern" for a minute or so at the start of a song whilst they tune. Much much better than silence-with-tumbleweed or frontman chatter whilst they do it. In fact have the front person do their chatter over the holding pattern, like a local radio DJ, never talk over silence. Works really well... I played a dep recently with a guitarist with 4 guitars in a rack (for a very average blues rock pub covers band). He changed guitars and tuned between each of the last 3 tunes in the set. Killed it stone dead when it should have had the house rocking for a grand finale ... I did suggest they look at that but it's not my band .... Oh and there anew TEC Polytune which shows all strings simultaneously now so the guitarist strums all 6 and gets a display to show which need to go up, which are Ok and which need to go down. That should help

[quote name='JTUK' post='781038' date='Mar 20 2010, 06:55 PM']I face a battle with the others about our rates for the repeat gig. I want to support this new venue and fancy a basic fee plus bonus if we pull in the crowd. They will want the going rate.... Hard hard work... Music, not the problem though..[/quote] Yeah I get a tad nervous as the band's gig organiser. It can take me a while to settle down if there's something not quite right about it.. Do your band mates bring loads of audience or do they expect you to bring everyone? BTDT....

"Welcome to eBay! " Eh?

oww oww oww My ears hurt Barn dance leaving do for a lecturer in a uni hall gig bar. I've played the room before - about 100 years ago and with a different band with a 4k PA. It was fine..... [b]Seriously Terrible[/b] sound in the room. We took twice as long to sound check 'cos we tried the normal way - play, adjust a bit, play adjust a bit. 5 mins and sorted. Not this time. We had to reset everything to zero and do it from scratch. Still struggled. Punter was very please, everyone danced but our witty repartee was lost in the mush as was my bass, even though I have a GRAMMA pad. The stage was booming like mad with everything with any bass in it. Drums were padded right down but still boomy. Aaargh! Anyway we still had a good gig but it was about 400% harder to achieve.. Our guitarist summed it up: that room is fine if you are playing very quietly or very loudly but not midway like us.. Ho hum...

House of the Rising Sun - the Animals version. Welcome Inglourious BT. Great name

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='780508' date='Mar 20 2010, 09:26 AM']Hi folks I popped in to the Maggie Bank in North Shields last night to see Howard 'The Bass Doc''s bad The Stax Brothers. It was rammed, and the band were fab, playing that stuff exactly like it should be. For various reasons I couldn't hang around long, but I made a little video...[/quote] Looking good Doc. Hey that's not Leo's pens in your shirt pocket is it? Funny how someone always sticks their head in teh way when you are filming .......

[quote name='Jesso' post='779563' date='Mar 19 2010, 11:02 AM']Just wanted to post something here in praise of Oldgit.... He has gone far above and beyond the call of duty with all the help he gave on my bands website. It's gone from "okay" to "pretty good if I do say so myself". And, most importantly, I'm quite sure all this help has resulted in an increase in bookings for The Panoramics (my band). I still can't understand where he gets all the spare time for his charitable contributions, but by now he must have amassed a huge reserve of good karma.... your definitely going to heaven Si! Some day I hope to be able to pay him back in some way, because honestly it is so rare to come across a stranger on the internet (or in real life) who is willing to go out of their way to help out of the goodness of their own heart. He offers top quality advice, no doubt which is worth a pretty penny if I'd been looking for someone's professional services. And have no doubt, Oldgit is definitely a professional when it comes to website usability. He knows his stuff. I hope this doesn't come across too gushy, but if anyone out there gets a chance to work with or is offered help by Si (Oldgit), bite his hand off. Just in-case your interested seeing the site all the work was done on, its this one: [url="http://www.thepanoramics.com/"]www.thepanoramics.com[/url] Thanks Jesse[/quote] Chheers Jesse, It was a pleasure

[quote name='fatback' post='779701' date='Mar 19 2010, 12:58 PM']It doesn't even dare show you the price. Looks the biz tho.[/quote] £80 retail so what's that? about 57p trade?

[quote name='throwoff' post='779366' date='Mar 19 2010, 07:14 AM']The one place this would really work nowadays is Japan. 2x USA fender out 2x Jap fender in. The USA's are massively overpriced out there I heard so you would profit taking them and the Jap instruments are considerable cheaper in Japan than UK[/quote] The trouble with all of this is that since Sir Carole Kay invented the the Web and eBay international there's no little back street shops stacked full of 60's basses in dusty US backwoods towns where the shop guy has no idea about what he has. It's the same with US basses into Japan. Sure if you could buy new stuff at cost in the US and sell at full retail in Japan, and get through customs undetected, you may make enough to cover your flight and make a few bucks but buying from the US and paying the shipping will almost certainly be cheaper for a Japanese person, just as it is here. My guess would be that the only way to do this would be to take something very British that's generally only available here but highly prized in the States - dunno what though, orginal Hiwatt tube amp? Kiera Knightly? Watkins 33 guitar , and then ring back something very US that's not generally available here... Angelina Jolie?

"BBC DJ Charlie Gillett has passed away aged 68. Gillett, who is credited with discovering the band Dire Straits and bringing world artists such as Youssou N'Dour to a wider audience, died in a London hospital yesterday after contracting a disease of the autoimmune system and suffering a heart attack." Charlie Gillett brought so much fantastic music into my life when discovering African Hi life type stuff. A huge loss. Tribute on 6 music at the weekend.

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='779084' date='Mar 18 2010, 08:29 PM']You know Carol Kaye? [/quote] That's [b]Sir[/b] Carole Kaye now

[quote name='Jesso' post='778323' date='Mar 18 2010, 09:48 AM']Just wanted to post something here in praise of Oldgit.... He has gone far above and beyond the call of duty with all the help he gave on my bands website. It's gone from "okay" to "pretty good if I do say so myself". And, most importantly, I'm quite sure all this help has resulted in an increase in bookings for The Panoramics (my band). I still can't understand where he gets all the spare time for his charitable contributions, but by now he must have amassed a huge reserve of good karma.... your definitely going to heaven Si! Some day I hope to be able to pay him back in some way, because honestly it is so rare to come across a stranger on the internet (or in real life) who is willing to go out of their way to help out of the goodness of their own heart. He offers top quality advice, no doubt which is worth a pretty penny if I'd been looking for someone's professional services. And have no doubt, Oldgit is definitely a professional when it comes to website usability. He knows his stuff. I hope this doesn't come across too gushy, but if anyone out there gets a chance to work with or is offered help by Si (Oldgit), bite his hand off. Just in-case your interested seeing the site all the work was done on, its this one: www.thepanoramics.com Thanks Jesse[/quote] oh, Gosh! Thanks Jesse. Glad it's working well and you make it to your objective of 100 weddings a year (now that's a challenge!)