dmccombe7

1 hour ago, dave_bass5 said:

I’m trying to arrange a return to them and had good comms on Friday evening, then silence. I emailed again today but nothing back yet. 

Maybe try calling them. I found that works far better altho to be fair i only ever had one email not replied to over the years.

Dave

22 minutes ago, Bluewine said:

 

We played a sound provided theatre gig last month. Great sound but not tidy.

Daryl

 

 

I struggle with that.  Its not OCD but just plain old simple common sense and tidy work area. If i run a cable and its too long i coil up the extra cable at one end of it and tie it with a velcro strip. Have to say i'm the only one in the band that does that but we do keep stage area clear, clean and as tidy as possible. Not so much at the desk as the SE is also our drummer and he just drops the remaining cable in a pile at the back of the desk rather than individual coiling of excess cables. Just makes it a pain in the a** when you are trying to find the other end of a cable. If they are all neat and tidy it saves time at the end when you just want to go home LOL

My cables all have my name on them too so i know exactly where both ends are.

Dave

4 hours ago, jezzaboy said:

We played a couple of bikers gigs in the past, zero reaction all the way through but at the end of the gig some came up and said they loved it. But the last one we played, a guy was very aggressive towards me and kept telling me to smile. After that little escapade we agreed on a no more bikers show rule. A pity as some of us were bikers in the past but it`s not worth the grief.

Done a few Blue Angels gigs with the punk covers band and its much the same although last one had a lot of women there who were up dancing all night. Well oiled when they arrived but a good fun night and we were well applauded by them but not so much the majority of the guys who didn't seem to have any great interest in the band until we finished and they came over and said it was a great gig. We've never had to carry gear at the Blue Angel gigs either, they unload our gear and bring it to the cars for us to reload at the end. All very helpful TBH. Don't get that anywhere else so i have a lot of respect for them. We were even allowed to buy some of their Blue Angel T shirts at the end of the night and the guy that organises us to play turned up at one of our Paisley near Glasgow gigs but he is a big fan of the band. 

I can't say i've ever had any trouble or issues with them at all.

All decent enough towards us and they allow us to share in their buffet which was pretty impressive.

Dave

3 hours ago, Chienmortbb said:

Real Gaffa Tape is low tack and does not stick. The cheap stuff sold as gaffa tape is really duct tape..

 

See https://advancetapes.com/products/gloss-cloth-tape-advance-gaffa/

Yep this was duct tape. I remember the old gaffa tape didn't leave any residue. It wasn't until you mentioned this i remembered from years ago.

Cheers for reminding me.

I'll maybe see if i can get some proper gaffa tape and try that.

Dave

17 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

Same story at these types of gigs.  Not played a bike event but I have played a few beer festivals and yes, you're well aware that you're secondary to the main draw, which is the bikes/beers, and probably tertiary when you throw the food in.  Just go in knowing that you're performing a supporting role and accept that while you may not get any direct appreciation, people will have subliminally enjoyed it and assimilated it into their overall memory of the event.

Paid rehearsal is how i would look at it.

Dave

25 minutes ago, Paul S said:

Strange weekend for my lot, Tore Down - unusually back to back gigs Friday night and Saturday daytime.

 

Friday night we resumed our residency at The Shamrock in Ipswich.  Drummer is a farmer and had a lamb problem so we started late at 9.45pm.  Hardly anyone there, even fewer listening to us, didn't bother with an encore.  This was the place at 8.45.

 

Opps, didn't mean to post yet.  Late start meant late finish - less than convenient because next day we had a gig in Newmarket at the Harley Davidson dealerhsip there.  We played 2x 1 hr sets, starting at 11am, needed to get there for 9.30am-ish.  I'd booked a Travelodge locally to save going all the way home then all the way back, which kind of worked out OK - managed to get about 6hrs sleep.

 

We'd played a gig at the Harley place before - odd.  On the face of it there was no reaction at all - the band seem to be completely ancillary to the event, with nobody watching, virtually no applause or reaction after the songs.  But afterwards loads of people came up to say how much they enjoyed it - especially the manager there, Mick who, true to his word, booked us for their 28th birthday bash this year.   Which proved to be exactly the same Saturday.  Dull drizzly day although we were outside under cover - dry but cold.  Good turn out but very little reaction.  Every now and then whatever we were playing was drowned out by someone starting up a bike and revving it - particualrly one of our lovely slow blues tunes 'Blue Jean Blues'.  Nice food available - either a free BBQ although I opted to buy a stone baked pizza.  At half time someone who runs a Harley club asked us to play at their summer bash next year.  Mike and the crew at Newmarket loved it and are going to ask us back again.  Loads of good feedback from punters, too.  Strange.  Good pay, though.

 

 

 

Yep being a Harley owner i've been to quite a few dealership events with bands but people are solely there to look at bikes and grab a burger. Bands are just background music and i sometimes wonder why the dealers even bother with a live band rather than just a DJ. Bit different on a nice sunny day as i've stood and watched the band for a bit but i'm in the minority. Its definitely an odd one. 

One dealership during sunny summer put all their tables and chairs in front of the band and that certainly helped as when folks bought food or drink they sat and watched the bands while eating.

Looks like a good event tho.

Dave

6 hours ago, scalpy said:

#metoo, albeit with Aggie cabs.

 

The Louisiana, Bristol with George Montague. 90 minute set, attempted from memory which I’ve got lazy at of late with more regular gigs, using a iPad most of the time. Helpful sound guy and the ever excellent Tom Hooper on drums. 
 

Much easier to keep the cable runs tidy at this one….

 

 

Yep that's much better. You've now passed the cable tidy test. 

Dave

4 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

The Bush in Cwmbran,  pretty compact but wonderful pub. Had a real blast. Sound was very boomyn asked sound to turn down my bottom end and he replied I have can you turn yours down and I said I have! Stone flag floor and stone wall behind rear ported cab...

 

I had to repair my finger with superglue after slicing the tip on Wednesday. Three layers lasted the night. My playing was a bit scatty on a couple of songs and the night seemed to suit sticking in some frills and whistles 😁 noone seemed to mind and we had a few musos in so that was ok.

 

Alex was trying out his new Gretsch Electromatic for the first time. I barely appear in the short vid below, but it gives an idea.

 

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?id=100024370338008&story_fbid=1613621292793533

Enjoyed that. What bass and rig are you using ?

Dave

22 hours ago, dclaassen said:

I've got a Shure system...the one that sits on your amp. It is very reliable....

Because i use pedals in one band i opted for the GLXD pedal version but its built like a tank.

Dave

1 minute ago, dclaassen said:

Trying to keep cables from underfoot at a small venue is a challenge. I'm considering using a wireless rig just to keep from tripping on my patch chord.....

Yep i use wireless and its a fantastic bit of kit. 

I started with the Smooth Hound one but started getting occasional interference and opted to upgrade to the Shure. Expensive but in the year i've owned it i've had absolutely no issue with it at all.

Mine is the pedal version with built in tuner and that sits on my pedal board and cable from the board goes round edge of stage to my amp.

Dave

25 minutes ago, scalpy said:

That was after the first set and jumping around for an hour. The venue has 4 sockets. It looked better than that when we started. 

Because of the Glam platform boots we have a stage tidy area and run all cables from front to the sides and back to amps or desk which the drummer controls for most gigs. 

We also wont use gaffa tape as it leaves everything sticky when removed again.

Dread to think what it was like when you started 

Dave

28 minutes ago, scalpy said:

Thursday night wedding just outside of Malvern and the second time we’ve played at the venue, which was also on a Thursday. Both times we’ve been there the crowd have been crazy, I always think it’s going to be a tough sell but they go nuts. Some deps onboard for this one but they all did a fab job and we used the hk elements rig which I like to reinforce with an actual amp onstage as the PA hasn’t got the biggest bottom. 

Might be worth looking at how to tidy up the stage when playing. Recipe for problems there. 

Dave

57 minutes ago, Bluewine said:

 

Thanks Dave,

 

Thelma Performing Arts will do some advertising and so will we.

 

I'll be reporting on the gig with pics.

 

Daryl

Looking forward to the gig review Daryl, hopefully some vid clips would be great too.

Dave

11 minutes ago, BassAdder60 said:

Wow 4 pages of response to my question !! 
 

I’m looking to flip sides and go stage left ( next to lead guitarist ) and see how that works out 

WOW lead guitarist won't like that. Having to share his side of the stage with someone else. I can see much huffiness 

Dave

Hartke for me. Bought a Kilo amp head when they first came out from Thomann. 

Didn't work. Even at full master volume i could talk over it at home.

Tried contacting Hartke and even the owner who was forever advertising that he would answer every email. They didn't respond at all.

Returned to Thomann who were excellent and gave a full refund without issue.

WAL basses. Bought a custom fretless in early 80's. Had a dead spot on G string. WAL didn't want to know. Would never buy another new one. Well that and the fact they now even more stupid money.

Lookers Volvo Glasgow much the same as others have said about car dealerships, told me things were needing done but when i took to my local garage they couldn't find any issues at all. Also poor customer service in dealership. During Covid you had to book your car in for a specific appointment and i decided to wait as it was a minor service. While there the girl at front desk who is meant to be the welcoming face of Lookers Volvo, asked everyone in the sales room if they wanted a tea or coffee except me the one and only customer who had been waiting for 2hrs. No-one even spoke to me while i was waiting except for the floor cleaning guy who said good morning and a bit of a blether. Compare that to a Porsche dealership that i didn't even buy from but offered me tea or coffee and expensive type choc biscuits while i was just in looking around.

Sure there are others.

Dave

1 hour ago, nilorius said:

I don't care - more right or left. Don't remember i had a chance to stand at the center ever.

In 3 piece bands i've been in there was no centre stage. Guitarist/singer at one end of stage and bass (me !!!) at other end and we came together in middle for guitar solos on occasion.

Love a 3 piece band tho. When it works it really is the dogs "elbows". 

Dave

43 minutes ago, tauzero said:

All these people saying they base their position on not having the headstock hitting things - for heaven's sake just go headless, then you only smack the singer round the back of the head if you really want to.

Is that not what the "head" stock is for. ? 

Dave

5 hours ago, peteb said:

After a couple of gigs with the new band last week, it was back to the Zep tribute on Saturday playing a relatively local gig at Studio 5 in Keighley (or K-town as it is known in these parts). 

 

A good gig all in all, with a pretty decent turnout (always a relief when you are playing locally). The only issue was the guitar players Helix multi FX playing up when he changed guitars (he had to turn it off and on again) to the double-neck! It's funny how that guitar got a cheer all of its own when it was brought out, a boo when we thought that it was the guitar playing up and Chris would have to use the six string, and then another cheer when he realised it was the Helix and plugged the double-neck in again! 

 

Next gig in Llandudno in North Wales on Saturday. 

 

Have to admit i'm always impressed when i see the twin necks out in mates Zep tribute band and on occasion a Rush tribute will have them. They do look good. 

Must be great playing some of those Zep bass lines Pete. Nice set up you have behind you too.

Singer looks like a young Coverdale in that pic LOL

Dave

41 minutes ago, Huge Hands said:

I tend to favour standing to the drummer's right as I often play EUB and sing backing vocals and want to look across the instrument/my hands (when singing) towards the lead singer who is usually centre stage.  It all feels a bit backwards otherwise.

 

 

That was always my way of thinking until i had to move to the other side and that forced me to play without looking at my left hand which was great when the only bass i used was my Sandberg VM4. When i changed to a Fender or the Godin with less frets it seemed to throw me for a bit until i got more of a feel for the other basses.

Dave

4 minutes ago, TimR said:

 

Yes. We also have 'house lights', and 'front of house' PA. 

Of course and i never even gave that a thought to be honest. 👍

Dave

3 hours ago, TimR said:

Stage Right is right hand side looking from the stage towards the audience.

 

House Right is righthand of the stage looking at the stage from the audience (house). 

The thread had gone too far and wasn't worth trying to correct it now but nice to hear it explained.

I wasn't aware of house right and left, so that's a bonus.

Dave

Almost always stood on LHS of drummer looking at the band from an audience view until we started the Glam band and the guitarist wanted to stand at that side. Then when i joined the punk band the guitarist wanted the same side. I now stand at RHS of drummer in both bands.

It doesn't really matter to me TBH.

If playing in rock bands with keys players it was usually keys on left then bass then drums and then guitarist with singer out front and that seemed to be the norm much the same as Deep Purple. 

I preferred the LHS because i didn't have to worry about hitting headstock off walls on my left plus it meant i could naturally look over my fretboard hand and it would look like i was just looking at other band members or singer etc but that's more tongue in cheek than true. 

Don't honestly think it matters and audience probably wont notice.

Dave

4 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

May 3rd , Thelma Performing Arts Center is my next gig. Tickets are $20.00 and the event an hour away from our base. I don't know how we're going draw even a respectable size crowd.

 

Daryl

Looks like a nice venue Daryl, sure you will pull in a decent crowd. Who is doing the advertising and promotion for it. You just need to push that and make sure the local Facebook "what's on" or "gig guide" pages have your promotion on them.

We have around 3-4 FB pages in different areas we play that we fire the gig advert onto. Not sure if it helps but i like to think it brings the band to people that may not normally follow us.

Dave

2 hours ago, Leonard Smalls said:

We had a pretty good one in Malvern last night supporting old skool punx The Samples.

Decent sized crowd (room was almost full for us) and sound was pretty good - as the PA was vocals only and I had the biggest amp I could actually hear myself. I'd also put in simple tube compressor/noisegate combo in my Helix for a clean (for me!) bass sound. Gear was Parker bass through Helix into BBE pre and DBX rack compressor, Crown pwer amp and Markbass 4x10.

Icing on the cake was that everybody hated us and nobody gave any compliments about anything we did until we left the stage and there was a collective shout of "Thank fck for that!"

Anyway, here's a bit...

 

 

There's people dancing, couldn't have been that bad plus i like that song.

Dave

No gigs till start of May for me. Its actually been a welcome break in April having just the drummers birthday gig last weekend which took up 3 days Set up Fri, gig Sat and collect the gear Sun.

Enjoying the quiet weekends.

Dave