Plenty of responses to my original post, so here's my take.
We've played with them before and they're local and the bassist is a good sort.
I handed him bass with my strap fitted, with straplocks. He was reasonably gentle with it, not that he had much choice; i play with a pretty low action. Actually, I think possibly learnt something, which is play more gently and let the amp and PA do the work. More dynamics and it just sounds better.
We also got lots of thanks from the stage, a good turn out and credit for being decent chaps.
If he'd been a bit of a pink torpedo I wouldn't have helped him