Silvia Bluejay

Not sure exactly where such a topic should reside, so Mods, please feel free to move it where appropriate. I've shared this on my FB page, and thought I might do the same here. If you play "relaxed" original music and would like some exposure at the Mastercard Lates at the Natural History Museum, check this out. I'm not involved with the NHM in any way other than as a regular visitor to the Mastercard Lates. I have found myself mesmerised by the resident band(s) of the night several times in the past - making a move to leave and just stopping to listen for a moment, and then promptly forgetting about anything else and staying on. [url="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/after-hours/lates-master-card/open-mic-lates/index.html"]http://www.nhm.ac.uk...ates/index.html[/url]

I love 5-stringers and could not play without one. In general: 1 - you really need to get used to that bottom string being a B, not and E, and that third fret being a D, not a G (easily done with some practice, but it does take a little time to readjust when you swap basses with a 4). 2 - a 5 will tend to sound different, usually deeper, than a 4, even when playing the same note on the same string and fret on the two basses. 3 - the neck is obviously wider, and you do have to get used to moving your hand and fingers around a little more. One of the reasons why I love my fretless 5 is that it allows me to jump around the fingerboard with less effort than a fretted. 4 - to do justice to a 5, you need a good amp (although I manage all right with my 20W Peavey, then again, I don't play live). Do take the plunge and enjoy!

Oh my god, it was a fantastic night made sweeter by the result of [i]that[/i] match Thank you guys, as always. I've taken around a bilion photos, some of which will end up on the band's website and FB page eventually, after a ruthless selection process Hope you got home all right, Si.

Welcome Mark! I guess you can say you don't live in a house, you live in a music store - and this is the right place to be for gearheads, bassheads, musician's musicians and lovely people in general, so get stuck in

I may try to come along too, late work permitting, if I can find a reasonable way of getting back to W4 by tube after the gig. I've pencilled it in.

Will the gig also be a birthday celebration, Si? (IIRC) What's the exact date? Edit: LOL, checked your profile, well, you look waay younger than your stated age, what's your secret?? Jokes apart, I'll bring a card!

YAY!

In diary!

Rock You Like A Hurricane - The Scorpions Livin' On A Prayer, Bad Medicine, and practically anything non-ballady by Bon Jovi...

YAY! No other commitments that day - in diary! Thank you

I know nothing about bows, but a similar thread was started here some time ago and you may like to have a quick read through - it's at the bottom of this page: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/176400-cheap-carbon-fibre-bows/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/176400-cheap-carbon-fibre-bows/[/url]

I think my only options would be to fly from Gatwick (which is OK) or Heathrow (which I go out of my way to avoid like the plague). Getting to Stansted from Chiswick takes as much time and money as flying to my destination, and it's just not worth the hassle.

Thank you Garey for all your help! I'm considering all my options and watching my work schedule, and will let you know of any developments. Kiwi, what a shame, obviously too long a journey for you, but it would have been nice to have a small gathering of BCers there. Anyone else tempted?

LOVING your answers! Mixture of ROFL and oh-so-true Keep 'em coming!

Gorgeous!

Oh, that'd be fantastic, Garey, thanks. The town looks beautiful, and it's famous for luthiery, a bit like Cremona in Italy, but yes, judging by the maps on the website it seems a bit far from everywhere, so any info about how to actually travel there from the airport would very useful. I'm seriously thinking about going, although I need to see how a couple of projects pan out before I can commit. Fingers crossed Thanks again!

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1339610166' post='1691506'] ...you say "I'm buying a new G string" and people don't think you're a cross dresser... [/quote] But they suddenly become willing to accompany you to the shop when you're a woman saying that

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1339609440' post='1691485'] When you find yourself talking to your instrument. Lately I've noticed myself saying 'in you go!' or 'out you come!' to the Fender when putting it in and taking it out of the gig bag. Though I'm not sure if that's the sign of being a real musician or a really mad old spinster [/quote] LOOOL - but you're not a spinster, you're closer to being a divorcee I don't talk to my instruments (yet!) but I've given names to some of them... I suppose I'm in good company though - IIRC a number of you guys name their basses too, and obviously so do/did some big names in music. So it's all right, is it? IS IT???

Garey, what's the nearest or most convenient airport to Markneukirchen, do you know? (Will google too, eventually.)

[quote name='Vinny' timestamp='1339606644' post='1691415'] This thread has now entered the realm of utter fantasy. [/quote] Or you may get a bassist as a groupie...

Haha, repair to clothing? Never tried that so far (but obviously, never say never)

I would actually tend towards either A or B - if your missus is supportive, and kudos to her, I know how it feels - just because you might actually lose not just this tour but the organisers/promoter themselves, who might like to keep the other guy instead. It's down to how much you need them for future gigs and how likely you think they are to ruthlessly replace you.

You're a real musician when you ask "what key is this in?" before joining in a singalong (yes, it happened to me, I wasn't quick enough to stop myself asking...)

[quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1339593850' post='1691079'] [b] You are a real musician when...[/b] you can no longer get car insurance or a mortgage. [/quote] I couldn't get a decent mortgage before I became a musician either (self-employed, y'know, so opted for stumping up the cash). Now there are no fewer than two reasons why I wouldn't get a mortgage if I wanted one. Heh.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1339593704' post='1691074'] She may already have gone - you wouldn't notice. [/quote]