peteb

[quote name='Bassmonkey' timestamp='1427213052' post='2727297'] This weekend, Friday The New Inn Farsley (Leeds) - first time there but is a lively pub, gets full of fairly young drinkers, opens late and can be a bit rough apparently but should be OK. We will play 9-11.20 with no break. Sat night, The Bankhouse in Pudsey. Nice pub, played there loads but it as neighbour noise complaint issues so will be finished by 11 (starting at 8.30) They are both gonna be busy - both us and the venues have advertised. Pete - how did The Old Crown go? one of my pals knew one of your band so went down, said it was a good night. Andy [/quote] It was a good night Andy. It's a decent place with a good atmosphere and they've got Debi helping to book bands and she has made an effort to only book suitable, pretty decent bands so far. It looks like it is going to be a good curcuit gig and should do well, especially as a couple of other venues have changed hands recently so who knows which way they are going to go! Let me know when you're playing there and I will try and get down if I'm not gigging.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1426964212' post='2724191'] Unless you like bedroom playing, I'd stay with it until something that's a better match for you is available and realistic. And it will happen, maybe sooner than you think. blue [/quote] +1 I would say that is a sensible approach to the situation...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1426957679' post='2724060'] Nice Pete! I wish I was as busy as you. I just don't no where to start in terms of networking that would ad value and work to what I already have. Blue [/quote] The thing is that you play more gigs than me and certainly make more money from gigging! We are getting paid reasonably well for the Scottish jaunt, but after the petrol and a hotel room I will make less than I did last night from playing a small pub gig!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1426906624' post='2723405'] Cool, yeah sounds like a similar type gig Pete. And I have heard that what the people hear in the back of the club is not as good as what the folks up front hear. Thing is, the attendance for our gig can be severely handy-capped, depending on whose playing at The Bridge Inn and The 5 Corners Road House. Here's something else, The nationally touring Samantha Fish is playing in the same town, about 10 minutes away from our gig tomorrow night. They have a similar show except they are not a bar band they are headliners. I have met Samantha, I think she's like 25 and travels w/ her parents ( I think ). It would be cool if she could stop by our gig. I don't think bands do that anymore. [url="http://www.samanthafish.com/"]http://www.samanthafish.com/[/url] Blue [/quote] A similar type band playing in town can be a big factor in determining what size crowd will turn up – something that more landlords / promoters need to be aware of! The gig I’ve got next weekend is somewhat different proposition to last night, a blues festival in Montrose (Scotland) involving a 300 mile drive then three shows in three different venues – all in the same day! The gig the following weekend is the rock band again, playing quite a big outdoor (marquee) biker event. Shows the different types of gigs you pick up on the semi-pro circuit…!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1426954129' post='2723974'] Looks cool. Age and level of experience is not needed for this topic unless your not old enough to get in. We'll let you know when we need your age. Actually that is something that is not clear to me regarding drinking ages in the UK. Over here you have to have ID proving your 21 to patron bars and drink alcohol. Blue [/quote] 18 over here in Blighty...!

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1426947570' post='2723826'] I used to play there. Is Fred still the landlord or did his daughter take it over? [/quote] Fred is still there and if you are referring to Sam - she's his wife, not his daughter...!

Just got back from playing the Bridge Tavern in Bradford. Very much a 'typical' small pub gig, it is pretty similar to the gig Blue describes, except it has a slightly strange layout that means that the sound is can be a bit hit and miss (depending on where you are standing). Been playing there for years but if I'm being honest it's not really my favourite gig - decent crowd but you don't get as many punters going as a few years ago (especially on a Friday) and it's a little bit too much like playing in someone's (admittedly rather big ) front room. However it fills out the diary and the landlord/lady are good people and have always supported various bands I have been in (and vice versa of course). Saturday nights tend to bring out a few old faces and my last band used to turn it into a bit of a jam / drinking session. Not so much in the new band unfortunately, due to most of us having to drive!

Just come across a good version from Billy Sheehan [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXbcPmekjP4"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXbcPmekjP4[/url] Probably not too much help thru..! There are loads of decent clips of the guitar intro on YouTube, which is a pretty good start as it is played in unison with the bass...

I love playing big stages when I get the chance but onstage sound can be a problem! You sometimes get a sound crew who want to keep the onstage volume very low. You are then very reliant on decent monitoring, which you often won’t get especially if you are on one of the earlier spots on a festival or similar event. So it might sound great out front but the band aren’t grooving because they can’t hear each other! It is far better if you can hear your rig across the whole stage and are not so reliant on the monitor engineer…

By all accounts a horrible person but one of the all time great / most influential drummers ever...

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1423146172' post='2681384'] A keyboard player I worked with a few years ago mentioned to me that the other musicians that played for Texas were on about 70k a year when the band were at their most popular. This could be nonsense but the guy was quite a honest ma. If true, it`s decent money to do something you love. [/quote] I'm sure that's true, but you have to remember that it can be a short career. The ones who prosper in the long term are those who get the songwriting credits / points.

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1422952805' post='2678663'] I'm not surprised that the wire sheared. I used to use the multicomp with a battery before seeing the light and getting a pedaltrain. The battery compartment is REALLY tight and there wasn't much spare wire to get access the terminals. Changing batteries was always a nervy time. [/quote] Yes, it is a bit of a design fault! Unfortunately, I was a bit previous in thinking that all was well with the pedal - one fault has been fixed but it is still not working! I will have to take it to an electronics guy when I get the chance / have a few quid spare!

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1423054266' post='2680015'] With the learning from pros thing, has anyone had a lesson with a named pro player? Cause I certainly want some! The pros are pro for a reason and if I can learn a little bit from whomever I meet of them then I'll be happy! [/quote] Yes - well a lesson from a pro who plays with some very big name players (recommended by Jake). I'm sure that everyone here could learn from the top pros, but probably not on a forum. What I would suggest is to book a one-off lesson, send him a few live YouTube clips and ask for a critique of your playing. Of course when you get there, ask them lots of questions. There some pros who are incredible technical musicians, but most are very solid, experienced players with a great ear. I always thought that I had a decent ear, but the guy I went to was different class...

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1423009397' post='2679654'] I completely agree. But I think it's human nature mate. OMG!!! OMG!!! OMG!!! I met Alex Lifeson!!! He was so NIIIICE!!!! OMG!!! They be dining out on that for a year [/quote] As you say it's human nature to want to meet your heroes and it is also part of the price of fame. Alex Lifeson handles it with good grace whilst Neil Peat doesn't...

Now gone - picked up by Ash this evening...

Another Xotic Jazz player - thoroughly recommend them, sounds and plays as good as any jazz I've ever played...

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1422455876' post='2672898'] Mono Vertigo may do it, their new Sleeve may be even better. The new Gator ProGo bag is very nice too. [/quote] I've got the Sleeve bag - it is pretty light and comfortable to wear on your back but I am not keen on the pocket to hold leads, etc. It is not the easiest to access easily.

Terrible bands can get plenty of gigs - if they are good at blagging them! If they can consistently pull a crowd then they must have something going for them - even if the likes of you and I don't rate them! There are plenty of good bands who do not work as often as they should do because they are badly organised.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1422557773' post='2674132'] I think this came up earlier, any band can't get gigs. Someone in the band has to know how to sell their band, get and book gigs. I know of several really good bar bands that for whatever reason can't promote and get gigs and there are marginal bands that can promote and gig consistently. IMHO it can be said like this; [i]"being good alone does not guarantee gigs" [/i] Blue [/quote] That is certainly true both sides of the pond. One of the least impressive guitar players I have ever played with has made a pretty decent living at times as a pro musician and still makes good money from playing to this day! He may be a pretty mediocre player, but he is very good with the business side of things and would make a hell of a booking agent, etc. Certainly the band I played in with him made very decent money the time I was with them…

It's hard to say. There are established bands that will go out for decent money but might not gig every weekend. At a bar level, there are only so many times a band can play the decent local venues in any one year, so to work regularly a band has to travel greater distances (still at pub money) or people play in multiple bands! Personally I play local gigs (and the odd motorcycle rally or other bigger event) with a rock band, but also play bigger (but fewer) gigs all over the country with another band appealing to a niche market. This also leaves me free to play the occasional dep and to play with other bands when a worthwhile opportunity arises. Funnily enough I have some friends in Texas who have same approach, only much more so. All really good players and more like hired guns, they could be touring with a band or solo artist one week and when they get back, playing a couple of bars with two different bands the following weekend.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1422466535' post='2673085'] I know what you mean Pete. I'm not looking and my band is a perfect fit for me. However, I always like to know whats going on and who's looking. I'm not native to Milwaukee, my history is in New Jersey. I don't have access to the Milwaukee inner circle or the grapevine. Blue [/quote] That’s kinda the problem of playing with only one band! If you are looking for other opportunities you need to play with more people, get your name out there and build up a bit of a reputation. Then your name is already in the frame when decent gigs do come up and someone is looking for a bass player…

TBH I'm a little bit surprised that you follow these adverts so closely - I don't think that I've looked at one for 30 years! I tend to find out about bands / new gigs through the grapevine and judge them on their reputation...

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