Len_derby

Welcome!

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1380130065' post='2221313'] !5 minute changeover, good luck. [/quote] Just enough time to don cagoule and over-trousers. Jokes to one side, one of the bands I play with do a lot of community and charity events. Some outdoor, some indoor. It's my experience that a lot of the organisers, who are usually lovely and committed people, often have no real idea about what's involved in putting on a band. If possible, you need to communicate early and tell them, 'right, this is what we need....etc'. I've often found the organisers are relieved that someone in the know can help them make it happen. A win-win. I wish I'd got a tenner for every time one of them has said 'Oh yeah, I hadn't thought of that'. A current example, I'm liaising with the organiser of an indoor fundraising event where we are to play a quiet set whilst other things are happening. I've persuaded the lady that we really need to be as close to a power-source as possible. It's for a charity supporting the independently-living sight impaired community. She just hadn't realised that we might have trailing cables. I'd prefer a better way to get in the papers!

What you are doing is great Sylvia. I'm sure we all appreciate it, and I can see the point of the big name involvement. But, we seemed to have stalled on the money raising. So far, it's been 'normal' basschatters sweating it out with the bass and rattling the tins in relatively lowly gigs who've raised the money. I'm happy to be proved wrong, but as far as I can see 'celebrity' involvement hasn't put a penny on the money raised. I know we hope it will, through publicity and auction value, but I'm concerned we might lose momentum. Particularly as there are members asking for the bass to gig with. Please don't take this as a criticism of what you're doing, and like a lot of us, I have very personal reasons for wanting to assist cancer research. I'm just suggesting a re-think perhaps. My take is that it's the Little People working together who really change the world. Len

Welcome Paul. There's some great basses on sale here at the moment, and at very attractive prices. Here's a tip for a newbie. Play with other people. It really accelerates skill levels. Of course, you may be doing that already. In which case, we look forward to your postings in the 'why is it such a pain trying to keep a band going' threads. Enjoy yourself! Len

A charity event with the barn dance band. A full dance-floor, free bar for the band and over £1000 raised. Great night.

Welcome Saxy Beast. There's some who have made multi-million pound careers by vaguely mastering the 12-bar blues.

That's great news, well done. I'm so pleased I've got a first edition!

Welcome! I've never had the chance to try an Ashbory but they look good fun and sound great. [quote name='duffer1' timestamp='1379117508' post='2208978'] I don't plan on being anything special, just plodding along in the background [/quote] A wise philosophy in my opinion. A combination of playing bass and the opposite aim = tears before bedtime

I have a LMIII which sits atop my Barefaced BigOne. A small off-cut of carpet (shag pile of course) under the amp seems to do the trick.

Welcome Leo, an excellent name for a bass player.

Welcome to Basschat.

Welcome Sunhound!

Another call for Hartke amps. I bought an HA250 at rock-bottom price off here and it's been great. I run it through a 2x10.

If you were going to buy, I suggest 'Revelator'. Probably their best regarded studio album. Certainly my favourite.

Welcome Frosty. Enjoy the journey. Persuade her to go for drums. Much more useful. Len (bass and banjoist)

Welcome Rob. "Why not. Give it a go. Have fun." Good philosophy. Len

Thinking back, my musical life (such as it is) would not have started if other bands had not generously let me use their gear. As a typically teenager I thought I knew it all, and I lacked the social skills and experience to say 'please' and 'thank you' properly. I know I must have used gear in a way that made its owners wince. But...they let me, and almost without exception encouraged me. Like most of us on this forum, I've worked long and hard to get the gear I've got now. But, its only stuff.

Welcome Steve. It's never to late to have fun.

Take a look at the Yamaha range. I bought a used TRB off this forum and I'm well pleased with it. 35 inch scale though. If you're anywhere near Derby you're very welcome to come and try it.

Welcome Tamaru. Enjoy the forum.

It depends doesn't it? The nightmare scenario is the pished-up 'hero' egged-on by his mates at the pub, or the situation where people just don't have the courtesy to ask. But, in the right circumstance like Hobbayne above it can be a good thing to do. Next week I'll be doing my MD job at a schools-out club. Most of the gear being used will be mine (PA, back-line, instruments including drums). The kids (5-11yrs) are all encouraged to have a go. It's great fun. It will be the Squier Telebass I take down there though.....

Welcome Jim. Enjoy the forum.

[quote name='phil.i.stein' timestamp='1377202338' post='2184830'] having listened to your clips, Earth Wind and Fire, and some early Commodores stuff beats that hands down. [b]passion need not involve religion[/b]. in fact, i'm passionately anti. [/quote] I agree. I just meant within the context of the genre roughly defined as 'Gospel'.

I fully respect your standpoint on your religious beliefs, that's your business and no one else's But, as a church-goer and a player in a gospel band I think you're going to struggle to find secular music of a similar kind with the same passion. God-free Gospel is like alcohol-free beer. I'd be very happy to be proved wrong though, and I'm looking forward to hearing some bass-chatter suggestions.

Welcome Lloyd.