Pbassred

I am always amazed how the most pathetic differences create the longest threads. In a sound reproduction forum it would be "what's the best mic" Here it's; "What strings do I use" .... or this one! Playing in a covers band does not stretch your imagination, but it does streach your fingers. In other words I can play lines I never used to. It doesn't take me to hollywood but it does take me to places I would never see and to meet people I would never have met. SO; Can I and the rest of my band write arrainge and learn more than one new song in a month? If thats all they do too, will we learn anything else from each other? Do you play once a week, the same songs, with the same 4 people, for 5 years, and do nothing else. Or grab every oportunity to excercise and develop my skills, and meet the best people? All I can tell you from experience is that I USED to play in one originals band after another. They take ages to start and misplaced ego abound. Interest waines quickly. Not so In covers bands. Sets are longer, there is money at stake, and you can't hide behind the fact that the audience doesn't know the songs. So you need to learn things that you might not have concidered. I find people now regard me as a pro - including originals bands. Because of my involvement in covers, I can do things in originals bands that I never could do before, which make the originals band stronger, and I get the oportunity to work with better talent. Everyone wins. The snobery is miplaced

Its the buying part of evilbay that gives me the willies. The last 2 times I bought some used stage monitors - one burned up after a week - both were very MDF brused! Last time I "bought" some speakers, but the guy missadvertised that he has 2 sets for sale but only had one. New prices are dropping. It kicks the used market right out.

We have a 5 piece funk band hat I want to gig with a lot. What would be the best way to get pub/club gigs. Turn up and try to speak to the manager? Phone? Post out a demo? If so, demo of what? Audio only? Studio takes? Live? Video clips? Web site? Myspace?

[quote name='crez5150' post='216353' date='Jun 10 2008, 06:20 PM']It's not as black and white as booking a whole chain of pubs..... more than often it's down to each individual pub as the PRS License will be allocated in conjunction with the local council due to noise restrictions.[/quote] I'm not talking about booking a chain. Only about booking ONE pub IN a chain. However the management structure within chains is different to freehouses. specialist pubs, tied pubs etc.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' post='215996' date='Jun 10 2008, 10:57 AM']............................................... to book us in other pubs in the chain which hadn't been having music on ................................- it just didn't work out for us.[/quote] That's another problem. If ANY venue is starting music for the first time. you have to educate the punters as well. You can't expect your fans to follow you everywhere. This venue has the right licence. I wasn't thinking of going through the whole chain. I was just asking how much authority the manager has.

So the new band does a taster gig at a a pub which which wants to start doing music. The manager is impressed. "I want you to play here once a month" she says. That works for us as a showcase to bring other punters in. Now we need to negotiate money, publicity, continuity etc.. With a normal owner/landlord that no problem but do pub chains work differently? Any advice? I have a few days.

A good read. I assume that the LED light cant work without a DMX controller? The reason I wanted a shop was to look at the hardware and ask questions. You can't do that on mail order.

I want to light a small band (safely). Anyone know of an idiot's guide? Any tips? I know that there's a shop near me in Harrow ( I live in Herts) but I don't know its name or address.

How do they operate? Who operates them? What do they usually book? When? How is it best to get in touch?

I use the entrails of a dead cat soaked in parafin wax. I can't believe this is ANOTHER "what strings" post. Oh wait. Yes I can.

Just to round off the thread:- I had 3 choises:- Find a high street store that stocked one, Buy on line, go to maplins. I went to maplins in the end. The local shops which had on-line prices were charging £25+ . Put my time and parking in there and you have maybe another fiver. I already tried the shop at Bluewater which had almost no stock of anything(is it closing down?). Online gives you no guarantee of build quality. Maplins sold at £18. Its ok. Sturdy, except for the carry bag, which is the cheapest sack you exer saw. The plastic ( ) zip busted as I opened the bag for the first time! It folds in 2, which the picture doesn't show.

[quote]How do music shops get away with charging this?[/quote] Apparently they didn't. That box has been there since Stringbusters made strings cheap. I wish shops actually stocked stuff though. "we can get it in for you sir". Well so can I mate.

I have a old stand that collapses into nearly nothing, but it looks like its made from old coat hangers. Like this: [url="http://www.djmmusic.com/mmDJM/Images/KM-100-1B-AI.JPG"]http://www.djmmusic.com/mmDJM/Images/KM-100-1B-AI.JPG[/url] Its too lightweight for a book though. THe maplins one is sturdy but it doesn't fold away, so its not really portable. Any suggestions in the middle?

I used to get them new but its been a while. I found out that I prefer them played in a bit. It really doen't take much effort to set them up and make then active. Who wouldn't want active?

The luv pump is a solder sucker used for removing molten solder during disassembly). However I learned recently that they generate static and shouldn't be used on microelectronics (that includes op-amp in your active circuitry). Pros use solder wick instead. Also the screw terminal can lead to a higher resistance joint than solder.

Which three counties? What kind of music? Your Myspace name is so obscine that the filter killed it ...... not a marketing strategy for success!

Not really a "how much do I charge for...." question. There are many bands and different levels an some have different clientel. Naturally an 8 piece wedding band will have trouble playing a small pub. However, for the SAME band. What gig pays best? pubs, clubs, parties, other?

Chic's Dance Dance Dance. Bernard Edwards doing the fake plectrum thing of his across the octaves. Bom biddie, Bom Biddie, Bom biddie, Bom biddie/ Bom Biddie, Bom biddie, Bom biddie, tum tum tum!

Yeah, several posters talked about trying something in the shop and then buying more cheaply on the web. Another mentioned that they didn't seem to care if you bought it or not. The difference is [b]salesmanship[/b]. Don't confuse that with [b]pressure[/b]. Real knowledgeable, enthusiastic salesmanship can shift product. The salesman really aught to be as expert that the customer. "let me show you a trick with that", "listen to THIS setting", "We can set that up for you before you leave sir." is coupled with one vital ingreadient. Bearing in mind that postage costs money and e-companies often claim stock that they don't have, then you need to wait for delivery and maybe take a day of work to recieve it; "You're holding it in your hand. Would you like to take it with you TODAY sir?" Is a REAL seller. Any business that does not understand the importance of TODAY to a customer, does not deserve to be in business. Last time I walked through, they stayed holed up it their counter fortress. "you alright there mate?" Its not the same really, is it?

A bass shop that opens on a Sunday when people with money aren't working would be nice. I did ask them if they ever considdered Opening on a sunday, but the guy said that they mostly dealt with professional musicians who have time during the week. Funny thing is, the last couple of times that I went there during the week, they were empty.

There was a wedding songs thread on here somwhere. This one is easier. Whilst it might be cheating to learn songs for a jam night, a rough knowledge would be useful. So, So what songs would be on your "must know" list? My starters Redhouse (Jimi), Crossroads Blues (E.C. ..... or Robert Johnson if you're a purist)

+5 yam TRB5, TRB1005F, RBX170, Fender pbass, honer B2AFL = 1321

The gig never happened. We were supposed to play a short set of just vox, bass and drums. The drummer went MIA.

I have a gig with an early soundcheck. It's right in the middle of Ladbrooke grove.

I have a problem with singers who write their own glowing prase in the 3rd person.