ricksterphil

We do the intros somewhere in the 2nd set and generally the audience like it.

We turned up to a gig, no set list, no paper to write one out either. We asked the bar staff if they could help.....the set list was written out on till roll.....it was the only paper they had. It worked tho

My big beef with my band. Waiting for the guitarist to tune up, find his plectrum etc, waiting while the drummer drinks his pint or searches for his sticks on the floor (get a stick bag fer cryin out loud). I'm a big fan of 3 songs back to back, pause for 'hello and we are' type chat then straight in with the next 3 songs. My bandmates don't get it, so I've given up. I once went to see Gladys Knight and the Pips and THAT was a proper performance with everything to time and script and no gaps between songs unless they were planned and even then there was some background music being played. I suppose some might say that it's too slick, but I loved it. There's a pretty good local folk singer I know who rambles on about the back story of each song for a good five minutes before playing it, but I guess that's part of the folk genre

Great story.....👍 "After explaining I was considered medically complete...." 😂

This ☝

and on that note. This has to be the maddest version of that particular classic

and wear a large pink wig 🤣

Try seeing if there's any dep work going locally. People in bands know other bands and you might get a lead that way and it gets you in the game. Same goes for your BIL and drummers are usually in short supply if they're any good.

Kissing Frogs is not recommended. They don't like it, apparently

Played a gig in Hinckley to the proverbial 3 men and a dog and I've done gigs where the crowd is standing on the bit of floor that passes as a stage it's so busy. I was in a fairly successful Bowie Tribute band for 5 years and we usually got great crowds, but that's because we were pretty good and it's the draw of Mr Jones himself. I imagine most decent tributes get the same lift in attendance from fans of the original band or artist being tributed. I'm now in a Country Rock band and we get pretty good crowds, including 130 at a ticketed event in Melton Mowbray. Again, we're not too shabby and Country is hot right now in the UK. On Daryl's point, it is soul destroying to play to thin air. I get upset if the venue is full and I don't see heads nodding and feet tapping. However, as has been said, the show must go on and there's no excuse for not putting in 100% (or for wearing shorts on stage unless you're the drummer 😂)

I've depped once at Gloworm Festival for Johnny & the Raindrops. I enjoyed it and as it happened, the drummer was also depping and we gelled really well. I did loads of prep and had everything on my tablet clamped to a mic stand JIC They do original songs for kids and Johnny gets loads of kids up on stage playing carboard guitars, which is brilliant. At the gig I did, as the kids cam off stage I was high-fiving them and one of the little girls gave me a hug! My best moment on stage ever!

English Teacher at Rock City* Nottingham in November and then Elkie Brooks' farewell tour at De Montford Hall in Lestah next March or as their website has it "Rocky City" 😂

It's just if that number changes cos someone leaves you're knackered. Band email, website and socials are all definitely, obvs Agree on gloss lam. The soft touch Matt lam is a no-no too imo

Solopress and Helloprint are both excellent I'd advise single sided on 400gsm silk art board so you can write stuff like your mobile number on the back. Don't be tempted by gloss or matt lamination as you won't be able to write on 'em proper 😊

Our sax player tried using her flute once. It didn't really work musically and all me and the lead guitarist could do while she was playing was stand on one leg with t'other foot on our knee-cap Ian Anderson style. This was, of course, during rehearsal

Those are the badgers

Basses where the upper horn thingy is a slab with no gap. It's just WRONG ok! Too long gaps between songs on stage while the drummer adjusts his kit, retrieves his sticks and banters with the audience. Ok this is not irrational at all but it REALLY winds me up. People who use CAPITALS randomly in typing Ashtrays and pick up covers on P basses. JUST TAKE THE FERKIN THINGS OFF why don't you. Sound engineers who don't have a clue Shorts worn on stage unless it's a festival but then only if absolutely necessary Singers who roam out into the crowd and flirt with the audience. The band is on stage, the crowd aren't and the lines must not be crossed unless there's a fire .....I might have forgotten to take my meds today so it's back to the padded room for me

I started on a 6-string nylon which I ruined by adding steel strings. I got my first bass at 13, it was a semi hollow Hofner with a banana neck which I ruined by over tightening the truss rod. My first 'proper' bass was an old Epiphone SG style and then my Dad stumped up for a 73 Rickenbacker 4001 in black with the rare checkerboard binding (thanks Dad). This bass inspired my BC handle. Stupidly sold it in the early 80's for £275 and spotted it recently in Andy Baxter's shop for £4000. Ho hum. I was inspired to play bass cos with fewer strings, it looked easier than playing a 6-string.

Been there, done that. In my defence I bought one to use when I was in a Panto band. Haven't used it since

Applies to at least 50% of my pedal purchases

A Gibson Thunderbird, which looked the bogs dollocks but was uncomfortable to play and had a very thin neck at the nut end. Flogged it on evilbay and bought a Mike Lull M4V

Thanks.....great knowledge. Reading those names has brought back some memories

Me and my band used to travel up to Birmingham in the 70's to go round the music shops, of which there were many, I reckon 5 or 6. I remember Musical Exchanges and have been in there many times. We bought a Traynor PA in one of the shops and our drummer's dad was paying. He knocked them down from £420 to £240. At the last haggle, we were leaving the shop without buying anything until the manager said, 'oh ok, I'll take your offer' An excellent and early lesson in the art of the deal, long before anyone had heard of Donald T Rump