blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1500935201' post='3341238'] Certainly I don't know many bands that are playing 3 or 4 gigs a weekend for free. [/quote] Good point Tim. I think most that are playing for free are playing maybe once a month or so. Age is also a factor that can make it go both ways. Guys like me, older and breaking our butts doing multiple 4 hour bar gigs along with festival and fair gigs. We're certainly not playing for free. And then I can certainly understand guys my age that have done the gigging for money thing over the past 40, 50 years and now want cut back or restrict gigging ,relax and play only a few choice gigs for free. And understand my perspective is based in 4 hour US bar gigs. Blue

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1500927761' post='3341167'] Accept it or not, Its a fact. I have never made a living from playing and now dont need to. I give 100% to my practice, rehearsals and gigs, always have and always will. Music means more to me than making money, while I was working I was always thinking about playing, writing, recording. If I could have made a living from music I would have, but It was not to be. I remain a very committed, passionate and well prepared semi pro, with the emphasis on pro. Dont assume that because someone is not being paid they are not taking it seriously, or not giving it 100%. I have seen many top pro bands going through the motions, and young pub bands nailing it. [/quote] Then you are a part of the far and few in between. And nothing is fact merely because I say something or you say something. I get the sense that some think because they play for free they're slightly better than those of us that play for and depend on the money. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1500925377' post='3341145'] Sorry to disagree with people but i don't undertstand why some musicians cant accept that some of us don't need the money and whether i get paid or not doesn't matter to me at all. I have played gigs for free,or very little and i've also played gigs with good money. I've even played good paying gigs and told the other band members to just split the money between them. I didn't need it and they didn't have great paying full time jobs. I've also played charity gigs where all moeney at the door went to a childrens hospital. Does that make me have an amatuer attitude. No it doesn't. Everyone gave their best and none f the 7 bands got paid that day. I put 100% into whatever i do whether its playing bass or when i had my full time job. Its an attitude to give it all i can no matter what i'm doing. I don't go into a gig with an attitude of "they pay sh*t so i'll just give it 60% tonight" I've never let money dictate my life in any way. With regards the point made that if people value your music they will pay for it. Yes that's true if you want to charge them for it. People can still value your music even if you are an amatuer and not paying for it. I don't see the link between ability or attitude and money. I class an amatuer bassist as someone who does it part time or as a hobby. A professional is someone who's sole income is from playing bass. I regard myself as an amatuer bassist but i know people value my playing whether that's an audience or other musicians. I don't recall ever having a "bad gig" where people didn't like the band. If i was asked to play a gig that i thought would be enjoyable to play i would without giving it a 2nd thought money or not. And that would mean i was losing money thru travel costs. Yes i've done those gigs too mainly because i knew i would enjoy them and i did. People need to realise that some people need to make money at playing. That's fine but why criticise those that don't need to make money. I also don't rate musicians as better or worse depending on whether they are professional or amatuer. If they are good that's it for me. Dave [/quote] Sorry Dave, I agree with you on some topics, but not this issue. It's not about whether a musician wants or needs the money. Even people like me that work for ,want and need the money. I say bands like you seem to be describing are far and few in between. The members of my band outside of ne all have full time jobs, however they don't share your "don't need , don't want" position. I can't accept the notion that those that make it a point to play for free approach band management or performance the same way those of us do that are trying to scratch out a living. However, for those who don't need or want the money, I say, proceed. Nobody is stopping you. With all respect Blue

[quote name='Graham' timestamp='1500896606' post='3340871'] I would like to do one of your 4.5 hour sets for the experience, not sure I'd want to do it every week though [/quote] It's been tough in me, because it's summer we do more festivals which are usually a little over an hour. I got use to it but then last Friday we're back to reality, 4 hour bar gig.😣 Blue

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1500717611' post='3339751'] Here's another fave from that session: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBKUVVf52AQ"]https://www.youtube....h?v=UBKUVVf52AQ[/url] At the end of the show they talk about how she nailed it first take too.... [/quote] They did a great job with it. A good rendition. But as a baby boomer I have to say it doesn't come close to the soul and passion captured in the original artists recording. Blue

There's no tight or wrong approach. Sometime stuff works and sometimes it doesn't. There's way too many vaiables. Blue

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1500849077' post='3340643'] Really? I don't believe in that one at all. He wouldn't last 5 mins in any band I listen to. [/quote] Agreed, Sounds like something that reads cool in a magazine,but in reality makes little sense IMO. Blue

[quote name='Graham' timestamp='1500839206' post='3340549'] Without meaning to, we didn't take a break, just played through for 2.5 hours; I think that helped as it kept the momentum going.[/quote] That good endurance. You'll need it if you ever come to the States and do a standard bar gig. You'll play the 2.5 hours take a 15-20 minute break then go back and play another 2 hour set😁 Blue

[quote name='neilp' timestamp='1500842730' post='3340583'] Blue is right. We should strive to be note-perfect AND passionate. It can be done, it is done day in, day out all over the world. Don't settle for less. [/quote] It's all about attitude. I bring it to every gig. But understand, I never have even close to a flawless performance. Blue

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1500847037' post='3340634'] I'm with Blue on the money front. If your band is any good, you will be in demand. It's irrelevant whether you need or want the money, if people value your music, they will pay for it. My opinion is, that if you have an amateur attitude to whether or not you get paid for your music, you'll also have an amateur attitude to the music. [/quote] Thank you Gjones, Good way of putting it, I wish I had your word-smithing and messeging ability. And some of this " we're not in it for the money" is actually, "we can't seem to get any money" Unless your a high school band, meaning your band members are still in school and the age range is 14-17 years old, I hope your not running around begging people to let your band play for free or paying to play. Nothing wrong with that, I just hope your not doing it. But the big take away here is it's not about whether you need or want the money or not. How many times have we heard; "I have a job, so I'm not in it for the money" Blue

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1500814708' post='3340312'] Minimum wage here is $9.70 (£7.50) for those over 25. [/quote] Over here waitresses and hairdressers don't get minimum wage. Blue

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1500775773' post='3340122'] Gig was great, apres gig feast was great and 3 rebookings for next year. all in all a result.[/quote] Nice! We'll have to see what happens next weekend. We have a nice County Fair gig. Blue

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1500763607' post='3340098'] Care to elaborate? Given the number of ways it can go wrong, I'm genuinely amazed when it goes right. [/quote] I'm not sure. While I had fun, I wish we had more time to rehearse. Blue

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1500730857' post='3339853'] Not sure what gigs you're doing these days Chris?? Last night after a (moderately successful) gig I exchanged pleasantries with a few punters, got paid, loaded up the car and then had a 45 minute drive home. Not at all unpleasant, but hardly party central...![/quote] Excellent point Pete I think, at the bar band level fun should be the priority. As a matter of fact whenever I arrive at a gig I start the process by creating a fun atmosphere. Not just for me but the whole band. It's really important. Guys, don't show up at a gig with a sour attitude. Your not that important. Blue

How Was Your Gig Last Night? Not good. Blue

[quote name='Danuman' timestamp='1500654130' post='3339429'] Maybe I wasn't clear, but that is exactly my point! I'd much rather hear the occasional bum note than listen to mechanically 'cleaned up' vocals. [/quote] The show seems extremely polished overall. A ton of editing. I would bet all the tracks are mixed like any full blown pro recording. I love the show. Blue

[quote name='Monkey Steve' timestamp='1500654056' post='3339428'] I see it as a three way split. 1. Those that have to do it for money so want to play every paying gig 2. Those that do it for fun but playing gigs is more fun than not playing gigs so are happy to commit to whatever comes along 3. Those that do it for fun but will only play gigs when it's fun for them, and want to pick and choose and will put other social arrangements before the band when it suits them.[/quote] And some, like me, that do it for the money and still have fun. Whether your in 1, 2 or 3 if your not having fun there's a problem. Blue

[quote name='thepurpleblob' timestamp='1500642294' post='3339319'] Perhaps it's just me, but I've always found being in a band with guys whose motivation is money when your's is just to enjoy yourself can be a recipe for disaster. I've found myself playing awful gigs I wouldn't have touched just because they pay. I'm probably too bitter and miserable though [/quote] I have one of those tonight. I'll have fun and make the best of it, but I need the money for bills, every cent of it. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1500641697' post='3339309'] Who needs money. [/quote] Me 😁 Blue

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1500641237' post='3339300'] I wish mine was like that. Mine's got a whopping great hole underneath the scratchplate. [/quote] I also own the MIJ Fender Sting Signature model. It has the same hole under the plate. The Sting Signature has the contoured body not the slab. Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1500632401' post='3339215'] From the financial calculations people here have previously made these four hour gigs are already tight.[/quote] I thought you guys didn't care about the money.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1500633494' post='3339229'] ...or enthusiastic..? I did the lights and trucking for the band our eldest was in for several years; never got (nor asked for...) a penny. Whilst I was fit enough, I loved it; it took my mind well away from my IT work, and they were great lads. Happy daze..! [/quote] Yeah, it's been said to me; "I get to work with and watch my husband do something he loves" If I can get a woman to stay anywhere near me for more than 5 minutes, I'm doing good. Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1500632401' post='3339215'] From the financial calculations people here have previously made these four hour gigs are already tight, that was before we knew there were more mouths to feed! On top of that if they are getting paid even less than the band members for at least six hours work they must be daft! [/quote] They've been doing it for 12 years and seem to have a blast. Many band don't last 12 months. I've been with the band for the past 6 years. Seems completely normal to me. It's like a big fun family. Blue

1951 early 2000s MIJ Fender reissue Precision. Blue

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1500602189' post='3339046'] Sorry, didn't mean to be cryptic. I mean I wouldn't want to struggle to gig because someone who isn't actually in the band couldn't make it. Les [/quote] You mean someone that doesn't perform on stage, right? Yeah, it would be a huge struggle. I've never had much interest in running sound. I have enough trouble eqing my own rig. 😁 I don't have the apptitude for that stuff, sound or lights. cross over, sends, receive, house vs stage,subs, monitor mix, powered, not powered. It would be a disaster. Asking for payment would be awkward for me as well. I'd have to live with being exposed. However, I'm good at setting up and tear down. Manual labor had never been a problem for me. Blue