blue

I guess the wording about gigs is ok, I guess I would get specifics, detailed specifics further into the decision making process.

This is an real ad in a Milwaukee trade paper. Is this a good opportunity, I don't know. For the right person maybe it is. If I were looking it would not be for me. There are too many unknowns. For example to me it's unclear what they have to offer and maybe thats by design? Tear it apart dissect it and share your thoughts. Thanks Blue [i]You: attitude, ability, likable. Strong backing/harmony vocals a must. Ability to learn quickly and play at an expert level. Late 20s to early 40s only, please. Us: modern pop, rock and country cover band. We play complex, interesting, fun, upbeat party rock songs with both male and female leads. Connections to all major festivals and venues. Playing as many as 20 gigs in spring/summer and at least once a month during fall/winter. Corporate sponsorship. Non-negotiable: you must be available for all shows including holidays and some weekdays. Absolutely no smokers of any kind. Bad attitudes will not be accepted. Only bass guitarists with video samples will be considered. *** THIS PROJECT WILL LAUNCH IN FALL 2014 *** Not interested? Please share with those who might be. Thank you.[/i]

Speaking of "Good People", I have been in my current band for 3 years ( I'm a one band only type of guy ) and at every gig without fail ,as soon as I start tearing down our guitarist wife who does marketing and some administartive stuff for the band pays me in cash. There's no band fund and theres never any of that we will pay everyone next week or at rehearsal. It's just a cool way to handle it cause I need the $$$$.

I photograph a lot younger than I actually look. It's all smoke and mirrors and hair dye, however I don't go out of my way to look old.

[quote name='DogHammer' timestamp='1406068369' post='2508128'] Thanks a lot for the tips. I checked out the back line and the bass amp they have for the stage we are on isn't too great so I will be taking the orange rig. Looking forward to it and will get some photos for posting! [/quote] I have always had an interest in Orange. I use GK stuff, but if I ever go the route of a 2nd rig I would consider Orange. I really dig the look of Orange. The stuff is expensive and I have been told it wouldn't be the same Orange product I fell in love with back in the 70s. blue

Nothing beats good people that can play. Blue

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1405949269' post='2506821'] Pub gigs for 3 sets..??? What is the money for those? [/quote] Depends on where you are. For bar gigs in Milwaukee WI, $500.00 would be the absolute top of the scale. $400.00 is the most common pay check regarless of how many peices. Blue

[size=4][font=Arial]The audition process has changed for me as I've gotten older and I hope wiser. [/font] [font=Arial]What's important when auditioning a new member? It will vary depending on the genre, location and age of the band. [/font] [font=Arial]Originals and cover bands will also need to be taken into consideration. There might be some common denominator's. And lets say for the sake of discussion we are talking about bar level bands not pros doing it for a living. Here are a few thoughts;[/font][/size][list] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Experience[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Skill/ chops[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Transportation[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Gear[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Appearance[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Does the candidate know what he/she is looking for in a band[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Does the candidate know how to be in a band[/font][/size] [*][size=4][font=Arial]Age ( that's a real tough one)[/font][/size] [/list] [size=4][font=Arial]I'm 60 and it use to be you always wanted the guy with the best skills and chops. Now I know that candidate is not always the best choice. [/font][/size] [size=4][font=Arial]Another thought, some are looking to join bands for the wrong reasons, like access to substances, drink and women. Some guys out there are good musicians but lack the social skills to be in a band.[/font] [font=Arial]The bullet point on knowing what a guy is looking for in a band. Here in the States, if a guy is looking to gig steady and make some $$$$ , he/she is probably not a good candidate for an originals band. If your looking for creativity and artistic integrity you might not be a match for a cover band.[/font] [font=Arial]Please share any of your thoughts on this topic.[/font] [font=Arial]Blue[/font][/size]

My band plays Summerfest every year on one of the main headliner stages. Having a slot after 5 always helps. Have fun use the backline provided.It just makes things easier. At Summerfest ( largest music fest in the world ) they won't let you use your own amps or drums. However the amps and drums they backline are always 5 star stuff. blue

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1405986677' post='2507336'] Local girl who is doing pretty well on the national blues circuit. I've known her since she first started playing guest spots at local gigs, when she was very young. Funnily enough I was once on the same bill as her in the Orkneys Islands, which was strange as she pretty much used to live around the corner... [/quote] Cool, Yeah we have a young lady from Witchita Kansas over with a similar act. Her name is Samantha Fish. Check her out if you like. I met her at The Shank Hall Show. She has a very well versed bass player. [url="http://www.samanthafish.com/"]http://www.samanthafish.com/[/url] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMUOMJPKUgQ Blue

I'm a newbie here From Milwaukee WI. I'm an older guy and would like to move away from the 4 hour bar gig circuit if I can and tour regionally or nationally. I have a few contacts but no offers or opportunities yet. I did get one personal response from a female blues guitarist from Bradford (Chantel Mcgregor). She was all set with a bass player. I thought it was really decent that she responded. You guys know much about her? Blue

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1405934124' post='2506553'] You look pretty fresh for someone who can remember the early '60s! Great looking bass - I agree that not many can rock the violin shape and look good (Macca and Robbie Shakespeare are the only ones I can think of) [/quote] I'll be 61, still playing 4 hour bar gigs every weekend. It's not as easy as it use to be. I'm still having a blast. Interesting not much attention from the ladies anymore, or not the right ones. Oh well. Bue [sharedmedia=core:attachments:167177]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1405969305' post='2507112'] I'm not saying this is the case here but most times I hear "we like to control our own sound" it translates to "we like to deafen the whole pub, probably empty it and make everyone drink in the pub a few doors up" [/quote] No not at all, we employ very low stage volume and one of the reason we use a full pa was to control the volume so that were not too loud.I see where your coming from, but for us it's the oposite. Blue

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1405967395' post='2507077'] Most of the local pub/club gigs that I've been to have had a full PA with mixing desk and sound engineer (probably varying between 16 channel minimum up to 32 channels) and bands usually mix/share backline and we're talking about venues that accommodate a few hundred people. As far as I can see providing your own PA and lights included in the fee is a sign of professionalism and should be welcomed, unless of course the venue has its own decent in-house system. [/quote] Good point. Interesting how there are these cultural differences. In Milwaukee only the clubs that cater to originals only have in-house PAs. Blue

Well, we get allot of the [i]"you don't need it"[/i] thing, which I understand. But they don't get the whole concept of control. And then some of it comes from a cost perspective. We are at that top of the scale for bar gigs, $500.00 bucks for a 4 piece. Blue

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1405940637' post='2506665'] I think there are other cultural considerations involved in this. Most of the UK is relatively sparcely populated and the idea of any bar outside of London and a couple of other cities being able to fill itself with a credible audience for 5 hours a night on anything other than a Friday or Saturday night is close to fantasy. Add the issue of genres of preference, work patterns, available disposable income etc etc and you have very few areas that could even begin to sustain a scene that would allow for 4 or 5 hour gigs on anything other than an VERY exceptional occasion. I have done Jazz gigs where I have done 4 x 45m sets but have found them interminable and exhausting. As a reader, I have an endless repretoire so it is not about knowing enough material, it is about audiences having the stamina, venues having the audiences to justify that much music etc. I know a lot of US venues practice clearing the venue for each set (Village Vanguard used to do this, I believe) so each set has a different audience. Also eating out in the US is more common than it is in the UK so that may have some bearing on audience size. It is also cheaper, as is fuel, alcohol etc. All sorts of factors are at play here. [/quote] Yes, there are definately cultural considerations. Over here in Yankee land 4 hours is standard. However, except for our true fans, people don't stay for the whole 4 hours and we don't expect them to. Keep in mind were doing 70s hard rock and blues covers. Original bands are doing multi bill shows and play a 1 hour set. Blue

My band takes allot of criticism because we bring full pa and lights into our bar/club gigs. We are a 70s style hard rock band with some blues as well. We employ a full pa because we feel we have better control over our sound especially vocal spikes. Many bands come into bar/clubs and have no more than guitar amps for vocals and don't mic anything and do just fine. What are your thoughts? blue

[quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1405904005' post='2506399'] When I was in a covers band in the '70's, we occasionally did two 90 minute gigs in different venues. Lunch time in one venue, break down and travel to the next gig for 5pm. Out by 9.30am for the first and getting home about 2am. Some weeks we would play 9 gigs in 7 days while holding down full time jobs. I'm knocking on 60 now and I couldn't imagine doing that now. [/quote] I hear you Sam, I'm lookin at 61 real soon and last New Years Eve we did a 2-7, packed up ( lights and full pa) and went to do a 9-1. To be honest, I'm retired and while I still have no problem with the 4 hour bar/club gigs, I have the time and means to start looking at national or regional touring acts. I have been networking and sending out feelers. I actually heard back from a young lady from your side of the pond. A blues guitarist singer song writer Chantel, i forget her last name. Blue

Well, here is another thing. When the band is "on fire" with a good size hot responsive crowd, that 4 hours goes by a lot quicker than playing to an uninterested crowd. BTW, I agree with the set list comment. When the dance floor is filled we push the setlist off to the side for a while. Blue

I am big on what I call "hard core" stage bass appeal. It's why I love my 1991 Gibson Tbird and my Gibson Les Paul Gold Top Bass. At this point in my life and while I know no one notices it, I only want the real deal. The Rick is certainly up at the top of my "hard core" stage appeal bass list. Back in my day, if a guy walked out on stage with a Rick, you knew at some level he meant business! Blue

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1405901684' post='2506390'] In fairness, four hours is a hell of a lot of material if you're going to play it to a good standard. It's one of the few things that gets easier as you get older, provided you can remember all that material of course. [/quote] At 60 actually close to 61, I still love it, however there are certain aspects of it that are harder for me now than when I was in my 20s. Being organized with a plan of action for set up and tear down helps. Blue

I have always wanted a real German made Hofner and recently purchased a new 502 Limited edition Club Bass. I have wanted a Hofner ever since I first saw Paul Playing one back in the early 60s, however I did not go with the Violin Style body. For some reason Paul is the only one that looks cool with that style. I have heard they only make 48 of these limited edition 502s a year. any truth to this? By the way I own several basses and now it's hard to gig with anything but my 502, such a great feel and distinct sound. [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][u][b]Basses[/b][/u][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Hofner 502 Limited Club Bass (German made )[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Gibson, 1991 Sunbust Thunderbird with Ebony Frets[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Gibson, ES-335 Bass Vintage Faded Cherry[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Gibson, Gold Top Bass[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Fender, Sting Precision Bass[/font] Fender, 1959 Precision Bass Reissue G & L, ASAT Bass (Telecaster Body Style)

Well, I think 8-12 or 9-1 is still standard for bar /club gigs on this side of the pond. And I'm talking about those of us that play at the bar/club level, not headliners doing 90 mins. My real concern was to get a consensus on why younger musicians seem to not be into the 4 hour bar gig as previous generations. blue

As a Veteran bass guitar player, I never lost the thrill or fun of the 4 hour bar gig. At 60 i'm still out there in the trenches every weekend with my band. It's not a lot of money but we get paid decent $$$$. Also, important to note, I don't have hobbies or other interests outside of gigging In the States in seems like some of the younger guys don't like the 4 hour bar gig. It could be the pay, or they don't like bars or anything. Why has the 4 hour bar gig lost it's appeal? Comments blue

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Hi Guys,[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Veteran bass guitarist here from Milwaukee by way of New Jersey. [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]My story is not unusual for those of my vintage. You have heard this before. I watched The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show Sunday night on February 9th, 1964. That was it for me, the lyrics, the fun, the look captured me. My Mom purchased my 1st electric bass the next day.[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I have been playing rock and singing background vocals ever since. Never "made it" however at 60 years old I'm still gigging and play about 70 shows annually ( Fairs, festivals, bars and clubs ). I play in a 70s syle rock band with good people and I'm still having a blast. In short, I'm part of a dieing breed, the older 4 hour bar show guy.[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][u][b]Basses[/b][/u][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Hofner 502 Limited Club Bass (German made )[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Gibson, 1991 Sunbust Thunderbird with Ebony Frets[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Gibson, ES-335 Bass Vintage Faded Cherry[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Gibson, Gold Top Bass[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Fender, Sting Precision Bass[/font] Fender, 1959 Precision Bass Reissue G & L, ASAT Bass (Telecaster Body Style) [u][b]AMPs[/b][/u] GK, 1000rb (2) [u][b]Cabs[/b][/u] GK RBX 2 10 cab GK RBX 1 15 cab [u][b]Process[/b][/u] EBS, Multi Comp. Line 6 G30 Wireless Relay MXR Chorus MXR Pre Amp Digitech Bass Synth [size=3][size=4]Boss ODB-3 Bass OverDrive Pedal [/size] [/size] [size=3][size=4]Sincerely[/size][/size] Blue