markmcclelland

Mate, absolutely nothing patronising in any of that. Just very appreciative of your support and the fact that you regard yourself as an 'avid' reader of the diary right from the beginning. That's made my day.

[color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][font=inherit][font=inherit]Mark's tinnitus story and things get rolling with [/font][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit]Francesca [/font][/font][/font][font=inherit]as we hit the open mic scene[/font][/font][/font][/color] [color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][font=inherit][font=inherit][url="https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-221/"]https://marksdiaries.../12/19/day-221/[/url][/font][/font][/font][/color]

[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] I'm now looking at the prospect of four gigs in eight days with three acts. Bang. [/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-212/[/font][/color]

Yep guys just keep going. Seems like we're on similar kinds of pages although I'm coming up quite a few years behind. And yeah Blue, we do have it easy from time to time witih the 2x45s but really I like to just keep going. The 2x45s don't really let you get into the zone. But it's also great that you know what you are and you're doing it. That might seem natural for you, but for many it's a distant and impossible dream. That's why they like to hear from guys like you to see what it's like and also to feel connected to that world. It's all an inspiration and can wake others up to what can really be possible. Keep going, but I know you don't need my invitation to do that. And Raymondo, isn't it great that you have that? But yeah, fallout is definitely a bitch. And hope you get yourself sorted bandwise sooner rather than later.

Hey Ralph Thankyou so much for letting me know mate. Funny enough I was flipping through Moby Dick in a shop a few days ago. It looked OK but there was absolutely nothing in there about basses. As for the ending, I kind of feel like everything I've written so far is only prologue. But it really is a journey so use away. And just great to have you along. I'll do my very best for you.

[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] The first one's a bit short so two entries today. The Omater thing might finally be seeing the light of day.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-206/[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] Then this one in which I have a double bass lesson with quite a bit of wisdom thrown in, play my first gig outside of London, and recount a few tales from gigs out in the wild west of Ireland[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-210/[/font][/color]

[color=#4B4F56][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]Where to start? Playing the bass gets me over the line for rent this month and it's a memorable gig. All followed by a very memorable rehearsal before a vintage Blues Kitchen with a bit of a twist.[/font][/font][/font][/color][color=#4B4F56][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-204/[/font][/font][/font][/color]

No worries mate. And when you come back to it, you'll see it's all there. Now for this. [color=#4B4F56][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]A casual project gets the shock treatment and a Punching Preachers gig is such a non event it's an event. Lots more too. [/font][/font][/font][/color][color=#4B4F56][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-196/[/font][/font][/font][/color]

Raymondo, thankyou very much for your support and kind words there and just for reading. Really cool that you check in on here for the stuff. Thanks for letting me know that. I definitely feel what you're saying there and that really sucks. I've only just checked in here myself after a few days and seen this. It's late now and I've just finished an epic diary post which isn't up yet. It's 2:30am and I started at 11:45pm with the intention of getting 20 minutes down but just kept going and finished the entry. So it's definitely time to call it a night. I'll PM you tomorrow with a few thoughts and will answer any questions you have. Who knows? Maybe over time I might just be able to help.

And while we're on it, here's some more. In which I pretend to start to learn Italian, have some real music reading progress, and the time comes for a couple of stories of near misses. https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-194/

Mr Stylon, thanks a lot for bringing that to my attention. It's being rectified. And thanks a lot for the thoughts, and just for keeping reading. Yes, it sure can build up at times. And yes Mr Funk. They sure are. But I tell you what guys, this is why I came to London. But yeah, the Preachers, Omater, work building up and up and trying to get to jams as well. Oh, and social bits from time to time. It can build just a little bit sometimes without realising

[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] It's starting to look increasingly difficult to fit both work and music in. Maybe one of them will have to go. But how?[/font][/color][color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-189/[/font][/color]

[color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]So many memorable happenings in this one. The new house rocks, first visit to Hampstead Heath, and musical adventures with Francesca. [/font][/font][/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-182/[/font][/font][/font][/color]

[color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]I move into quite a mad house and then have an emotional then quite fun reunion with Monica. If it wasn't for her, there may well be no ongoing saga of a wannabe pro bass player in London.[/font][/font][/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-179/[/font][/font][/font][/color]

[color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The one where Mark gets a new house but doesn't move into it. https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-169/[/font][/color]

Thanks a lot Rob. Loving the support. And Blue, really appreciate you keeping up with what's going on.

Hey mate. Thanks a lot for that. I'll get on it.

[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] In this latest entry, I discover I have a great source of contacts in The Blues Kitchen followed by my first music agency tickle. I also put the traumatic London landing to bed in a somewhat emotional late night conversation with Paul, the guy who got me here in the first place. If you've not read that I highly recommend you go and have a look at the beginning of the London Diary. It really is quite something. Someone recently told me it was their favourite part of the whole story so far. That's the thing about this diary writing business sometimes. The worse an experience is, the better a story you get out of it. This is something I am definitely conscious of when sh*t is happening. The first experience was Day 13 of Costa Blanca. Right in the middle of all the sh*t hitting the fan, a big thought came to me saying, 'This is going to be really good in the Diaries.' And it was.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] So, here we go. [/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-158-part-2/[/font][/color]

[color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][font=inherit][font=inherit]And here it is. My first visit to The London Bass Show. Scott Devine and Geoff Chalmers both make an appearance. Also featuring Billy Sheehan, Divinity Roxx and Stuart Clayton. This is the longest post so far.[/font][/font][/font][/color] [color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][font=inherit][font=inherit][url="https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-157/"]https://marksdiaries.../12/19/day-157/[/url][/font][/font][/font][/color]

[color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][font=inherit]Thanks a lot mate. It does happen sometimes. There have been times I've got proper intimidated by how far behind I am and so how much I'm going to have to write to catch up. Well, today's entry is big. The one below, then an epic one to follow immediately.[/font] [font=inherit][font=inherit]This one features that annoying moment when you get offered a great last minute gig and then can't get hold of your band. [/font][/font][/font][/color] [color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][font=inherit][font=inherit][url="https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-154/"]https://marksdiaries.../12/19/day-154/[/url][/font][/font][/font][/color]

Love Scott, love Geoff. Met and hung out with both of them and what you see is what you get. They both genuinely care and yes to just about everything people have said on here. As for the underrated thing, all they're missing is their own masterclasses at the LBS. I'm sure that will come. [quote name='M@23' timestamp='1466250406' post='3074405'] Undoubtedly a quality player. Seems like a good bloke as well. Im not sure what he does outside of teaching, probably not a huge amount as running his business is probably more than a full time job! But, he has seems to have mastered the bass to the point that he would be a top session player/touring musician if that is the direction he chose, as opposed to teaching. Maybe he did that in the past, I don't know? [/quote] Yes he very much has done all of that and has been an MD for international touring projects. He's also got two young kids now so how that's changed things I don't know but up until quite recently he was still posting on FB from gigs he was doing.

[color=#4B4F56][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]It all keeps coming. We rock one of the biggest bar venues in town, the original project's gearing up quite well and it's straight to the stage when I arrive at my number one jam session.[/font][/font][/font][/color][color=#4B4F56][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-149/[/font][/font][/font][/color]

[color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]Paul gets to see his first Punching Preachers gig, Omater rehearsal then an encounter with a familiar face in The Blues Kitchen[/font][/font][/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]http://bit.ly/1UN5mdA[/font][/font][/font][/color]

[color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]This is an epic entry. It covers what's gone down as Trauma Tuesday in The Oxford, Mark cleans up in a casino and Paul Woodage of Cork's Showcase wedding bands comes down for a visit and to see a gig with my first London pro band. The ongoing saga of the wannabe pro bassist.[/font][/font][/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [font=inherit] [font=inherit]https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-138/[/font][/font][/font][/color]

Hey Dan Thanks a lot for that mate. I'm persevering at it right now as I type. I've just taken a quick break marketing us to party companies to check in here. But above, I was being just a tad tongue in cheek. But what you say is really good to hear. Talking to people, and on forums as well at times to be fair, I hear a lot of negativity on how hard/impossible it is and I just have to close my ears to it and keep doing what I'm doing. I'm guessing, for want of a better phrase, the other ship sailed. Which would be a real balls if that happened although the thought was massively appreciated as I'm sure you can imagine. Maybe it was all just too quick. This is the last place in the world I would expect an urgent message to pop up and I probably just saw it a little too late. And as I said, I was just out that day until late in the afternoon when I got back and saw it. I almost didn't even go home as I had an invitation to head on out once my marketing meetings and in-person calls finished. That would have meant I wouldn't have seen it until the next day. But still great to see that opportunities are there. As I said, I'll keep making the phone calls, sending the emails and just getting out there by playing gigs, jamming and simply hanging out. Through that lot of activities, connections that lead to something are bound to be made sooner or later. And if nothing else, you've tested and discovered our attitude. Drop everything at short notice? Hell, no problem. We're there. Good to see you found something else you thought was a step up. I'm sure you'll be doing something similar in the not too distant future. Maybe just not on so distant shores.