Burns-bass

It’s interesting where simply being bad at business or investing in a dying operational model mutates into wilful corporate malfeasance. I don’t know enough about GAK to be honest, but the majority of failed businesses I’ve known aren’t through design, but circumstance. If also say HMRC are, for the most part fantastic and fair. I had a problem and they sorted it, offered advice and enforced no penalties. The systems we have aren’t perfect and can be abused (VAT is a classic one that open to abuse) but we have to deal with what we have.

Personally I have invested tens of thousands of pounds of my own money in my business. I have worked more hours than I should, in some cases to the detriment of my health and my relationship. During COVID I had to take on loans to keep the business going as we got zero support while others received tens of thousands. I’ve spent lots (and I mean Fodera/pre-CBS levels) on innovations. Some have worked, many have failed. I’m probably no better off than had I maintained my career trajectory in-house. I think my experience is probably similar to lots of Ltd company owners.

Steve is going to view this through the lens of a taxman. Owners and employers jointly create wealth, which is true. The argument for lower taxes on business people is that it encourages them to invest and take risks. But taxes aren’t lower for most small businesses. The reality is that dividend reliefs are pretty much gone and most Ltd company directors (like me) pay similar rates of tax to PAYE employees.

We’ve had this discussion before. It’s not necessarily about risk, but about flexibility too. Plus dividends are taxed after corporation tax has been paid. The reality is that I pay similar amounts to of tax on my Ltd company earnings as I do on my private work (declared on my self assessment tax). The overwhelming majority of small Ltd shareholders who are owners will pay pretty much the same tax as PAYE employees (with no holiday pay, sick pay or other associated benefits). GAK is more likely to have been the victim of changing circumstance bit corporate malfeasance, but we can’t say for sure.

A lot of jazz jam sessions can be exclusive, but not always. There’s a great one near me (The Stillage pub) where all people are welcome.

I agree. The Rumble is fine if you’re using a magnetic pickup. I find my EBS Reidmar is amazing at amplifying the magnetic pickup. But the Markbass and PJB stuff I had was much better with a piezo.

This community will always help, I’m sure.

Will Gregory (of Goldfrapp fame) is doing a vintage synth gig at St George’s Bristol. I am going.

Maybe it’s because the rules of engagement are all different? I did one blues jam where you had to bring an instrument. I did another where a great bass player (member here) let me use his. I do jazz sessions where people will spend hours on my double bass. It’s all contextual, innit.

Seems awful. But I just can’t watch these videos without cringing.

Mark is a lovely chap.

I’ve got a basically new TRBX305 for sale at £299 here. I found the Yamaha’s pickups and electronics were flexible enough to provide me with a broad range of sounds. As an active bass of course you get a massive output! More than welcome to come and give it a try:

If anyone has ever done Grades it sounds like the sort of stuff we had to use while teaching in the 2000s. "Dirty Dog" a 3-minute funk jam in Bb with an 8-bar improvised solo section, etc.

It's just people showing off, isn't it? That's as old as time itself, but I don't understand why you'd want to waste time watching it...

I have no idea how this all works. The YouTube thing sort of passes me by, but this is properly dodgy. I did wonder how they managed to execute such note perfect stuff. Turns out it’s all BS.

Did the first of a run of 4 gigs this week (tiring). Very cool little pub and was a fantastic gig. Got out of there at 12:30.