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[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1349380640' post='1825634'] So, I just did an audition for this thing with the cover band the other day. Out of the 5 bands on I'm pretty confident that we got the best response from the judges... But that's not what this post is really about! Just interested in knowing what it's like really! Any good? Worth sticking around to enjoy the event after playing? Will we end up playing a blinding set of about 25 minutes to three men and a dog??? [/quote] My originals band were invited to "audition" for Glastonbudget this year. We received an email before hand implying that unless we could guarantee at least an audience of at least 20 people turning up on a Wednesday night then we really shouldn't bother. So we didn't. We could have pulled the audience in but surely an audition is about the quality of the performance? I have been as a punter though and if you like a [b]lot[/b] of covers and tribute acts one after another then its alright.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1350257810' post='1836601'] Is it really that hard? [/quote] Yes. Sorry.

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1350294085' post='1836793'] Playing with Kit Richardson's Travelling Circus on Saturday 20th in Chiswick [/quote] Excellent, have a great gig. Anyone else?

Welcome to the forum.

Welcome to the forum. Loads of wonderful people, music and opinions

Evening all, I'll bet that quite a few of our bands are playing at these events all across the country. Maybe we can post when and where we're playing to support Oxfam and come and support each others bands. My band Madam Fade is playing at Manhattan 34 in Leicester on Saturday 20th Oct at about 5.55pm. It'd be great to go and see some other BC bands at other venues on the day. [url="https://www.facebook.com/events/320822704681808/?ref=ts&fref=ts"]Manhattan 34 - Leicester Oxjam[/url] Come on. Who's playing where and when?

[quote name='Jayben' timestamp='1349972254' post='1832978'] Rock tends to be guitar and drum-led, so construct your lines to thicken the guitar parts. Don't be afraid of doubling riffs and pounding root notes in triplets or quavers either.. [/quote] Well said. I'd also highly recommend boosting your low mids to help differentiate your sound from the guitars.

[quote name='Ashwood1985' timestamp='1349898013' post='1832050'] have the 'drums' lower in volume than you'd get away with on a kit for smaller gigs. Meaning we don't have to blast the audience in order to keep up levels with the kit. The one thing we do miss live is some sizzle you'd get from a hat or similar. When the second guitarist isn't playin a part to create space, there are a place or two he grabs an egg shaker lol Although I think it's safe to say that if it's hard to find a drummer, its even harder to find a decent tabla player. Especially one who can fit with more western popular musical structure!! The guys a gem for sure. [/quote] All very good points when considering alternatives to kit drummers.

Another thing has just come to mind. The other day I went to see Red Bharat who are a band from New York. They use a Dhol drum extensively in addition to a drum kit and a percussionist. Wonderful

I'm mostly a pick player at the moment. I agree, string crossing at speed can be tricky. I play passages that require dexterity like that with a floating wrist, but then your left hand muting needs to be on the ball. Well done for using the technique you feel best suits the music rather than the one you're comfortable with.

Like it? Absolutely. My Schecter C-4 isn't the most expensive or fancy bass around and I could probably afford more expensive instruments if I really wanted but this particular instrument does everything I need. It's comfortable to play, great tone to my ears and I love the way it looks. I've played it at all the important gigs I've performed at so has plenty of great memories attached. Like it? Yes

Interesting. I've just started thinking about doing something similar. Despite offering an attenuated di the output from my bass terror is still too hot for some sound techs. I'm thinking of permanently adding a modelling DI box into my chain and giving that signal to foh if required.

As a fellow non-driver I'd definitely consider a hand cart for the cab as suggested by Musicman20. Then its about cutting down on the weight and size of your other gear so you can walk as far as necessary. I do it from time to time and its nice to not rely on others for lifts. [quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1348773295' post='1818089'] 50lbs is reasonably light for a 2x12 you can gig with. I wouldn't bother going smaller. Get a cart to help with the cab. £20 from Amazon. [/quote]

Played at Firebug in Leicester last night with my band Madam Fade. It was a pretty good gig with a decent audience for a Wednesday night. I don't think we played all that well but the crowd seemed to enjoy it and the promoter, sound tech and other bands all said how much they enjoyed it. The sound guy insisted on putting a DI box before my amp so all the lovely grittyness was only onstage. Maybe I need to be a bit more confident in asking for what we want.

[quote name='christopherbassmay' timestamp='1348736088' post='1817423'] forget the mac and the apogee duet 2 that's part of my studio and was sitting on top of the amp. The ashdown I use in general the Mesa has a powerhouse 8x10 to run into but that doesn't come out as much but is epic. [/quote] Ah I see, thanks,

I gig an orange bass terror and sp210 with a heavyish drummer. As a stage monitor it's got plenty of volume, then DI for foh. Light, very small and a little dirt.

[quote name='christopherbassmay' timestamp='1348684780' post='1816956'] One half of my setup [/quote] Oo, looks interesting. Would you mind explaining what it all is and does?

My band, Madam Fade have a gig tomorrow so got together with the band for a rehearsal. Learned that the guitarist's amp is with an amp tech after dying. During rehearsal he received a message from the tech that it'd be at least a week to get fixed. Major last minute worry. He sent some texts round and by the end of the session he had a loaner sorted from a friend of his. What a relief. Rehearsal went ok apart from that. The set is nice and tight so should be a good gig tomorrow.

Always great to hear stories like this. Good on you Clarky. Nice one Toasting for sharing.

Sorry just saw this. Erm, I have no advice on agents but didn't want your post to go unanswered. Best of luck sorting something!

[quote name='Ziphoblat' timestamp='1347912330' post='1806625'] My band went down the DIY recording route. The prices for even the cheaper studios is ridiculous for the quality of the finished products (at least around here), and for the price of a few hours in the studio we managed to pretty much buy everything we needed to record ourselves. We went down the computer interface route (got a Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56) and a cheap drum mic set from a budget brand (Samson, I think it's a re-branding of Stagg or something, think Bugera/Behringer, may be wrong there). We used one of the condensers from the drum mics to record the vocals, and the bass and guitar were both just recorded direct in and run through amp simulators and other digital processors. The advantage to this approach is that whenever we want to record more material we're able to do it cost free. It's more work on your part - the mixing process can be arduous (especially when you're trying to compensate for budget mics), but I prefer it this way. We already had a lot of the necessary equipment (mic stands, XLR cables and what have you) from our live gear. in my opinion. [/quote] mmm something to think about. We've tried self recording but we'd need to really pull our socks up to produce anything decent.

welcome to the forum. Plenty of funky groovy people around.

I guess you'd think that musicians would be into styles of music that prominently feature the instrument they play. From the responses it seems like musicians are into music that they enjoy (I think we can assume including music that doesn't feature their instrument at all). Interesting.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1347825903' post='1805558'] I've started answering this thread a couple of times and realised that most of my knowledge was either out of date or pretty much only relevant to my current band. However thinking about it a bit more then maybe there is some useful advice I can pass on... ...... I think that's all for the moment. If I was to sum it all up it would be to make the most of your resources and opportunities and if you don't ask you'll probably not get. Get out there and be entertaining! [/quote] Wow, what a lot to take in and some excellent points. Thanks for taking the time to put all that down and share your experience. Being entertaining on stage and doing everything you can to promote the band sound like excellent things to focus on.

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1347726034' post='1804387'] Folks, I have an GK MB500 head and a Barefaced Compact cab. No effects at all. If the cab fails at a gig, I have a DI box that enables me to go from the head to the mixing desk. What happens if the amp fails? OK - I could simply have a back-up amp at hand and that's something I'm looking into. Is there an alternative? What about a Behringer BDI21? In an emergency, could I plug the bass into the Behringer and run a feed from that straight into the mixing desk? Will that signal be strong enough? If not the Behringer, then what? I don't need any effects at all. Bear with me please - I'm not that clued-up on signal-path technicalities. Steve [/quote] I'm another who uses the BDI21 as amp back up. Dead cheap, you can add a valvey drive or leave it clean, simple EQ if you need it. I've also played gigs with out an amp in this way. If I could be sure of the stage monitoring and skill of the engineer then I'd love to do it at every gig, save dragging an amp and cabinet around.