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[quote name='EdwardHimself' timestamp='1339845829' post='1695266'] Go for it mate. I wouldn't worry too much about being "tied to the mic". My band currently has the problem that I am the best vocalist- and I play drums! At least you've got a bit more flexibility as to what you're doing on stage than having to sit on a drum throne at the back! [/quote] Thanks EH!

Something that's struck me from watching some of these performances is that it seems helpful having other members of the band running around and helping with the visual aspect.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1339608774' post='1691471'] Greatest bass player frontman ever[/quote] [quote name='pobrien_ie' timestamp='1339660738' post='1692018'] Already said a fair few times, but Philo has to be the standard by which all bass playing frontmen/women should be judged [/quote] They are both excellent at what they do. You could probably do worse than stealing stuff from both of them. [quote name='jackers' timestamp='1339662909' post='1692053'] to give an example that is fairly different from others that have been said, Tyson Ritter from The All-American Rejects does a very good job combining bassist and frontman. sure, his basslines aren't the most complex things, but they do have melodic variations and fills while he is singing, and he is good at engaging with an audience.[/quote] I'll look him up. Thanks. [quote name='police squad' timestamp='1339655935' post='1691951'] you can learn to be a frontman. You've learned to play bass and you've learned the songs, so now learn to be at the front. Personally I am a quiet and fairly shy person, (people often call me aloof because I shy away from people and don't talk to them between sets or whatever) but give me an audience and a gig, (albeit as a singer, guitarist, bassist or any combination) and I change personality. Of course it's easier if the gig is going well but when you're playing to one man and his dog at the frog and bucket and it's only the dog that's interested in you that can make it a little tougher!! [/quote] Thanks for the encouragement. I reckon it's something that can at least be improved on. Perhaps the ideal is finding a way to demonstrate your own personality through the performance? [quote name='lojo' timestamp='1339699779' post='1693041'] Do you need to force it ? If you just do whatever is natural to you, you will relax more than if you are trying to focus on the non musical side of your performance (along with already doing 2 of those) Ok, it might not work, but you just may find that you will have something that you could not have invented with thought, and isnt contrived.[/quote] Sounds sensible, the last thing you'd want is to come over as faking it.

Thanks for your input everyone. Best solution is still finding someone else to do the front person thing, throw some shapes and be the centre of attention. The possibility that we can't/won't find anyone to do that is weighing on my mind and I want to get back on stage asap hence considering doing it myself. [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1339535141' post='1690259'] You need 3 sheds full of nazi memorabilia, facial hair and a huge wart. I reckon that'll do it. [/quote] I have none of those things. hmmm, may struggle [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1339538817' post='1690373'] I think many of us could be the lead singer - I have been - however being a front-man, because I class that as a different thing altogether, well that`s a different matter. It`s something within you that makes a front-man... [/quote] I agree that they are very different things. I'd be reasonably confident covering lead vocals, I've been doing it in rehearsals and I've done bits of lead vocals in other bands but as you say the frontperson thing is being the centre of attention in a way that I haven't done before. I'm wondering if its a thing that can be learnt? [quote name='rushbo' timestamp='1339542799' post='1690466'] My advice - try it. All the top role models have been mentioned, from Lemmy to Macca. (Personally, I'd add Steve Kilbey from The Church to the list too) so you know it can be done. You will learn so much and develop new skills. Carpe Diem and all that... [/quote][quote name='police squad' timestamp='1339592928' post='1691058'] My advice if you're going to try and be the frontman, is to relax and enjoy it. [/quote] Thanks for the encouragement! [quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1339593924' post='1691082'] I'll confess, from personal experience, finding the right front person is the hardest task. Not only do they need to be able to sing - but they need the banter and presence to carry a crowd. ... If it's you... I don't have any advice. I've not tried it yet. Backing vocals beckons, but I have this odd habit of stopping playing whilst singing, that I need to conquer first... [/quote] You're absolutely right. Finding someone willing and able to do it has been very hard. I totally understand though, there is no way I'd get on stage without an instrument to hide behind.

Thanks for all the examples, some I knew, some I didn't and will look up. So next stage - advice on the visual elements of a front person performance for a shy bass player in a 3 piece band. And also anyone got any advice on finding a front person/singer and making meeting us for a jam/audition an easy, comfortable experience? Thanks again.

Evening all, My new band (currently guitar, drums and bass) is really struggling to find a singer/frontperson. We've set up a bunch of jams/auditions and spoken to quite a few people but hardly anyone has turned up and nobody has worked out. It seems to be very different to jamming with a new musician. Anyway we're working on material (alt rock/grunge) that I've written either for solo or for previous bands and so I've been filling in on vocals for the purposes of rehearsals as the songs we have aren't hugely challenging vocally. I'm getting frustrated with not having a singer as the rest of the band is getting towards gigging standard and I was thinking of suggesting that I give lead vocals a go for a bit and seeing how it goes until we find someone to fill that role. I've previously been pushing the idea of a front person who can move around and engage the crowd and obviously I'll be tied to a mic stand so can't do that in the same way I was imagining. Also, I'd be nervous of being the front person, I've never done it before despite being in bands for years. Basically 2 questions. 1) Any advice on finding a front person/singer and making meeting us an easy, comfortable experience? 2) If it comes down to it and I have to be the front person, any advice/examples of engaging bass player front people? Thanks,

Say thank you. Maybe you are a little embarrassed but this audience member has taken the time not only to come out (maybe pay) and listen to your band, then they have come over and said that they specifically like your playing/sound/dancing/haircut or whatever. That warrants a thank you in my book.

If you're making everything sound the same and that sound works for the music you play then what's the problem?

great song. Thanks for sharing.

I hope this doesn't come as sarcastic but you should use speaker cable, [b]not [/b]instrument cable.

[quote name='Hodge' timestamp='1339012513' post='1682507'] Double bass is all the percussion you need. Also, I saw a clip recently of a band where the "drummer" just had brushes on a sheet of sandpaper...can't for the life of me remember who it was now though. [/quote] Very cool. Thanks for posting

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1339007241' post='1682395'] There's always the bar rob! Im glad some people still go for the sake of it, cool. [/quote] Exactly!

Never paid to play and hopefully never will. Point of principle. However, I believe its important to do your best to get the word about the gig out to as many people as possible and help the promoter sell tickets. Being friendly and helpful in the past has created positive working relationships with a couple of local promoters and venues. [quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1339004678' post='1682331'] Show of Hands ... [url="http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart383a.htm"]http://www.folkmusic...s/inart383a.htm[/url] [/quote] Interesting read. Thanks for posting. [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1339004856' post='1682335'] Years ago people used to go to local gigs to watch all four bands regardless of who they were[/quote] I still do this. Have seen some great gigs. Have also seen some terrible gigs.

If you ever want to get a little more complex there are a few videos of people having 2 sounds in one stomp box, a snare/rattle type sound and a bass drum sound. E.g. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2uYzhk7Ps4&feature=related[/media]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1338219623' post='1670995'] If there are other bands I put my bass back in its case and out of the way of others. If we're the only band I put it on a mini Hercules stand, out of the way of others. [/quote] This. I tend to put my basses behind my amp. Even less likely to get bumped into on a busy stage. The towel idea is great though.

[quote name='stefBclef' timestamp='1338156007' post='1670278'] Do any of you just take the one bass? [/quote] If I can possibly manage to take two then I will. There was a video on here a while ago (can't seem to find it now) of a double bass player soloing. At the end of the solo, the neck separated from the body of the instrument and the whole thing collapsed. More likely to break a string but still. Edit: thought I'd found the video for a second.... but I hadn't

Welcome to the forum.

Are you writing songs? If not, why not give it a go?

[quote name='mrdirtyrob' timestamp='1337957077' post='1668058'] On the plus side, I've found it's a great way to make friends with other bands if you're able to lend a vital bit of kit in an emergency. [/quote] +1. I once realised another band's bass was cutting out and was at the side of the stage with a replacement for him to borrow by the end of the song. Never had a bunch of people so grateful. [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1337972172' post='1668310'] However the punters don't care that it wasn't your personal ineptitude that prevented the gig from going ahead. They just see your band not playing. [/quote] Well said. If backline was being provided, I probably wouldn't take a power lead but I'd always take a DI box just in case something goes wrong. 2 basses, instrument cables (inc 2 spares), xlr cable, microphone, tuner, batteries, strings (worn in already and cut to length), plectrums, multi tool, 4 way power extension, instrument stand, ear plugs, DI box Gaffer/duct tape. The world would fall apart without it.

made me smile too. Thanks for posting.

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1337581789' post='1662140'] There's a real irony in that while these instruments are become more valuable the older and less damage they have, Damien Hirst is probably one of the few people in the world who could add value by defacing it.[/quote] In a slightly surreal mind side step I made the leap to the argument that musicians are in effect committing the audio equivalent of "defacing" silence.

I have nothing to add to the great advice above. Just wanted to add my good wishes on finding something/someone. If it helps, I've found JoinMyBand very useful in the past.

[quote name='garethfriend' timestamp='1337522437' post='1661285'] It has got to the point where I am wondering if the songs are actually any good anyway. My question then: how do you know if your songs are rubbish or you have just heard them on a loop too many times? Gig them and see would be the obvious answer. Not sure if I like the idea of getting on stage with songs you don't believe in though. What you think? [/quote] I find it impossible to judge the quality of my (solo or collaborative) writing. What I do is send demos to 2 other musicians whose work I admire and trust to give honest and constructive feedback.

[quote name='janmaat' timestamp='1337520115' post='1661227'] All on video, can't wait. Came home at 6am. [/quote] All sounds incredible. Any chance of us getting a peek at the video?

[quote name='Jam' timestamp='1337467334' post='1660609'] What about you guys, do you consider yourself an "expert"? [/quote] Not even close. Intermediate is looking ever further away too.