TimR

Just seems really weird to me. They've told him he won't be on the new album but he thinks he is still in the band, and they're keeping him on the current tour. Just doesn't make sense. Why is he even hanging around?

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1486392169' post='3231354'] You sitting down with the bass player and "discussing the situation" is the worst advice ever! It's not your place to discuss band personnel or politics. Keep well away from that. It's down to the band what they want to do and they won't thank you for poking your nose in!! And as I say, the guy is gone anyway, so why should you want to give the gig away to someone else when you could be doing it? [/quote] Ah right. I thought they were all mates and knew each other well.

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1486392121' post='3231353'] the OP says the current guitarists will do it.. [/quote] That alone speaks volumes. Walk away while you have your sanity intact.

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1486391697' post='3231347'] too many bands put up with average players, and I think bassist is the usual place for it. I was at a gig last night, one band who are doing pretty well at the moment (headline tours etc) are sh*t hot, the singer, guitarist and drummer are all tight as hell and really playing. The bassist couldn't nod his head in time with the weird time signatures. Luckily he had a massively scooped sound and generally played in time, so he wasn't exactly taking away from the performance, but he didn't seem to be adding anything. I guess they'll put up with him forever, but if I was in their locality I'd have told them how sh*t he was and offered my services with no shame. [/quote] Maybe he owns the pa, the van, does the website, organises the setlist, and books the practices and gigs.

I'd go for a beer with the bass player and talk to him. If the band won't do it, at least you're being honest. Other than that tell them you'll do it but only after they have been honest with him. We've all been sacked from bands. There's a right way and a wrong way.

The other thing we often get wrong when learning a complete tune is practising bits we already know. Nail the verse then move on to the chorus, then the mid section. Then put them all together. Repeatedly running through a tune from top to bottom is counterproductive.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1486363978' post='3231048'] You'd be better doing fifteen minutes every day rather than 4 hours once a week. Humans don't learn like that. [/quote] Yes. Practice is basically repeating things you find hard over and over again until they're easy. What are you practising?

This kind of thing? Remove the adding and you're good to go. http://www.gear4music.com/Keyboards-and-Pianos/Adjustable-Keyboard---Piano-Bench-by-Gear4music/8XQ

[quote name='Basszilla' timestamp='1485874615' post='3227400'] I know! According to google I'm about to die! 😂 Seriously though, some people never recover from this condition and they have my utmost sympathy having experienced it first hand! Here's hoping for a recovery in the not too distant future! [/quote] Tinnitus and Pulsative Tinnitus are completely different things. It doesn't sound like Pulsative Tinnitus is permanent, it's not caused by nerve damage.

I've just googled it. Never ever google medical problems. Ever!

"Can you play some Russian gypsy folk music?"

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1485710054' post='3226007'] (1) Playing with an indie/rock/punk covers trio, got a request for the Spongebob Squarepants theme: 'He lives in a pineapple under the sea' etc. ... [/quote] I'd give it a go. In the mid 80s, when Nellie the Elephant had been given the punk treatment, we did a version of Postman Pat. It went down an absolute storm.

Maybe a diagnosis and knowing other people have had it and it goes away will relax you a bit. Get yourself and your partner booked into one of those new age nonsense meditation groups. Pretend it's for child birth techniques and your partner suggested it if anyone laughs.

I get something like this occasionally. Might last a few minutes each time. Seems to coincide with stress and the more I worry about it the worse it gets. Lasts a day or two at most. Sorry not much help. Didn't even know it had a name, thought it was just me.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1485783496' post='3226622'] The Alto bluetooth range is already out there. [/quote] There's nothing in their blurb about ultra low latency. In fact it mentions Bluetooth audio can be streamed from devices such as iPods etc and then says with the mic/line inputs they're ideal for live PA. I think it's very cleverly worded. They may get a few complaints...

Bass players don't do the reviews. They just get some guitarist to do it.

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1485276845' post='3222737'] Ours? We play a mixture of classic rhythm and blues and rock 'n' roll, interspersed with a few originals and a smattering of the obvious (Sally, Sweet Home, Nutbush). We've got a repertoire of about 50 songs, so setlist is always done on the fly - band leader gauges the feel, and we play as such. However, on a night like Friday, there was nothing anyone could do! [/quote] I think that you have to be partly responsible for drawing a crowd and that means having a fan base who will come to see you. I think the problem with classic rock and rhythm and blues is it appeals to a certain generation who may not be too Facebook savvy so dragging them out requires a bit of effort, although at least they're less likely to stay in to watch XFactor etc. Certainly we played a gig last year that emptied the pub after 3 songs, but by the second set the audience had been replaced with people who'd specifically come to see us. If you're trying to build an audience from people already in the pub you have to find out what they want to listen to and play it. We've also tailored a heavier set for rock pubs and a more 70s set for lighter/older pubs, just need to add a few more 90/00s songs to the setlist which is a struggle as the singer is mid 50s and stuck in the 70s. We are getting there slowly.

Valerie

What is your set list?

[quote name='casapete' timestamp='1485214956' post='3222280'] My point was that it would seem only fair to expect some sort of guarantee from the venue that the mains supply you were connected to was sound, if they were indeed asking for the same from you about the state of your own gear? [/quote] I'd suspect anyone organised enough to be asking about PAT testing will have PLI and Fixed Wiring tests already in place. I'd be more worried about venues who don't ask for it.

[quote name='grandad' timestamp='1485208099' post='3222204'] It's all here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm [/quote] Quite. The equipment does not have to be 'tested' as such but it does have to be regularly inspected, that doesn't even have to be by a qualified person, anyone competent can do it. You could just write down all your equipment in a book and write next to each item 'Visually inspected', sign it and date it. Stick a sticker on the appliance and the job's done. Just make sure that you are actually competent, and that doesn't mean saying "I've read the internet and know how to wire a plug." In the event of a serious accident you will have to stand up in court and explain how competent you are. ,

Think of it as an MOT for electrical equipment. If you have one it means that your equipment has been inspected in the last 12 months and deemed safe and if used normally, highly likely to still be safe.

The first part of the test is a visual inspection. You don't use any instruments if there is obvious physical damage.

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1485167745' post='3221626'] No. my issue is not with the concept of PA testing. My issue is with the way it's "marketed"... And sadly, I know all about doing risk assessments, and trying to stress to people not to do them in a formulaic way.. Thorough and formulaic are not the same thing.. However to repeat myself - the OP appears perfectly happy with the electrical safety of his equipment, and having a sticker put on his extension leads (by a "real" tester") won't make them safe for the next gig. His requirement to have his gear PA tested comes from the venue.. I always use RCDs myself anyway, not that they're foolproof, but they're better than nothing and can be tested easily.. . I think we're going to have to agree to disagree about the way the industry appears to present PA testing to clients... [/quote] The whole world is full of people using fear to market their product. It's down to the consumer to make sure he is not being ripped off and if you find sharp practices then you should be reporting them to their trade body.

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1485165755' post='3221597'] Strangely enough, they're never the ones that get the job. But clearly it's a tactic that works elsewhere... I have to get three quotes for any work done, so I get to see a lot of contractors.. We have a PA tester (Fluke) at work, and routinely test any devices that come in from the field with issues.. I'm not against the idea of testing, I'm against the idea of going through the motions for the sake of a tick box and/or expecting that having being tested a device remains inherently safe until the next arbitrarily scheduled test date.. One of my big hobbies is aviation, and when we're teaching people how to do inspections the thing I most stress is "why are we doing this check?, what are the modes of failure? " rather than yeah yeah... Must and should are two entirely different concepts.. [/quote] That's why in your building you should have a risk assessment covering different types of kit. So your PC leads you might check every two years as they don't move and are clipped behind desks away from people's feet. Your desk fans you'd check 6 monthly, before and after the summer. Etc etc. I think it's your understanding and implementation of the PAT test that is at fault not the PAT test itself. If you have a small building then you might as well just blanket test everything the same week so that it's easier to manage.