TimR

I don't think that's easy, but probably wise. Did people leave because it was poor, or because it was too loud, or because they didn't like the music? We are getting the hang of the football crowd leaving as soon as the drummer starts winding his kit up. Now that the football is on at 5:30pm there are still a lot of fans hanging around the pub when we arrive. Then the music people arrive later on, a few of the football crowd hang around to hear 2 or 3 songs then quite often just disappear. People will put up with some truly awful musicianship if they recognise the songs. If the punters are pinned against the back wall, its too loud, if people are sitting at tables right in front of the band, it's not dancy enough and possibly not loud enough. We clear a dance area as well as clear the 'stage' area.

I have an Android phone. The Do Not Disturb feature is very powerful with very in depth features. I don't know how the Apple version works but it's worth exploring. I went away for a week and checked messages and emails every evening for preview of message and subject line of email. No messages or emails were opened. No facebook, TikTok, BassChat... The stress completely evaporated. And to be honest I learned that all messages and emails can wait until you reply, you don't have to reply when other people expect you to reply (immediately). Regards your singer. If it was that important that he tell you immediately, he would have made the time already. He hasn't, so my gut feeling is he's prepping you for something he thinks someone else will tell you, and he wants to get his side across first. Honestly? It's not your job to manage other people in your life and get involved in their problems unless they specifically come to you, or you think they are in real danger. That way leads to madness. I have little time for people who surround themselves with drama where they are the lead actor.

Pubs? Check for a freezer or a light dimmer switch.

I will make comments to the singer to feed her lines and we can have mini conversations, where only her side is audible. If my side consists of more than one or two words, she'll repeat for the benefit of the audience if it's worth doing. The drummer doesn't like being joked about. Takes it very seriously and has been known to get very arsey about it. The guitarist is pretty oblivious to what's going on outside of the area between his amp and pedal board. If a crowd of the singers friends are in, then the banter goes downhill very quickly and the rest of the audience is left out - I should maybe say something to her. Maybe.

My guess, without knowing full details is that is exactly what you get when designing by committee. You say 'did the rounds', I'm assuming more than one person was involved in the decision making. I've been in similar situations, the people who don't want to change dig their heels in and what results is a massive compromise. This is why I would always advocate playing in a band with a leader with vision, that you trust and who calls the shots. They may ask opinions and may/may not take them into consideration but final call rests with them. Depping being the ultimate in that respect, turn up and have fun playing some great refreshing material. Tunes that you've not been endlessly rehearsing for that single gig at the Dog and Duck (Where the Duck didn't even bother turning up).

Thanks. I did try that but it didn't produce the desired results.

I have a Jackson Charvel complete with pointy headstock that I played in a function band for years, until I decided it didn't really look right. I ended up buying a Mahogany Ibanez. I then played the Ibanez in a thrash metal band for a few gigs, completely oblivious that maybe the Charvel would have looked a lot better.

There is no official character named "Growler" in the Thomas the Tank Engine series; however, the term "Growler" is sometimes used by fans to describe the sounds a diesel engine makes or in unofficial fan creations, such as the "Growler the Goods Diesel" fan character found on platforms like DeviantArt. google AI. 🤣

Been there... Many times. 🤣

Drummer: We are sounding pretty tight even with this dep guy. Guitarist: Listen to my playing, I'm on fire! ...as usual. Singer: Something is off somewhere, just can't quite hit the notes. Punters: This band sounds great. Bass player: Must keep smiling, Must keep smiling. 🤣

People who can't spell whinge.

Grumpy middle-aged men whinging about grumpy middle-aged men whinging on the General Discussion page of a Bass/music forum? 😂

Anything divided by 7...

I don't think it's right. You can use 'it looks a bit thirsty' for a lot of things, including wood. But I don't think I'd say it needs a drink.

Planning permission takes ages to get passed.

Wasps in jam jars. More specificly wasps in marmalade jars. And wasps in lager. Actually... ...just wasps.

Crazy Little Thibg - check with the drummer for the triplets run down. Not all drummers can drum Sweet Child could be interesting. Other than that, it looks fun.

@Belka You know that the vast majority of music was recorded by session musicians who listened to a tune once, did one take, and went home?

Good luck today. Have a good one.

I did a gig in about 2000/2002 where I'd been recommended to cover. Couldn't get hold of the band leader, texted, phoned and left messages. He eventually called me the day before the gig. Said - it's all standards, dress smart/casual, venue is... I turned up, he said Stick to the roots, nothing flash, watch the rhythm guitarist for the changes. I spent the next 3 hours playing songs I'd never heard before, trying to work out what the rhythm guitarist was playing - not helped by the fact he was facing away from me further not helped by not having had any sleep for months due to having a new born with colic. 🤣 But yes, at least getting a set list the morning of the gig gives you a chance to at least listen to the songs, but that's not always an advantage based on the "But we do our own version" prolification of bands around.

He would have been 30 when private acts of homosexuality were decriminalised. I can understand why people over 60 have such entrenched views. Note: The actual law wasn't repealed until 2013! Up until then you could still be imprisoned for life for certain practices. It's going to be another 50 years before people will accept Gender and Sex are different and that both are not Binary. Science is slowly discovering how it all fits together, but while the politicians are in charge, it's going to be popular opinion and 'feelings' that determine the outcome of any debates, not the science and logic. The likes of Piers Morgan and LBC aren't going the help as they make a living by causing division.

https://blog.ultimateoutsider.com/2024/05/solution-how-to-make-facebook-only-show.html?m=1

You can switch your feed to Friends. It still has adverts, but not all the other nonsense.

I'm pretty sure the people who taught music in my school were professionals. There are professional TouTubers educating people various aspects of music, maybe not following an syllabus but educating and informing non the less.

Depends if it's a hobby band or your main source of income. Finding yourself on a tour as a paid side musician might have a different slant on it. You may not have to spend any free time with them, just rehearsals and performances, or you may have to spend hours on a bus with them. I guess in those circumstances you'd have to wait until you get other work, or just hope they don't attract any media attention. Wasn't there a pretty famous bass player here who had an 'audience with' tour. He was given quite a bit of stick here for it's content and never posted again.