JTUK

[quote name='Adrenochrome' timestamp='1324376635' post='1473470'] This is basically a stock 'excuse'. How many people would pay full whack to book a band in a pub when they could see a band they like for free somewhere else? [/quote] We do qute a few functions in a pub and the pub also closes its door to regulars... Not sure what the pub charhes to client but we charge a function fee. I assume the pub makes on food..???? Tickets for these things have been £20 per head... unless the client pays out for the whole thing ..we've done both recently.

Yep..decent idea..but hate to throw this in...can people add the type of fee they can get..? ticketed and prices..?? Needn't be absolute..ball park is good.

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1324511204' post='1475188'] It makes no difference what it says on the headstock to me but it might to others. What really matters though is what you and your band think. I sometimes watch a guy with a £100 Jazz copy that sounds fantastic. [/quote] But I'll notice the sound before I'll notice the bass... and sometimes that cheapo bass and rig sounds f**** awful....and vv, that Markbass rig is too plummy and wallowy etc etc etc... I don't argue it is always the case as I've heard some stinking Overwaters and the like...but having whatever gear is no indication that they guy has a clue what he is doing with it. IMO. As far as soundmen go... all the bass can do is give him as good a signal as possible so I'll go clean and if he stuffs that up..he really shouldn't be on sound..but then we know they can be...!!!! The number of times recently where the band has had to EQ the kit...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! does not fill you with confidence .... Having said that..no one has told us the sound was poor..far from it...so..??

I guess I would be in that I think you get what you pay for a lot of the time... The trick is to know what you pay is worth it A Rolex is a very nice watch, just as BMW can make very good cars. I wouldn't go for names for names sake... but I'd pay a premium for a premier craftsman.

[quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1324479538' post='1474771'] Agreed. The most frustrating thing about being in a band IMO. Most Pubs still want Demo CDs! I dont think they've heard of the internet/facebook/youtube thingy. Drives me nuts... [/quote] This is true.... to the point where you wonder why we need a website..!! If they can't be boithered to click on the links for a mp3..then what chance actually playing the CD..!! I normally send out something to establish contact then follow it up with a call...and always pick a reasonable time which is less likely to be busy if talking about pubs.

It falls to 3 of us.. as we are more willing to do it. It helps if everyone chips in..even if they just pass on the contact. I generally go after the gigs I want to play..so that is pubs/venues and festival types. The other two chip in pubs/venues and functions. I tend to not want to quote the figures the others can quote for functions as I not interested in them as such. ... It is hard going from pub rates to function rates for basically the same set or certainly the hours played. we haven't quoted for anything longer than 2 hrs and nor will be be aiming to. Atm..we do pretty much the same set for everything but functions are so....persuasive, that we are bending the set. In the new year we will have 3 sets as such. A pub/club set A function/dancey set and an originals set. We don't travel unless petrol is paid..hard in pubs, and we only play pubs that suit us so typically one pub per town. There is no point playing pubs that our friends wouldn't want to go to.... and we will not squeeze in tiny places. We can downsize but only upto a point... I don't know why we bother.. ha ha !!!

I never like mismatched amps and cabs in terms of volume... What starts with the greatest of intent can quickly get out of hand. I would never do a gig with a single 12" unless a quiet acoustic or jazzer...and because the single 12's are light enough, it is no hardship to carry and use 2, IMO. Also, agree on the pair-up... definitely

IMO, Berg's are overvalued over here so they start at a false price point. I would say..all thngs considered, £500 is tops, but getting it is another thing in today's market. Of course, we haven't even mentioned condition etc etc I would also say the discontinued line makes it less marketable if Berg no longer can get replacement parts/chassis' If you like 410's then you'll probably keep it anyway.

[quote name='M-N-Y' timestamp='1324410595' post='1473991'] It was Donovan Hepburn on the drums. Steve Washington hasn't performed with them for a while.............[/quote] ok.. He is doing dates down here atm..great player...in much demand.

I think you might want to consider another TE cab...if the cost of the drivers is getting close to £50 each. It does indeed sound too iffy to try and match up a bespoke set, maybe..?? IMO..best choice is to get chassis reconed or new SH TE cab. just my 2p..

If you know the songs/set as per drumming them..and you have been playing bass for years.. you should be able to hear 99% of the changes anyway..so all you need to do is make a prompt or two..?? Most of this is about how the songs goes..which you know....so charts aren't really needed..but write the set out with keys per songs anyway...and any dificult changes like m8's ect ect

Steve Washington on drums...?? he is local round here and does the dates.

They will just naturally stay out of the way ...no concerted thinking needed. My thumb is achored though..either on the bottom string or the pickup..but after 35 yrs..I don't really have to think about it. Accept that you can get some funny angles anchored but if you want to avoid injury or problems later on, a lighter touch is a far better way to go...as it stops the hand getting beaten up so much. IMO. And the angle really depends how high you have the bass anyway...

Nails short for me..I certainly don't want any clanking of the strings. It is less precise that way as well, IMO.

Not surprised G...appalled, tbh. I find it funny that you have to set a few straight... altho imagine the seriousness of a situation like that without proper advice. My lot are a lot of clowns and jokers but when they get to play with other peoples lives.. it is no laughing matter. When are you going back to Toon..?

Most HR's in companies that I know are useless and don't know employment law...and you'd be surprised how far they will press you with 'reasonable' request/requirements that a tribunial would have a field day with. And in these times when jobs are difficult, they aren't going to slacken off, IMO. OT apologies

I have no interest in trying to get so close to a perceived best sound for the track with reagrds to must be played with a pick. And tbh, nobody asks me to do it. They may suggest more attack, or it needs this emphasis, so I might play around with a few approaches but ultimately If you don't like what I bring to the party...then don't book me. I recall we dropped a Muse track as the bass sound wasn't getting there...but then it never worked in other regards either. People can focus so much on a bass part, for example..and the player can have it right down..and then the band doesn't realise where else it falls apart. I have had these conversations where the bass player says he has the part down..and basically, it is screw the rest of you, my part is right and they still try and play the song...!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are some things and styles you just can't do with a pick... and some that just don't work with fingers. You'll lean towards the one that gets close to the sounds and style you want to play, and hear, hopefully Everything I want to do starts with fingerstyle, so I do that - I swapped over years ago -... others might hear a pick sound at a certain time and want that...but if I don't hear it that way, I'll likely not do it.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1324204484' post='1471675'] . You know the rules John, pics or it didn't happen :-) [/quote] I know, I know... Dave, but I couldn't get the camera out so as not to look like even more of a perv on the night... Will see if I can get find anything on Facebook

Sympathise with you, Pete...you would think your act would be a credit to the shop. esp if you are the only guy who pretty much plays..!!!!! I am sure you aren't looking for favourtism and would cover the hours...in this case, I'd get the others onside. I find if I want a favour and leave early..then I need to spread around that to others so these little resentments don't creep in. I don't know the shop set-up but it doesn't sound like a deal-breaker.. Maybe..there might be a bit of jealousy in the set-up..?? and I can't believe you are the only player there who needs this flexibility... what is all that about..???????

We very rarely take gigs at any distance..so that helps... We have a give and take kind of thing if work and gigs clash... and people have to realise that their own little domain doesn't garauntee precedent over someone else'.. We try, collectively, to do the best we can and we are all on the same page in that regard. If someone is late..and we are all set-up..it is all-hands to the deck to get them up to speed. Once or twice a few feathers get ruffled..but you get over it..It can't be helped and no one is doing it on purpose.

Totty city... never seen so many short SHORT skirts, high heels and the legs to go with it... I have to go and lie down.

You should speak to them and see what they can do for you.. If they can do things or get places you can't, and you decide that you would want to go that way..then you should expect to pay them... If they can't, you wont.

How to look at this..?? How long is a piece of string, IMO..!! Your desires, goals and all the rest at 20 might not be the same as at30 or 40. Are your priorities the same through those ages..?? I think it is far easier to prolong a career of sorts into your 60's if evidenced by the old boys touring their ex-name gig around Europe.. You'll see them turn up at all sorts of festivals..they are well looked after and the market determines whether they get asked back and are therefore viable.. Will your earnings keep pace with the guy in your class who now works for the council on a decent salary..?? who knows. Is a new car every few years important to you or your family..?? Can you/do you plough funds into a pension..? Will you be the player you want to be...if you have to hold down a tough and demanding career..?? Zillions of variables... so you should at least study whilst you decide. I only know a handful of people who have made real money out of music as opposed to survived of sorts for 20 years or so...and by that, I would say they have been able to accrue a standard of living that the worker with an above average yearly salary could achieve over that time, with family and kids. To do that, they had to tour with very big name groups and earn fabulously well for a short time...they still take the £50-100 jazz gigs now..but then they can also afford to ..presumably. It really really depends on what is important to you and how you manage any changes that come your way....

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1324083252' post='1470801'] Harmonics are always clearer on fresh strings - play them right and you can get a harmonic just about anywhere on the neck. Within a few days of playing they'll only respond to the 5th, 7th and 12th with any clarity. [/quote] Clean strings and put on the bass properly gives them the best chance. MIne last quite a while..but then the sound is bright so that helps..!! Popping harmonics in the mix is always a good indicator that your sound is working, IMO.