EssexBuccaneer

Thanks all for your kind words and advice. I have gigged before, but that was 20 years ago when I was full of sweat and arrogance 😀

I am looking forward to it greatly. And also to posting on ‘how was your gig last night’ on the follow day! 

If I’m driving, it’s Metallica ‘fuel’. And I hope the policeman will accept that as my excuse if I ever get caught 😜

I wonder if anyone is familiar with what my band are feeling at the moment. 
 

We’re making our debut in Ipswich, at the Rock against leukaemia bash in August. Our set is ready, we know our stuff inside out. We think we sound pretty decent in rehearsal and have had good feedback on socials and from friends, family, work colleagues etc (not exactly unbiased sources though!)

But until we hit the stage in front of an audience for the first time, we have no idea if we’re actually up to scratch. It’s a really mindblowing and frankly nerve-wracking sensation.

Just now, Dan Dare said:

 

You are paying to become a part owner of jointly-used gear. It can be done via deductions from gig fees, rather than as a "joining fee".

 

Not your responsibility? OK. Consider this. Band works and spends money to achieve a following, create a good sound, etc. Then their bass player departs for pastures new. His ex-colleagues pay him out his share of the jopintly-owned PA. You come along and say "I'd like to join". You audition and they say "Great. You're in if you want it. We have a jointly owned PA which is essential to the band's sound. Would you mind contributing as an equal member to its cost? The contribution will be its value at present, not what it cost us when new".

 

You reply, "No way, man. This is, like, meant to be a collective. I expect to benefit from the work you've already done and the money you've already spent without contributing myself".

 

Yeah. Good luck with that.

Hey, like I say. I’ve never come across a band that expected payment for equipment bought prior to them joining, and you might think I’m the a-hole for not doing it, but that’s the bottom line. 
 

Maybe you’ll find someone with enough cash to throw around on a project that they’re willing to commit to stumping up the cost of a mid-range instrument on a band before they’ve even played a gig with them, horses for courses eh? 
 

In my band we’re looking at getting a PA shortly. I’ll chip in my share and I’ll assist equally with the upkeep - but if I leave I’ll expect no share back. It’s a sunk expense as far as I’m concerned.

5 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

 

Every member of that band will have spent good money on quality gear for their own individual use. That's just the way it is. Have you seen how much quality guitars and guitar rigs cost? Keys? Saxes and wind instruments?

 

We're talking about buying equipment that the band needs as a whole to function. It won't matter how good you are as individuals if nobody can hear what the band is doing, the singer is singing, etc. That's where a PA comes in.

 

If your band is truly a "collective" and you are not "individuals", then you will share the cost of what you need to function properly as a unit. Unless you want to flip flop between being part of a collective and an individual depending on which best suits your pocket, of course...

And once I’m a member I take on that responsibility happily, and pay my equal share as part of the band collective. 
 

But once again, decisions made prior to me joining are not my responsibility.

Would I pay my continued share of upkeep for the PA? Yeah, course. Would I pay upfront for a share of the product that I didn’t buy, nor have any say over? No.

I don’t think my position is particularly controversial, nor unusual. In fact, I’ve never heard of a band member being asked to stump up their share of equipment prior to joining. Ever.

7 hours ago, Dan Dare said:

 

Then you cannot expect to share in the benefits of that decision.

Let’s say that prior to joining the band, I’ve just dropped several thousand pounds on new gear. The band are going to benefit from my top-tier rig. Would I expect a share of the cost from the band when I join? No.

A band is a collective - we work together to create our unique product. We’re not individuals who sell our wares to each other for the benefit of the individual members. 
 

As I say, each to their own, but I’ve never paid to join a band in my life, and I’d not start now.

16 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

 

So if a band had recently spent £10k on a quality PA (less than mine cost, incidentally) and you were invited to join a month later, you'd expect to benefit from it for nowt?

I don’t see joining the band in that sense. 
 

The benefit is joining the band, and hopefully they benefit from me joining them - we work together to progress as a band from that date onwards.

No I’m not going to pay for a decision the band made prior to me joining. 

If I’m joining a band, I’ll accept my share of any expenses from that day onwards. I’ll chip in bits myself without expecting repayment (have just knocked up some t-shirts for us, I don’t expect nor ask for repayment) - but if a band asked me to pay up front for my share of the PA, I’m out. 

I play for my own enjoyment, no other reason than that. 
 

Because of this, I would never play in a band that didn’t do music that I was a least a bit ‘into’. It’s rock/metal all the way for me. Would (as an example) playing in a jazz or soul band improve my playing? Almost certainly - but if I’m not enjoying it, I’d not be doing the band (or myself) justice. 

Love Shack. I hate love shack with a passion

As a young whippersnapper in an originals metal band I played a BC Rich Warlock bass. My skills were limited, but the bass got a lot of attention from the metalhead crowd.

Walked into a pub one night, and heard ‘there’s that lad who plays the warlock’, and that’s about as close to local fame as I ever got!

Fall Out Boy’s cover of ‘We didn’t start the fire’ has been living rent free in my head all day. I certainly didn’t expect Boris Johnson/Brexit/Cambridge Analytica references from FOB!  
 

I’ve started work on wix this morning, dunno what I’m doing at all, but still managed to make a professional looking home page with working links to our socials so far.

Our drummer is an IT dude so I’m sure he’ll improve on my efforts 😁

MLC will be making our debut in August (The Steamboat Tavern - Rock Against Leukaemia. 12th August)

Here’s a rehearsal video (we have some others on youchoob) - some of the stuff in here is a work in progress (Sabotage, You Could Be Mine won’t be ready for the gig)

We have three in our set that really get me going. Audioslave ‘Cochise’ because it’s an absolute banger.

Fall Out boy ‘Sugar We’re goin down’ because it’s just a great tune, I get to do some backing vocals and it’s just really enjoyable

And finally The Offspring ‘Self Esteem’ because it’s bass heavy (and also a banger).

I couldn’t find one of just meself, so here’s Essex’s own MLC on a rehearsal night. 
 

The drummer (Dave) is the handsome one so we hide him away behind his kit

Nothing as fancy as you guys, but I got the Boss WL-20L and it’s a game-changer for me - first time wireless in my life. 
 

I tend to be quite active on stage, so it’s lovely to be cable free!!

57 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

My band has been offered a really good gig in London but with ULEZ charge and parking for two vehicles (or hiring one) it's just too expensive. Still tempting though, I think it'll be a fun gig

I used to hate gigging in London, and being an Essex based originals band, you *had* to play in London. 
 

I distinctly remember lugging gear half a mile to get to the Rock Garden in Covent Garden, to be berated by the promoter for not bringing enough of a crowd with us. 
 

After playing to a packed house anyway, lugged the gear back half a mile to the van, which had been clamped….

In their infinite wisdom my band have decided that we’re going to add Muse ‘Hysteria’ to the setlist - a song that is so far beyond my talent level it’s not even amusing. Ok, maybe it is a bit amusing, but still.

I’m treating it as a challenge which is going to make me a better bass player. If I didn’t do that I’d just cry 😛

I’m guilty of being a bit lazy. Well, a lot lazy, if I’m being honest. it wasn’t uncommon for me to ignore the bass (or guitar) for days/weeks on end because I couldn’t be bothered to get the amp out, uncoil the leads, get everything setup to practice, and have to put it all away after a session. 

However, since I joined my band I obviously need more discipline. My saintly wife has sacrificed a corner of the front room to have a wee practice area, and I now have a lovely setup, wireless rig, a 3-guitar stand next to the amp which is always ready to go. I can be playing in under 2 mins. 
 

What a difference it makes having a dedicated little practice spot. Well recommended if you don’t already.

4 hours ago, SteveXFR said:

There's been helicopters going back and forth all day today taking rich punters back to London. 

Not very environmentally friendly having all those helicopters taking people in and out of the festival. I always thought it was just for the headline artists but anyone with enough cash can arrive by chopper.

They like to claim its all very green but there's tens of thousands of cars, probably hundreds of generators and a mountain of rubbish. 

If Dave Grohl can take the train to Glastonbury, what excuse can anyone else have? 😀

This thread reminded me of an email conversation I had with a guy (guitarist) on JoinMyBand.

Him: ’Do you know of any rehearsal spaces? Because I don’t’

me: ‘Yeah there’s a few locally’

him: ‘Do you know of any other musos who might wanna join us? Because I don’t’

me: ‘No, I’ve lost all my contacts, after 20 years away’

him: ‘Do you have transport? Because I don’t’ 

me: ‘Yeah, I don’t think this is gonna work out, mate’ 

🫣

I saw Dave Grohl at work earlier - at Paddington station. We get a lot of celebs pass through, but very few Rock Legends 🤩

This is gonna be me in a month from now - last gig was Dec 2002. On august 12th 2023 I’ll step back on the stage.

You’re bound to be nervous, but I always found that only lasted until the first bar of the first track. Nail it and you’re on your way. Before you know it, it’s time to unplug and get off stage again!

Good luck - we’ll see you in the ‘how was your gig last night?’ thread! 

If we’re broadening the topic, has anyone used Black Beauties? I’d like a set of black strings for my five-string, but much as I want it to look the bees-knees, I don’t want to sacrifice tone….