#1964192 - 06/29/08 03:38 PM
OT: Gig-is-over-spam/blog
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Chewbubba
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Registered: 07/21/03
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Loc: Arkansas
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Had a gig last Friday - it was a town festival-type event and we were the headliners (woo!). I guess there was about 750 people there. Of course, that meant that we started at 9:00 PM and we soundchecked at noon... a lot of hours in between with nothing to do...
Anyhoo, my 25 yr old, 75 watt peavey combo amp wasn't going to do the job for an outdoor gig, so I borrowed another guys rig. A mistake, but too late now. It was a G/K 400 head and a 15" Peavey cab. Something was wrong with it somewhere, because it sounded really "blatty" on the low notes (you know, "blat-blat-blat" instead of low-end beauty). I smartly put the DI in the chain before the amp, so the sound guy got my clean bass instead of the junk I was hearing on-stage.
Anyway, I thought about 3/4 of the way through, I was doing well. I survived the bluegrass medley and instrumentals (I was the most uncomfortable with those tunes), and then we were down to the last few tunes and I went completely blank. We got to this song, I remembered at the last second where/how to come in, and when it got to the chorus - an empty void. The next time we got to the chorus - another empty void. I thought I'd die. It came to me by the next time, but by then... it was essentially too late. I had already died of embarrassment. Luckily the next song went fine and the last song was easy and we rocked the joint.
The promotion guy said the gig was the best yet and not to worry about the song, considering we only had 3 rehearsals. I'm still aggravated though. I'll have it next time.
Next up, 4th of July where I'm the bassman for 2 different bands performing at the same event. Time to learn some more songs...
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And you thought Chewie was hairy...
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#1964284 - 06/29/08 09:51 PM
Re: OT: Gig-is-over-spam/blog
[Re: Chewbubba]
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jlrush
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750 people is a nice little crowd, good exposure. Were you able to get away somewhere while you waited to play? I'd bum if I had to wait all day like that.
Sounds like you handled the farty speaker and the embarassing moments nicely. Of course, you did'nt give a clue that you messed up, right?
Good luck on the 4th. Two checks in one day is always nice, with twice the fun of playing in two bands.
_________________________
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#1964335 - 06/30/08 04:19 AM
Re: OT: Gig-is-over-spam/blog
[Re: jlrush]
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Phil W
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750 - very cool.
All the best for the 4th.
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#1964412 - 06/30/08 07:24 AM
Re: OT: Gig-is-over-spam/blog
[Re: jlrush]
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Chewbubba
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As a matter of fact, no I didn't stay the whole day. Fortunately, the gig was only about 30 miles from home, so the band carpooled up there (gas is crazy expensive right now), and after they fed us sandwiches and junk food and we had a sound check, we came back home for a couple of hours. That was a good thing: the gig was on my daughter's 6th birthday! Got to take another shower - sweating like a pig at soundcheck.
We came back a few hours before we played, and the girls (who we play for) were given a trailer to get ready in. We hung out with them in there for awhile, until we got kicked out so they could do meet-n-greet type stuff with some fans.
I don't think I tipped my hat about the gaffs. I've been working on that. I used to roll my eyes, throw up my hands, something. Although the stricken look on my face might have told it all...
I remember now why I posted all that stuff in the first post:
1) A 400w head and a 15" speaker cab - Do you think that's enough for an outdoor gig? (assuming it doesn't sound terrible - oh, and the power button was dodgy. Most times, I had to turn it on 2 or 3 times before I got a signal.)
2) Have you ever gone completely blank on stage? I haven't done that before, and let me tell ya, I hope it NEVER happens again.
_________________________
And you thought Chewie was hairy...
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#1964432 - 06/30/08 07:44 AM
Re: OT: Gig-is-over-spam/blog
[Re: Chewbubba]
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Phil W
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I have gone completely blank on stage many times. The trick is to just relax and trust your instincts/memory. You usually end up playing the right part. Frequently it's when the guitarist starts playing an intro and I'm supposed to know which song it is - but so many (especially the T Rex ones) sound the same.
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#1964440 - 06/30/08 07:54 AM
Re: OT: Gig-is-over-spam/blog
[Re: Chewbubba]
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Davo-London
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Completely blank - oh yes. But then I often tacet deliberately and so this would be part of the con. But developing your ear would be needed to avoid it again, i.e. work it out live. It's pretty hit and miss with me.
Davo
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#1964452 - 06/30/08 08:07 AM
Re: OT: Gig-is-over-spam/blog
[Re: Chewbubba]
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natobasso
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Registered: 03/03/08
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I remember now why I posted all that stuff in the first post:
1) A 400w head and a 15" speaker cab - Do you think that's enough for an outdoor gig? (assuming it doesn't sound terrible - oh, and the power button was dodgy. Most times, I had to turn it on 2 or 3 times before I got a signal.)
This would have been plenty had the speaker been able to handle the amp; I don't think they are evenly matched, or the Peavey needs to be reconed.
If you have this problem again I'd recommend turning down your stage volume and letting the PA handle your bass sound to the crowd. See if you can get some mid and low mids to your monitor (most sound guys hate putting bass in the monitors for fear of blowing a cone!) to compensate for the less stage volume.
2) Have you ever gone completely blank on stage? I haven't done that before, and let me tell ya, I hope it NEVER happens again.
More than once! Especially when a song is called and they say, "Go man!" and look at me.  When I'm less familiar with songs and playing by ear starting out the song is the last thing I want to do. Don't worry, we've all had brain farts.
_________________________
Bass is key.
----
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* Badass bridge; Hipshot tuners.
Thx Joe Mergens at Mojotone.
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#1964457 - 06/30/08 08:13 AM
Re: OT: Gig-is-over-spam/blog
[Re: natobasso]
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Phil W
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How many times have I played a tune and halfway through the verse I am thinking "How the *$&*%$ does the chorus go?". Then the chorus starts and I usually find my fingers in the right place.
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#1964469 - 06/30/08 08:41 AM
Re: OT: Gig-is-over-spam/blog
[Re: Phil W]
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Chewbubba
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Registered: 07/21/03
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That is usually what happens with me, except this time...
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#1964666 - 06/30/08 04:16 PM
Re: OT: Gig-is-over-spam/blog
[Re: RicBassGuy]
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Chewbubba
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Registered: 07/21/03
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Loc: Arkansas
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FOH? SPL? NBC? KFC?
I only know what the last two stand for.
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#1964674 - 06/30/08 04:52 PM
Re: OT: Gig-is-over-spam/blog
[Re: Chewbubba]
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Tom Capasso
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Front Of House - term used for the sound coming from the PA to the audience (as opposed to what's going on on-stage)
Sound Pressure Level - means to determine the loudness of wiseass bassists from Long Island, or bass rigs in general
Tom
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