General Music Chat

You play for the love of playing or that's what I get from you.

You realize it probably won't be your end all.

I say look for your bass player and don't give up anything.

5 years ? Damn that's a long time. Be the pitbull, brother.. Don't release the jaws.. Don't give up anything they don't pry your dead fingers from.

The world is a vampire. Do not let it drain you of something you require and enjoy.

No, sharpen your stakes and buckle down .. It's a long, dark night, but the dawn does come ..

That is good advise Capt. that has been my attitude for a long time, actually for the last 20 years I have been going strong. I went thru a period in the early 80's where I sold my electrics and Marshalls and just quit performing. I just played acoustic for myself. So in a nutshell I have been performing in pro. bands for 30 years and out of that I have taken two breaks. one two year break and one, 1 year break. I really feel like the last man standing at this point or maybe a little like a dinosaur LOL. I have adds out about us seeking a singing bass player and playing classic rock music from the 70's and 80's and no one is responding. I know people want to hear these songs because they come up and tell us how good we are and how much they enjoy the music. I can't even take a break they swarm the stage. We really are playing at a very high level for a three peice band. I just don't know if I have it in me to continue being the guy that makes everything happen for the band.

Hey, Jeff, how busy do you stay at playing and what kind of money could someone make being your bassist. Go ahead and take that break unless a good bassist comes along and maybe later, I might want to play (weekends) if the pay is worth the trip. Though I'm a lead guitarist, when I play bass, I play it like I would want someone to play it for me. No lead bass playing here, just in the groove keeping the rhythm section going. I can also sing harmony.

ratsass, I can book about 8 to 10 gigs a month that pay between $125.00 to $150.00 for a 4 peice (each) and with the right 3 peice like we have now we are consistantly making between $150.00 and $200.00 (each) these are bar gigs and festival type gigs. Lately I have only been booking 3 to 4 gigs a month because it takes so much out of me to do all the things necessary to keep a band at this level. I am really comfortable playing the 3 to 4 gigs a month because that is enough to keep us polished and you also have time to have a life other than the band. The thing that really takes the initiative out of me are the personel problems with members of the band. That is what I am sooo sick of. So far in 5 years I have fired 3 bass players, 6 drummers, 1 rythm guitar player has come and gone twice, I had to fire one keyboard player, and one died. During this time I can't even remember how many subs I have had to find because I had to either fire someone or someone couldn't make the gig because they were heart broken or some other B.S. Meanwhile I have been thru 2 divorces sick kids and all the other curves that life has thrown me all the while never missing a gig. That is the reason I can get more gigs than I want to play and book them way in advance is because these club owners know that they can consistantly count on me to put good projects together that are professional and worthy of playing in their establishments. No matter how many people I have had to fire in the past I have always told eveyone that this is our band and eventually someone starts to freak out and act like an A$$WHOLE and even then I give them a bunch of chances to redeem themsleves and when they don't as the leader of this band it is my place to take the initiative to fire them (and no one else wants to do it) this is what takes the wind out of my sails so to speak, but it is part of being the leader of the band.
My dream is not dead I just know what I want out of music. And that is first and formost for it to be as much fun as possible for everyone, second to make as much money for everyone involved (I split all proceeds evenly), and lastly to try to keep it interesting for the audience and intelectually stimulating for the band members. Also I want to surround myself with the best players possible. All while remaining loyal to each member as long as they are not flaking out on the rest of the band.

THIS COULD GET INTRESTING..........

THE JEFF JEFF BAND.


Hey RAT, Did you play the bass on "TESTING TWO"?

Yeah, I played bass on all my originals. Never any preconceived ideas, just what feels right for the songs. Some songs, I set a drum pattern looping and play the bass with it and write songs that way. Makes them turn out different than if I was on my main instrument.

Here's a pretty good set of goals for music - seems like you already know about them:
1) Enjoy playing the music.
2) Get the music into as many ears as possible - and get paid for doing it.
3) See #1.

So far # 1 is the easy part. "Paying" gigs for a newly formed Christian Rock band are kinda like an honest polatician.

If, every time you practice, you strive to get 10% better - the paying gigs will eventually come.
.
In the mean time - get known.

J Haley, after all that time are you going to let that get by you?

I don't think you will.

Pray a little, keep your eyes open and someone will come your way.

I know of plenty of shitty bands that "took a break", but they sucked and no one cared anyway.

Now I know you ARE NOT in that category..

It's been a few years since I touched a bass and am not in your neck of the woods, but I would help you out if I was closer if not just to see you NOT take that break.

It can be a long time..and you just don't need that type of obstacle to climb.

I am quite sure you have enough challenges to keep you busy.

I'll say a little prayer for you, head up and keep moving if even little steps.

-amen..

Thanks Capt.

Being in a band is like a marriage, except your married to 2-4 other GUYS.. AHHH! . It's enough with 1 girl for me. I thought about doing the band thing again for the um-teenth time, but if.. if you or I or anybody could get together with the "perfect" people (I know their is no such thing) it'd be great. When I was in Memphis, ZZ top recorded at ardent studios, and they would never see each other. just come in at different times and lay down tracks . Kinda strange.
Yeh dude dont get burnt out. Maybe keep the rep going, and tease the public for a lil' while..

Yo, JH! you gotta extra bedroom available? I'm about ready to get the hell outta here & be a gypsy for awhile! (Well, I would if I didn't have a family...)

So far # 1 is the easy part. "Paying" gigs for a newly formed Christian Rock band are kinda like an honest polatician.

sing the lyrics backwards til you get an audience, then flip the switch and see what happens

Philby, I could move the stuff over in my music room. There is a real comfy couch in there.