Ok so I have a gig next weekend that is outdoors at night. Chances are its gonna be pretty cold out. If there's one thing that gives me trouble playing bass, it's cold. My fingers just won't move any more. Do any of you guys have suggestions for how to keep my hands nice and warm?

Always a tricky one, I usually sit on my hands to warm 'em up, but at cold a outdoor gig I don't know how if that's gonna cut it.

Failing that, masturbation, if you can get away with it, between songs, and if you have your bass low enough :D

Try this thread:
Outdoor gig thread (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62838&highlight=Cold+AND+outdoor+AND+gig)

I've yet to try it with a bass, but at fall festival last year I did manage it on guitar when it was about 40 degrees out. I used some light fingerless gloves. If you can keep the blood in your palms warm, your fingers will feel a little better as a result. They have to be light gloves though or your fingers will be bogged down too much. You also might try one of those campers hand warmers. They are about the size of a pack of smokes and you can keep one in your pocket for breaks.

Try standing in the beam of those stage lights. Or try jumping around much..

whoa im supplying the new forum with threads

moving this one too (Performance related)

Toony Levin addresses this in his book. He uses those packet warmers in his pockets and the gloves with fingers cut out as well.

Not much you can do, save getting those propane heaters. They throw the heat a good distance so if you stand next to one of those you should be fine.

I've seen electrical versions that throw heat pretty well for not a lot of cash at Costco and places like that.

I am usually too hot onstage, but the one time I played in the cold I reverted to a one-finger technique on the right hand and kept the others warm in my fist then switched finger when the one got numb.

hobo gloves as i call 'em. those relaly thin gloves, cut the finger tips off so you can still play, i always have a pair in my case, my hands get cold really easliy. and in the words of my outdoor education teacher....LAYERS LAYERS LAYERS!!!
-shoonk

Maybe I shouldn't state this, and it may be wrong, but why don't you get those finger rubbers they use in doctors offices. They fit individually on each finger...that may help keep your fingers warm along with the "hobo gloves"....Just my suggestion...

learn to use a pick in case your fingers cramp up.

playing in the cold is a stumbling block for me too.
I've done it a few times and every time I've left the gig feeling dissapointed with my playing.
I still haven't perfected any methods
but I rub my hands together vigoursly between every song that I can both sides...I'll stick my hands under my armpits(kind of weird, but warm) or I'll jump up and down saying "its cold! its cold!"
I like the gloves idea, I should try that.
oh keep your hands dry! wet hands in cold is no fun :)

I know what you're saying. Sometimes it gets down into the 60's at night around here. We just tough it out.

Originally posted by Munjibunga
I know what you're saying. Sometimes it gets down into the 60's at night around here. We just tough it out.

You must mean 60 degrees Kelvin - right??
;) :D

Originally posted by Munjibunga
I know what you're saying. Sometimes it gets down into the 60's at night around here. We just tough it out.

Dang. You must have to chip the layers of sheet ice off of your frozen self after each song! ;)

For the last 4 years my band has played a Halloween party outdoors called Boosuey. (we're in Tennessee) The first 3 years it was terribly cold. They always have a fire going so I go hang out by the fire to get some feeling into my hands then tough it out for 45 - 1hr (a considerably shorter set) Between songs I grasp my hands together and then breath into them with hot breath. Hope that helps out. Good luck.

Originally posted by Groovski
For the last 4 years my band has played a Halloween party outdoors called Boosuey. (we're in Tennessee) The first 3 years it was terribly cold. They always have a fire going so I go hang out by the fire to get some feeling into my hands then tough it out for 45 - 1hr (a considerably shorter set) Between songs I grasp my hands together and then breath into them with hot breath. Hope that helps out. Good luck. You also go and hug on your girlfriend:D ...thats always a plus

Originally posted by superfreak
You also go and hug on your girlfriend:D ...thats always a plus

:D You know thats right!!!!;)

Originally posted by dancehallclasher
learn to use a pick in case your fingers cramp up.

Or... learn to use your fingers in case your wrist and forearm cramp up.;):p

if you think its hard playing a bass guitar in the cold, try playing the upright in the cold. the neck is alot bigger, so it makes your hands cramp up more. for marching band our competitions are at night, so its always freezing. i usually keep my hands tucked in the collar of my neck or my stomach (warmest places), breath on them, keep them moving, and don't even think about the cold, when i wouldn't think about how cold it was i couldn't feel the cold as much. sounds dumb, but works.

Hand warmers put them inside some thin gloves with the fingure tips cut off. you can pick them up at sporting goods store. about .99 cents each.

pocket warmers are great.

beyond that just heaters i could think of

gloves i couldnt imagine using unless your a pick player, i know i use my palm to mute strings so gloves would mess my sound up to much.

Pocket warmers and hands down the pants.

Well the outdoor gig was last night with the temperature in the 30's. It was terrible. After one song I couldn't feel anything in my fingers and the hot pack things I bought weren't helping at all. I pretty much sucked all night and was glad when it was over. I guess I'm just not cut out for cold outdoor gigs.

Bring a small electric kettle, some water, and a hot water bottle.

Fold the bottle around your hands between songs.

Last year, I had an outdoor gig and it was, I swear, no warmer than 25 degrees out. It was friggin' freezing. My fingers started sticking to my strings, and the band I was playing with played a lot of fast songs, so, naturally, I couldn't play too well in that situation. Thankfully, we had most of our slower songs in our first set, so, when we took a break, I went on a quest to find some way to limber up my fingers and keep them from sticking anymore. I ended up inside where there were a couple of snack foods out. I saw some really good looking bean dip and some Frido's Scoops laying out. So, I picked up a chip, and had some bean dip. I then, totally subconsciously, rubbed my fingers together and I realized that my fingers were kinda slippery. I then realized that it was the grease in the chips. So, I just reached into the pile of Frido's and grabbed a heaping handfull and took them back outside and laid them on top of my amp. Before we started our 2nd set, I got some of those chips and just rubbed them all over my hands. It totally cured the problem. My hands started working again and I was playing at my regular skill again. It was great, and I discovered that little trick. Try it, I bet it'll work.

thermos of coffee or sumpin

not much you can do in that situation...I prefer a propane heater,a salamander actually(wal-mart has small ones that use a small propane bottle,but bigger is better).all the suggestions here are good ones...I actually used to practice in our git. players attic that had NO HEAT AT ALL FOR 10 YEARS!!!the summers were brutally hot(110+ degrees and humid as hell)and the winters were just the opposite. for me it was'nt that bad because I work outdoors year round,but the other band members were really sensitive to it..being a outdoor sportsman(hunting and fishing)and having kids that play football,I'm well aware of the hand warmers talked about here..the trick to them is to expose them to the outside air,they react to oxygen..take them out of your pocket once in the while and re-juvinate it...but I will admit that they are not enough to get it done in a playin situation...so buck up and take it like a man...:)

Man, I'm glad this thread is here. My singer/guitarist just called and we're doing a 1 hour show outside tomorrow night. It's suppose to be below 30 degree's with 10 to 15 mile an hour winds with fresh snow on the ground. I'm really not looking foward to this. I just joined this band and still don't have all the songs down tight and now I have to deal with the cold.
Oh well, it is for a good cause. We're playing at a Lowe's store that is having a "Toys for Tots" drive. Maybe someone at Lowe's can at least give me some gloves.

y'know - I'm curious if that liquid skin stuff made by band-aid would help? I mean you wouldn't really need on your fingertips anyways, cause of callouses, you just need to keep your hands/fingers warm and dry I bet that might do it - or perhaps combination with biking gloves.

I've played many a freezing gig - I usually just stick my hands down the back of my pants at any opportunity.