O/T - 2010 giggage

VroomVroom · #1 01-09-2011, 05:25 AM

Hey Folks!

So, reviewing the last year's gig log in advance of tax filing... It was a surprisingly good year. 54 live gigs and six sessions. I actually had to turn down four other gigs for health issues, but I figure it's a wash...those same issues prevented much in the way of vacations, so I was able to say, "Yes!" to a few more gigs.

The relevant point here is just how much I love my Roscoes. Between my fertile myrtle sixer and two fretless fivers, Roscoe basses were used on 31 gigs and two recording dates. No better evidence i know of to describe the sound and playability.

No doubt preaching to the choir here, but looking back over the log I'm reminded of the importance of relationships. Word-of-mouth is incredibly powerful. Nearly one-third of my gigs were based on referrals. Gotta' love it. I'm also reminded of the other factors that come into play. One engineer/producer was very frank with me. I got his date because, on a prior session he witnessed, I showed up on-time, played what was requested, and otherwise kept my mouth shut. That pretty much applied to two sub gigs I did. The moral of the story? There are many unreliable, unprofessional, and musically stubborn bass players out there. Be not that and your phone shall ring.

Here's wishing everyone a musically rich 2011 that satisfies all your goals.

Darkstrike · #2 01-09-2011, 06:53 AM

Good to hear you're workin' it man.

**Bipslapper** · #3 01-09-2011, 08:13 AM

Good news Jerry. It seems like good things are in store for me as well in 2011:
New Funk/ Rock / Jam band (guitar, keys, sax, bass & favorite drummer from last band) plus Jazz/blues trio (guitar, bass & keys) for GB & smaller gigs (perhaps I need Genz Shuttle & new Berg cab? ???

Any excuse for new gear- oh yeah, I have a problem!

Cheers musically to all this year.

JBFLA · #4 01-09-2011, 09:43 AM

This year is shaping up pretty good after taking a hiatus last May. The old band wanted to explore a direction I wasn't interested in and that gave me a chance to work on stuff I needed to improve upon.

The guitarist and sax player (from that band) and I have hooked up with a drummer and keyboardist that we've known for a while. This project's goal is two-fold: Playing mostly jazz as a 3-4-5 piece (as budgets allow) and subbing out as a back-up band/rhythm section. The second part was not planned on, but we've had requests to back up some local singers who don't have (or are unhappy with) a band.

I'm looking forward to this year. New venues and song-lists, and the group really gets along well - this could be a lot of fun!

**nostatic** · #5 01-09-2011, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

There are many unreliable, unprofessional, and musically stubborn bass players out there. Be not that and your phone shall ring.

Here's wishing everyone a musically rich 2011 that satisfies all your goals.

Sadly, I don't have to total my gigs for tax purposes (most don't pay), but it looks like I beat you for live gigs by one with 55 (the two and three a day nursing home things add up) but no sessions. I actually turned down a spot in band that I really liked because I got pretty over-extended towards the end of the year. Turns out 5 bands and a day job is too much

To echo your sentiment, for the audition with that last band I exchanged emails, got the mp3 files, rough charted the tunes and learned them before the audition. I showed up 10 minutes early (have to anticipate LA traffic), plugged in the Roscoe, my gear worked, ran the tunes, and they offered me the spot. I was talking with them a bit and over half the bassist flaked on the audition, half of those that showed up hadn't learned the tunes, half of those that had didn't learn them correctly, and half that had couldn't play them well. That doesn't leave very many to choose from

2011 has started busy, but now am looking at a mostly empty Feb and scrambling to find some more gigs. Hard to book jazz in this town...

DannyV · #6 01-10-2011, 03:16 PM

I've been 'on sabbatical' since early last year, and am really looking forward to building some relationships in my new town, Charlottesville. Lots of wonderful places to play, an incredible music culture here (at least, from what I've seen so far).

Any TB folks in the area?

I agree with Jerry - may your 2011 be as musically filled as you wish!

**Ryan L.** · #7 01-10-2011, 03:20 PM

I played between 45 and 50 dates this past year---I'll know for sure when I get my tax info from my guitar player.

We're slowing down a little bit for the start of 2011, by choice. Heading back into the garage to learn a bunch of new songs and generally rework our set list. I've also put my foot down on some of the farther away gigs, as they just don't work for a couple of us in the band that have kids, and with my job where I'm gone most of the week, the last thing I want to do is travel 150+ miles away from home and spend the entire weekend away from my family. So we'll be doing more local gigs, and more one-nighters. Gotta find a balance in there somewhere.

But every gig last year was done with my Roscoes! And I'm positive that every gig this year will be done with them too. They just plain work perfectly for everything we do (and once I get my 3005-J, I'll have an even broader range to work with).

lwrthnwhalepoop · #8 01-11-2011, 12:34 AM

I played a few sub gigs and a half-dozen sessions. I turned a bunch of stuff down so the phone rings less often now, and I'm okay with that. I still love to strap on a bass and still miss performing from time to time, but I'm tightly focused on my geek gig and spending weekends serving as technical manager for the performing arts center I co-founded a bit over a year ago. These days I much prefer supporting others and giving back.

I do have a couple gigs lined up next month, but it's just a fill-in role. There's lots more work to do on the recording project I worked on, but I've not committed to any dates.

Glad to hear you guys are out their bangin' it out, though.

JOME77 · #9 01-11-2011, 07:50 AM

I'm down to playing once a week at church (since I dropped out of the youth band and orchestra). That would equate to roughly 52 gigs a year. Of course mine are only 30-45 minutes long and only 5-7 tunes and the stage crews already setup the equipment.
I don't know what I'd do if if I had to play a 4-5 hour gig and hold a bass in a standing position that long and then break down and load up after the gig!

I do sometimes miss loading up the gear and setting up for a road gig. Not often though. I still remember hauling those Leslie and VOT cabinets (and B-3's) up those straight narrow stairways at FRAT houses!

I'm a show and play kind of guy now!