I just had what I think was the worst gig of my life. I could go on and on about the hundreds of things that went wrong or bothered me but I want to focus on one thing that I feel is just rediculous.
I'll do a little set up so you know where I am coming from.
Incoming Wall Of Text!!!!!!!
I play in a three piece cover band. (We have four members but one is a singer/part time keyboardist, so I consider it three peice.) We play a mix of new and older rock toons. Any thing from AC/DC to Paramore, Foo Fighters to Deep Purple. We have three singers. Myself (the bass player, male), the guitarist (male), and a female vocalist (the guitarists wife.) We all sing back up for each other. The songs are split pretty even at 1/3 per singer.
I feel we have some of the best talent in the area. I am not saying we are awesome, just above average for what we do. I think everyone has good tones for their instruments. We know how to sound good together (so I thought!) and no one is a diva. We all work together very well and have for a long time. We are all very close friends and have been for years.
A few months ago we added another member to our band by hiring a full time sound man. (Previously, we (I) ran everything from stage. We own our own P.A.) Everyone really likes him and it has taken a large load off my shoulders having someone there that can do the dirty work. The other band members often rave about how good we sound now and I love being able to concentrate on singing and playing and not sound problems/issues.
O.K., thats the background, here is the issue.
I became concerned that I (meaning my bass not vocals)have not been in the mix during our last few shows. I thought maybe I was getting a little too much bleed though from the stage volume. No big deal, I'll turn down. I started looking at the board closer on the next few gigs. It looked fishy to me. I asked, "Am, I too loud on stage?" The sound man says no. My band-mates say "No, turn it up a bit." They can't hear me, but only if I ask.
So to test my theory, on the last gig, I shut the volume controls on my bass guitar
off during a few songs. ( No signal to the board, no signal to my amp!) These were not your typical root note bashing song, but song that I think had good bass lines that are important to the song or walking bass lines that should be missed if gone. The songs would/should have sound very sterile if the bass was not there.
Nobody noticed! Not my drummer, not the guitarist or other singer, not my wife or my daughter who were both in the audience and seated directly in front of me, and most imprortant, not the sound guy! However, later in the night, my guitardist stepped on his cord and pulled it out from the jack. Everyone noticed that!
I pride myself on being a good solid bass player. I know my job. I try to never overplay anything. I have good timing. I pay attention to the drummer and his lead. I know that the bass guitar is not the "sexy" intrument. I make sure my tone is "right" for the song,"right" for the band, and "right" for the room. I stay out of the guitar players frequency bed. (But I do not always get the same treatment.) I do my best to compliment the drums.
I do not know what to do at this point. I am screaming mad about this and I do not think I can even discuss it with my bandmates without it becoming a full blown fight.
I refuse to be just an average player. I practice long and hard. I have hundreds of gigs and experience under my belt. If I am not going to be heard, or worse, not missed when I am gone, I do not see the need to be in this band.
A three peice band with no bass guitar? NO! NO! NO! How can no one notice that one of the three is missing unless everone is used no not hearing me in the first place?
I must have miss-judged my ability and worth somewhere along the line. It's the only explaination that I can come up with.
Anyways, I am at my lowest point. I feel disgusted and depressed. I may be looking for something new.
