bassists get no love

[motoman]

Ever notice when you watch a live concert or sometimes a music video that the bass player gets no or very little camera time. The song can have a heavy bass line but the focus is always on the drummer or guitarist. Our we not part of the band to?

[Gothic]

Heh, that's a fact, although not everywhere. Either way, they'll notice if we stop playing!

[Valerus]

It happens.

[SirNose]

Hey, everyone else can enjoy their camera time while I enjoy the music I'm making.

[SirCanealot]

Why I like Dream Theater DVDs. They're usually edited by the drummer, and he knows people like tons of Myung time (well, provided there are plenty of shots of him anyway, haha :P)

Check out The Glass Prison from Gingantour on youtube too -- more shots of Myung that I've ever seen. They're even checking out Myung during the guitar/keyboard solos 0_o (which is cool, since what he's playing then is insane)

[Sneckumhaw]

Bassists like to whine.

[DaneB]

I watched the Joni Mitchell Shadows and Light DVD again last night, and it seemed that whenever Jaco was doing something particularly interesting, they'd be showing crowd shots or random ice skating dancing

Still a great DVD though.

[JimmyM]

I know what you mean. I found a vid of us on Youtube and they show me for about one second. But the check cleared so screw it

It helps to sing if you want to get noticed, though. If I were singing in the clip I'd have been in it more.

[bwv1013]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I know what you mean. I found a vid of us on Youtube and they show me for about one second. But the check cleared so screw it

my thoughts exactly...

[capnsandwich]

Bassists are like the foundation of a house. They're usually under everything, supporting everything, and hardly ever show. It's the siding and the roof that gets all the sun. However, try having a house without a foundation. It won't stand very long.

[Deacon_Blues]

I've noticed this as well, but I think that in the end it comes down to how much you make yourself visible for the camera and the audience. If you take up some space on the stage and move around and look like you're giving the audience the best show ever, you'll probably get more camera time. If you stand still in a corner on the back of the stage, even the funkiest groove won't give you much camera time.

IMO of course.

[varunkapahi]

they do, if they jump around and have stage presence. imo, the camera person and his team aims at making the video entertaining and they do not want to bore off the public by showing jpj or anyone else standing somewhere like a statue and laying down the best grooves but would rather show pagey or keith moon or other show stoppers . check out on youtube they show as much of jaco as others from weather report coz he is entertaining, another example; steve harris.
oh yes i forgot flea

[Inflin]

If you act like a typical bassist (stand at the back near the amp, plucking away) then you're not gonna get much screen time. If you're being dramatic like a guitarist, or jumping about like Flea, you're gonna be a whole lot more interesting to watch.

[Woodchuck]

I'm cool with that. I will admit though, I was watching a concert on BET Jazz, and the bassist was doing a solo, and the camera was on the lead singer clapping! That bothered me.

[redfish]

I was thinking this too, I find that watching a bassist in action helps me learn more about how to play, but music videos or televised performances just don't normally spend much camera time on the bassist which is a shame.

So I guess it's small live shows all the way. That's no hardship.

[gb2]

bassists get no love

I do

[redfish]

Originally Posted by gb2

I do

Oh. Are we talking self love then? Because that's not good for your hammer ons...

[Parabolic Box]

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

they do, if they jump around and have stage presence. imo, the camera person and his team aims at making the video entertaining and they do not want to bore off the public by showing jpj or anyone else standing somewhere like a statue and laying down the best grooves but would rather show pagey or keith moon or other show stoppers . check out on youtube they show as much of jaco as others from weather report coz he is entertaining, another example; steve harris.
oh yes i forgot flea

+1

Recorded Queen shows gives John Deacon plenty of camera time to show him getting into the groove, jumping, and moving about.

Then again, when you have ten cameras to record the show, you're going to get shots of everyone at different angles.

[SteveC]

Bassists don't get love all the time, but as was said before, just stop playing for a couple beats and see who's looking then...

[Jeff K]

To provide an analogy, this brings to mind something my dad told me a long time ago. He grew up in the 1920's, and barbershop quartets were big. He was in a well-respected quartet and years later was explaining to me the roles of the different "voices" within the quartet. He sang mainly lead, but could sing any of the four voices if someone was sick and they needed a sub to fill in.

Anyway, he said that people always focus on the lead singer, the bass singer, or the high tenor singer because they are the three voices that jump out at the audience. But, he explained, the baritone singer is the one who "weaves" it all together, and that it would all sound like s##t without that baritone.

I think it's kind of like that with us. People focus on the lead singer and the lead guitar. But without our bass, it just wouldn't sound right. But people "in the know" realize how important our role is.