I got schooled badly at an open mic :-(

[wrench45us]

Here's an idea
Mike Nunno does give lessons out of Route 1 Music in Milford, Ct

$22/half hour according to the site
may as well go all out and pay if you're going to be schooled

All reports seem to indicate he's a great human being, monster player and knowledgeable teacher. It's not easy to find all those characteristics in one guy. Sounds to me like open mic could turn into a great opportunity.

http://www.route1guitars.com/index3.html

[TolerancEJ]

Originally Posted by Supertanker

...Musicians play for the people, the majority of whom don't know the difference between E# and F.

Schooled! I just went to "Google-school" to look up E# vs F, because I thought to myself "those are the same notes." I've been prompted to learn something within this very thread. Haha!

[BluesMan845]

Originally Posted by ZeroSymbolic

So what I am saying is, don't try to out-tech somebody, just make what you do more fantastic.

^^^ Lol, I love that. Great use of the word "fantastic"

[BlueTalon]

If you stick around on this planet long enough, and pay attention, you will eventually develop a good understanding of yourself... what you can do and can't do, what is within your reach to learn quickly and what isn't, what your strengths and weaknesses are. There's nothing wrong with concluding you are a great player, or that you suck, as long as it is an honest and accurate self assessment -- and don't use that assessment to remain where you are.

Whenever I encounter a bass player who is better than me at a jam, I camp out and watch their hands. I usually learn something worthwhile.

[JoeWPgh]

No matter how good you are, there will always be someone who plays better than you. And if there isn't today, there will be tomorrow.

[hgiles]

I bet he knows someone that makes him feel how he made you feel.

But this happens to me all the time, just get on your horse and realize that your largest deficiency is the easiest fix. It sounds like you have already started addressing it.

[cjazjef]

Thanks all for the fun feedback. I will say that when I meant it was bothering me, it wasn't that their was a better player than me playing(there's an infinite list of those) and there's always a better one right around the corner. It was more that I was pissed at myself that I had become complacent with my playing and not stuck to shedding out the necessary practice stuff that had gotten me to where I am. It has been a huge positive moment because I think most of us have a point where we pick up our basses and say "what now?" I just know that at some open mics I am the player people like to see and I love it when someone better comes around, I just wasn't prepared for Mike to be that frigging good. I really posted this not only to "get it off my chest" but to remind some of you other players out there to strive to be better, be a good musician and be humble and thankful at the same time. I spent a week at wooten camp and there were no egos to be found amongst the wooten, wellington, rainey, welsch, nitti, kai, and the list goes on. They were just normal people who have a musical gift they enjoyed sharing. I have been a house bass player for many open mics and love playing with all levels of people and getting thrown to the wolves so to speak. I just know many of the musicians who are of better caliber stand around and make jokes about them in their little cliques and forget they were once that person on stage.

[cjazjef]

Originally Posted by john m

Great player.

I saw him play with Street Temperature at the 8-80 in Hartford back in the day.

He was filling in for a guy that I studied with for a while-
Bob Laramie--- another monster CT guy.

Street temperature was awesome..The late Pat Nigro and I were in the same band for a few years and yes, Bob is a monster as well, he is actually my fill in when I can't do a gig with my main band.

[cjazjef]

Originally Posted by wrench45us

Here's an idea
Mike Nunno does give lessons out of Route 1 Music in Milford, Ct

$22/half hour according to the site
may as well go all out and pay if you're going to be schooled

All reports seem to indicate he's a great human being, monster player and knowledgeable teacher. It's not easy to find all those characteristics in one guy. Sounds to me like open mic could turn into a great opportunity.

http://www.route1guitars.com/index3.html

Thanks for this post...I am going to contact him and see if he does skype lessons. Milford distance with a 2 year old and a day job can be kind of tricky to pull off on a regular basis.

[cire113]

I wish people would realize it doesn't take "magic" or "talent" to be a really awesome bass player;

With enough dedication and practice and desire anyone unless somehow handicapped can become a great bass player ANYONE;

The fact that there are so many good bass players in the world just proves i can be another one lol; There really are a ton

Also it really isnt even about being better or worse; I hate talking about music that way....

Most of the advice in this thread is sound;


I got over this problem after I jammed with victor wooten lol; if you can jam with victor u can play with anyone and not care!

The truth is Victor even told us he doesnt care how anyone plays! I believe it

[Lesfunk]

Originally Posted by Art Araya

Is Mike Nunno Bob Nunno's (sax) brother?

Cool. I played a gig with Bob just last weekend

[Tupac]

Any videos of this guy by any chance?

[RhynoRock]

I can definitely feel for you on this one dude. It really does make ya feel small when someone who just has those chops, that almost whimsical aspect to their playing, it's like..."well what the hell do I do now?" Some folks are just downright clever when they get on their instrument, and its just their perception of what sounds good to them. The guy that comes to mind that makes me feel like crap when I hear him is Jeff Berlin. But you know what? I'm willing to bet you have had a similar impact on someone. It's a very encouraging thought when you hear that you inspired someone because they had seen what you can do, and what all your hard work has given you. I personally would have started asking him questions as to where he gets his bass lines from, what kinda music, specifically what bassist he tries to play like, if you look up to him enough that is. But you definitely have my sympathy on this bro, it's happened to me countless times, and not all of my experiences have been very good. Chin up.

[edwinhurwitz]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBass

Happened to me the first time I saw Vic Wooten jam it out. Natural. What's the quote that Vic uses on one of his albums, an old tinny recording of a gentleman who tell us, "when the going gets tough, it is positive signal to charge ahead."

That happened to me with Vic at my own gig. It's a bit of a long story, but to get to the good part, we were playing at a sports bar in Telluride during the Bluegrass Festival on a Sunday night. We had run into Jeff Coffin and invited him to sit in with Darol Anger and a bunch of others. No worries, just great players who were into it. However, after my second margarita, I look up and there's Vic, about 3 tables back in the middle. I knew I couldn't play in front of him, so I asked him to sit in. Our material was a variety of stuff written by a very talented singer who was more poet than musician, so she did not shy away from interesting chord progressions and different time signatures, it was all about the flow. I didn't have to explain a thing to Vic, it was like he was the missing member of the band. He wasn't doing all the athletic stuff you hear at his gigs or the Flecktones, but just really deep tasty parts, that felt like real parts of the songs. I wish there was a recording. At 1AM, they locked the doors and declared it a private party and we played until almost 3. Of course, we had to do the obligatory bass duet, but after about 6 or 7 minutes, I just threw up my hands and laughed. I got schooled for sure, but it was a great experience for everyone. Vic seemed pretty happy, too.

[dickfitts]

Don't worry man! An open Mic is not a school. Just go to have fun! Life is beautiful...take care!