An Inspiring knock at the door...

Spinal Tapper · #1 12-01-2009, 10:07 AM

Hey guys, I thought this was a cool story some of you might dig, sorry if it's lengthy, I'm sort of a detail oriented story teller, bare with me

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I was practicing by myself on Friday night - working on my scales and tightening up some parts to my band's newest original songs, my girlfriend was reading a book on the couch. Quiet night in my apartment building, about 10:30pm.

Then there's a knock at the door...I'm thinking, Damnit, someone is complaining I'm playing too loud (through my Rumble 25 on about half volume LOL, and my neighbors NEVER complain - even when I'm having 2am jams with buddies on the weekends). My girl gave me that you're in trouble now look as I walked to the door. The knocking continued...

I answer the door and there's an older guy standing there and he asks, "You playing bass in there? Are you reading sheet music?"

A little confused, I said, "Nope, I'm just playing by ear, working on some new stuff. I'm sorry, am I disturbing you?"

"Sounds really good man," he replies. "I play bass too, what kinda bass you got in there?"

Well, then I realized, he wasn't a neighbor, he's my building's security guard, he had a jacket on over his uniform. He was making his rounds and I guess he wanted to say Hi.

"I'm playing my Squier VM fretless right now and I own a couple other Fenders" I told him. "Wanna come inside and check it out?"

So he came in and of course, I handed him my Squier and he strapped it on. Let me tell you, this dude was AMAZING. He just tore it up. He played a little Stanley Clarke bit and then he pulled out some Sly and Family Stone and was literally spanking the fretless and singing the lead melody at the same time.

This guy was just awesome! I was totally blown away. I just stood there - I could've grabbed my other bass to plug in and jam, but I was literally petrified by how good this guy was and just stood there watching him and listening.

We talked for a bit and he mentioned his brother played with Robert Palmer and a bunch of other famous musicians and how he's been playing bass in the Gospel group at church since he was 9 then he tells me he is 49 now...just amazing.

I told him he had to give me his number and call if he ever starts a shift early and to come up and jam for a few minutes - show me a few things (I didn't wanna get the guy in trouble during his shifts).

He said "Hell yeah, anytime". I even ran into him the next night coming back from my friend's house he was in the lobby of my building. I invited him up and showed him some of my band's songs/bass parts and played a couple things for him - he said he was really impressed

maybe just being nice, but he even said it was cool to meet me because maybe I could show him a few things and we could learn from eachother (I'm more of a Rock oriented/inspired bassist, but definitely grew up listening to the masters: Victor, Jaco, Stanley, Marcus etc)

This was really inspiring to me, because lately, I've felt a little down on myself in my own playing skills, and my band has been busting on me lately because of a couple parts I couldn't get down in practice while they were all watching and waiting for me to lock it up (you know, when you're standing there sweating, and it's just not coming together and your band is like "C'mon bro, lock it up! We're waiting!" Hence the solo practice at home on a Friday that lead to this whole meeting).

Anyways, I really went to practice last night with a new head on my shoulders. I had a lot more confidence at rehearsal - even my band noticed it, I just played balls out.

Honestly, the security guard bassist guy couldn't have shown up at my door at any better time in my life. I really hope we get to jam again soon. Thanks for reading everyone. Hope this was inspiring to you as well.

MonetBass · #2 12-01-2009, 10:10 AM

Great story, man. Inspiration comes when we need it most sometimes, and that's great for you. Keep practicing -- you'll get there, man.

funk generator · #3 12-01-2009, 10:28 AM

Very cool man

God just has a way of putting the right person in the right place at the right time

SnoMan · #4 12-01-2009, 10:49 AM

Gotta love it. Good stuff.

Oopsdabassist · #5 12-01-2009, 10:55 AM

Inspiring stuff dude, good read, best of luck and say hi to your security man from all us here on TB!!

buzzbass · #6 12-01-2009, 11:38 AM

great story, props to both of you

singlemalt · #7 12-01-2009, 11:41 AM

Hire him to give lessons, he could probably use some extra cash.

You could end up hooked up with his circle of buddies, too.

stuonbass · #8 12-01-2009, 11:51 AM

Good Karhma, pay it forward.

Spinal Tapper · #9 12-01-2009, 12:04 PM

Thanks for the kind words, guys, and for reading my post. Means a lot. Now that you've responded, I figure I could fill in a little more...

I thought about hiring him for lessons, he definitely could use some cash - I know because he actually asked me if I could help him out after I saw him again on Saturday...usually this is a huge red flag

, but he says he's a man of God and frequents the church where he plays in the gospel group...and I know he's not lying, because the dude proved he could play really really well before I knew anything about him and his situation.

Times are tough for everyone right now, but this did strike me as a little awkward. I've lived in Chicago for 8 years and I know there's a LOT of shady people who will rob you for a nickel without thinking about it, and who will lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want for their fix for the moment.

I actually ended up lending him $10 so he could grab a beer and some train fare when he got off his shift. He said he's been pretty hard up for cash and probably could've used a bit more, but I only had $10 on me...I'm not a naive guy, these types of situations usually make me very uncomfortable and I usually turn the other direction.

Anyways, I've decided to keep the relationship to a friendship standpoint where we could jam and I could learn from him before his shifts at work. This way, there's no pressure on my end to pay him money every time he takes a separate trip to come up to jam, and things can't get too messy with scheduling, and my other band conflicts. Hopefully we can be friends and just keep it casual. I did tell him I'd put him on the guest list if he wanted to check out my band one night.

I called him last night and told him lets just keep it to having fun and jamming a few minutes on days he gets to work early and maybe we can learn something from each other. He totally agreed (probably also felt a little awkward taking $10 from me like a bum on the street the other night) so we'll see where it goes from there.

Regardless, the guy is a sick player and I hope to keep learning from him when the opportunity comes.

Thanks for reading.

ithump4 · #10 12-01-2009, 12:27 PM

Great story dude. One of my best friends in the world is a custodian in a small school system. He is also one of the best guitar pickers that I've ever had the pleasure to be associated with. Musicians come in all shapes,sizes,colors, and backgrounds. Just to mention about the $10, most everybody needs a little help fffrom time to time. Especially these days. Keep on rockin dude.

WayneS · #11 12-01-2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinal Tapper

He said he's been pretty hard up for cash and probably could've used a bit more, but I only had $10 on me...

I'm happy that you found inspiration, but this seems like an awful big red flag to ignore. He actually told you that he could have used a bit more?

Or did I misinterpret the sentence?

lousybassplayer · #12 12-01-2009, 12:41 PM

I hate to sound like a wet rag on the whole thing, but I'd be wary. The first (and only) time my backwoods rube ass was in NYC I was asked for a few bucks from someone in the bus station that very quickly turned in to a request for 50 bucks (the crackhead's final agreed upon sum was 10 bucks as well). Theives are not stupid and extremely opportunistic and even those that have found Jesus and playa mean bass guitar are capable of bumming money. My advice, take the inspiration, leave the musically talented, God fearing and ultimately questionable security guard.

jgroh · #13 12-01-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayneS

I'm happy that you found inspiration, but this seems like an awful big red flag to ignore. He actually told you that he could have used a bit more?

Or did I misinterpret the sentence?

Yeah this is what I was thinking. Sorry I dont mean to derail your cool story. If he asks for more cash though, I would just lose his number and not answer the door.

**funkybass4ever** · #14 12-01-2009, 01:00 PM

to be on the cautious side make sure to get renters insurance that will cover your gear if Security Bassman decides to quit his job and take your stuff when you are at work. His asking for more dough gave me a baaaaaaaaaad feeling.

Spinal Tapper · #15 12-01-2009, 01:18 PM

I absolutely 100% agree with you guys - no spoilers here. It's kind of where the story took an unfortunately interesting twist.

Like I said, I've lived in the city for a while, and it's not uncommon to meet someone anywhere/anytime who will in turn ask you for money - usually for drugs or alcohol. It's been happening since the first day I moved here, and I've lived in multiple neighborhoods in Chicago now. It's VERY sad. Yes, $10 is the "magic" number when it comes to crackheads and their drugs. Also $10 for a packet of heroin IIRC which is big in this city too and can be had not far from my own apartment as most neighborhoods in Chicago.

My advice, take the inspiration, leave the musically talented, God fearing and ultimately questionable security guard.
Lousy, this is great advice. I have to know when to turn off the nice guy thing and remember my own safety (and my girlfriend's) is at risk.

Fortunately, I do have renters insurance. Also, I made it pretty clear our "meetings" would only consist of casual jams on days he came to work early and he called me before he even came up, we'll see if these jams even happen. This way I would have no remorse about not lending him any money if I didn't want to.

Should I have changed the title of this to "The bum bass player"? The more I think about it, the more I consider it. It's really too bad. I think the guy has some problems, but I also think I could learn a few things from him in my spare time.

Spinal Tapper · #16 12-01-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayneS

I'm happy that you found inspiration, but this seems like an awful big red flag to ignore. He actually told you that he could have used a bit more?

Or did I misinterpret the sentence?

Yeah, he asked for more money - a typical bum situation. I learned how to avoid this one when I was 12...don't take out your wallet, PERIOD.

OTOH, he's a security guard. Not a janitor. I'm sure he must have had credentials before they hired him...right?

WayneS · #17 12-01-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinal Tapper

OTOH, he's a security guard. Not a janitor. I'm sure he must have had credentials before they hired him...right?

Not necessarily. I was a security guard once and all I needed was a drivers license and a shallow background check.

Spinal Tapper · #18 12-01-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayneS

Not necessarily. I was a security guard once and all I needed was a drivers license and a shallow background check.

I'm changing my locks

WayneS · #19 12-01-2009, 01:27 PM

Trust your gut. All we're telling you here is to be cautious.

This is the TB Brotherhood!

Stumbo · #20 12-01-2009, 01:27 PM

If he's that good, how come he's not tearing it up nightly in a club somewhere? Gotta be a reason for that. Asking for $10 "so he could grab a beer and some train fare" doesn't seem right to me. I mean, if you hadn't given him the $10, how would he have gotten home?

If he had bought groceries or paid a utility bill or something like that, then, that's hard times, IMO. But going to a bar to hang out and using your cash for train fare doesn't cut it with me.

Beyond that, IMO, he's made you for a mark so he'll attempt to up the ante next time in a cool slick way, the same way he picked you out for your bass playing. He figured that you couldn't turn down a brother bass player. And you didn't.

I suggest you ask him where his church is so you can go hear him next Sunday. See how far you get with that.