HOORAY! I have a New Year's Eve gig!

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by fdeck

Dayum, did you do those yourself?

Yes, in the main, with a little help from a friend on some of the trickier bits, like drilling the tiny screw holes in the graphite necks for the machines - extreme care needed! The pic of the blue fretted one was taken while I was tinkering with the setup and looks kind of odd, but I reseated the neck in the pocket just a tiny little bit and it's all good now, like the green fretless.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by fdeck

It's at a very upscale retirement community. We start at 5:30 and play in a facility that is for folks who need fairly intensive nursing care. We ring in the new year at 6:30, then move to another room in the same complex where they have a dance floor. They bring in dance teachers to dance with folks who are not 100% steady on their feet. We ring in the new year again at 8:30, and we're done. We play standards, including requests.

It's a few blocks from my house, and all I bring is my upright -- no amp needed. The people are extremely appreciative. A lot of people retire and stay in Madison, and these folks are highly supportive of music and the arts.

In theory, I could play another gig after this one, but such a thing hasn't materialized in the past four years. So, I don't mind getting home at 9 PM with my NYE gig money in my pocket.

Hey, that sounds fun. I'm sure it really makes their evening/New Year and that's one of the things that can make playing so rewarding - seeing how much it's enjoyed by others.

I did a gig for deaf folks a few years ago and they went wild about the band - all about feeling the rhythm through the vibrations, apparently.

[Bassist4Eris]

Originally Posted by pnchad

amateur night

I'm not sure, but there *might* be a miscommunication here. Unless I'm misinterpreting, it seems the reactions to this comment were interpeting "amateur night" as a reference to the gigs. "Amateur night" is common American slang for a holiday night that tends to bring out the drunk drivers.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Eris

I'm not sure, but there *might* be a miscommunication here. Unless I'm misinterpreting, it seems the reactions to this comment were interpeting "amateur night" as a reference to the gigs. "Amateur night" is common American slang for a holiday night that tends to bring out the drunk drivers.

Ah, right. Thanks, I didn't know that. While I see how that could certainly describe NYE, I'm not sure how that's how it would be intended in this particular thread - not that it matters, I was just kidding along with the concept, anyway.

[Lazylion]

Looks like I will be taking NYE off this year, for the first time in forever. It'll feel weird, but my fiancee will love it!

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Freddels

I haven't had a New Year's Eve gig since 1981. I just don't find them worth it. I'd rather enjoy my evening with my family.

Glad I have 2 crazy bar gigs New Years Eve.

I don't have a family, I'm more comfortable gigging. I guess the gig is my family.

Blue

[bassybill]

Well, I wasn't expecting that. I turned up this morning for what I thought was a pretty standard rehearsal for this stand-in gig I'm doing on Monday night, only to be told it was actually a full on recording session. I hadn't even met the buggers before getting to the studio today! We ended up laying down about ten tracks, several of which I was playing for the very first time ever while the tape was rolling. So, no pressure at all then.

[Richland123]

I was just asked to fill in with a band for New Year's Eve. My band is off for the first time in 11 years and I said I was available. I have filled in with this band 4 times this year already but what bothers me is that every time they want me to learn more songs. I have already learned about 40 songs for these guys and they never play all the ones I worked on.

At least I have a gig for New Year's Eve and it beats doing nothing.

[bassybill]

I hear ya, but really, it's never a total waste of time learning new stuff, even if you never get to play it. It's all learning / developing repertoire / practising getting new stuff down / et cetera.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by bassybill

I hear ya, but really, it's never a total waste of time learning new stuff, even if you never get to play it. It's all learning / developing repertoire / practising getting new stuff down / et cetera.

+1

Sometimes having a context and a goal is what you need to get motivated to practice.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by jive1

+1

Sometimes having a context and a goal is what you need to get motivated to practice.

That's a very good way of putting it. I often just end up noodling around if I'm not actually working on a gig or a forthcoming session. And very often for me, learning a new tune also helps me to learn something else in addition, even if it's just reinforcing stuff.

[Tituscrow]

Nice one Bill....remember to record it this time

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Nice one Bill....remember to record it this time

We already recorded a big chunk of it today (audio) as demos for their website.

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by bassybill

We already recorded a big chunk of it today (audio) as demos for their website.

Yes, I saw your updated post after I'd hit send. Sounds great. Where is the gig? I'm assuming you have to rock out on stage and not sit behind your charts?

Btw...is that blue bass the one you played at your dads do in the pub?

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Yes, I saw your updated post after I'd hit send. Sounds great. Where is the gig? I'm assuming you have to rock out on stage and not sit behind your charts?

Btw...is that blue bass the one you played at your dads do in the pub?

The gig's at some club in north Birmingham. Not sure what sort of event it is other than a New Year bash.

I won't be using charts for this gig, although I may discreetly use a cheat sheet or two. It IS entirely possible to rock out while reading charts, by the way - contrary to misinformed opinion here on this board, often that of non-readers.

Here's a stock pic of my band cowering behind their music stands and totally failing to engage and entertain an audience...



I don't think I've ever sat down for a gig in 35 years of playing (except for pit work, of course). I might need to in the future, though.

Yeah, that blue bass is one and the same as at my Dad's party. That and its green fretless counterpart are pretty much the only basses I ever gig with now.

[delta7fred]

Congrats on the gig Bill.

I am envious because I had a gig for NYE and it was cancelled back in November (and I cannot remember the reason why now).

I love playing NYE. If I am gigging then I am driving and don't touch a drop so wake up on New Years Day without the hangover I would have if I went down the pub or to a party.

[Stewie26]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I don't have a family

Sorry to hear that Blue. It's not too late to do what I did. Find a nice lady, hook up with her, then go to the pound and adopt a puppy. Instant family!

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Stewie26

Sorry to hear that Blue. It's not too late to do what I did. Find a nice lady, hook up with her, then go to the pound and adopt a puppy. Instant family!

Finding a nice lady that understands and tolerates musicians is the trick.

Blue

[Freddels]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Finding a nice lady that understands and tolerates musicians is the trick.

Blue

Actually, you just need to find a nice lady that tolerates YOU. It doesn't matter about being a musician or not.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Freddels

Actually, you just need to find a nice lady that tolerates YOU. It doesn't matter about being a musician or not.

That could be tricky

Blue