About to start gigging again....whats new?

[Matt Dean]

Bands playing for free?? Covers bands? surely not...

Cover bands typically get either a small percentage of the door or a percentage of the bar after the bar make X dollars... usually after $500. I make the most doing winery gigs (typically $100 cash and $100 in wine per person) and doing reggae shows.

Edit: bars expect bands to supply the crowd. So if a band doesn't have a reliable (and large) fan base, they won't make a lot.

 

[Jon_Cocktoastel]

You make about the same money you did in 1987...

 

[pingvuiini]

I agree with the ear plugs. I've used them all my gigging life and in a lot of cases it makes things sound better. Most of the bass and bass drum are still audible so you don't lose the groove, and if you sing at all you can actually hear your own voice. (Note how when its REALLY loud onstage the lead singer may sometimes plug their ears so they can hear themselves). The plugs basically cut down on the loud highs from guitar and drums and you don't have any muffled ringing in your head when the shows over.

As other have pointed out, it is very possible to go light with amplification now. A 2x10 combo that weighed 80+ pounds twenty years ago is almost half that now due to D Class power amps and neodymium speakers, and volume is not sacrificed. Most combos have a XLR DI to send straight to the PA, so a common setup nowadays is to use the combo as a stage monitor and let the line out to the PA do all the heavy work. The popular Mark Bass 2x10 combo is an excellent example as it has all these features and also tilts back. If you want to take it a step further, do what Geddy does and just go thru a direct box to the PA and don't even bring an amp. I am starting to do this with a REDDI and I am still getting used to it, but one thing for sure is that its REALLY nice just bringing my bass and the DI to a gig. I set up and tear down in less than a minute.

When I joined a country band for a brief time I had to learn about 20 songs in a couple of weeks. I spent a lot of time transcribing the songs and found it very handy to save them as PDFs on an iPad. That way I didn't have to lug around a big 3 ring binder. However, on recording occasions with original songs, there were times where the artist would change the song a bit and I had to write down notes. During these situations it was easier to have the songs on paper to write on. But there are probably a lot of other things that an iPad is useful for onstage.

 

[JMacBass65]

What's new?

Still fun to get out and play. Gear is lightweight now, if you don't want to schlep a 300 lb tube rig.

Not as many people think live music is cool.

Pay still sucks. In fact, I'd say worse, since I pull about $100 a gig, about the same as 25 years ago, so that's a pay cut in reality.

The late nights hurt more the next day.

Still, it's worth it.

 

[obimark]

IME-
1. It isn't about the songs YOU like- if your band doesn't connect with the audience and play the songs they want to hear- repeat gigs will not happen. If your setlist is all old 70s tunes forget it.
2. If you can't play at a reasonable volume you won't get booked at a lot of places. People mostly want cover bands to dance to, or as background music.

I have been in 4 cover bands now in 5 years that just didn't get these two important points.

 

[veebass]

IME-
1. It isn't about the songs YOU like- if your band doesn't connect with the audience and play the songs they want to hear- repeat gigs will not happen. If your setlist is all old 70s tunes forget it.
2. If you can't play at a reasonable volume you won't get booked at a lot of places. People mostly want cover bands to dance to, or as background music.

I have been in 4 cover bands now in 5 years that just didn't get these two important points.

Really good points. The noise restrictions are a big thing here- lots of places with limits of 95db. Our set list has a couple of old songs but ones people want to hear and they aren't necessarily the ones we want to play. The rest are fairly recent. Encourage the punters to tell the staff that they like you and enjoyed themselves. Finish on time- the staff want to go home. Pack up quickly and don't get wasted.

 

[mc900ftj]

1 - its still about the people you are playing with.

Amen, brother!

 

[bherman]

Amen, brother!

If you want to explore the tablet-based set list world look at setlist maker (iPad app). I used it with my last band and allowed us to keep track of 70+ tunes all with charts and digitally develop set lists for gigs.

 

[1954bassman]

can anyone recommend:
1. Use of tablets/ipad for set lists etc
2. Pedal effects that anyone uses with their bass rig that they think are 'essential'
3. Best tuner for on stage bass tuning
4. General tips n tricks for getting the best live sound out of the above rig
5. Any other pearls of wisdom?

1. We use ipads with: "On Song" "E Chords" and to control our QSC Touch Mix 16 mixer. Never leave home without them. I probably have 3000 song charts in my ipad.
2. Though not "essential" I use a Line 6 G50 wireless and a Mark Bass Compressore
3. I use a black Snark clip on tuner, and I also have a Korg Pitch Black in my pedal board.
4. Remember best bedroom sound does not equal best live sound
5. Remember you are the bass player, and "It's All 'bout The Bass"

 

[Pihabeach]

Wow, literally abucket load of great tips from some very experienced guys. Much, much appreciated
I AM going to get some ear plugs because of how stone deaf my dad is now.
I have just picked up a little mount for my mic stand to put my ipad on and im going to get one of those apps (set list, on song)
As far as the money is concerned, as long as costs are covered and we all have a good dtime thatll do it for me. I work full time and this is purely for pleasure.
I do think its pretty tough though if you ARE doing it for a living that so much work, talent and preparation goes so fiscally unrewarded. No other proffession would stand for it. Imagine getting a plumber out from 8pm till midnight. let alone 4 or 5 plumbers. ...
Got my self a pitchblack tuner today, as they were on sale when I walked past the music shop next to work.
Happy to be in the saddle again
Ye haww

 

[Space Pickle]

i too am a bucket

 

[RickyT]

Darkglass B7K
Boss TU3 Tuner
Have fun

 

[Pihabeach]

ok so im hearing a lot of support for a compressor...
Im a believer of buy once, buy right.
All I can see on my moni board is a tuner, a delay and a compressor.
So better make it a good one. I dont want noise, tone loss, gimicky knobs etc. Just a solid unit that aint to big and can take a beating.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I'd stick to paper setlists and leave the ipad home. Just another piece of gear to have to be concerned about.

I'm sure everything else has been said already .

Noticed your last post.... and so I'll add, effects have come a long way lately. I highly recommend one of these 2 boxes zoom bass effects Results | Musician's Friend . You'll get more than one quality compressor, along with anything/everything else you might want to use. I own the ms60B. I love it, though I don't use effects a whole lot. Oh... it has a great tuner in it, too, so you'll save some cash.

 

[TedH]

ok so im hearing a lot of support for a compressor...
Im a believer of buy once, buy right.
All I can see on my moni board is a tuner, a delay and a compressor.
So better make it a good one. I dont want noise, tone loss, gimicky knobs etc. Just a solid unit that aint to big and can take a beating.

Start here for compressor info: Compressor and Audio Gear FAQ

A ton of very useful info and what, how and why and many reviews. That's where I came down to my decision between a Keeley and the MXR.