Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Are you the creepy wireless guy?
- Thread starter tshapiro
- Start date
Fortunately... we never had this problem; wireless hadn't been invented yet, when I was in a band. Sometimes, it's good to be a fossil...
Unfortunately, we very seldom played "on stage"; very few enlisted clubs had them. So, it was more a matter of drunks wandering around amongst the band, than the other way 'round...
Unfortunately, we very seldom played "on stage"; very few enlisted clubs had them. So, it was more a matter of drunks wandering around amongst the band, than the other way 'round...
I could just imagine if the internet was around from the 50's through the 90's...
"Hey Chuck, what's the stupid looking walk you're doing? You look like a constipated duck."
"Can't you just stand there and sing like a normal person, Elvis?"
"Get a haircut, John, Paul, George and Ringo. You look like you're wearing a bowl on your head!"
"What's with that stupid schoolboy suit, Angus? You're 20...act like it."
"Makeup? And pyrotechnics? Who the hell would ever go see that? Who can even tell you're playing music?"
Yeah, I'll take advice from guys who wear flip flops and cargo shorts and stand there like statues. Sure I will.
You guys just walk around with your wireless. Real musicians stage dive....in bars....into no one. The chicks dig it!!!
People are going to think I'm totally kissing your ass on this, (like I'd gain anything by doing so,) but you are one of my most respected posters, not because you're brilliant or handsome, (I'm not saying you not either of those things, nor am I saying you are) but because you consistently entertain as a professional, and are consistent in putting your money where your mouth is.
I've noticed lately that internet haters tend to be sad, bitter people with no real accomplishments or sense of self-worth, whose only moments in the spotlight come from being high-fived by similar such no-talents, based on trying to cut down people who actually DO THINGS.
I use mine to find out what I really sound like out on the dance floor AND so I don't get tangled up with wires when moving around on stage. If I have room on stage, I move around a lot and cords will find their way around your legs in a surprisingly short amount of time. Wireless keeps my ankles free and gives me freedom on stage.Ok, so let me say right up front that this might be an uncomfortable topic... or humorous depending on how secure you are with yourself.
So, it seems every guitarist or bassist who discovers wireless has to use this new found freedom to wonder off the stage and into the audience. This is, of course, because the audience members are going to be amazed that the the guitarist or bass player is standing right there next them playing, right? They get to see the amazement of your weekend worrier talent and instrument right up close, right? WRONG!!! Look, if you’re some hot notorious talent that fans are clamoring to get a piece of then go ahead and take that glory walk through the crowd. However, if you’re just a bar band guy who gets no attention after the set than keep your butt on the stage and enjoy the fact that you and your fellow guitarists are free to move about without getting awkwardly twisted up. Take this opportunity to up your arena moves and stage presence. If the chicks are not flirting with you between sets than don’t invade their space with wireless abandon. And guys don’t like other guys unusually close either. The only exception to this might be a deliberate gander out front during sound check. Unfortunately, these instructions don’t come with wireless units and someone had to tell you
Well thanks Richard...I'm neither brilliant nor handsome, although after losing almost 30 lbs, I'm starting to get handsome again...another 20 to go
Ok. I’ve tried to be quiet. Sort of. So many of the opinion here that they cannot move from their designated 1.2 square feet for fear of actually having to make eye contact or interact with someone. So many that think that their way is the only way. The last time I jumped stage, in the span of about 30 seconds I :
1) got 5-6 people bopping up and down with me ( enhancing their Fun Factor - probably selling more cosmos, which is my job at that point in time)
2) got a wall flower friend of mine to get on the floor and dance with her other lady friends (enhancing their fun factor - they had a BLAST)
3) got slapped on the ass by my lead guitar player’s daughter. I’m not sure what else to say about that. It happened. It was cool.
I’d call that a successful foray into the audience. Obviously, there are good times and bad times for this type of behavior. That’s why God gave you the ability to judge a situation and react accordingly. Do I do this at every gig? Nope. But when it’s appropriate, it’s fun for all.
Sorry if that relegates me into Dad Band status instead of Super Cool Real Musician status. Wait. No I’m not.
Oh yeah - also use it to sound check both of my bands. Super handy - and I &$#@# HATE stepping on cords.
1) got 5-6 people bopping up and down with me ( enhancing their Fun Factor - probably selling more cosmos, which is my job at that point in time)
2) got a wall flower friend of mine to get on the floor and dance with her other lady friends (enhancing their fun factor - they had a BLAST)
3) got slapped on the ass by my lead guitar player’s daughter. I’m not sure what else to say about that. It happened. It was cool.
I’d call that a successful foray into the audience. Obviously, there are good times and bad times for this type of behavior. That’s why God gave you the ability to judge a situation and react accordingly. Do I do this at every gig? Nope. But when it’s appropriate, it’s fun for all.
Sorry if that relegates me into Dad Band status instead of Super Cool Real Musician status. Wait. No I’m not.
Oh yeah - also use it to sound check both of my bands. Super handy - and I &$#@# HATE stepping on cords.
And there’s a huge array of choice between standing still and walking around the bar, despite what those in favor of the latter would have you believe.
100% agreed. It's one of those moves.... unless youre playing to 10,000+ and you're the headliner... its a douche move.
First off, one WANDERS off the stage. One WONDERS where you learned spelling and vocabulary.
Second, "then" and "than" are not interchangeable. Still WONDERING....
Other THAN that, I agree with you for the most part. Sexy man beasts with Rickenbacker basses and long flowing locks like @mellowinman can probably get away with it. Overweight guys in gardening jeans, white New Balance sneakers, and XXL Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys should probably just stay on stage.
First off, one WANDERS off the stage. One WONDERS where you learned spelling and vocabulary.
Second, "then" and "than" are not interchangeable. Still WONDERING....
Other THAN that, I agree with you for the most part. Sexy man beasts with Rickenbacker basses and long flowing locks like @mellowinman can probably get away with it. Overweight guys in gardening jeans, white New Balance sneakers, and XXL Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys should probably just stay on stage.
You skipped the best one; They get to see the amazement of your weekend worrier talent and instrument right up close, right?
Hey, I do worry most weekends.....
And there’s a huge array of choice between standing still and walking around the bar, despite what those in favor of the latter would have you believe.
Sure. You can also wear a stupid hat and bounce in time to some internal metronome. Or you can stand still and stare off into space because that’s how The Ox did it, or you can sit back and silently contemplate your disdain for everyone who is not realizing you are The Most Important Member of the Band.
99.9 % of the time, I’m grooving and having a good time in my spot. I sing a lot, so I have that going too. What I don’t understand is the disdain for someone who might be better at something than you are. Look - some can engage the audience and some can’t. Can it be creepy? Oh hell yes. It can also be fun and engaging. It’s up to you to see that line and not cross it.
.
That’s quite the leap in logic. Many here seem to find the practice distasteful, for well founded reason. To assume they don’t like it because the simply aren’t good at it?
