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Best Compliment/None Compliment you've received

I had just finished my first paid gig on upright, playing jazz standards, and was pleased that I'd managed to pretty much play error-free and maintain decent intonation and feel. A woman walked up and said "I guess you'll do until they can find a bass player"
You should have asked her if she’d consider being your assistant girl friend.
 
Once, I threw together a little solo bass showcase number, which was a medley of two traditional Irish fiddle tunes ("Sligo Fancy" and another one).
I played it at a gig at the famous Cambridge, Massachusetts coffeehouse, Passim, which was run by the (also famous) (and quirky and moody) Bob Donlin. Bob was one of the first people to hire Dylan, and he was a pal of several beat poets during their heyday-- Gregory Corso, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Neal Cassady...
So, anyway, after I play my medley, I hear Bob from the back of the room: "I've never heard them sound quite like THAT before..."
 
I was chatting with a former bandmate about things people said to us after a gig (or even during) that were sort of compliments but also not really compliments lol.

Instrumental band - "damn you guys sound good, sort of like a broke ass trans siberian orchestra". That one gets me every time lol

Original rock band - " I love your band, your guitarist, it's like he doesn't know how to play guitar but then plays one more note to show you he does know how". This was the one me and my former guitarist crack up about all the time.

Original metal band - "man you're a great bass player, who wrote your parts? Umm I did, " Oh rad did you just come up with those songs on stage?" ....... YEP lmao

alright your turn let me hear em :smug:

"when are you available"
 
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Not directed at me but overheard....

Due to ongoing drummer troubles our classic rock band was using a substitute drummer off and on the past few months. Great player, but his main gig is in a thrash metal band.

His parents (he is in his late 30s) came to a couple of our gigs and afterwards his mother said, quite loudly, "That was fun. The band sounded great and you played a lot of good songs. If you played more music like this we would come to more of your shows."
 
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I think he meant it as a compliment that I wasn’t “getting in his way” or he didn’t hear any mistakes but yes an odd way of saying great job!
I can see that. On the other hand, it means the bass playing was not noticeable. Not grooving in the pocket or accentuating the rhythm riff, driving the song. Nothing. I might as well not even be there.
 
Best no compliment
When I was doing steady road work in clubs I'd sometimes be at the bar on a band break when someone would come over and start some small chit chat. Often they'd ask what I did for a living. To me that said it was obvious they'd not noticed me center stage with my bass and singing half our set list. Or the band either. Whenever that happened I'd say the following. "Have you ever seen the TV commercial with Woodsy Owl? The one where he says "give a hoot, don't pollute"? Well I'm the guy in the costume. Every time the person would say. "That's cool, how did you score that commercial'? Then I'd say "I'll let you know next break"......

For those who don't know who Woodsy the Owl was. Here you go LOL





One of my better compliments
When I stopped living out of a suitcase and after I'd come in off the road and started a day job. At the place where I worked there was a guitar player who had a local band that was gigging out off and on. He asked me if I wanted to get together and jam. I said sure. Met him at his place and used his bassists gear (with permission beforehand). He asked what songs I wanted to play. I told him and the drummer, screw that, just start jamming and I'll jump in. about 30 minutes later we stopped to grab a brew and he said "holy crap dude you sounded like Entwistle". Which I really didn't think I was even close to the talent of the Ox but I was a busy type of player in a three piece situation, so I accepted the compliment.
 
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I played on stage with this extremly talented musician a few times and he sent me this text which kinda floored me because i think I suck.
Danny Danzi
Shayds of Gray truth be told about good bassists:
1. If they aren't too loud, they are good bassists. I've never heard you too loud on YOUR end. Some soundmen are bass heavy. That's not your fault.
They just don't realise that in a rock band, if the guitars are too low in the mains, they sound like little bees buzzing around.
The other side of that coin is, this happens because most guitarists have insane stage volume so the soundman takes them out of the mains...as he should.
2. You have a really good tone. This is huge for me.
3. Your fingers are your dynamics. You play that bass with such care and touch....it helps create the backbone of your band to what it is today.
4. If your drummer falls down the steps, he can reset his clock by you. Very few bassists have the ability to deliver the goods like that. I only know about 5, you included.
5. The most important....I've played with you a few times now. I've never once looked behind because you fell down the steps.
I have a bad habit of looking at people with stink eye when they totally screw up and make me cringe. It's a flaw in my character. Lol!
We all make mistakes. I make about 15 per song. But the key is to recover and NEVER fall down the steps to where people catch on.
You're solid and remind me a lot of the great Eddie Mass who played with Cry Wolf. That's a huge compliment, trust me.
Keep on being you, dude. Your enthusiasm and love for the band shows. It's the guys that don't stick out like sore thumbs that keep the band solid.

Keep on escaping. The world is a better place because of good bassists like you.
 
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