Best compliment you got after a gig......

[capnsandwich]

We were doing a live recording for a church CD so there was a crowd and we just played some songs that were going to be on the CD. The engineer who was in charge of the whole project came up to me and said that I sounded like Anthony Jackson. Then, I overheard him tell the band leader that I was on a whole other level and what I played was tasty and smooth. I kinda felt 200 lbs. lighter after that.

 

[DrayMiles]

"You remind me of a bassist I was working with down in Florida... Jaco..."

 

[Kmonk]

Two compliments come to mind. One was from fans and the other from a sound guy. I was in a Foreigner tribute band and we were playing on a stage in the middle of a casino. All of a sudden, I notice a large group of people running in our direction. After we finished playing, several of the people said that the reason they were running is because they thought Foreigner was playing. A few of them asked for pictures and autographs. I said " You do realize we are not Foreigner, we're just a cheesy tribute band". One of the women said "I saw Foreigner a couple of weeks ago and you guys are better".

At one large venue that we played at on a regular basis, the sound guy said he loved mixing us because we always showed up on time, were professional and didn't make unrealistic demands. He also said that management loves the fact that we always take time to talk to people after the show and don't start breaking down until the last person who has wanted to talk with us has left. He said most bands are starting pack up as soon as they play their last note.

 

[sgtpepper]

This little fella asking for an autograph after a gig at the high school I used to go to. We used to play there with a Beatles tribute band annually at a Festival. The one and only autograph I have ever given to someone.

 

[sgtpepper]

"You remind me of a bassist I was working with down in Florida... Jaco..."

Oh, come on! You gotta tell us more. Sounds interesting!

 

[Mike Wilson]

I've gotten "fantastic" and "awesome" type of compliments from day 1, most of which I take with a grain of salt. I honestly feel that people were/are being nice just to be nice. It was the first time I ever played in front of paying humans, or any other animals, for that matter, and I know KNOW! I wasn't good. My wife insists that they weren't just being nice but that they saying I did well for my first time. My wife says I'm too hard on myself which, I'm finding out, is a common thing among musicians. Good ones, anyways.

There was one time, though... I play at a country jam weekly, not that I know squat about country music but so that I could learn about it from one of the best players in the area. I had been doing shows for 2-3 months when one woman and her husband, who had been going to the shows since before I started there, both said that I was really coming along and much better than when I started. I could just tell that they were genuine and not just blowing smoke.

There are also those compliments that come from long time musicians, as in with decades more experience than I have. When they say things like, "You're really holding your own and you're playing with some really heavy hitters..." That's very nice to hear. But the one I haven't heard yet is, "You're hired."

 

[madbass6]

Well, yeah... but it was my favorite. Even though I have played for almost 45 years, I'm not all that good...no formal training, etc. and I know my limitations. (Yep, I use a capo a lot.) On the other hand, for the type of music I play, I can pretty much accompany anything I can hear, first time, without too many bad moves. So, to non-musicians, it looks good, and, once in a while, even to a musician. I play virtually only church-type music (though I love a lot of other things), and most hymns (especially the older ones) have fairly similar structures, so I manage to keep up. I can play melodies to get people started, then chords to accompany. That's pretty much it. I'm not a real musician...I just build 'em.

But that lady was special. Every single week, she thought she was there for the first time, and was waiting for her (long dead) husband to come and drive her home. So, for her to enjoy the music at any level, and give a back-handed compliment on top of it, made my day.

awsome!! By the way with all do respect to all other genders of music, dont care what anybody says in my opinion the best musicians " especially Bass players " are the church guys! Cant beat that natural gospal feel!! I Wish i could play that stuff!

 

[Guiseppe]

A man came up to me after we were finished with our last set and told me that he came in to get drunk and then go home and take his own life. When he walked in to the bar, he started listening to our music and it took him away from his problems for a while, during which he decided to give it another go. His story made us both cry and my band and some onlookers thought we'd lost our minds until I told them what had happened. He became a good fan, a good friend, and got past that period of his life. I gave up being a 'rock star' early on (about 39 years ago) and realized early on that making music wasn't going to pay my bills. Instead, my hope is just that someone can hear me play, that I can convey the love I have for music and that if I'm lucky, they will send it back. THAT is my pay.

 

[Big Hoss]

Maybe not exactly a great compliment, but a friend of mine at one of the parties we played came up afterwards and told me that... Hey, you guys really didn't suck.

Makes me think of the Carvana ad...

 

[Thumper]

We played a benefit outdoors gig in Montana last summer. After we were done, I went down to a campfire where the sponsor and some of his childhood friends were hanging out. After my introduction as the bassist and some compliments, they told me they had been at the gig, and went down to the campfire during our first break, when we started again they realized almost all they could hear was my bass, and that I sounded so good they just stayed there and listened to me for the last 3 sets.

Better yet, one of them produced a bottle of Jameson to toast me, and we proceeded to finish the bottle. My introduction to that fine Whiskey!

 

[MeLikeBass]

"is this the first time you've ever played bass?" Been downhill from there

 

[crucislancer]

I’ve had a lot of really amazing compliments over the years, some that I felt might have been more than I deserved, but that’s just me. However, the one that really blows me away is the one that my girlfriend gave me when she saw me play a gig for the first time. I’m not going to reveal everything she said, except this: She said that the way I play the bass is very sexy.

 

[bopeuph]

One was from a local classic/Latin rock band. I sub for them from time to time on high profile jobs when I'm free.

About a year ago, the leader told me I'm one of his favorite local bassist because I "play the song, not the bass." In other words, I play exactly what the song needs.

 

[Slevage]

You must have taken lessons and practiced.

 

[bassdude51]

"Here's a beer."

 

[JaketheB]

"You wear that thing well"
I was 14 and playing a local pub...

 

[funkytoe]

Many years (and follicles) ago, my dear friend Jim Martin had just gotten the axe from Faith No More. He had already committed to play a benefit show for the T.J. Martell Foundation and the theme was all different artists and bands doing AC/DC covers. Jim asked me to play bass for him, which was a compliment in and of itself. We did the show at a well-known San Francisco venue to a crowd of about 2,000. Our set came off great. I was back stage putting my bass in its case when Jack Blades (Night Ranger) and Tommy Shaw (Styx) walked up. They had just finished doing a couple of songs for the same benefit show. I heard Jack say "Nice set. We are going down the street to get something to eat. Want to go?" I assumed they were talking to Jim. But, when I looked over my shoulder, Jim was nowhere close. They were talking to me. Of course, I went and had a great hang. Both men even seemed surprised when I confessed that I was actually a lawyer and had just accepted Jim's invitation for that one show. Made me think that maybe I wasn't just a poseur after all.

 

[dickfitts]

"Here's the money. It's all there, per our pre-gig agreement." ...Sweeter words? I couldn't imagine...

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

"I like the colour of your guitar"

 

[bass_lord_mutha]

"Of all the bass players I have heard, you are one of them"

Mark