Blasting a Wasp Nest with Dynamite?

[Dr. Cheese]

Hey Doc,

While the music might not exactly be your cup o' tea, it is a gig. Play your part with passion, and know that your are doing it on a bass you enjoy playing.

On another item, have you seen the RSD MetroExpress in the classifieds? I look at that bass and think it might be perfect for you. The price point is very reasonable I think the you would know how to get the most out of the bass.

Happy New Year.
Bones

Is it a PJ or JJ? I actually stay away from TB classifieds because I am gassy enough already.

 

[coyote1]

...had a great time sitting in with them playing Rick James “Give It to Me Baby.” I turned them down because I had not left South Carolina and moved to Michigan to play in clubs with folks doing coke instead of studying. About eight years later, I started playing in church.

I used to be all messed up on drugs. But since I found the Lord, now I’m all messed up on the Lord!
- Cheech and Chong

 

[Ronzo]

I need an attitude adjustment. My church used to play Urban and traditional Black Gospel. At the time, we had a strong adult and you choir. The church then let go of the choir director (he probably needed to move on since he had been a member since birth, and older folks still saw him as a kid.) We then went through a period of not being able to hold on to a choir director until we got the current leader. She leans much more towards either old school Southern Black Gospel or CCM. She also has let the kids choir wither. The result is a smaller choir with fewer singers, and this has facilitated a move to CCM songs that fit more of a singer/song writer mold than choral Urban Gospel with a funkier vibe. I have to work up more enthusiasm for CCM style tunes.

Welcome to a large part of my subliminally frustrating world. Stylistic differences create friction, especially with the older congregants.

One couple told me, “If we see drums in a permanent spot in the chancel, we and our contribution are gone.”

Others ask, “Why are there so few young families with children attending our Church?” Meanwhile, the sports leagues for the kids in those families schedule games from 9:00 AM on Sundays. Especially the travel teams, where the families have a significant commitment. When the leagues are asked to schedule games after 1:00 PM, the response is, “Go to an earlier Mass or service.”

Very frustrating. And varying the music program to get more engagement with the congregation sometimes fractures the congregation further and pushes young families away. Self-fulfilling philosophy.

 

[alembicbones]

It's a JJ. Looks very sweet.

Bones

 

[lomo]

I am not sure what you mean by 'luxury'

In the final analysis, anything one doesn't truly need is a luxury.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I carried two basses to practice today. I only took one out of its bag. We went over three CCM songs that were all half and quarter note root notes in the first position. This is my only gig. What is the point in caring about gear so much if don’t actually need it for what I get paid to do? I guess some perspective does not hurt.

Well as far as wasps go, about 16 yeas ago my son (also a bassist) were practicing for a Sunday service. When we got set up I noticed there was a wasp flying around one of the sanctuary lights which was about 25 feet in the air. My son was playing bass directly under it, after about 40 minutes of rehearsal, I guess the wasp had enough, dropped like a rock, landed on his neck and stung him. That put an end to rehearsal.

As for what is happening with CCM music, besides the elementary level repetitive lyrics, it’s a crash course on bass for dummies. I felt your pain until our praise and worship pastor made it impossible to participate.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Well as far as wasps go, about 16 yeas ago my son (also a bassist) were practicing for a Sunday service. When we got set up I noticed there was a wasp flying around one of the sanctuary lights which was about 25 feet in the air. My son was playing bass directly under it, after about 40 minutes of rehearsal, I guess the wasp had enough, dropped like a rock, landed on his neck and stung him. That put an end to rehearsal.

As for what is happening with CCM music, besides the elementary level repetitive lyrics, it’s a crash course on bass for dummies. I felt your pain until our praise and worship pastor made it impossible to participate.

I guess CCM is meant to keep me humble. Watching someone like Lee Sklar make anything sound great is a model I need to follow even when I am not playing my favorite style of music.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

It's a JJ. Looks very sweet.

Bones

Yes it is nice, but I just got my Spectorcore out of layaway.

 

[gln1955]

Welcome to a large part of my subliminally frustrating world. Stylistic differences create friction, especially with the older congregants.

One couple told me, “If we see drums in a permanent spot in the chancel, we and our contribution are gone.”

Others ask, “Why are there so few young families with children attending our Church?” Meanwhile, the sports leagues for the kids in those families schedule games from 9:00 AM on Sundays. Especially the travel teams, where the families have a significant commitment. When the leagues are asked to schedule games after 1:00 PM, the response is, “Go to an earlier Mass or service.”

Very frustrating. And varying the music program to get more engagement with the congregation sometimes fractures the congregation further and pushes young families away. Self-fulfilling philosophy.

That sounds like my church. It doesn't matter what the music director decides for the praise band, choir or invited performers, somebody is unhappy. Since April, we've had alternative services and no significant music program. There's a large number of unhappy church members, but somebody had to make the hard decisions to keep our aging congregation safe. I'm just going with the flow now and hope to get back to making music some time this year.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

If only we were playing the songs Sklar plays on. The stuff we got was awful. Pretty much 7-11 songs. Seven words sung 11 times, with a different drum beat each time.

The P&W leader continually had us learn 4 new songs each week, so drummers had to learn as many as 20 different patterns each week which ran off just about any drummer that had a life. Then to add insult to injury, 15 minutes before service, he decides to drop and add parts to songs which totally drove drummers to distraction as most of them didn’t read music, learned their parts by wrote, so when changes were made, they were out in no man’s land. The horn section never got updates for their charts....

I worked in that ministry for 23 years as a calling from God. But there at the end, when is was no longer a worship experience but musical survival, it was time to move on for the sake of the ministry.

 

[Bonafide]

In the final analysis, anything one doesn't truly need is a luxury.

Needs include love, connection, self worth and purpose. How do you define when those needs are fulfilled to the point of being a luxury? Even on a basic level 'truly need' is an undefinable moving target with infinite variables depending on the subject. In a non static, dynamic world, 'true needs' change daily and are subject to both an internal and external standard (and definition) depending on who is providing the 'need' or who is asking for the 'need' in question.

While I can respect and understand the fundamental simplicity of your definition and the massive ground it covers, I don't relate to it psychologically, spiritually or philosophically. But then again...that's what makes this world so colorful! How different we all see things! All the best!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

If only we were playing the songs Sklar plays on. The stuff we got was awful. Pretty much 7-11 songs. Seven words sung 11 times, with a different drum beat each time.

The P&W leader continually had us learn 4 new songs each week, so drummers had to learn as many as 20 different patterns each week which ran off just about any drummer that had a life. Then to add insult to injury, 15 minutes before service, he decides to drop and add parts to songs which totally drove drummers to distraction as most of them didn’t read music, learned their parts by wrote, so when changes were made, they were out in no man’s land. The horn section never got updates for their charts....

I worked in that ministry for 23 years as a calling from God. But there at the end, when is was no longer a worship experience but musical survival, it was time to move on for the sake of the ministry.

Your former P&W leader would not last long if he or she was producing music anywhere but a church. That is problem with churches: flakes can get away a lot of unprofessionalism is they say Jesus loud enough to the right people. If he or she was working with an actual Christian record company as a producer or arranger, he would have to come correct or be shown the door.

 

[Samatza]

A backup is never a bad idea, even if it doesn’t get air time.

I recall a tour we did annually with an artist that had a catalogue of songs spanning decades.

I took four basses, Neuser 5 for the modern stuff, fretless Tune for the ballads, a StingRay 4 for slap and a P bass for the retro stuff.

Of course everyone thought I was nuts but the audience did notice the instrument changes and it became part of the show.

So sometimes you need the dynamite, you just don’t know when. My next gig is end of February, if it doesn’t get cancelled. Almost one full year with no real gig, I’m itching to get out and play. Alas due to space restrictions at the venue it will be one bass, now which stick of dynamite do I chose?

 

[Pings Bass]

I think a lot of us have had a similar trajectory doc, from playing club dates to going to school/raising a family/etc then back into whatever gig you can get just to keep making music, often church.

The way I look at any gig, whatever the pay (or not), I'm in show business. I'm an entertainer hired (or volunteering) to do a job.

If it's worth doing at all, it's worth doing right. So I'm going to learn my parts and bring the right tools for job at hand.

Have fun, and don't be shy about taking and playing whatever you feel like!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Your former P&W leader would not last long if he or she was producing music anywhere but a church. That is problem with churches: flakes can get away a lot of unprofessionalism is they say Jesus loud enough to the right people. If he or she was working with an actual Christian record company as a producer or arranger, he would have to come correct or be shown the door.

Well, his Dad built the Church up from a couple of hundred to over 1,500 attendees a week by the time he retired. Brian grew up in the church, participated in the music ministry in the choir, and various praise and worship teams, so it was an easy hire. Further, I really like Brian as a person, and would never do anything to hurt him , his ministry, or his family, which as you may suspect may have happened if I hung on. So it was best for all parties if I was not there.

 

[lordradish]

I don't know what CCM is, but I know you play in church. Pardon my ignorance, but people get payed to play in church? Obviously, I don't spend much time there!

I get paid well to play in church AND I'm a staunch atheist! Go figure. I do believe in the power of music to move people, though, so that's belief enough.

Our situation's a bit unique, we live in a very non-diverse (white) area, that's probably the least religious area of the country. There's not a Christian in the entire band. Most are non-believers, AFAIK. We all get paid. I like doing it because the people are nice, contemporary gospel is like playing 70's fusion for me, in terms of the challenge, and almost all of the musicians are at a better level than I am, so it keeps me on my toes.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

I carried two basses to practice today. I only took one out of its bag. We went over three CCM songs that were all half and quarter note root notes in the first position. This is my only gig. What is the point in caring about gear so much if don’t actually need it for what I get paid to do? I guess some perspective does not hurt.

My upright/legit bass instructor in college once said something like “There’s always something to learn and perfect in any piece of music you’ll perform.” It’s pretty cliche but I’ve found it to be true.

Case in point is my church gig. Heck, I’ve gotten a LOT better at 8th and 16th note grooves. I’ve been working on playing the 8th note grooves with my index finger and can definitely play faster and with greater accuracy than I could before I got the gig with one finger. My 16th note grooves have gotten better as well.

So take the opportunity to work on any weakness you may have. Work on your FOH tone. Work on sticking to a click track. Work on learning to get a good IEM mix. Work on making your lines build in intensity. Work on “playing the rests”. Etc, etc, etc.

IMO, YMMV.

 

[lordradish]

I know from experience that one can be a well paid professional musician and have the musicians gear/tools as a hobby. Not the same thing. Related? Yes - but only through association.

THANK YOU. I probably gig less now than ever (not even counting COVID), yet that hasn't stopped me from buying a lot of custom/top-end gear. It's not just about the money (most of what I like to play nowadays wouldn't make me money, anyways). It's about what makes you happy. Even if I'm playing mostly for myself, I still gotta love what gear I'm using.

 

[Drkwdsman]

CCM = Contemporary Christian Music. My brain saw "Credence Clearwater Revival" on first pass, so I understand the confusion.

I play a lot in church, but my gigs there are amongst some really good musicians. During the pandemic, we show up prepared, do some (not a lot) of rehearsal, run through the worship set once without stopping (partly for the benefit of the the tech guys), and then (at the right time) we do the service - which is something like 150 people in a 2000 seat room right now, with a Youtube simulcast to the folks staying home.

Some people do get paid to play in church, some of us (myself included) are volunteers. The places I play are mixed in that regard. The 2 places with consistently the best musicians that I play at are.....the ones with the most volunteers. This always makes me snicker a bit when the "pro" discussions start on here. The smaller places have a harder time attracting volunteers, so at those places I often play with more paid folks. They're usually younger, getting started, more in need of income, and less experienced than the volunteers. Oddly, we all get along just fine, and work together very well, regardless.

Same here! We are mostly ex pros (besides the Worship leaders) who volunteer our Godly gifts for the kingdom. Makes it easier because we show up prepared with the right equipment (Roscoes and Laklands for me), have a quick rehearsal, and then a walk through for the singers/tech/preacher since we are recorded for Facebook and YouTube.

 

[Drkwdsman]

Playing this tomorrow at Church.