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Cocky "musicians" in the Audience.

#262
I'm a little late on this but here's a long story(sorry!).
I was touring with a decently well known technical metal band for a while in a year or two ago. We were driving from New York to California to meet up for a big tour but decided to put some headlining "local" shows along the way just for fun. Anyways, we show up to a big venue but in a small town. Set up the gear, the merch, grab a drink, etc. I started to hang out in the backstage area, warming up and brushing up on some of the more difficult parts when these kids (16-18 and the opening band) come up to me and sit by me. I mean, inches from both sides, one kid standing right infront of me along with a kid standing behind the couch I was sitting on. It seemed as if they were trying to intimidate me or something along with being very arrogant. That's when they start talking...

"Who are you?"
"Brent, bass player for PsyOpus"
"Are you any good?"

It was at this point my personality started to come out...

"No, I'm f**king terrible actually. I'm in the band just for the looks."
"Whatever f*g, f**k you."

And they stormed off except for the bass player who ended up chilling, asking questions about techniques, chops, etc. He was actually pretty cool. He got up and left after abotu 30 minutes of talking and came back with the same guys ( who happened to be opening up for us) and they tried to be all cool with me. Strangely enough, it actually ended up being one of my favorite shows while on tour. The whole band was right infront of me the entire show and rocked out. Ended up hanging out for a bit after the show and had a great time.
 
#267
addylewis said:
My answer is usually "I don't need a 5"...but there again I COULD say "I've GOT one, but its being fixed after some moron annoyed me too much at my last gig..." or would that be asking for it?
Click to expand...

i'd say that's 50-50. either he'll bother you more and possibly turn into a "Bro".."oh what?? ya think im annoying??! you wanna go bro!?!? wanna go?! wanna take this out side??!?" or he'll shut up.
 
#268
While I play a 5 string (out of necessity for a country band who insisted), I often run into PTP musicians (I call them "Point to Prove" musicians) on my travels. Typically, they are the ones not playing much, or at all for that matter, and have a huge chip on their shoulder, usually that the bar they hang out in won't let them play in it... Ignore them, play your ass off, and you will see them with their frowns, their arms crossed, or critiquing you like you've done everything wrong... doesn't matter.. you're the one on stage, he isn't.... there is at least one in every bar... :)
 
#269
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#270
Our guitarist and singer was playing a recording of us to a friend of his. The friend says "boy you still can't sing". Our guy says, "well that may be, but I'm on stage, having fun and getting paid for it - and we got a standing ovation at our last gig"

Great comeback line..
 
#271
Here is another douchie encounter for you guys.

A bassist from another local band (who, by the way, totally sucks but they think they are awesome) keeps stalking me and messaging me every day to tell me how he is some kind of god on the bass and has been playing for 16 years. Boy, it sure doesn't show! He is yet another "You suck because you only have 4 strings" "You suck because you don't play with a fill stack" "You suck because you don't use a pick" guy.

He wears more eyeliner than me.

This dude will NOT ****ing leave me alone. I can't express enough how much all the musicians around here hate this band. They show up at other people's shows and hand out their business cards, trying to steal the limelight. They suck so bad I cannot enough express in words. They have a chick that "sings" and looks like David Bowie. I mean, it is bad. Classless ****.

Unfortunately, we got booking ambushed and have to play a show with them soon. THAT should be interesting... UGH!!!!!
 
#273
I've never had anyone say something like that directly to me, but have in years past had the "You guys don't play Rush because you suck" type thing thrown at us when we said we don't play any Rush.

It's funny, when I was younger, I was just the opposite from your annoying "musical genius" audience member! I cowered in the presence of other bass players, because I KNEW they were all so much better than me. In my head, that was an undeniable fact. I didn't deserve to be in their company and I certainly had no right to say a word to them! And then when I would listen to them play, i would get depressed and leave the show because my fear was confirmed, they were so much better than me, at least that is the way I would hear it.

Now I listen to some of my old recordings from back then, and realize I wasn't nearly as bad a player as I perceived myself to be. And now I'm playing with some of those same people whose talents I was so intimidated by all those years ago.
 
#274
Personally, I've never understood some ERB players' (note: I say SOME) sense of supremacy over 4 stringers. That being said, I play 5 string basses primarily mainly because I feel like it gives me more options and a little wider pitch axis. But that doesn't make it any more "manly" or "professional." Perfect example: Vic Wooten :P

Sidenote: I do use 4 strings often for recording purposes.

Stay on the low end everybody!
_Flempton
 
#275
I have ran into it numerous times before, it's just arrogance. A lot of times I just wanted to punch those stupid people in the face; however it's always better to show them up on the stage like you did OP. You are always going to run into people like that. Sometimes I shoot a little comeback there way that I like to use "so if you are that good when can I expect to see you playing in front of 20,000+ people next?" It usually shuts them right up :)
 
#276
The members of my band seems to each have nemesis that shows up once in a while. Our lead player has this dude who looks like he BARELY survived Woodstock and is running on minimum brain cells. This guy always wants to sit in (never happens) and tells our guitarist to quit playing crappy fenders & and get an SG. Our drummer gets unsolicited advice from this bass player who is a regular at one of our gigs. He is barely qualified to give bass advice but tells our drummer (a percussionist for our city's symphony orchestra) about how to count playing blues. A band leader/singer/guitarist brought a drummer to sit in at an open mic we host. After calling 4 tunes - only one of which I had heard before - he told me "keep at it, you'll get it one day..."

Sheesh.
 
#277
Geez. When did bassists start acting like guitards? Around here bassists mostly talk shop and point out the highlights of a performance "hey, I really liked that fill you did at the end of the chorus on XXXXXX" or "you were way down in the pocket on that groove" ... that kind of thing.

Anyway I play a 4 and don't care much 'bout playing a 5 but have nothing against them or those who do. I probably would have shrugged and said something like "I only have four fingers".
 

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