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Feel like charity work sometimes?

#41
My last band actually appreciated what I did a lot - at least as far as playing bass went. Of course, we were all multi-instrumentalists that specialized in our given roles in the band.

The audience, not so much though. But hey, if they're dancing, I'm dancing too - and outside of that who cares.
 
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#45
The general public and a lot of amateur musicians don't hear the bass and drums, let alone understand it. Ditto for some mgrs and producers. People hear the vocalists and guitarists. Thats life.
However, if the bass or drums drops out or screws up or doesnt, groove, everyone senses it immediately. Unfortunately, sometimes the drummer may suck but they will blame the bass player. The drummer and bass player are a true team and the rhythm section will never be stronger than its weakest link. If you find a good drummer, make an effort to bond.
 
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#46
Marty Hewes said:
Sorry, gotta vent. Rant mode on :).

Why do I feel like I'm bustin' my a@@ to get this right, and nobody notices if I do (but the band sounds great). But If I lose it and drop out, the whole band falls apart, and probably doesn't even know why.
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I've found that a good drummer will notice. In my band we form a team and the band will sound good even if the other players are a little off. We just don't let the rest of the guys know that we're the reason they sound so good.

It is so much fun playing with a good drummer :bassist:
 
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#47
Bass can be thankless, but my last couple gigs were with cool folks who really appreciate what I do. My current gig "Tall Paul and River Country" is a great example. Tall Paul is always very complimentary of his musicians and super supportive. Sorry if I don't have much to offer in that regard.

As for laying down a super line and getting noticed, can't help you there either as I play country and it's my job to support the other musicians, not stand out.

As for the audience, they will move and groove to a good bass line but may not mentally make the connection that it was you providing it. They often (though by no means always) have no frame of refference for what a bassist does, how it's supposed to sound or who notable bass players are. Trying to get kudos from them is generally an exercise in futility. Looking flipping cool and commanding attention is how you get noticed by the audience.
 
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#48
Marty Hewes said:
Sorry, gotta vent. Rant mode on :).

Why do I feel like I'm bustin' my a@@ to get this right, and nobody notices if I do (but the band sounds great). But If I lose it and drop out, the whole band falls apart, and probably doesn't even know why.

OK, I play bass because my hands are too big for guitar, never particularly wanted to be the center of attention, and I admit I'm on a power trip, the bottom octave is mine (barring keyboard intruders). I can make thunder, and I can use that bottom octive (with lotza watts) to make people move. But just once, when I kick a@@, I'd like somebody to notice?

Oh, and ask most people who their favorite guitarist is, and you'll probably get a reasonable answer, ask them who their favorite bassist is, they probably can't name one, if they even know what a bassist is.

Is this a thankless job? How often does a bandmate give you a high five or a fist bump for cranking out a great bass line?

Can I get a witness?

Marty
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#51
micguy said:
Every time I play, it feels like charity work. I only play in church nowadays.

It feels better than when I played in bars. Much better.
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Opposite feelings here. Played in megachurch with fantastic music program and great players (lot of hired guns) but I didnt relate to the message from the pulpit. My sunday mornings now spent in a small church with a bad organist.
 
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#52
Eilif said:
Bass can be thankless, but my last couple gigs were with cool folks who really appreciate what I do. My current gig "Tall Paul and River Country" is a great example. Tall Paul is always very complimentary of his musicians and super supportive. Sorry if I don't have much to offer in that regard.

As for laying down a super line and getting noticed, can't help you there either as I play country and it's my job to support the other musicians, not stand out.

As for the audience, they will move and groove to a good bass line but may not mentally make the connection that it was you providing it. They often (though by no means always) have no frame of refference for what a bassist does, how it's supposed to sound or who notable bass players are. Trying to get kudos from them is generally an exercise in futility. Looking flipping cool and commanding attention is how you get noticed by the audience.
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Right on target. So many good points.
Should have mentioned eye candy jocalists...er..vocalists.
 
#53
Musician appreciation is underrated. The best musicians I have had the opportunity to jam and grow with just had a great conception of sound. For years played with two amazing drummers. I had gone on hiatus for a time and they had various fill-ins. When I came back it was a welcomed celebration. I sat in and jammed with some other peeps who could care less what I was adding.... Choose where you want to be unless they are paying you.

I lucked out having amazing buds to grow with. Also played D and O line in football - unsung heros!
 
#56
Oh. I've got another one. A friend of mine runs a very successful wedding band agency in Ireland including putting his own bands together to manage. Been at it over 10 years - not a clue about playing music and he'll tell you that himself, but he knows the business and what works for it. I played in his main band for a while and the first time I gestured from the stage asking him if the bass level was OK, he shrugged emphatically to indicate, 'No idea. What do I know?' He also said time and again he didn't understand what bass players did and, without quite saying it, between the lines you could tell his attitude was, 'I don’t see the point of the bass player.' Now to my point. One time he expressed interest in seeing a particular band rehearse with a view to taking them on and they said, 'We don’t have a bass player right now.' 'No problem,' he said. He went to the rehearsal and next day said to me, 'It was really bad. The sound just wasn't right at all. There was this big hole in the middle of it and it just all sounded wrong. I think I'm starting to understand the bass now.' From that day on, he had a whole new appreciation of the bass and a respect for it. He might even be more conscious of being able to hear it now too.
 
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#57
The Bass is a hollowed instrument. Do the right thang in the pocket, wit maximum testimony. Funk wit the funky spireet and your reward will be great in the afterfunk. Ask not what the “non-dwelling” of the lower frequencies homey can do for you. You came to give praise and serve the funk and the song... Grasshopper. Look for no praise and you won’t be disappointed. Your gift is in being a Bassist. Ya dig?
 
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#59
bluesblaster said:
there is a sign hanging on the wall in my office that says ... No one notices what I do until I stop doing it.

Also, solo bass shows are a bit of a bore, its a team sport
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And the bass player is the hard working midfielder who no-one notices but who holds it all together with simple passes and interceptions because he knows where to be and when.
 
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#60
IamGroot said:
Opposite feelings here. Played in megachurch with fantastic music program and great players (lot of hired guns) but I didnt relate to the message from the pulpit. My sunday mornings now spent in a small church with a bad organist.
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I play in various sized churches - big to small. The message quality is not necessarily related to church size - I've heard good and bad in large and small.
 

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