Yup. Some tunes, autopilot takes over and the mind wanders... sports bar gigs are tough for me because no one is watching us and so I just zone out. We're basically in live practice mode anyway.
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Funny thoughts that go through your head when playing
- Thread starter BtaylorTheRogue
- Start date
Well I was playing a show and there were these extremely drunk young guys picking up a girl and playing catch with her no kidding! Well the thought came to mind was that this going to leave a mark when the one guy tossed the girl and she and the catcher fell backwards and it was marble tile floor she hit her face and he hit the back of his head both were limp on the floor in front of us. its all fun and games till someone gets hurt
From another thread I responded to...
Ugh I hate it when my mind wanders like this. I once was thinking about some crisis at work or something when we were playing live and I missed a "bass highlight" section in one of our songs. Usually I play a fancied up version of the bassline with a little run at the end but I just plodded right through it, realizing what I was doing while I was about 3/4 of the way through. 
Drummer says to me on break, "ya kinda played it safe on the solo there, huh?" 
Ugh. 
Drummer says to me on break, "ya kinda played it safe on the solo there, huh?" Ugh. 
This reminded me of a high school teacher, an elderly gentleman whose fly was down. A kid in the front row was dropping subtle hints that were met by “stop being a fool son”.
Finally at the seventh attempt to make him aware the penny dropped, he turned around and without faltering in his speaking discreetly zipped up.
Unfortunately he was holding a piece of chalk and when he turned back around his pants were covered in chalk. We had a quiet chuckle about it but we had to much respect for him to laugh out loud.
Moral of the story: when somebody says “the shop’s open sir” they don’t mean the store up the road.
We had that happen to a choir director: he handled it in a very matter-of-fact manner and turned his back to zip up. But a moment later, he turned partway back and exclaimed “it isn’t unzipped: it’s GONE!”
The zipper-slider thing had evidently broken and fallen off. He tied his sport-jacket around his waist and continued the practice as if nothing had happened. He was a great teacher.
The zipper-slider thing had evidently broken and fallen off. He tied his sport-jacket around his waist and continued the practice as if nothing had happened. He was a great teacher.
Wait'll you get to be my age and still gigging (or maybe ya are!!!!!)
First thing I do when I walk into a place we've not played before.....find where the Men's room is located and do I have to go over or around the dance floor ta get there!!!!!
A few years back my on stage thoughts were.....O.K. this is the first set.....am I on my 7th shot of Fireball or 8th, 9th.....man, I'm out of Bud Light too!
Last edited:
- Dec 21, 2007
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- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
My favorite thought is "man, I love this groove".
I don't always hold that thought though.
"Fly down" story that I've told here before but I'm an old guy so I get to repeat my stories...
I was playing in a really good reggae band. The lead singer was super dynamic (and had a great voice). He would sing to (and work) the crowd, turn around and face the band for a moment and groove with us, turn back to the audience...
At the time it was really, really hard for me to talk and play bass at the same time. It's still not easy.
Anyway, singer is facing the audience, giving it his hall, shaking his groove thing and generally tearing it up.
He turns to face the band and I notice that his fly is down. I manage to say "your... fly..."
He says "Thanks!", spins around to the audience, grooving hard...
Turns back to the band. Again, all I can do is stammer "your... fly..."
Once again, big smile, "Thanks mon!" and spins back to the audience, groovin' and shakin'
Third time. This time I manage to stammer "your... fly... is... DOWN..."
He got it that time.
I don't always hold that thought though.
"Fly down" story that I've told here before but I'm an old guy so I get to repeat my stories...
I was playing in a really good reggae band. The lead singer was super dynamic (and had a great voice). He would sing to (and work) the crowd, turn around and face the band for a moment and groove with us, turn back to the audience...
At the time it was really, really hard for me to talk and play bass at the same time. It's still not easy.
Anyway, singer is facing the audience, giving it his hall, shaking his groove thing and generally tearing it up.
He turns to face the band and I notice that his fly is down. I manage to say "your... fly..."
He says "Thanks!", spins around to the audience, grooving hard...
Turns back to the band. Again, all I can do is stammer "your... fly..."
Once again, big smile, "Thanks mon!" and spins back to the audience, groovin' and shakin'
Third time. This time I manage to stammer "your... fly... is... DOWN..."
He got it that time.
My BL has one of those 200 faces of Rock&Roll posters in the studio, and I sometimes look at that and try to figure out who is who (beyond those guys in the Who)
also ...by the time 8-10 songs have gone by in our jams and the BL has said "good guitar lead, guitar player" after each song, I start to think "hey how about a bone for the bass player (and drummer) over here holding it altogether and the few tasty licks and runs I throw in??"
also ...by the time 8-10 songs have gone by in our jams and the BL has said "good guitar lead, guitar player" after each song, I start to think "hey how about a bone for the bass player (and drummer) over here holding it altogether and the few tasty licks and runs I throw in??"
