How many

i get what you're saying, but this is an internet forum. we're supposed to get into pissing matches. and discussions too, i guess.

playing/practising/having fun/gigging is for real life. at least, that's what i do....

 

I wouldn't do it if it wasn't a whole lot of fun.


I wouldn't be able to afford all the equipment if it didn't pay.

 

I only do it for fun. If ever I notice I'm getting bugged about it then my gear will go on ebay that day. I can't understand why some people take it so seriously.

 

I don't see a lot of "one upsmanship" in this forum, so I'm not sure what you mean.

Discussions and disagreements? Yes, of course. but it IS a message board. You expect it. I like it.

If you don't like it, well....*shrugs*

Of course I play for fun. This is not what I do for a living

 

Not quite sure what you're getting at...

Being a bassist is more about individual style. True, some people may have better gear than you... or may be able to play more technical songs... but in honesty, sometimes you don't need that full stack for that hole in the wall bar and you often don't need that intricate bass solo for a song that's supposed to be clean and simple.

I hope we all play for fun. If you play to make money, there are much better ways to do that!

 

I love to play gigs. I love to play bass on gigs. I also love the social aspect with playing with other people on gigs and rehearsals.

I don't particularly like to practice bass though. Bass is an ensemble instruments first and foremost, and when you practice you play alone. Guess I would be a better bassist if I would enjoy practicing a bit more...

I don't play for money, but I think it's fair to get some money for work you do. I don't see why music would be an exception to that. So I expect to get paid, even though it's not a major source of income to me.

 

I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about.

In my personal experience, no one here has challenged my abilities as a bassist, nor has anyone asserted the belief that they are "better than me". There is a bass at my work, a bass in my car, a bass at my practice space, and three basses at my apartment, all of which get played on a daily basis. Why? Because I want to. Most on this forum are the same, hell, we even got a guy on here who keeps a seven string in his bathroom just in case inspiration strikes in between grunts and squeezes...

I believe you may be mistaking a very small minority for the majority of TB.

 

Me....

 

Just so you can see for yourself...

I present Mark Wilson's toilet:



Seriously, how much more passionate a player can you get?...

 

My previous post wasn't really on the topic I noticed... Read the earlier posts too quickly I guess. Anyway...

I bet all of us here like to play bass. If we wouldn't like it, we wouldn't probably know that TB even existed. However, everyone have opinions, differing tastes, varying personalities/egos, different levels of knowledge and varying experience. Shortly, we're all different. It's not really strange that there are some arguments or (IMO/IYO) silly or stupid posts sometimes...

 

I can't think of any reason to play other than the love of it. If you're going to play in a band that does almost all original material, there is absolutely no other reason that I can see....the passion for it is the only thing that keeps you going.

Granted, you will run into people with egos...on guitar, on drums, on keys, even on bass. Some peopel come across as having egos on message boards, but a lof the time that's because you can't hear their tone of voice, or see their facial expressions.

I've even been accused of it myself in some bands I've been in.....although I'm still unconvinced of that. Since most of the people who read and post here are likely much better at playing bass than I am, I don't bother trying to one-up anyone....what would be the point?

 

i hope that thing has a thick laquer finish...y'know for all the Lysol antibacterial spray....

sorry, i have a thing about stuff in the loo. i used to hate it when people took my books in there to read.

 

It does happen, bro. It's just a very small number of people who do it. I like to think the majority of the rest of us aren't douchebags.

...Well, in that way at least.

 

I can't understand why some people don't take it more seriously

I have a blast playing, but I do take it seriously. I try to learn something new and improve my technique all the time. I don't have to. I could easily get by with where I am now - honestly, I could easily get by with where I was 15 years ago - but I enjoy learning and getting better.

Just Sunday, my worship pastor said, "Man, I love how you keep working and improving on your instrument. You were really good a year ago (when he came on staff), but you're even better now. There are a lot of good bass players out there, but you make it an art form." That was cool. That wouldn't happen if I took it less seriously.

 

I agree that I don't see a lot of flailing ego around here. I think most people on this site play because they enjoy it, and a few actually make real money playing music.

I play bass as a hobby I enjoy. I have a full time job that pays way more than I could ever think about making in music (mostly because I'm a solid average musician).

In the past few years, I've been spending more time playing, joining a couple of bands, and playing a few gigs.

I love gigging and entertaining, so that is why I play music. As simple as that.

 

Egos and disagreements? Some of that does happen here; I think it depends on which of the various forums one visits. A few posters function as trolls, posting topics for which there's no final answer, such as pick vs. fingers, number of strings, which brands are better, Flea vs. Entwistle, etc.

That's one reason why I mainly visit Band Management, Gig Stories and Humour, and Miscellaneous. You still find contrary opinions, but that's how life is. And some posters are trying to see humor in whatever situation is presented, or trying to get to the heart of the manner by eliminating the BS; replies aren't always intended to seem unkind...but sometimes that's how they look on the screen.

Back to the original question: I love playing. I have a weekly practice with a band which ready to start playing out, I sit in on a weekly lesson a friend is taking, and I play at church once a month. Not much pay here, just love of the music.

Even after 38 years, I feel my skills are pretty basic, so I'm not out to impress anybody, but I think my experiences are relevant. And if someone here is suggesting something that doesn't make sense to me, I might just reply with another way to look at the situation.

And so should we all.

 

Post or not post. Read or not read. Play or not play. Who cares?
Ignore the stuff that bothers you. Use the "ignore" button.
Just have fun.

If the content of posts on TB are getting you down, don't log on.
Play your bass, join a band, have fun!

TB will go on whether or not you log in.
Don't worry about it.

By posting your OP the way you did, you 've contributed to the problem that you've defined. TB is not about you. It's not about how you interpret things.

It's about conveying info from one to another in many different styles. If you can't handle that, how do you handle people in your real life that you disagree with or don't like their style?

Must be a tough life.

Lighten up and check out that half-full glass of water on the table in your kitchen.