I play my best gear aways, unless I'm going to some kind of Burning Man, Mad Max Hell Scape.
Then it's this...
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Low paying gig...take the cheap gear?
- Thread starter john_g
- Start date
Then it's this...
I play what I play regardless of pay. The money isn't why I do it. The only time the venue MIGHT determine what I play would be if the stage were super small. In that case I might bring the Steinberger XL-2 (which was NOT cheap) to save space and make me less likely to take one of the girls heads off with my bass.
How you do see where you're going with that robot-face box on your head? And how do you steer with your hands occupied like that? I'm intrigued.
And that, in a nutshell, is why I don't own very expensive gear.
I always bring my number 1 no matter what the gig is, however, my #1 cost about $800. One of the reasons I don't like to pay more than $1000 for instruments is that I know I will be playing in bars with them and around $1000 is the most I am willing to risk. FWIW I have never had anything horrible happen to my gear at any gig. I am going to guess that if your number 1 cost $10,000 that your definition of cheap gear is a a lot different than mine, so I think you will be fine.
Know what you mean Ronzo, I own a very expensive (for me) Gretsch I never touch! I simply have too much fun on my cheap instruments!
If I wouldn't take it to a low-paying gig, I wouldn't take it to a high-paying gig either.
Fun is the main thing! But that Gretsch sounds so pretty when you record with it.
The question is: Do you bring your "A" game to a low paying gig?
Especially if the gig has any bearing on getting more gigs with the venue's other facilities
and getting in tight with the people hiring the bands.
The answer is: of course you do.
But I doubt the venue people will care what gear you bring or notice the difference between your high end rig and your low end rig. For me, the decision on what to take is more focused on the actual staging situation and the room size.
Especially if the gig has any bearing on getting more gigs with the venue's other facilities
and getting in tight with the people hiring the bands.
The answer is: of course you do.
But I doubt the venue people will care what gear you bring or notice the difference between your high end rig and your low end rig. For me, the decision on what to take is more focused on the actual staging situation and the room size.
Do not play on the turn around.
I was doing a summer Music in the Parks sound gig with some symphony cats. One of the bass players was throwing down on a Chubby Jackson Kay bass. It sounded massive
I asked him about him bringing it out. He said because this gig was outside, it was his "excuse" to bring it out. I told him I though it sounded great. He said that he also likes it but the the rest of the symphony cats kinda look down on it so, he looks for any "excuse" to use it
I asked him about him bringing it out. He said because this gig was outside, it was his "excuse" to bring it out. I told him I though it sounded great. He said that he also likes it but the the rest of the symphony cats kinda look down on it so, he looks for any "excuse" to use it
I wouldn't take the gig most likely.
Too small and poor money so they are 2 downers straight away.
Sounds like a hard sell.
Too small and poor money so they are 2 downers straight away.
Sounds like a hard sell.
I on the other hand, take low pay one time gigs with the hopes of it turning into something.
I'm from the old school adage, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me
In other words, I'll do it once for you to check me out. After that, you gotta pay
Most of the time I can read folks and get a sense of where this is or is not going to go and plan accordingly!
Not at all how i think.
Skid row gig = cheap gear. But anywhere where I don't think I could very easily ACTUALLY get jacked? I bring whatever I want.
Skid row gig = cheap gear. But anywhere where I don't think I could very easily ACTUALLY get jacked? I bring whatever I want.
Yep, you got to factor in the payback or if there is one. Sure.
My number 1 has a replacement cost of more than $25,000. I bring it to most of my gigs, unless I've loaned it out to my son or one of my other bassist friends. I bought it to play it.
John
And that my friend, is where life experiences and a read of people comes in
When someone has to ask, they don't have that experience yet, ie.burned enough to see the forest from the trees
Is this a foot in the door to other low paying gigs you're not very excited about? Is it a sketchy place? You know what feels right to you.
