Playing With Mosquitos

[Bassquest]

Outside gig last night at an airport hanger, we were just about eaten alive by mosquitos. Luckily, the guitar player brought some bug spray and we were careful not to get it on our hands. I guess coils or those candle things may have been better. We were placed just outside one of the doors facing inwards. Will bug spray damage my bass? I wiped the bass down right after, I'm sure I didn't get any on it. Thoughts on any 'buggy' gigs?

 

[RoadRanger]

I used to use them citronella "bucket" candles.

 

[dave64o]

I wouldn't want to get bug spray - or anything - on my equipment but if the conditions warrant it then I'd use it and then wipe everything down thoroughly.

Maybe bring a couple of bug zappers to hang around the stage or at least a bunch of citronella candles?

 

[RoadRanger]

Maybe bring a couple of bug zappers to hang around the stage

Zappers ATTRACT bugs and short term make it WORSE - they need to be placed well away from where the people are and run 24/7 to reduce the neighborhood population.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,




Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[two fingers]

Fans.

1) Mosquitos are attracted to the "trails" of carbon dioxide animals leave as they breathe. If you blow a fan from behind you it will break up your "trail" and still not dry out your throat.

2) A strong fan makes it hard for skeeters to fly into the air flow. They simply get blown away.

Squirrel cage fan about 6 to 8 feet behind you does the trick and cools you off too.

 

[skwee]

Otherwise, use a Deet repellent as your hair gel, and find a linen-type long-sleeved shirt to wear, so repellent doesn't get on your bass. Worked for me on a tour in Cameroon!

 

[hondo4life]

Get a big box of cigars. Give cigars to everyone in the band, and give the rest to audience members in the front row. Make sure they all light up. Tell them to blow their smoke at the stage. The smoke will keep the bugs away, and probably some people. The fan idea is probably better.

 

[LT131]

Most of the Mosquitoes that I've played with were nice enough but couldn't hold a groove. They just couldn't control their buzz, either.

 

[Joe Nerve]

The cool thing about playing with mosquitoes is they like everything you play, and never complain about the volume.

 

[pablomago]

A lot of bug sprays will damage a guitar finish. Use with care.

 

[OCDave]

Hi,




Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

That's what I thought when I saw the OP title...Bingo, Bango, Bongo, and Irving!

 

[mcarp555]

Growing up in Florida, playing with mosquitoes around just comes with the territory. Once played a private party in someone's big back yard, under a huge oak tree. While we were setting up, the drummer was behind his kit, and I noticed him tracking a mosquito that was buzzing around him. Then suddenly he SNAPPED his drumsticks together right in front of his face. Got it. He showed me the crushed bug between the sticks. Nobody was more surprised than he was.

 

[Ralph69]

Use a box fan. It's been researched and proven it works better than any repellant.

 

[Nev375]

You should wear a poncho if you are going to play for mosquitos.

At least that method works for Sheryl Crow and she seems to have experience in this area.

 

[MojoPenguin]

Why not get yourself a piece of Insect repellent clothing of some kind ?
for example :
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[Ewo]

From the title of the thread, I kinda expected it was gonna be a complaint about bandmates...

 

[roller]

There are mosquito repellent devices you can wear around your neck on a lanyard.

Additionally, and while effective this may be a bit excessive, there are repellent treatments sold at outdoors/camping stores that you wash your clothes in. Once your clothes are put through this process, you simply wear them as usual... and they keep the bugs away.

 

[BobKos]

Deet found in insect repellent is some pretty wicked stuff. I have never tried, but I would imagine getting it on poly clear or Nitro would probably be pretty catastrophic if it gets moved or smudged. Following a recent article I found, I sprayed some on a rag and wiped a set of fogged automotive headlights. DEFINITELY did something to the lexan plastic headlight capsules! Wiping with a rag was a bad idea and made a bit of a mess. But it changed / recomposed the headlight material and the lights are much clearer now. They prob wont last, but the point being the deet is seriously destructive.

 

[RoadRanger]

The cool thing about playing with mosquitoes is they like everything you play, and never complain about the volume.

I thought that was crickets?