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Quitting a band sucks

#42
MultiScaleMale said:
I just started running sound for a buddies band. It's been eye opening. Despite having a lot to learn, I’ve been able to get them the best sound that I’ve heard from them. It's kinda fun in a something entirely different way.
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That's awesome. At the end of the day, it really is all about getting them there... and overcoming the technology, venues, and egos can be a real challenge. Congratulations on a job well-done!
 
#43
2112 said:
That's awesome. At the end of the day, it really is all about getting them there... and overcoming the technology, venues, and egos can be a real challenge. Congratulations on a job well-done!
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I just took my own advice (rare thing) and set aside the Bass Micro Synth, HX Stomp, and other noise makers to put together this "just what I need" pedalboard. I'll keep the fun stuff for the rare occasion that it might be needed.

fullsizeoutput_198e.jpeg
 
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#45
I always tell the sound guy (nicely) what I want from my bass in the mix, especially when I'm playing upright. They never give me a hard time about it, but if they did I could care less what the sound guy thinks.. he's the freakin' sound guy.
 
#46
MultiScaleMale said:
I just took my own advice (rare thing) and set aside the Bass Micro Synth, HX Stomp, and other noise makers to put together this "just what I need" pedalboard. I'll keep the fun stuff for the rare occasion that it might be needed.

View attachment 3408834
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Nicely done. I'm using a Trace Elliot Transit-B fly-rig, mainly because it's what I had on-hand for a DI and it has a built-in tuner/mute. Don't usually have a need for the compression, drive, eq, or pre-shape since my send is normally pre-DI. But for those tiny gigs that I/we might do without a sound guy, it does the job with a just little tweaking.

I also use a Digitech Drop to get those few alternate tunings that we actually keep and don't transpose up to help protect the singer's voice. That's it.
 
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#47
You may wish to work on your negotiation skills. I don't understand why you quit before bringing up your feelings with the BL, or with the rest of the band. Yet, your going to a rehearsal after you quit? Don't understand that either.

FWIW, it's usually better to share your concerns, feelings, etc. with your band mates and attempt to work things out without any baggage attached, such as the prospect of you quitting, for example. That allows you and your band mates to focus on the actual issue at hand. You state the problem as you see it, and suggest your preferred solution, if you have one. Or, seek suggestions. If the proposed solution is unsatisfactory, then and only then is the time to make an ultimatum. You just say, "I can't accept that. It's not going to work for me." Your band mates will either offer a compromise, or accept your resignation and your done. It's up to you at that point how much help you want to give them either with upcoming gigs or with finding a new bass player. Ordinarily, though, just quitting without telling your band mates why means you want nothing more to do with them and you don't care what they think. Just saying.

Next time your considering joining a band, find out how the band works out problems and who is in charge. The sound guy may just know the bands sound but has less than desirable communication skills. Sounds like you taught him that he could get away with that. Setting that aside, how much of the problem might be on you? Things are rarely 100% somebody else's fault.

The "no compression" rule? Okay, that's pretty strange. But it may just be that the sound guy wants to add compression to the bass at the sound board. So at that point, when you first heard about it would have been the time to say yes, or no. At this point, though, it's probably too late to bring up these issues. Yet, that's what you say your going to do. I hope that works out for you, because I wouldn't care why you quit if you did so without first saying why.

If your bigger than the sound guy and think you can take him, I've seen, "Shut the #$%$# up and get out of my face", work pretty good. Nobody ever said that to me. But I know how to communicate with people. Good luck.
 
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#48
Sorry, I would have set that sound guy straight right quick, but thats me. I run the sound in my band, and while Im nothing special in that department, I dont subscribe to the "bass has to be completely clean to the board but the guitarist can have 50 pedals BS". Unless you have some extreme settings on these pedals, it shouldnt be a problem. Compressor, ok...I would give in on that with a sound guy, but nothing else.
 
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#49
smartinson said:
I've been in a band for almost a year now. They had fired their old bassist and brought me on to replace him for a show two weeks after they fired him. I filled in and it was good so I stayed on since then. It was fun, I was having a good time and was able to overlook little things. No biggie.

Their sound guy clearly didn't like me, I think because I pushed back a little at his suggestions? Not sure, but after that, after every show he always had a problem with my setup. Noisy, too much bass, too much treble, too much compression, etc... He pushed me too far and now I've resigned. I'm very sad about it because it was fun and music is my passion but I told myself I'd quit as soon as it wasn't fun. I'm mad at them, too, for ruining something I love.

I know it's best for my mental health but I'm still sad and mad about it. I just needed to vent this out to others that can hopefully relate. Thanks for listening.
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Just throwing it out there, but if you had the bass, treble, or compression knobs on, you probably had too much. Bass guitar really doesnt need any of those through a PA. Direct feed is almost guaranteed better straight. Cleaner, clearer, and adjustable. That's why sound guys turn off your pre amp when you hook direct. All the goods you like, is just for you. It all makes the mix harder and harder to mix. They end up just turning you almost off to make your band sound good. Food for thought.
 
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#50
Nevada Pete said:
You may wish to work on your negotiation skills. I don't understand why you quit before bringing up your feelings with the BL, or with the rest of the band. Yet, your going to a rehearsal after you quit? Don't understand that either.

FWIW, it's usually better to share your concerns, feelings, etc. with your band mates and attempt to work things out without any baggage attached, such as the prospect of you quitting, for example. That allows you and your band mates to focus on the actual issue at hand. You state the problem as you see it, and suggest your preferred solution, if you have one. Or, seek suggestions. If the proposed solution is unsatisfactory, then and only then is the time to make an ultimatum. You just say, "I can't accept that. It's not going to work for me." Your band mates will either offer a compromise, or accept your resignation and your done. It's up to you at that point how much help you want to give them either with upcoming gigs or with finding a new bass player. Ordinarily, though, just quitting without telling your band mates why means you want nothing more to do with them and you don't care what they think. Just saying.

Next time your considering joining a band, find out how the band works out problems and who is in charge. The sound guy may just know the bands sound but has less than desirable communication skills. Sounds like you taught him that he could get away with that. Setting that aside, how much of the problem might be on you? Things are rarely 100% somebody else's fault.

The "no compression" rule? Okay, that's pretty strange. But it may just be that the sound guy wants to add compression to the bass at the sound board. So at that point, when you first heard about it would have been the time to say yes, or no. At this point, though, it's probably too late to bring up these issues. Yet, that's what you say your going to do. I hope that works out for you, because I wouldn't care why you quit if you did so without first saying why.

If your bigger than the sound guy and think you can take him, I've seen, "Shut the #$%$# up and get out of my face", work pretty good. Nobody ever said that to me. But I know how to communicate with people. Good luck.
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The "compression" knob on amps really screws up the sound. It boosts the low end, and adds sustain. In short, its the mud knob. Wohh wohh wohh wohh knob. Sure, it sounds great by yourself, or after some good producing, on recordings. But live, it just booms lower notes. Well over any other ones at the same volumes.
 
#51
We can argue about sound guys and ask stupid questions all day long, but the bottom line is the OP isn't happy with his band so he's out. I don't think he's looking for advice for dealing with dick sound guys. Good for him, and hope he finds a better situation.

I don't know what it is with Talk Bass sometimes. Sound guys aren't special. There are good ones and there are worthless ones, just like musicians, coworkers, roommates, etc. Play out enough and you run into both kinds. I'll take the OP on his word that he's been dealing with one of the bad ones. After all, we are all just semi-anonymous names on the internet to each other.
 
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#54
Unless Mr. Soundguy is bankrolling the band, a manager, producer, songwriter, or otherwise Svengali of some sorts, he has NO right to dictate to you about what tools you use. Maybe make a realistic suggestion, but it sounds like he’s had a chip on his shoulder from way back. On the other hand, yeah your communication skills might be a bit lacking. Who in the band made the decision to bring you on? That’s the person you should be talking to. What has been the band’s take on your sound. Why was the previous bassist let go?
 
#55
Bass is a delicate signal. I'm a professional sound man and bassist. When I receive a bass signal, i try and make it the best sounding bass signal i can work with that allows it to sit in the mix.

Chorus pedals, compression, distortion... all those pedals will kill the signal i've just mastered. If the music doesn't need them, then they are not needed.

Unless you have a quality compressor... i've always run compression at the board. The sound guy was probably just used to a clean signal and your pedals muddied the sound.

But..... if its the same sound guy... everytime... then he should work with you to get those pedals sounding ok in the mix, or a wet/dry signal. Both of you all need to work together.
 
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#56
JeezyMcNuggles said:
The "compression" knob on amps really screws up the sound. It boosts the low end, and adds sustain. In short, its the mud knob. Wohh wohh wohh wohh knob. Sure, it sounds great by yourself, or after some good producing, on recordings. But live, it just booms lower notes. Well over any other ones at the same volumes.
Click to expand...

You've obviously had bad luck with bass players who employ compression. What a compressor does to the sound of an electric bass depends on how it's used, and how the the instrument is being played. You have described one of the many possible outcomes of a bass player employing compression. One heck of a lot of compression, I would think.

All things being equal I prefer to use it on a bass guitar FOH in certain cases. But I've worked with many bass players who used it on stage, and it was fine.
 
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