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Setting your bass on fire
- Thread starter AaronVonRock
- Start date
A few questions to ask before you deliberately light an open flame on your guitar in a crowded club to a drunk crowd post-Great White.
How large are the stages you play? 1000 sq feet with no chance of having anyone or anything coming close to you while the headstock blazes gloriously and garners much deserved attention? Pretty much every gig I've ever played I've had to be VERY careful because if I swung the headstock of my bass around I might take out a cymbal or two or a guitarist or vocalist (or hapless friend on stage or audience member up close). And that was without a 2000 degree headstock. Maybe the stages you play are like Wembley Stadium, so if that's not a problem, let's ask some more questions.
Any curtains around, above, in front of the stage, or off to the sides? Are they all fire retardant (think Great White), or are all of your gigs played in extremely well lit areas devoid of any sort of hanging fabric? Most stages I play on have black curtains either on the side of the stage or the front, or above (heat rises), and to be honest, I've never thought to ask the club owners, "Are these curtains fire retardant? I want to set my instrument ablaze at the last moment of the set." Let's say that there are no curtains, and if there are curtains, they won't catch fire because either the stages you play are SO big you won't go near them with what is essentially a lit torch or they are all flame retardant and won't ignite. Next question.
Anything else remotely flammable nearby? Open booze? Does everyone in your band wear fire-retardant clothes? Anyone in the band with hairspray or flammable stuff (mousse, gel, sterno) in their hair to keep the mohawk cresting proudly, or is everyone bald, dressed head to toe in aluminum foil and armed with fire extinguishers? Let say that setting another bandmate (or stage hand or fan) on fire isn't going to possibly happen, and ask another question.
At the end of your song (when you presumably want to light the torch), is everyone in the band going crazy, jumping around with you, or do they stand far away and moderate their activity? Let's assume that the stage IS 1000 sq ft and that no one will be coming within 20 feet of you and can't possibly get burned because either they are stationary at the climax to your song or keeping far away. Next.
Is it LEGAL for you to intentionally light an open fire in a crowded club? Yeah, I know it's not cool to think of such things and kinda lame-o, but while the idea of getting arrested at a show (like Jim Morrison) sounds cool, it really sucks. Fines and crap. Let's assume that there are no laws or legal restrictions against lighting open fires in crowded clubs. There are still other questions.
Are all the club owners in your area cool with open fire on the stage? Are they all pyromaniacs with no insurance riders? That might be. It's possible that club owners don't really care if there are open flames in their crowded bars (maybe they like being interviewed the next morning after the "incident" as they are leaving the police station). Would you be willing to ask their permission to burn your guitar and risk their livelihoods and insurance coverage to get attention? If you don't want to ask them for fear of being having the gig canceled and being called an idiot (or worse), then, don't do it. That's simple.
How will the drunk, screaming, emotionally hyped up, traditionally not-so-well-behaved PUNK crowd react? Will they like the sight of insta-light bass guitar TOO much and take things into their own hands? After all, many will have lighters and alcohol. IF even ONE drunk, drugged up high and unstable person (what are the odds of someone like that at the gig) does - YOU are equally responsible for ANYTHING that results, and the police will want to invite you down for a chat and a phone call. Let's assume that there will be no drunk, aggressive, high, unstable people at your gig who loves it too much.
What about the opposite? What if there is someone who is in a booze fueled drug addled state (can't be!), sees the golden torchlight, and FREAKS out not realizing that it was intentional stunt designed to evoke, I don't know, admiration or something, and make a rush for the door, inspiring other people in the dark (except for the flame) club to follow suit? Hey - we thought of a new name "PANIC! AT THE DISCO!" OK - maybe not, maybe the well-behaved and sober crowd will realize what's happening, and not take the blazing prop for more than it is. Maybe.
Maybe EVERYTHING will go off perfectly. Maybe you will light the bass on fire. Maybe it won't light at all? How high will it go? How will you put it out? How will you test it? How will you handle a problem if something unforeseen happens? Where's the fire extinguisher? How's your insurance? Do you have a lawyer on speed dial? Maybe it will be the greatest show on earth, and maybe you will successfully avoid any flammable curtains, people, substances, laws, club owners, drunk patrons, etc., etc., etc.
Maybe. But maybe not - and for what? What could POSSIBLY go wrong, with SO much at stake. A lit headstock. Whoop. If I saw that from the audience, I would think, "What an idiot" and then "Jimi did it better."
How large are the stages you play? 1000 sq feet with no chance of having anyone or anything coming close to you while the headstock blazes gloriously and garners much deserved attention? Pretty much every gig I've ever played I've had to be VERY careful because if I swung the headstock of my bass around I might take out a cymbal or two or a guitarist or vocalist (or hapless friend on stage or audience member up close). And that was without a 2000 degree headstock. Maybe the stages you play are like Wembley Stadium, so if that's not a problem, let's ask some more questions.
Any curtains around, above, in front of the stage, or off to the sides? Are they all fire retardant (think Great White), or are all of your gigs played in extremely well lit areas devoid of any sort of hanging fabric? Most stages I play on have black curtains either on the side of the stage or the front, or above (heat rises), and to be honest, I've never thought to ask the club owners, "Are these curtains fire retardant? I want to set my instrument ablaze at the last moment of the set." Let's say that there are no curtains, and if there are curtains, they won't catch fire because either the stages you play are SO big you won't go near them with what is essentially a lit torch or they are all flame retardant and won't ignite. Next question.
Anything else remotely flammable nearby? Open booze? Does everyone in your band wear fire-retardant clothes? Anyone in the band with hairspray or flammable stuff (mousse, gel, sterno) in their hair to keep the mohawk cresting proudly, or is everyone bald, dressed head to toe in aluminum foil and armed with fire extinguishers? Let say that setting another bandmate (or stage hand or fan) on fire isn't going to possibly happen, and ask another question.
At the end of your song (when you presumably want to light the torch), is everyone in the band going crazy, jumping around with you, or do they stand far away and moderate their activity? Let's assume that the stage IS 1000 sq ft and that no one will be coming within 20 feet of you and can't possibly get burned because either they are stationary at the climax to your song or keeping far away. Next.
Is it LEGAL for you to intentionally light an open fire in a crowded club? Yeah, I know it's not cool to think of such things and kinda lame-o, but while the idea of getting arrested at a show (like Jim Morrison) sounds cool, it really sucks. Fines and crap. Let's assume that there are no laws or legal restrictions against lighting open fires in crowded clubs. There are still other questions.
Are all the club owners in your area cool with open fire on the stage? Are they all pyromaniacs with no insurance riders? That might be. It's possible that club owners don't really care if there are open flames in their crowded bars (maybe they like being interviewed the next morning after the "incident" as they are leaving the police station). Would you be willing to ask their permission to burn your guitar and risk their livelihoods and insurance coverage to get attention? If you don't want to ask them for fear of being having the gig canceled and being called an idiot (or worse), then, don't do it. That's simple.
How will the drunk, screaming, emotionally hyped up, traditionally not-so-well-behaved PUNK crowd react? Will they like the sight of insta-light bass guitar TOO much and take things into their own hands? After all, many will have lighters and alcohol. IF even ONE drunk, drugged up high and unstable person (what are the odds of someone like that at the gig) does - YOU are equally responsible for ANYTHING that results, and the police will want to invite you down for a chat and a phone call. Let's assume that there will be no drunk, aggressive, high, unstable people at your gig who loves it too much.
What about the opposite? What if there is someone who is in a booze fueled drug addled state (can't be!), sees the golden torchlight, and FREAKS out not realizing that it was intentional stunt designed to evoke, I don't know, admiration or something, and make a rush for the door, inspiring other people in the dark (except for the flame) club to follow suit? Hey - we thought of a new name "PANIC! AT THE DISCO!" OK - maybe not, maybe the well-behaved and sober crowd will realize what's happening, and not take the blazing prop for more than it is. Maybe.
Maybe EVERYTHING will go off perfectly. Maybe you will light the bass on fire. Maybe it won't light at all? How high will it go? How will you put it out? How will you test it? How will you handle a problem if something unforeseen happens? Where's the fire extinguisher? How's your insurance? Do you have a lawyer on speed dial? Maybe it will be the greatest show on earth, and maybe you will successfully avoid any flammable curtains, people, substances, laws, club owners, drunk patrons, etc., etc., etc.
Maybe. But maybe not - and for what? What could POSSIBLY go wrong, with SO much at stake. A lit headstock. Whoop. If I saw that from the audience, I would think, "What an idiot" and then "Jimi did it better."
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What is the fire code (local laws) at the venue?
Do you have the venue owner's/management's permission?
Do you have a fire extinguisher and someone who knows how to use it properly standing by with it?
Have you rehearsed this aspect of your act with the band?
Is there enough room on stage to have a safe perimeter, is there a safety perimeter?
Have you thought this through?
"...
Frank Zappa and the Mothers
Were at the best place around
But some stupid with a flare gun
Burned the place to the ground
Smoke on the water
A fire in the sky..."
Pyrotechnics are easy-peasy, what could possibly go wrong?
Some sort of pyromaniac, perchance?
Doh Rtav beat me to a bunch of stuff while I was listening to pyrovids...
Do you have the venue owner's/management's permission?
Do you have a fire extinguisher and someone who knows how to use it properly standing by with it?
Have you rehearsed this aspect of your act with the band?
Is there enough room on stage to have a safe perimeter, is there a safety perimeter?
Have you thought this through?
"...
Frank Zappa and the Mothers
Were at the best place around
But some stupid with a flare gun
Burned the place to the ground
Smoke on the water
A fire in the sky..."
Pyrotechnics are easy-peasy, what could possibly go wrong?
Some sort of pyromaniac, perchance?
Doh Rtav beat me to a bunch of stuff while I was listening to pyrovids...
I have a friend that was once in a band where the lead vocals did a bible ripping as part of the show. Later during the set, the crowd picked it up and set it on fire. The band was asked to never come back.
If you feel you have to do it, I would use a petrolium gel of some sort, or maybe spray something like hair spray onto the headstock before the set. That way the product is burning on the surface of the bass, and the actual instrument will sustain minimal damage.
If you feel you have to do it, I would use a petrolium gel of some sort, or maybe spray something like hair spray onto the headstock before the set. That way the product is burning on the surface of the bass, and the actual instrument will sustain minimal damage.
In general if you want a list of do's and don't's my list is something like;
Do: Don't set basses on fire
Don't: Set basses on fire
Do: Don't set basses on fire
Don't: Set basses on fire
Engine207
Losing faith in humanity...one call at a time.
Here is a good candidate for a fire IMHO:
How many times does someone have to keep making the same mistakes before someone learns a lesson?
Besides.
That's a tired old Rock cliche.
How 'bout a fan with red paper "fire" strips under your bass?
Many like to live their life on the edge.
The problem is......is that the edge crumbles.
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Cheesy, let your playing be the pyrotechnics, if I went and saw a band and they did that I'd lose a lot of respect for them. It's antics and antics are no replacement for a good performance. Leave that stuff out of the equation until you actually are in front of thousands of people and have a tech trained how to do it. 
I guess no one should ever be able to light a cigarette in doors either, huh guys? Because you know, places have burned down a whole lot more from that stuff than pyrotechnics.
Also, always wear your seatbelt, don't go swimming without a buddy (who knows CPR and has 911 on speed dial), and never never never use paper because you know, paper cuts. If you ever do any of those things then you have no one to blame but yourself so you should probably just go ahead and end it now.
P.S. Rock and Roll
Also, always wear your seatbelt, don't go swimming without a buddy (who knows CPR and has 911 on speed dial), and never never never use paper because you know, paper cuts. If you ever do any of those things then you have no one to blame but yourself so you should probably just go ahead and end it now.
P.S. Rock and Roll
Not the same things as lighting an instrument on fire IMO.
Do whatever you please OP, I just think the whole idea is childish.
OK, I can tell you really want to do this, so I am going to offer a step-by-step set of instructions for the best, and smartest way to set a bass on fire at a bar gig.
- Show up for the gig
- Do a sound check
- Play the gig
- DO NOT LIGHT YOUR BASS ON FIRE
- Collect your pay and go home
Thank you for not trying to be the OP's mom.
All the other killjoys who think they're being responsible adults, especially mister 5 paragraph essay a few posts above mine - really? You think this is how you get through to a rebel with a creative idea? You really don't think that for every ounce of resistance he gets - ESPECIALLY resistance of the "you'll shoot your eye out, kid" kind - his desire to forge ahead isn't fueled all the more?
He only needs one simple tool to do this right, and everything he needs to know about it is in the description on the product page:
We require the following for purchase:
-An ATF FEL
-A Pyrotechnician’s License
-A Permit to Purchase From the Local Fire Department (Only if located in California)
-A Pyro Agreement signed by the License Holder and the Producer/Production Manager of the project. - See more at: Pyro Gel - Special Effects | Roger George Rentals
Yes, he will also need the venue's permission.
I have done it. The technique is you take the lighter fluid in the yellow bottle and spray just a little on the fretboard. Then put a lighter to it. Have a wet rag ready or a wet towel. I've never damaged the guitar that way but be prepared to change your strings. But I don't recommend you do this at all. I am just answering your question.
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rtav, that was the best post I've seen in awhile. Very eloquent and thought out. I'm just having a hard time with the fact that threads like this are even allowed. Asking advice on setting stuff on fire seems fairly inappropriate anywhere.
I'm not sure anyone's trying to be a mom more practice nannyism. It's just a stupid idea and the majority of these posters are stating that.
Go ahead be a rebel, set the world on fire, but do it with music not gimmicks.
