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Solo bass on the coffeehouse circuit?

#22
I actually did... here is an update:

I signed up at a local open mic. Very small venue, only about 15 people there, most were performing. I sang one song while playing bass (I used my 1974 Artia EB-3 copy). It was well received.

I was the second guy on for the night. Immediately afterward I was asked to backup three other performers on bass. Which I did. I got more compliments on my bass playing than my singing... which is fine.

Met some good people. The organizer/venue owner BEGGED me to come back as a "house bass player". Not exactly the outcome I was looking for, but I agreed to come out once a month and play.

A good experience for sure.

Thanks,
Gregg
 
#29
GreggBummer said:
I actually did... here is an update:

I signed up at a local open mic. Very small venue, only about 15 people there, most were performing. I sang one song while playing bass (I used my 1974 Artia EB-3 copy). It was well received.

I was the second guy on for the night. Immediately afterward I was asked to backup three other performers on bass. Which I did. I got more compliments on my bass playing than my singing... which is fine.

Met some good people. The organizer/venue owner BEGGED me to come back as a "house bass player". Not exactly the outcome I was looking for, but I agreed to come out once a month and play.

A good experience for sure.
Click to expand...

Cool! I've done zillions of gigs and open mikes with just a drummer and me, and a few with just me on bass and vocals. It usually goes over great if I play well, but it took a while to find the right vocal space that people would respond to. I often end up backing other players too, but frankly I think you'll build a lot more mystique if you avoid doing that, or at least only back up unusual original situations. Pretty much everyone I back up understands that I will solo on their tunes (assuming I want to), and it will be a collaboration, not just me backing them up. Being thought of as primarily a jazz player probably makes that a lot more palatable to people, it seems.

On the flip side, once people got used to me doing that stuff, I started seeking out the old school country, classic rock, and blues backup roles that I had always avoided like the plague throughout my playing career. I'm getting old and don't want to leave anything in the tank, basically. I got the local house player gig, held it for a year or so, and realized that I still don't really want to gig any of that material. Now I go do my own set, and back up one or two acts semi-randomly -- just whoever asks first, basically. The house bassist is a good friend and everybody seems pretty happy with that arrangement.

Good on you for stretching out and taking a chance. I'm glossing over the numerous train wrecks I have perpetrated...:cool:
 
#30
Seth Horan...nice.

I would think in order to do what the OP is setting out to accomplish in any convincing way on the EB, you'd at least need some decent fingerstyle technique (if not some tapping ability..as Mr. Horan demonstrates). Aside from bass playing, I also think his stuff works because he has a great voice, sings on pitch, has good time and plays nice tunes. He is very musical.
 
#31
Colin Hodgkinson has a great rep amongst a lot of great bassists, I've never really investigated the fella that much but he has a different approach/sound.

The first clip is from back in the day, go from 0.45 for vox, the second is from 5 years ago, go from 0.56 for vox, nice style for a track or two, up feel : )

 
#34
GreggBummer said:
I'm bouncing some ideas around. Let me bounce this off you...

I am considering taking a few songs that I have written and going to an open mic at a coffee house and playing them. Just me, my voice, and my bass. I don't go to coffee houses every week, but when I do go, I don't think I have ever seen anyone play just a bass guitar. I have seen one or two upright cats, sometimes a banjo... plenty of acoustics. Someone out there must do this with an electric guitar.

So the question is, how do you do it? I have never performed JUST ME singing and playing bass. This is sort of the reason why I want to do it... get myself out of a musical rut.

I am not looking for a technical answer... I am just going to bring my bass and plug into whatever sound system they have (DI thru Sansamp).

If anyone out there in TB land has a myspace/youtube of your performance... I'd love to see it.

Thank you,
Bummer
Click to expand...

TUM-tum-tum-tum-TUM-tum-tum-tum

"Tonto, I don't like the sound of those drums."

"Kemo Sabe, no worry. Worry when drums stop."

"What happens then, tonto?"

"Ugh. Bass solo."
 
#35
GreggBummer said:
I'm bouncing some ideas around. Let me bounce this off you...

I am considering taking a few songs that I have written and going to an open mic at a coffee house and playing them. Just me, my voice, and my bass. I don't go to coffee houses every week, but when I do go, I don't think I have ever seen anyone play just a bass guitar. I have seen one or two upright cats, sometimes a banjo... plenty of acoustics. Someone out there must do this with an electric guitar.

So the question is, how do you do it? I have never performed JUST ME singing and playing bass. This is sort of the reason why I want to do it... get myself out of a musical rut.

I am not looking for a technical answer... I am just going to bring my bass and plug into whatever sound system they have (DI thru Sansamp).

If anyone out there in TB land has a myspace/youtube of your performance... I'd love to see it.

Thank you,
Bummer
Click to expand...

How do you get two people who hate each other to talk to each other?

Wait for the bass solo.
 
#37
Congratulations on a successful gig!
It is great that you took a risk and pursued you inspiration. It seems that it paid off better than you anticipated.
Use this opprotunity to network with other musicians and start expanding your setlist.

Cheers!
 
#39
I play solo bass for a living. I play 5 solo gigs per week. Please consider the following:

1) bring your own amp. If you DI into the little house PA you run a substantial risk of watching the voice coils in the little box speakers evaporate. Just bring a small amp that makes you sound good!

2) Practice the way you are going to play. If you are going to accompany yourself (i.e. comping) while you sing, practice that. If you have a looper and are proficient that is a great way to go if you have worked out your arrangement. If you do not have a decent arrangement, keep working at home until you do.

3) If you only have one good song, do the one good song and be done!

If you would like to see an example of a bass player using a looper sing, lead worship and solo please check out my playing at Link Removed

Play the Bass!!!
Stan Szymanski
www.stanthebassman.com
 
#40
Check out Dave Pomeroy and Steve Lawson-two very different bassists using looping to create one-man shows. Dave sings as well. They both do small venues (Steve is doing a lot of house concerts these days in duo with his wife Lobelia). Cool stuff! Glad your gig went well.
 

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