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Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

#58,761
br1qbat said:
There's gotta be somewhere to start. Can't say I know a darn thing about the scene in Italy. You guys friends with any other bands? How about calling the venues and offering to open any relevant show? Is there any online fb groups or insta for local music in your area?

I probably have it easier than most being in the Midwest of the USA and near enough to a major metropolitan area [Detroit]. I know if I were in NYC or LA it would be harder to start out, but theres a few places that have no issues throwing unknowns on an off night.
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I have no proper "friends" here, I know through facebook two bands who would play with us, but one is in the same situation as me! (Released the demo and don't have that great "network")
The other one is a highly regarded band in our niche, but from another town…
Now I'm trying to propose a gig with the already established band, with us opening.
The answer is always "we have all weekends aready scheduled, we'll see next fall" but no one says "ok we can schedule for next fall" or even bothered to give the demo a listen. So it sounds more like "sure, bye bye!" to me.
I don't know.
Facebook groups= totally useless. There is even a specific group "extreme bands/musicians from Pindemont" or something like that but it's all spam and idiots posting videos to show off their skill in drum onanism (so again spam), but no discussion whatsoever. Nobody even dares to ask anything in that place.
Many small venues ceased their activity (covid didn't help) and now there are like 8-10* decent places left (decent= where you don't play your post-everything odd tempos madness among families eating their pizza sitting at the table and not giving a $h!t about the gig. None of us is Guns'n Roses cover band) 4 of which are FAR beyond our possibilities (only "famous" bands or bands with at least one "proper" record out etc).
This is the situation.
*In this moment I can only count to 8.
ETA: and "the scene" in general is very cliquey.
 
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#58,762
oZZma said:
I have no proper "friends" here, I know through facebook two bands who would play with us, but one is in the same situation as me! (Released the demo and don't have that great "network")
The other one is a highly regarded band in our niche, but from another town…
Now I'm trying to propose a gig with the already established band, with us opening.
The answer is always "we have all weekends aready scheduled, we'll see next fall" but no one says "ok we can schedule for next fall" or even bothered to give the demo a listen. So it sounds more like "sure, bye bye!" to me.
I don't know.
Facebook groups= totally useless. There is even a specific group "extreme bands/musicians from Pindemont" or something like that but it's all spam and idiots posting videos to show off their skill in drum onanism (so again spam), but no discussion whatsoever. Nobody even dares to ask anything in that place.
Many small venues ceased their activity (covid didn't help) and now there are like 8-10* decent places left (decent= where you don't play your post-everything odd tempos madness among families eating their pizza sitting at the table and not giving a $h!t about the gig. None of us is Guns'n Roses cover band) 4 of which are FAR beyond our possibilities (only "famous" bands or bands with at least one "proper" record out etc).
This is the situation.
*In this moment I can only count to 8.
ETA: and "the scene" in general is very cliquey.
Click to expand...


I'm not you, and I actually have pretty thin experience booking my bands, but my motto has been "Book a show, and I'll show up with my bass and equipment, no matter where". I've had band members who would complain that shows were "beneath them", and I've always thought they were idiots. If you're not playing more than two weekends a month in the same city, I figure you're probably not saturating the place, and if nothing else it's live practice in front of an audience. As long as your not paying for the privilege, exposure is exposure.

So, I'd start from the idea that any show is better than no show unless you have a show booked in the next month. Even if you can only figure out a house party or a busking spot that you can get away with, I'd start there.
 
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#58,763
scabpicker said:
I'm not you, and I actually have pretty thin experience booking my bands, but my motto has been "Book a show, and I'll show up with my bass and equipment, no matter where". I've had band members who would complain that shows were "beneath them", and I've always thought they were idiots. If you're not playing more than two weekends a month in the same city, I figure you're probably not saturating the place, and if nothing else it's live practice in front of an audience. As long as your not paying for the privilege, exposure is exposure.

So, I'd start from the idea that any show is better than no show unless you have a show booked in the next month. Even if you can only figure out a house party or a busking spot that you can get away with, I'd start there.
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Yeah we're thinking of making it at my drummer's house, he has a garden.

scabpicker said:
I'm not you, and I actually have pretty thin experience booking my bands, but my motto has been "Book a show, and I'll show up with my bass and equipment, no matter where".
Click to expand...
As for pizza places, that would be a very punk situation, if you think you're basically ruining their dinner. But the owner would not be glad, I fear :smug:
 
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#58,768
55F77636-2A5B-4043-A75D-7881343E5030.jpeg
9A8BDE94-A311-4E51-9E58-4563C7BF5C3B.jpeg
This is the whole kit and caboodle. I don’t have the DI or the Freqout wired up right now since I don’t really need them for anything at the moment. I think I’m going to get a pedaltrain nano for the stuff I will regularly use for bass (the tuner, dirt pedals, and flanger) and keep everything else at the house for guitar playing and adding other pedals to in the future. I have only had a few minutes to play with the flanger but I really like it a lot. It is definitely exactly what I was looking for. The cables are from that company Tour Gear Designs. They are inexpensive and really slick looking. I highly recommend them.
 
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#58,769
xJasonSmithx said:
View attachment 4663616 View attachment 4663617 This is the whole kit and caboodle. I don’t have the DI or the Freqout wired up right now since I don’t really need them for anything at the moment. I think I’m going to get a pedaltrain nano for the stuff I will regularly use for bass (the tuner, dirt pedals, and flanger) and keep everything else at the house for guitar playing and adding other pedals to in the future. I have only had a few minutes to play with the flanger but I really like it a lot. It is definitely exactly what I was looking for. The cables are from that company Tour Gear Designs. They are inexpensive and really slick looking. I highly recommend them.
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Very clean. Are any of those "always on"?
 
#58,770
Deleted member 132197 said:
It's quiet here. So I'll bore you guys with my search of a new bass.

I've put my Gretsch up for sale, and was looking at getting the Jet II, but with the humbucker debacle that LowEndLobster uncovered I'm also looking at different basses.

Maybe I finally cave in and get a Danelectro. Or retry the Höfner.
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NBD! Found a nice new Epiphone Embassy for quite cheap. And bonus, it's red. I never had a goal of only having red basses, but now i have three :help:

532A3942-5F29-491F-84A9-80A874CABD35.jpeg
B6F22020-1D75-4858-A92C-53C24261CFD2.jpeg
 
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#58,772
@BeRad, welcome! I'd suggest hitting a dispensary, then go to a room w/ bass, amplifier, and speakers to play music. From there, choose songs and learn them! If you need some training wheels, the classics often have tab online. Like anything bass related, there is a very low level a skill necessary to play, and infinite ceiling in ability. You will be ready to gig by the first Thursday after the full moon in May.
 
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#58,773
thombo said:
@BeRad, welcome! I'd suggest hitting a dispensary, then go to a room w/ bass, amplifier, and speakers to play music. From there, choose songs and learn them! If you need some training wheels, the classics often have tab online. Like anything bass related, there is a very low level a skill necessary to play, and infinite ceiling in ability. You will be ready to gig by the first Thursday after the full moon in May.
Click to expand...

Where can I buy your method book?
 
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