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when people act weird about your gear...

#61
Bass is fine, but I can see how the skateboard might offend or annoy someone who is likely to be offended or annoyed. It's a cool and fun idea though. No idea what worship team gigs are like, but I wouldn't take that pedalboard to a church wedding or funeral performance, job/band interview or audition, or concert hall recital. Beyond that, sure, cool. But is it worth shooting yourself in the foot for it, or is it just pride and ego talking?

It's your right to do whatever you want, but it's also a bandleader's right to not hire you again. I always assume respect is earned and not just an automatic condition, even if it means a bit of smiling and nodding until you get a chance to truly prove yourself. Even if the gig doesn't pay (yet...), I'd personally play along with what's asked regarding the pedalboard, and show the leader some pictures of Pino playing a Jag, or just dress extra well.
 
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#62
MultiScaleMale said:
I believe a church gig requires an MTD or Ken Smith 5-6 string. Heh. It's been awhile since I set foot in a church, but I remember being told that accompaniment tapes were the mark of the devil and should not be used in church. And they wonder why the average age there was 85. Church gigs can be "different".
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My home church has zero modern instruments and won't even go there. There are zero youths in the church and they still sing from the hymnal which has songs dating back several centuries! The church is barely alive with an aprox. total 15-20 senior aged members. They can't understand why the church isn't thriving. My mom, age 82 still plays the piano/organ there.

The 'deacon' said it was a kids bass but not that it wasn't an appropriate one. I mean.....what is an appropriate bass anyways? If no guidelines are given, use what ya got or no bass player. I refuse to be judged by my gear choices. And what's wrong with the skateboard? Is it the sign of the devil or something? What message would it say? Kids ride skateboards. It's fun. I don't get it. Got no time for that mess.
 
#64
People are imperfect ... even church people! I'm not sure why one needs a full pedal board for a church service, and I don't think losing it will hurt the performance much. At least, its stage presence could be toned down. As for the bass, well, I'd just say "it is what I own, so it's what I use, unless you kind folks want to buy me the bass you'd like me to play". In the end, you're not the leader ... which means you have a choice to make ... either follow the leader's direction, or go off in your own. There are never any victims ... only volunteers. And don't listen to anyone other than the leader, especially in a church group ... someone alluded to that in a previous post ... I've never seen an entire congregation agree on the style, instrumentation, song choice, appearance, volume, etc, etc, etc ... there are always detractors.
 
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#66
friendlybass said:
I had a church gig yesterday and thought I did everything right. It's a suit and tie sort of church so myself and the other musicians (my dad on drums and the pastor who I do most of my work through on keys) dressed nicely but the usual protocol for this circle of churches is the band dresses down from the pastor like 2-3 notches. Here's where this gig went odd.
I play very non gospel instruments typically cause its not really my thing usually, which I've taken crap for but my gear is what I've got, and having nice shirts for these gigs is one thing but a bass I use exclusively for this is not what Im about. So initially a deacon/associate pastor comments on my bass pretty rudely, calls it a kid bass and asked if that's all I've got to play. It's an MIJ jaguar bass in oly white, I didn't exactly show up with my SG bass or Jr. Jet. Then the whole worship team gets to talking about my pedalboard (a skateboard with pedals mounted to it) and asking if I really needed to use it or if it could be positioned out of sight. I did so to prevent a scene cause it wasn't my church, and I didn't really need the pedals, I brought it because I dislike unmounting my sansamp, vibe, chorus, and delay or removing my OD's and fuzz just for one gig.
So what's etiquette like in this situation? Do I acknowledge my less than professional appearing gear and back down like I did? Or should I have used what I use tastefully and do my thing regardless of what others say/think? Can we all agree the deacon was out of line to diss my bass?
Thanks for listening to the rant TB. I attached pictures of the gear in question for your scrutiny.View attachment 711846 View attachment 711847
Click to expand...

I could see the skate effects getting the stink eye at a "suit and tie" event for sure. There's nothing wrong with the bass, though.

Edit: Not dissing your pedalboard in the least. I actually used to use a skate deck for mine (no trucks or wheels), but the rock from the concave killed me.
 
#69
I can't possibly see what is wrong with that white jag. That guy just doesn't know basses. There is no other explanation for that.

As for the pedalboard, I can see how that might cast an image they wouldn't want. But they were ok with you using it, as long as you hid it. I am not sure how to hide it, but just something in front of it to mask it slightly. That's not too unreasonable.

In reality though they should be more accepting. There was a guy once who accepted everyone, what was his name? Oh yeah, Jesus! What a great dude.
 
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#71
Smilodon said:
I wonder if a Jazz bass would be appropriate.

Like this:
View attachment 711922
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Gotta play something like one of these:

Jesus_and_his_bass_by_serushins.jpg

3d68b25dae19bd55339f13060de05852.jpg

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

or dress like this....

3761725214_c9fc8f3e63.jpg
 
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#72
if they want that kind of control ... they should buy whatever gear they want you to play ...!

sadly most church folks seem very hypocritical to me ... if they'd do their homework , they'd know you will only be judged by one person or entity ... which isn't them .. !

or ask them to bring their gear/instrument in and play .. ?! oh ... you don't play ..?!! then please go make your joyous noise elsewhere ...!!
 
#75
I just read that Jesus is the rock, so why worry if the church band rocks? It is all joyous praise to Him. I even hear tell some of those Christian rock groups have LONG HAIR.

Maybe the pastor should implore Jesus to take 5 Jags and 2 P basses and make them into 5,000 basses, from which he can choose which bass you should play. Probably at least one with decent intonation in that group, even though the dry air of Lebanon wreaks havoc with the neck.
 
#76
friendlybass said:
I had a church gig yesterday and thought I did everything right. It's a suit and tie sort of church so myself and the other musicians (my dad on drums and the pastor who I do most of my work through on keys) dressed nicely but the usual protocol for this circle of churches is the band dresses down from the pastor like 2-3 notches. Here's where this gig went odd.
I play very non gospel instruments typically cause its not really my thing usually, which I've taken crap for but my gear is what I've got, and having nice shirts for these gigs is one thing but a bass I use exclusively for this is not what Im about. So initially a deacon/associate pastor comments on my bass pretty rudely, calls it a kid bass and asked if that's all I've got to play. It's an MIJ jaguar bass in oly white, I didn't exactly show up with my SG bass or Jr. Jet. Then the whole worship team gets to talking about my pedalboard (a skateboard with pedals mounted to it) and asking if I really needed to use it or if it could be positioned out of sight. I did so to prevent a scene cause it wasn't my church, and I didn't really need the pedals, I brought it because I dislike unmounting my sansamp, vibe, chorus, and delay or removing my OD's and fuzz just for one gig.
So what's etiquette like in this situation? Do I acknowledge my less than professional appearing gear and back down like I did? Or should I have used what I use tastefully and do my thing regardless of what others say/think? Can we all agree the deacon was out of line to diss my bass?
Thanks for listening to the rant TB. I attached pictures of the gear in question for your scrutiny.View attachment 711846 View attachment 711847
Click to expand...
The question I would ask is how does your gear sound? If it sounds good for the music you are playing they have nothing to complain about. Having a "boutique bass or bass amp" does not guarantee a good sound or good player imo...
 
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