It does if it is the main soloist
Thanks, now I'm going to have nightmares about oboe solo.
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Why bring a backup?
- Thread starter savit260
- Start date
Thanks, now I'm going to have nightmares about oboe solo.
Backup saved my bacon again tonight.
I go over my basses after every show to make sure everything is up to snuff.
Sound check goes fine . We ran through a few songs. Cool as can be.
Openers play. Walk up on stage. Strap on my bass and the Schaller Starp lock screw shears clean off. The screw broke in half inside the upper horn. Caught the bass on the way down, so it it didn't bounce off the floor. This happens seconds before we are ready to start playing. Grabbed my backup, and away we went.
I go over my basses after every show to make sure everything is up to snuff.
Sound check goes fine . We ran through a few songs. Cool as can be.
Openers play. Walk up on stage. Strap on my bass and the Schaller Starp lock screw shears clean off. The screw broke in half inside the upper horn. Caught the bass on the way down, so it it didn't bounce off the floor. This happens seconds before we are ready to start playing. Grabbed my backup, and away we went.
This thread is ass.
First off, why the hell would anyone care if those of us who don't bring a backup don't? Second, not to brag, but I play way bigger gigs than most on here with only one bass...so who's the unprofessional idiot now?
I'll tell you...I am sick to death of bass players. If they're not busting your balls because you play equipment they don't like, they're calling others unprofessional because you don't bring a backup, even though you can count the number of times you really needed one on one hand? If anyone ever thought of the bassist as the "nice guy" of the band, Talkbass members are doing everything they can to convince everyone otherwise.
I've got an idea...how about you just do what you want to do, and knock off your annoying and unsolicited value judgments about everything other musicians do? Sheesh...bass players are really starting to suck. How old are you guys? 15?
BTW, this doesn't apply to everyone...just the ones casting value judgments and throwing around the U word.
First off, why the hell would anyone care if those of us who don't bring a backup don't? Second, not to brag, but I play way bigger gigs than most on here with only one bass...so who's the unprofessional idiot now?
I'll tell you...I am sick to death of bass players. If they're not busting your balls because you play equipment they don't like, they're calling others unprofessional because you don't bring a backup, even though you can count the number of times you really needed one on one hand? If anyone ever thought of the bassist as the "nice guy" of the band, Talkbass members are doing everything they can to convince everyone otherwise.
I've got an idea...how about you just do what you want to do, and knock off your annoying and unsolicited value judgments about everything other musicians do? Sheesh...bass players are really starting to suck. How old are you guys? 15?
BTW, this doesn't apply to everyone...just the ones casting value judgments and throwing around the U word.
JimmyM; happy thanksgiivng from a fellow Floridian. Er, what are you doing up at 3:56 AM on a sleep-in day? Just wondering...and yes, you are right on many levels.
Personaly, I don't care who does or doesn't bring a backup(unless I've just spent a bunch of money on a ticket,and a failure of some sort is affecting my viewing/listening experience
That HAS happended before), just sharing my personal experiences, and why I bring one. My tailfeathers have been singed a time or two.
Maybe I should have titled the thread...."Share your SHTF moments".
If an oboe goes down in an orchestra, the show isn't going to come to a screaching hault.
I think that's worth a mention don't you?
Try playing farily agressively with a pick in a rock band in a sweat filled high energy show. You'll experience a broken string eventually.
That's not really mistreating your equipment. Yeah, when I played finger style in a blues band... I can't recall ever breaking a string on stage . Certainly happens now though.
Same thing with a Bass as an Oboe. And if anyone says otherwise, they are too full of their instrument. Bass ain't no drums just like Oboe ain't no Trumpet soloist. But what if the Oboe is a soloist? And who is anyone to decide what instrument is less important than another, anyways? And instead of cherry picking one instrument to discourage that thinking, how about you take a look at the other 25 who don't bring backups? Very unprofessional. As I saw earlier in this thread - "A bunch of pricks." Unprofessional orchestra pricks.
And actually, Murphy's Law was in effect one night when I went to see an orchestra. Nobody brought backups, so you know hell was gonna break loose. Ten minutes in, the Cello blows up.
Literally, like someone shot a cannon through it.
Cello guts everywhere.
Celloist runs off and starts crying. The orchestra tries to keep going but it just won't work. A minute later, a violinist snaps a string.
Then, jack goes out on a Trumpet.
Oh wait...Trumpets don't have jacks. Nevermind that one.
Of course, that was a joke. Murphy's Law isn't a real thing. Its something someone made up to justify why random things happen. Please, no more using it as an argument for me to have to do certain things.
Nonetheless, I just remembered about a concert I saw from a relatively popular band a few years back. Midway through their set the drummer had his kick go through his bass drum. So, of course....had to change it. Nobody's gonna bring a backup drum set. That's insane. But of course, this guy just made my "unprofessional" list. They spent the next 10 minutes or so putting a new head on the bass drum. Bunch of pricks. They expected "US", paying customers to just watch them put a kick drum on?
Yes. And I'm 100% sure not a soul left. Maybe to go piss or buy a drink..but that's it. And they helped by interacting with the audience. Guitarists played a goofy joke ditty and a cover.
You know another reason why nobody left? Because if I'm going to see a show, I'm taking into consideration the fact that **** goes wrong. Anyone who isn't laid back enough to relax when a dude has an issue on stage is the real "unprofessional prick". Especially if you're a musician and know the work it takes.
Kind of drives home my point that if one orchestral instrument goes down, there are a WHOLE BUNCH of others there to pick up the slack.
Speaking from my own situation, where I play in a 3 piece band... if my instrument goes out of commision, Show's over.
Yup, stuff does go wrong. I actually left a show that I had paid to see that was close to my home, to run home to get a string for a stranded bass player who had never broke one in 25 years of playing live... and this is a guy who's played with people big names that you've almost definitly heard of.
I'm certainly not saying anyone should or shouldn't bring one, but I'll certainly feel free to share whay I bring one.
Well said! I read this thread with mounting dismay (and some amusement). It's bad enough when people start name-calling when it's Fender v not Fender, fingers v pick or any of the other archetypal I'm-right-you're-wrong 'debates' - but seeing people get so aerated about what's essentially a matter of choice dependent on your personal perspective and experience, and throwing in all sorts of weird and unsuitable analogies, is just...
Savit, I wasn't referring to you. I thought you were one of the less strident about it. I agree, you shared your experiences and said why you do what you do. I don't recall you calling anyone unprofessional.Personaly, I don't care who does or doesn't bring a backup(unless I've just spent a bunch of money on a ticket,and a failure of some sort is affecting my viewing/listening experience
So Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
I knew you weren't refering to me Jimmy.
... and I'm DEFINITLY one of the less strident about it. Just wanted to clarify my position as the O.P. of the thread though.
Happy Thanksgiving back at everyone.
EDIT: ADDED: P.S. Just wait 'till I post pics of the "duct tape" repair job on no.1 last night. LOL! That seems to have been a contriversial subject a while back too.
There is a level of risk that something will go wrong with a bass player and his gear. Lots of moving parts.
It comes down to your perception of the risk.
I break strings.
Not often, but often enough that I need to pay attention to this risk.
Some players never break strings, and can probably gig for 100 years before they break a string. I have never seen my guitarist break a string (we have been playing together for 5 years).
There are two types of musician in the world:
1) The 'Stable of Horses' guy who has (or wants) 50 axes
2) The 'Loyalist' who enjoys one particular instrument, forsaking most others.
I am clearly in the second camp. I play a 'vette 5 and am 99.9% happy with her, and don't even gas for much (ok, a Zebrawood Streamer 5 would be better...).
While I have a G&L tribby 5 and I do use it as a backup, it is a different animal than the Warwick. It is a perfectly fine instrument, but not my favorite.
Last gig I played (and coincidently the first in 5 years where I brought a backup) I broke a string in the second song. First time I had done it on stage. I knew it would happen, not the end of the world... but....
What to do: I can re-string or I can switch basses.
I switched basses. I even did it pseudo-slickly in a 4 bar break down towards the end of the song.
So, switching solved the original problem; now a new problem has been created.
Now I am playing pretty much a whole gig full of new semi-challenging work with a less familiar/comfortable tool.
Were I to be in the same situation in the future, I would not do the same thing. I would change strings (barring a very comfortable and comparable back up bass) if it happened again.
Now, apparently some of you are making a sandwich while changing strings. It shouldn't take so long!
Get a winder if need be, but just know what you are doing and get the frick to it. At most you should be able to change a string in a minute or two.
Minute or two delays are not the end of the world if the rest of the set is a quality performance. I have seen 50k+ seat arena shows that had a technical glitch or two, where no one really noticed or cared.
I don't want to make a small, easily corrected problem (broken string) turn into a bigger problem (not the ideal instrument for numerous songs).
I can see that if you put a brand spanking new SS string on a bass strung with 3 year old strings the tone may be 'interesting' - lol. Not a problem if your strings are always semi-new (or your replacement strings are semi-old).
For those in the 'many horses' camp- switching basses may even be a desirable part of the process.
It comes down to your perception of the risk.
I break strings.
Not often, but often enough that I need to pay attention to this risk.
Some players never break strings, and can probably gig for 100 years before they break a string. I have never seen my guitarist break a string (we have been playing together for 5 years).
There are two types of musician in the world:
1) The 'Stable of Horses' guy who has (or wants) 50 axes
2) The 'Loyalist' who enjoys one particular instrument, forsaking most others.
I am clearly in the second camp. I play a 'vette 5 and am 99.9% happy with her, and don't even gas for much (ok, a Zebrawood Streamer 5 would be better...).
While I have a G&L tribby 5 and I do use it as a backup, it is a different animal than the Warwick. It is a perfectly fine instrument, but not my favorite.
Last gig I played (and coincidently the first in 5 years where I brought a backup) I broke a string in the second song. First time I had done it on stage. I knew it would happen, not the end of the world... but....
What to do: I can re-string or I can switch basses.
I switched basses. I even did it pseudo-slickly in a 4 bar break down towards the end of the song.
So, switching solved the original problem; now a new problem has been created.
Now I am playing pretty much a whole gig full of new semi-challenging work with a less familiar/comfortable tool.
Were I to be in the same situation in the future, I would not do the same thing. I would change strings (barring a very comfortable and comparable back up bass) if it happened again.
Now, apparently some of you are making a sandwich while changing strings. It shouldn't take so long!
Get a winder if need be, but just know what you are doing and get the frick to it. At most you should be able to change a string in a minute or two.
Minute or two delays are not the end of the world if the rest of the set is a quality performance. I have seen 50k+ seat arena shows that had a technical glitch or two, where no one really noticed or cared.
I don't want to make a small, easily corrected problem (broken string) turn into a bigger problem (not the ideal instrument for numerous songs).
I can see that if you put a brand spanking new SS string on a bass strung with 3 year old strings the tone may be 'interesting' - lol. Not a problem if your strings are always semi-new (or your replacement strings are semi-old).
For those in the 'many horses' camp- switching basses may even be a desirable part of the process.
When I do bring a backup, it is very close to my normal gig bass. Then I don't have the switch to a less comfortable instrument.
Now I'm bummed...this thread got me thinking how cool it looks to switch basses, so I was going to bring a couple basses to my gig tomorrow that I don't often use, but after less then 5 minutes of practice with a strap, my shoulder started hurting. So now, out of 9 basses, I have two that won't make my shoulder hurt, 3 that usually don't but sometimes do, 3 that definitely hurt, and a fretless.
Maybe I should relearn bass as a lefty.
Maybe I should relearn bass as a lefty.
I always pack at least a second bass. I also have an extra amp plus a D.I. box (BDDI), multiple instrument cables, and run at least two cabinets. I don't consider that to be "professional" so much as obsessive.
I have a tendency to over-prepare in a given situation, this isn't any different. For example, I often keep important documents with me in several placeson a flash drive, on my laptop, e-mailed to myself, saved with Google Docs, and on my phonechances are that even if one went bad, two would be sufficient, or perhaps even three could be reasoned, but I'm crazy like that.
I have a tendency to over-prepare in a given situation, this isn't any different. For example, I often keep important documents with me in several placeson a flash drive, on my laptop, e-mailed to myself, saved with Google Docs, and on my phonechances are that even if one went bad, two would be sufficient, or perhaps even three could be reasoned, but I'm crazy like that.
If you have one, and are so inclined, a backup is a good thing. I'm just learning to play and am nowhere near ready to play a gig, but have been a singer for years. When you pack a stage with gear, cords, etc...it gets pretty crowded.
Lucky for us bass players, we're typically downstage tucked in the back with the drummer, so as props are moved on and off stage or the guitar player or lead singer gets froggy, we're out of the way. The one exception is when the backup singers go off (which is what I typically am). We usually exit as inconspicuously as possible and in the dark.
I was at rehearsal once (thankfully ONLY rehearsal), and one of my fellow backup singers caught their foot on one of the guitar players cords. Even though it was in a self locking Hercules stand, it fell over and the neck cracked.
If you aren't going to bring a backup, remember to do a few things to mitigate disaster (even if you have a backup, it's not bad advice).
1) Remove your line cord from your bass when you put it in the stand and mark your cord with bright tape so you can easily find it if it gets kicked or pulled. (also a good idea for those playing active basses...your battery will last longer)
2) Invest in some gaffers tape, and tape the legs of your stand down to the stage.
3) If you play standing, make sure there is a stool available should your have a strap issue (most places have a stool)
4) Buy a good line conditioning power strip to plug your amp into. Stage power is pretty dirty from all the load variance.
5) If in doubt, put your bass back in the case and take it to the green room with you between shows.
6) Most of you know this, but it's critical, never let anyone "give it a try" until AFTER the show. So many bad things can happen here.
These tips won't mitigate all failures, but a roll of gaffers tape and a good power strip are a heck of a lot cheaper to buy and easier to carry than a spare bass.
Now, all bets are off if you are a mega money making regularly gigging professional bass player. You need a backup. But if you are a piddler like me who is more likely to play along with an iPod than a band, a backup might be a little excessive.
Lucky for us bass players, we're typically downstage tucked in the back with the drummer, so as props are moved on and off stage or the guitar player or lead singer gets froggy, we're out of the way. The one exception is when the backup singers go off (which is what I typically am). We usually exit as inconspicuously as possible and in the dark.
I was at rehearsal once (thankfully ONLY rehearsal), and one of my fellow backup singers caught their foot on one of the guitar players cords. Even though it was in a self locking Hercules stand, it fell over and the neck cracked.
If you aren't going to bring a backup, remember to do a few things to mitigate disaster (even if you have a backup, it's not bad advice).
1) Remove your line cord from your bass when you put it in the stand and mark your cord with bright tape so you can easily find it if it gets kicked or pulled. (also a good idea for those playing active basses...your battery will last longer)
2) Invest in some gaffers tape, and tape the legs of your stand down to the stage.
3) If you play standing, make sure there is a stool available should your have a strap issue (most places have a stool)
4) Buy a good line conditioning power strip to plug your amp into. Stage power is pretty dirty from all the load variance.
5) If in doubt, put your bass back in the case and take it to the green room with you between shows.
6) Most of you know this, but it's critical, never let anyone "give it a try" until AFTER the show. So many bad things can happen here.
These tips won't mitigate all failures, but a roll of gaffers tape and a good power strip are a heck of a lot cheaper to buy and easier to carry than a spare bass.
Now, all bets are off if you are a mega money making regularly gigging professional bass player. You need a backup. But if you are a piddler like me who is more likely to play along with an iPod than a band, a backup might be a little excessive.
Ummmm... you mean I shouldn't show up unprepared for my day job? Damnit. I'm in a lot of trouble here
