"You forgot your tape?!"

I played in a 9-piece band where everybody played from a pretty fat binder of charts, and somebody was always borrowing tape from somebody else. Pencils, too. After a while I started carrying a roll of gaffer tape, a spare 9v and a few AA batteries, a couple pens, a multi-tool, a flashlight, some granola bars, and all kinds of other items my bandmates were always forgetting.

Oh yeah, and I was the bongo player.

 

That was what Sono Bono did at Wrecking Crew sessions. Before he donned the cave man outfit and teamed up with Cher.

 

Tape lives in the bag, next to the _other_ tape! Oh, and the spare rosin, rockstop, tuner no one knows about (so it cant be borrowed) Couple Mechanical Pencils, a Realbook 5 and 6 and some sheet music. Whats another few pounds between friends? <G>

 

Oh...and don't forget the spare 1/4" instrument cable.

 

don´t worry about the tape - i know a guy who drove to the gig and forgot his bass...

 

I actually did that once. It was a clear sign that I had too much on my plate and needed to slow down.

- Steve

 

Worst I ever did was forget my bow. A cellist lent me her bow. Luckily it was a pops concert, so there were nothing more than a few whole notes that weren't plucked.

Tape? I suppose it depends on the gig. There have been times when I showed up with scissors, tape, a glue stick, and even white out. That's unusual though. I don't think most players out there would agree to bring tape along even if it was requested. You hire me to play the notes, not to be your copyist and librarian.

 

I keep tape in my gig bag.

 

Didn't pack my tux pants once and had to sit behind a bandstand in my tux jacket and blue jeans.

Tape is the responsibility of the bandleader/producer to have the music together.

 

Yes! I keep a roll of the Scotch-brand tape at all times to repair charts, to put together loose leafs as handed out, and because this particular brand does not get gummy and separate over time. Yes, it is a must, just as much as a tuner, pencils, a rag or washcloth to keep everything wiped down, clothespins for an outdoor gig, backups of the rest of the personal gear, etc.

 

I keep tape, rockstop, tuner, two pencils, rosin, a knife, an etude/excerpt book and tape in my bag.

Oh, and a bag of potato chips.

 

Not to mention condoms...

 

Jack,

Next time you see Bob, tell him hello for me. I studied with him when I was in college. Great player and all around remarkable human!

Thanks,

John

 

Was it Drew Gress? Check out cut #2 on The Claudia Quintet's CD "Semi-Formal," entitled "Drewslate."

 

I once forgot my black socks for a wedding gig and wore my tux with bare ankles the entire night. At the time, however, the Don-Johnson-Miami-Vice-pushed-up-jacket-sleeves-stubbly-face-shoes-no-socks look was in fashion, and no one gave it a second glance.

I play in a pick-up chamber orchestra that meets once a year for an annual music series at a local church…two rehearsals and a concert. Last year, I forgot my bow on the performance day. Luckily, the other bassist lived nearby and ran home and got his Glasser fiberglass for me to use.

Fast forward one year, at last week’s rehearsal, the other bassist grins smugly and mentions that he brought his Glasser “just in case.” “Very funny,” I said, “but you can bet I won’t be needing it this year.” Sure enough, I arrive the day of the concert, and my bow pocket is empty.

Rather than suffer the humiliation of asking the guy to use the Glasser, I tore home, retrieved my bow, and made it back just in time for the downbeat. Of course, bassist #2 knew what was up anyway and grinned evilly for the entire concert.

 

In my trombone days I had been giving my slide a good clean and turned up at the gig with only half a trombone. You can't do much with only...............................

 

I'm obviously not playing the right kind of gigs...