Two Leggs
Commercial User
- Feb 20, 2018
- 69
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- Pro Audio Repair shop , SVC Mesa Boogie
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buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
2 bands and a possible 3rd. 1st call Sub for 2 other bands and session work. I've had a few bad years gig wise but things have picked up for me.
bassbully
Endorsed by The PHALEX CORN BASS..mmm...corn!
I’m in two bands. One is country and some pop/rock thrown in. The other is classic rock blues to 80’s-90’s pop and rock. Both bands are gigging more than ever - I currently have 24 gigs booked from now until early August - with more coming in all the time. More and more concert in the park, private party, and small festival type stuff, booking less bar gigs with both - which is good! I have a legit serious career, wife, three kids, etc. I’m exhausted but living the Dream after not playing music for about 20 years!!!!
i have two steady band gigs , and fill in for two other bands .
average around 5- 7 gigs per month ...
average around 5- 7 gigs per month ...
Last year we averaged 3 gigs a month. Been slow lately because my drummers wife is getting towards the end of her first pregnancy and he’s been doing a lot of work on their Home adding another room and being their first they’ve been super worried about us playing a show of town now and his wife needing him. So lately we’ve mainly been just playing the venue that’s 5 minutes from his house and everyone has been spending time with our wives, kids, and girlfriend(in guitarist case) because we’re gonna crank things back up ASAP. Right now it’s looking like the summer will be pretty slow. Lot of the venues we normally play are already booked up through the summer. We’ve actually started booking gigs as far out as September already and we probably won’t get back to playing 3 gigs a month until the fall unless we can get on some shows that other bands back out of. I don’t mind that much. It’s nice to spend time with the family. My wife was starting to get frustrated about me being gone most weekends so she’s enjoying it being slow. We’ve also got plenty of stuff to work on over the summer. A music video that we already shot the performance shots for that just needs a another day of shooting and editing. We’re wanting to shoot another music video after that before fall as well. Really I wouldn’t be surprised if we can get the process of making videos down to a good system if we cut gigs down to twice a month and focus More on online stuff because shows have been really hit or miss the last couple years. We’ve literally played some shows with over a thousand people and others to like 30 people. Id personally rather have a cookout with the band and make a music video or have more rehearsals and write more music than play shows that are likely to be poorly attended.
I used to think so, but I've been playing sans-drummer in a trio (Pedal Steel, Acoustic/Vox, Bass) for about 9 months and I am loving it. At this point I'll take a Pedal Steel player over a drummer almost any day.
My experience is that when you add a drummer to the mix, alot of stuff is added.
-There's the difficulty of finding a good, reliable one.
-You typically have to rehearse because sticking to parts and nailing breaks becomes much more important when not all the members have direct eyeline to the leader.
-You have to split the $ with another member.
-Unless you have a drummer willing to play extremely quietly (hard to find) you're generally limited to clubs that have a PA and the acoustics that will handle louder volume.
Without a drummer we are a bit more at the mercy of the leader as far as tempo, but I've gotten pretty good at steering the ship and as far as adding verses, extending songs, mixing it up to follow the moment. etc, we can almost turn on a dime. With just 3 of us, we can tote a mini-PA to play lots of small gigs in places that have no PA, there's no need for rehearsal and with only 2 guys along, the bandleader is able to hire me far more often.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I understand, and you can do a lot without a drummer, but for me it just isn't the same. I saw Ali Ryerson, one of the best jazz flutists in the world last Friday, with a pianist and upright bassist - still was fantastic, but some songs were just begging for percussion.
I can understand that. If I had ready access to a good drummer who was available and on-it I would absolutely love it, but when I look back at my band history, it seems like such a drummer is really hard to find and/or requires alot of extra legwork.
All that said, I'd love to be in a country band with a good drummer again. We had a blues cat in my old band (about 8 years ago) who was a fantastic player and could nail every permutation of country drumming you could ask for. He could roll a steady train beat that would melt your heart and could keep it going as long as you want. Unfortunately he moved on after less than two years.
Ironically, it was because he wanted a project that paid more often and rehearsed less!
I've been playing in a side project with that same make up (although we sometimes use a very good dobro player if the PS can't be there). I used to play upright, but as I get older I've given that up and in that band use an acoustic bass guitar. I also play acoustic six-string, and sing lead and harmony vocals. I think it would be more fair to say that playing bass by oneself isn't as much fun as playing bass with others.
Well I definitely agree with that. Playing bass by myself has zero appeal.
On the other hand as I've been learning PSG (2 years of lessons and I still stink) I have come to enjoy it a bit on my own, but even there is the desire to play with others. I've got to find a country or folk jam where I can at least chime along on the PSG.
