Rapid Exit

[oldbluebassman]

Something I said at the end of last night's gig obviously struck a raw nerve because suddenly I was no longer an Old Blue Bass Man, I was an Old Bandless Bass Man.

I think it was a cumulation of things. As I've promoted in this Forum OBM run occasional Showcase afternoons. These are great for the bands who get to play but for us, well boring!! I can think of better ways to spend 7 hours on a Sunday afternoon, and if I can't I'm sure my wife can.

Turn up at 12:30, set-up, play 3 numbers then watch for about 5 hours while others take it in turns to use your rig. Finally get to play another 3 numbers and home at 8:00pm. Would you do it for a pittance?

Drummer Jim went ballistic when he came to play the last three numbers only to find that someone had taken his kit to almost pieces. After the last Showcase we both said we'd had enough and that we were not prepared to do one again. Yellow card!.

Then last night I queried the split of the gig money. To my mind it should have been a straight seven way division, but I appeared to be short by a tenner so I queried it only to be verbally abused, accused of not taking the band seriously and told I was fired. Oops sorry, did I tread on someones ego? Red card and P45! I was stunned.

So is this the end? Well not quite because OBM have a nice web site, I know because I designed and built it and consequently I own the domain name, the design and and the code, but not the content. What happens to that remains to be seen. Entry has been barred until matters are resolved. Has anyone else had this sort of problem?

As for the future, I'm sure something will turn up. I've had the offer of playing again with my friend and singer/songwriter Micky Kemp. He's very busy, gigging most nights. OK so his self penned material is probably not to most of your liking but he has a loyal following, is a good live act and a lot of fun. http://www.mkb.info

Obviously I can't keep the username OldBlueBassMan. I could be OldBandlessBassman or OldBaldBassman. Then I thought WTF. I'll be OBBM, so watch out for the change.

 

[Morrow]

keep moving on. keep playing

 

[cgworkman]

If things went down like you said, then it sounds like someone in your band has an ego problem (there's a surprise - musician's with ego problems...). As far as the money issues, let's see you take their money and see how they act. If they weren't guilty about the money shortage, then why'd they get pissed?!?

 

[xcental34x]

Dang. I'm sorry. I know how it is to be kicked out of a band and get screwed out of gig money. Just gotta keep on trucking.

 

[Samingo]

I can't say I've been around long enough to know how it is to be kicked out of a band, but from what I hear, your former bandmates screwed you over. I'm sorry to hear it. I wish you the best of luck though Dave.

 

[spectorbassguy]

Dave I know how it feels. Until I got saved and started playing exclusively for God I had been in a dozen different bands over 20 years and EVERY one ended in hard feelings/arguments. Everything from $500+ / month phone bill charges by the band member who booked the band to getting screamed at by a guitar player that I was the f'ing up the mix. Found out later that night that he had been up all the night before doing crank. I quit that night after the gig. The stories could go on and on.....

Now I get paid the best I ever have and that doesn't even involve money!

 

[phatduckk]

sorry to hear dude! on a sort of similar note, i almost quit my band today. long story short, i feel like we way part ways due to "creative differences" ... that's code for "they wanna play crappy music".

more ranting:
any of you guys find that you're a better guitar player than you band's guitarist? i honestly dont hate anything more than showing someone a riff just to hear them say "i cant play that". i just wanna yell "practcie u bastard!"

sorry i had to vent guys. i hope i was having a moody day and ill be over it by next practice. sorry about your ordeal OBMM

 

[Psychicpet]

just when marriage wasn't enough of a relationship to navigate..
that does really suck though, but it sounds like you've already got your best advice and that was from you... KEEP PLAYING! I too know the benefits that Spectorbassguy speaks of and even in those settings us humans still have a way to monkey things up especially when pride,ego,insecurity is involved but hey, you probably played some good notes with the boys so it's not a total loss.
All the best with future endeavours!

pd

 

[Mantaray]

more ranting:
any of you guys find that you're a better guitar player than you band's guitarist? i honestly dont hate anything more than showing someone a riff just to hear them say "i cant play that". i just wanna yell "practcie u bastard!"

That has happened to me a few times. I was realy like 'man, are YOU the guitarist or what?'. You just end up being too good for your band. There comes the point where you strongly consider a change.

For reasons like OBMM's Sunday 12.30-8.00 program I never wanted to play in a band full time and professionally. All the best wishes for OBMM.

 

[Bassplyr]

Sorry to hear about all the B.S. Dave. I'm 37 and FINALLY in a band where all the guys are cool with no egos, and really laid back. It takes alot of time to find people that are cool to work with, but keep trying. The best success is finding something better than you were just involved with. It's out there! Good luck.

 

[oldbluebassman]

Hey guys. Thanks for the nice words. I'm going to take it easy and see what shows up. I have no doubt that I'll find another band soon but I'm going take a good hard look at the personalities before I agree to join full time.

Meanwhile I'll jam a bit. I'm close to 59 and quite frankly can do without the politics and back-stabbing. I had enough of that in the Corporate job.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Meanwhile I'll jam a bit. I'm close to 59 and quite frankly can do without the politics and back-stabbing. I had enough of that in the Corporate job.

Yeah, being in a band is like being married without the make-up sex. it sounds like there were issues that made it not very fun, so you're certainly better off without the hassle. Something new will come along.

 

[tkarter]

Probably should be prepared for them to come back to you when they suffer for loss of your talent.

Moving on is best for you go like as fast as you can.

tk

 

[phatduckk]

OBMM,
good thing is that you're a bass players and in my experience it seems like "good" bassists are hard to come by and people are usually stoked to hear your talent is available ...

also regarding the politics stuff: playing music is supposed(!!!) to be fun ... we've got jobs and bills to piss us off and there's no need for our "hobby"/passion to cause us any strife

good luck bud

 

[crazybass888]

Exactly. If you're not having fun, screw it! Life is supposed to be fun, music is supposed to be fun! I'm sure you'll find some people out there w/ the same vision you have.

 

[cgworkman]

Obviously I can't keep the username OldBlueBassMan. I could be OldBandlessBassman or OldBaldBassman. Then I thought WTF. I'll be OBBM, so watch out for the change.

Why change your username? There are countless forumites out there in different forums with usernames that resemble or flat out rip off someone or something else. Sure there's "a" band out there, but at the same time, your username can come across as many things other than that band's name.

Why lose any more because of these people?

MHO.

 

[flywheel]

Why change your username? There are countless forumites out there in different forums with usernames that resemble or flat out rip off someone or something else. Sure there's "a" band out there, but at the same time, your username can come across as many things other than that band's name.

MHO.

This is exactly what I was thinking...

 

[johans]

Why change your username? There are countless forumites out there in different forums with usernames that resemble or flat out rip off someone or something else. Sure there's "a" band out there, but at the same time, your username can come across as many things other than that band's name.

Why lose any more because of these people?

MHO.

+1

 

[johans]

Dave I know how it feels. Until I got saved and started playing exclusively for God I had been in a dozen different bands over 20 years and EVERY one ended in hard feelings/arguments. Everything from $500+ / month phone bill charges by the band member who booked the band to getting screamed at by a guitar player that I was the f'ing up the mix. Found out later that night that he had been up all the night before doing crank. I quit that night after the gig. The stories could go on and on.....

Now I get paid the best I ever have and that doesn't even involve money!

amen bro

 

[dwf1004]

Yeah, being in a band is like being married without the make-up sex...

....unless you're tagging the female lead singer. LOL!