The Bongo safety net

[adouglas]

Okay, so my current band is in its real, final configuration, just about ready to go live and we're pushing like crazy to get gigs.

We've actually landed a BIG one for mid-summer, but we need the seasoning that only live trial-by-fire and public exposure can give us.

So we gritted our teeth and played an open mic this week.

Here we are in the only surviving photo...the camera batteries died.

I hate open mics because it's a hell of a lot of time and effort for about 10 minutes on stage, and you have NO control over the circumstances or the equipment. You show up with your instrument, plug in to whatever they've got, and pray that it sounds good. There just isn't time to find a good sound.

Five performers on an 8x8 stage, with a drum kit and amps.... Okay, lean on the kick drum, put your feet together, don't move and PROJECT ENERGY!

Ick. But to get hired at this joint, they need to hear you first. We only got to play two songs.

Anyway, i had NO idea what my tone would be like. So I just set my Bongo flat, trusted in its fundamental awesomeness and went for it.

It wasn't the way I like to sound as far as I could tell, but it sounded GOOD by all accounts.

Trust in Da Bongo. Beleeeeb in Da Bongo. Da Bongo will do you right, jah.

 

[Black Lake]

I am getting claustrophobic just looking at a picture of that stage. Sounds like you survived the ordeal. In Bongo we Trust.

 

[adouglas]

See that little blonde amp in front of my right knee? That's what the guy with the white guitar (who is hidden behind our singer) was plugged into. He was standing about two feet from me.

I didn't hear a thing he played.

My Bose gear has utterly spoiled me.

 

[bovinehost]

I seldom go anywhere without a Bongo, but it does happen.

Thankfully, my "other basses" are also Music Man instruments, so I think I should be okay....but I admit it: I get nervous without a Bongo.

 

[adouglas]

....but I admit it: I get nervous with a Bongo.

Um........

 

[Spanky(Andy)]

I'm guessing that was "without a Bongo"...

Andy

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

So did you get the gig?

 

[adouglas]

Give it time. It was only two days ago.

On every table was a nice printed postcard with their schedule through March. I'm guessing that means they're booked until at least early June.

 

[Bloodfist]

Wow that's a small stage. If you get the gig will you be playing on that stage again? It might sound like a stupid question, but I do know of some venues that have 2 stages and one of them is usually pretty small. Either way, good luck on getting some shows!!!

 

[adouglas]

Nope...that's the stage.

It gets even better. The doorway on the right edge of the photo? That's the kitchen.

 

[Big Poppa]

Thats really a sad commentary on the opportunities to hone your craft and perform. You hope and pray that the general public will support live music again someday...Is that place a hot spot? If so I bet there are competing bars/rest that could pick up some overflow and give some nmore bands the chance to play live

 

[adouglas]

Is that place a hot spot? If so I bet there are competing bars/rest that could pick up some overflow and give some nmore bands the chance to play live

It is, more or less. The good news is that there are three roadhouses fairly close to one another. A new one opened up just around the corner from this place.

There are a fair number of venues in my area, but there are also a zillion bands. The good places are booked many months in advance. Realistically, we're looking at summer before we can play anywhere, unless something fluky happens.

 

[liquidbass]

I'm glad the Bongo didn't let you down. Not that I expect it to, but I have a (somewhat) similar situation coming this weekend. I haven't played (seriously) in quite awhile, and back when I did it was with people I knew. Saturday I have an audition with some guys who are a little older than me and who I've never met. Don't know how they'll react when I unsheath the Bongo to plow thru some classic rock covers. I'll be on their old bass players rig (he apparently bailed one night and never came back for some reason) so the best I can do is trust in the Bongo. Unfamilar rig, unfamilar band, unfamilar tunes...but the power of the Bongo will see me thru, I have faith. If I nail it flying colors, I'll contact the Vatican and nominate BP for sainthood

 

[adouglas]

GO FOR IT!!!

Best thing you can do is NOT worry about your tone.

JUST PLAY.

Seriously...nobody cares about the fine points of your tone. They care about the groove.

The recordings of my band that my bandmates are over the moon about are chock-full of mistakes on my part... stuff that is really awful to my ear. I cringe when I hear them....but they don't care. (Check 'em out at the link in my signature.)

Carve this in stone: IT'S THE OVERALL SOUND THAT COUNTS.

Play with authority. Play with confidence. Play like you OWN the place. And DON'T worry about how you sound. The music and the interplay with the other musicians is ALL that matters.

You'll do great.

Keep us posted!

 

[pbass2go]

Seriously...nobody cares about the fine points of your tone. They care about the groove.

Wise words...
I love all my EBMM basses and am happy that I can tweak my sound any way I want.
But it is true, if you cant groove, they wont care what you sound like... (going back to practice my Duck Dunn and Tommy Shannon lines now...)

 

[Smakbass]

Looks roomy compared to some places I have played.....