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Gigging Archives - Page 8

Saving Your Ears: A Discussion for Gigging Bass Players
Ask Damian Erskine

Saving Your Ears: A Discussion for Gigging Bass Players

Q: I regularly gig in a blues-rock power trio, and I have to solo over one or two tunes. Every time, the lead guitarist asks me to crank up the volume because he plays at a really high volume… too loud in my humble opinion. I don’t want to crank up the volume because I think it kills everything from...

Secrets of Playing Great in a Group Setting: Listen, Acknowledge and Respond
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Secrets of Playing Great in a Group Setting: Listen, Acknowledge and Respond

Be it on the bandstand, the concert stage, or the corner of a bad club, most musicians yearn for great musical communication in an ensemble. Great musical communication between players leads to great ensemble playing. If you have experienced it once, you will want it again. To have the shot at this, we need to: Play our part, with complete...

Playing Under Pressure and Facing Your Fears
Ask Damian Erskine

Playing Under Pressure and Facing Your Fears

Q: I’ve been playing electric bass for about five years, and I’m currently attending the third year in a Music Conservatory. When I play music while other musicians observe me (not the members of the band), I become quite uncomfortable. I feel judged, and my heart starts pounding, especially if it’s someone I respect like a teacher or a skilled...

Building Confidence: Thoughts for Bass Players
Ask Damian Erskine

Building Confidence: Thoughts for Bass Players

Q: I’m a 16 year old bassist from England, and I’ve been playing for around three years. Ive been told I am very good for my age but I struggle with my confidence sometimes. One day I want to be as good as yourself or people like Janek Gwizdala, Marcus Miller or Victor Victor Wooten, but I think I put...

Choosing the Right Path for Your Music Career
Ask Damian Erskine

Choosing the Right Path for Your Music Career

Q: I’ve been weaving in and out of bands for a few years, since bassists in my town are scarce. But I rarely find a band I enjoy playing with due to either the members’ personalities or the music I end up playing. As someone who wants to make a living playing music, starting my own band – with people...

Road Gear: A Discussion for Gigging Bassists
Ask Damian Erskine

Road Gear: A Discussion for Gigging Bassists

Q: For the last couple months, I have been doing weekend warrior gigs with a pop artist who tours all over the country. The venues we play have been everything from large hotel ballrooms to amphitheaters to large concert halls, and we mainly rely on backline gear. Here’s my issue: we fly a lot, and we are very limited in...

Spend Money to Make Money: A Discussion for Bass Players
I Wish I Knew That

Spend Money to Make Money: A Discussion for Bass Players

Yes, that’s right, the words of my college accounting professor ring true to this day. You need to spend money to make money. While we often think of this term in reference to the boring section of the local paper or as the guiding principle behind buying lemons to sell lemonade, it’s impossible to think of any business, and especially...

Self Expression: Thoughts and Discussion for Bass Players
Ask Damian Erskine

Self Expression: Thoughts and Discussion for Bass Players

Q: Most pros say that playing with other musicians is one of the most important things a bassist can do. After practicing alone for a few years, I’ve returned to the band setting. I love gigging and I love band practice, but I find myself playing very conservatively. In no way am I trying to get crazy and show off...

On Stage Monitor Mix Advice for Bass Players
Ask Damian Erskine

On Stage Monitor Mix Advice for Bass Players

Q: I play on a weekly gig and I use in-ear monitors. Things sound fine during sound check, but I don’t realize I need something until I’m lost in the middle of a song and find myself unable to find the keys or guitar in my monitor. This happens fairly regularly. I’ve even had most of my bass taken out...

Heavy Music with a Hollow Body Bass?
Ask Damian Erskine

Heavy Music with a Hollow Body Bass?

Q: Here’s my problem: I’m a big fan of archtop guitars and I love the lighter tonal quality. I also don’t like playing solid body basses since they don’t go well with my slightly weaker left shoulder (which is made worse since I’m left-handed but play right-handed). That’s not the real problem though. The big problem is that the band...

The Backline Blues: Preparing for the Mystery Rig
I Wish I Knew That

The Backline Blues: Preparing for the Mystery Rig

Getting hired for a gig is great! Knowing that you’re getting paid well is awesome! And then finding out they’ve got backline? The stars have aligned. This gig just got easy. Will you have to wrestle your cabs into the car? Nope. Drag them back into the house at 2am? No way, Jose! What if it’s pouring rain and there’s...

Holiday Gigging: A Moveable Feast
I Wish I Knew That

Holiday Gigging: A Moveable Feast

Hear ye, hear ye, it’s holiday time again. Time to gear up for big dinners, excessive shopping, family gatherings – and yes – holiday gigs. It’s time for celebration, relaxation, days off from work, and days in cleaning and preparing for company. As a professional musician, the holidays have quite an impact, both on the music that is played and...