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You guys are rippin' Lawrie! Too old? It takes a long time to get that good!  Ahh, bob, Maaate... You are my friend forever  I never played any improv at all until I was in my late 40's - if I didn't have a chart in front of me I had no idea at all! Then I did a couple of terms at the local conservatorium trying to learn the basics of Jazz improvisation - we covered basic harmonisation and the blues scale - that got me started - maybe one day I'll be able to say I'm starting to "get it" but in the meantime I'm gonna spend the rest of my life learning how 
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya  --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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You couldn't pick a nicer spot to play either. Oz is on my bucket list, but my old bucket's getting pretty full.
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Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2006
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You guys are rippin' Lawrie! Too old? It takes a long time to get that good! Regards, Bob +1 - if I have any more fun today than the 4 minutes of that, I've had a pretty good day Bruce
Macbook Pro 2018
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You couldn't pick a nicer spot to play either. Oz is on my bucket list, but my old bucket's getting pretty full. Come on down - I'm sure we could find a bed somewhere, might be on the lounge though
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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+1 - if I have any more fun today than the 4 minutes of that, I've had a pretty good day
Bruce
Hey Bruce - Be jealous mate, Wednesday mornings usually go for about 2 1/2 hours I think this might answser the OP's question - no, you're NEVER too old to start playin' gigs
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Being in a band is like being married without the sex. You have the intimate family relationship without the intimate contact.
In the bands that I've been in that have had female members, the rule was "No hanky panky - hands off" to both. It's the only way that will work. Even if the members are homosexual, the same rule should apply.
In the two bands that I was in with female members, the guys ended up being like big brothers to the girls and tried to protect them (sometimes a bit too much).
As far as wives are concerned, the first time a wife interferes, even if it's just a little bit, it's time for a band meeting and to nip that in the bud. In the bands I've been in, all wife (or other non-band partner), suggestions can be made to the band member they are mated with, in private, and if the suggestion is worthy, the band member can bring it up at a band meeting or rehearsal.
There are a lot of pitfalls and a lot of joy to being in a full band, and to avoid the problems the rules should be set out and agreed upon up front. And when a problem occurs, it should be nipped in the bud and not let go to extremes.
Of course, great tact is involved in bringing up problems to the floor as you don't want to start a shouting match.
I played in a road band for a few years, the one that almost got signed to Motown, and the rules were set up front by a more experienced member of the group who confronted those problems before. During the years we were together, two of us got married, and the wives were never a problem. Neither was the female member of the band. What eventually broke the band up was when Motown quit talking to us because our lawyers expected us to actually get a piece of the potential profits instead of working for what would amount to union scale.
I've been in other bands that make Internet flame wars seem like a child's game in comparison. Those are the bands I left.
If you plan to join a band, the think you need to remember is, what we do is called playing music. It should be serious fun, but if it isn't fun and playful, it's not worth it.
Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Lawrie,
as the camera panned around, I half expected to see Obi Wan and Han Solo at a table in the corner negotiating business arrangements on the milennium falcon...
on a more serious note, y'all sound awesome! Thanks for adding your favorable 2 cents to the original question!
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Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 110 |
Lawrie, Love the vid'...having fun is what it's all about. Thanks for posting - I could almost smell the surf and hear the waves crash.
Keep on Rockin'
Sonny Ray
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Hi Pat, some of the people that come I could almost agree about Obi Wan and Han Thanks for the lovely compliment about our playing too. Jack, on the bass, has been playing for so long I think he knows every tune that's ever been written! Vince, clarinet (and sax) has played for a very long time too - I've learned a lot just from litening to these two guys. Our normal bass player, Ian, also plays a bunch of other instruments, including a button accordeon that he sometimes brings. "La Vie en Rose" never sounded so good Rob, usual drummer (not in the vid), played in the RAN for decades. He knows 'em all too and has a great feel, but he sure can be a grumpy old b@stard Peter on the guitar - I actually don't know a lot about him, but he's pretty good too. Lorant on the piano - he's been around so long I think he WROTE all the tunes Jack knows He plays a mean guitar too. These guys were great for me to get a start with. Brian, trumpet, is a little like me - really just getting started at improv but I must say, he's improving quickly - that vid is getting on now and he has clearly been putting in work since it was taken. ============ Hi Sonny Ray, the venue is really good - where we play you don't normally hear the surf, we're right on the beach but about 7 or 8 metres above it so the sound seems to dissipate - it's not normally heavy surf anyway. The beach is called Macmasters Beach and is on the NSW Central Coast. Takes me about 20 minutes to drive there from where I live. =============== Hey Musiclover, I'd like to mention that there is an enormous difference playing to a live audience than any other environment - you get feedback from the crowd. Sometimes it's really mild and you think "Nope, I haven't connected" and other times they clap and cheer, or better still, get up and dance (that's my favourite!). The interaction between you and them can really change how a gig goes down - every one is different. A good crowd can really inspire your playing and you come up with lines you had no idea were in you, other crowds can make you feel like the sound is just "dribbling down your chin" I encourage you to get out there. If you're most comfortable as a solo artist, find a quiet spot for a start and go busking. If you have a couple of mates you could go out with to play you'll gain courage from the company. It's the first time or 2 that take a little effort to get over the nerves, after that it's pure enjoyment! 'Ave a go mate!
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Wow Lawrie, you guys sound great and look like you're having a blast doing it! Sounded like you came right off Bourbon Street. And what a heavenly spot to play in.
Josie
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Wow Josie, "Bourbon Street": high praise indeed. You know can now do no wrong don't you If you ever come to Oz, drop in and you can do some real "Sun Dancing" at what has to be one of the best spots I've seen.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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One of my favorite blues singers, Alberta Hunter, returned to the live stage at age 80. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Hunter#1970sLots of videos on Youtube.
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I have but one comment, "You ain't too old - you all sound great."
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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