HC Swing Band Oct Nov 2024

8 days ago

HC Swing Band

As the regular big band comes to an end, I will remain in a NEW (private) big band. “Rehearsal Band” is probably what the elders would call it. Just a bunch of players that just wanna practice their reading and stay practiced. This group of probably feels fortunate enough to have a library and a person organizing all of it.
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They don’t ask for much. I can’t help but wonder how long they’ve been without a bass player. The drummer was a sub when I showed up. I looked forward to him sticking around and it seemed like he was having fun. He’s gone now. I already know the regular drummer. He’s a nice guy and everything, but his drum skills don’t motivate me.
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Which is also like saying, “go to the gym and make it worthwhile or get out.” These bands are big, rarely pay, gigs are few, players might be more wacky than you, and worst of all people are to willing to pay to play. I only pay to play with gas, expenditures, time and other toil… and that’s plenty.

☹️ It’s kinda far.

¡Mucho loco traffico!

Usual start time is 7. Rehearsal at 5 PM is a love-hate. Lots of traffic, but on the other hand at least there’s time to grab food (blow money) before and after. What, you think we were offered food or something in exchange for our service.

I have my tastebuds set on something else. There is a greasy spoon around the corner. It looks good and they probably have chicken fried steak. I want to eat there. I will eat there.

When rehearsal is at 7, frwy seems less congested. 91 seems better than the 405 for this trip. 55 minutes to go 28 miles, do you like that? Does the electric car fix traffic congestion? No, it doesn’t. I believe it makes things worse on the freeway. That’s a good topic for future discussion.

🙂 Nice Library

Fortunately, they have a nice sized musical library for all the instruments. Remember the previous band I talked about? They had a library that was numbered up to 800 or was it 900? That’s the most I’ve ever seen. This HC Swing Band has about 500 charts. This current band also has separate charts for a vocalist. She has her own library of music.

🥸 Glam

One of the other players likes to take pictures. It’s a good idea, every musician/band/group leader should do it.

YEET! I don’t want to be in the pictures, YET!

They want to tag me on Facebook and do all that synchronicity stuff that I also believe in. However, I don’t do it for free. Why should I? Why should any of us do it for free? Exposure? People have been waving that carrot in front of musician’s faces for years.

Politly remind people that landlords, grocery stores, and gas stations don’t accept “exposure” in exchange for their goods and services. We are the input resources for everyone’s AI/recreation/fetish. Demand compensation. #LiberateFreeMusic

🙂 Nice rehearsal space.

The image below shows their previous/temporary rehearsal spot. It was outside and it got dark fast. Everyone was grateful and during the summer it was nice to be outside playing music in sunset. It’s incredibly nice of someone to let us use the driveway for free. (Let’s hope that person makes lots of money with their music.)

Fortunately, the new rehearsal spot is indoors. Battling with the wind gets old. Its an unnecessary frustration for people who aren’t being paid. They have electricity. I bring everything else. Instrument, amplification, extra electrical, cables, power, and music stand.

They have a stage. A stage and some nice stairs and electricity all around and even a little bit of lighting. I could tell that the mold and mildew that regularly performs there on stage loves it. Yeah, it’s gross. I didn’t even wanna set my personal items down. I don’t wanna take that stuff home with me. No one compensates me to smell it and they definitely don’t compensate me to take it home and then cope with any of the reproductions repercussions that come from, its new presents in my home. 👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎 🖕

As long as it’s not #PaidToPlay it’s a great “gym” to “work-out” in.

😎 Bass

Christmas music before Thanksgiving. This band has a logistical intelligence to think ahead for Christmas music, but not enough to command $50 for it’s player’s?

Bass still has a little neck-dive.

I can see my wrist turned over so that my palm is up. I’m using my wrist/forearm bones to hold up the bass’s neck. Yes, I had it fixed and it’s much much better than it used to be. I probably have a draft post explaining everything. I think I’ve gotten used to this short arm T-Rex feeling. I can’t believe I tolerated a more horrendous neck dive for all those years.

Cool cats like old jazz too.

🧐 Future/Rant

The band leader speaks of a few holiday gigs in the future. The leader also speaks of our rehearsals resembling performances for the members of the facility we’re rehearsing in.

$50 for rehearsal and $100 for the gig has been standard since 1976. I know this because I’m close to working musicians that were around at that time. That common rate hasn’t changed in most peoples minds. It’s common for people to offer those rates when asked if there’s a budget for musicians.

For perspective, the average gig (three hours of contracted performance time ) involves 5 to 8 hours worth of work or preparation.