Alembic Owners Full time Pro's or Part time Musicians?

[lowave]

Geez what memories all this brings back. Back in the 70's I played in all the Navy clubs within 100 miles of Jacksonville fla. They were a steady source of gigs...especially since our lead singer was blond, athletic, female and could do a serious Robert Plant. Then in the 80's I played all the Military Clubs in the Fla pan handle. From Panama city to Pensacola. Once again the key was knockout female singer. She was more the Ann Wilson type.

[bracheen]

Tom, drop me a line, if you like.  We may know some people in common.
Sam

[richbass939]

Sam and Tom, do you guys know a Jacksonville, FL singer/songwriter named Tom Shed (aka Tom Sheddan)?  I believe he did a lot of gigging in that area in the same time period as you guys.  He's about the only non-Alembician I have met who knows a lot about Alembics.
Rich

[bracheen]

It doesn't ring a bell, Rich.  Was he with a particular band?
 
Sam

[richbass939]

Sam, he was with quite a few bands over the years but I don't know any names.  These days he tours the U.S. (mainly the southern states) as a solo artist.  Last summer I backed him up on a couple of gigs.  He has another tour booked for next spring/summer.  I will probably play bass on some of the Colo. gigs.
Rich

[precarius]

P.S. Anyone want to send me an Alembic to play? :-)
 
Alan- I think I'll keep my Alembics here- in Charlotte,NC- But if you ever need it, I've got a Warwick or a Peavey G bass I would gladly send you. I get to do what I do because you do what you do. Thanks.
Mike

[ajdover]

Mike,
 
    Thanks for the kind offer.  I'm looking at acquiring something to play over here.  I'll have to get an amp or some type of device that will allow me to hear myself as well.  My wife was supposed to send me one of my lesser basses, but she's having some difficulty in figuring out how to do it.  The way I see it, by the time she figures it out I can probably have something in my hands on my own.  We'll see, I guess.
 
Thanks again,
 
Alan

[palembic]

I am a musician in the first place.
NOT professionally in the meaning of that word that I would play music for a living.
I always had other jobs (or was looking for jobs)
There was a time I had money for Bonnie and even THAN somebody helped me to obtain the instrument.
I hope there will be a time that I will be able to play more in the future soon. I only play BLUE STUFF now and the gigs are rare ...VERY rare.
Unfortunately I cannot join another band -altough I got some interesting propositions- due to the simple fact that I have no car anymore (lost when my business went bankrupt). I go to rehearsal by train -basses on a gigbag over the shoulder (no not Bonnie)- and play on the PAsystem.
The rare gigs I have causes a fight for a car to lend everytime.
So ...a daytime job is VERY important to me.
Not only to give me the opportunity to buy a decent poweramp (which I need very badly), but simply to give me back the financial means to get to playing.
But ...there is always sun behind the clouds!!!
And I get strength and hope for better days to come out of my playing: in the back of our garden, in the living room on a chair, so ...I still am a musician (bassplayer) first ...
 
Paul the bad one
 
(Message edited by palembic on January 03, 2006)

[jet_powers]

Many elements of my story have already been covered in the preceeding posts. I too, learned fisticuffs whilst standing at a bus stop during grammar school because I had a violin case with me.
 
At the tender age of 18 I realized that in New England it is quite important to have a warm place to sleep and I needed a day job to keep myself in an apartment. Six years later I found myself unemployed for the first time in my life and played in three bands and still couldn't pay the rent. I've had to work day jobs ever since and have supplemented my income with gigs...
 
I never have forgotten that what I do to make a living is not who I am, merely what I do so I can be, even if only part time, who I am, a Musician.
 
JP
 
ps- Brother PTBO, sorry to hear about the rough patch you are going through. The bad times don't last forever and the cream always rises to the top!

[mpisanek]

I'm a part timer as well.  I played bass and guitar through high scool and college up and down the east coast of the US, but quit playing due to family commitments and the like.  In 1992 I moved to Dublin and played guitar, bass, and mandolin 3 nights a week for 9 years.  The money was real good for a part timer.
 
Maybe the reason I never tried the pro route was fear, fear of loosing the love of music.  I love to play, and would really hate to loose that love because it became the way that I had to put food on the table.
 
It occurs to me that for some reason I am a chronic complainer!  I complain when there are too many gigs, I complain when there aren't enough gigs.  I complain when I have to lug my gear to a bad venue.  I complain when I have to travel too far for a gig.  But I really love music!  How could I possibly make a living like that??? LOL!

[dadabass2001]

Every gig nite (too far and few between) at about 1:30 or 2 AM (during loadout) I threaten to learn piccolo or fife.
 
Mike
 
P.S. I'm a part-timer.

[811952]

Mike,
 
Amen to that.
 
John

[lbpesq]

That's when I'm jealous of singers and harmonica players!
 
Bill, tgo

[keith_h]

Bill why are you jealous? I sing all of the time and still have to move my rig myself. :-)
 
Keith

[lbpesq]

I meant singers as opposed to singer/guitarists, singer/keyboardists, singer/drummers, singer/bassists, singer/anvil smashers, singer/bulldozer operators, singer/etc.
 
In my band I share lead singing with a woman who just sings.  I hump my guitar stuff and the P.A. when we need it.  She carries her microphone.
 
Bill, tgo