Why we became bass players ...

[uwe]

"Ahh requests. People sure love to make them, usually via mid-song, alcohol-scented hollering (keep smiling). Or they occasionally sidle up to the bass player to try to get a word in; people seem to think that bass players don’t actually do very much and are therefore available for a conversation. They became a bass player so they wouldn’t have to talk to people. Leave them alone."

So true. 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/14/its-the-bridesmaids-youve-got-to-watch-out-for-notes-from-a-professional-wedding-singer

[Dave W]

Funny. But the real reason is that the bass player needs to concentrate b/c he knows he carries the band.

[uwe]

I hate it when rehearsal time is wasted by people talking to each other, no joke. But I don't have issues talking to an audience on stage and deadpanning around a bit.