Ah, the teachings of that wise teacher, Experience. Here’s a few lessons I’ve gained:
          
Paper cuts hurt when playing a stringed instrument.
Superglue closes up paper cuts and only stings for a minute.
However, the tube of superglue will open itself in your case for you.
Bandages do not stay on fingertips when the superglue is too dried up to use.
 
Used bass strings are great cheap cat toys.
Used bass strings hurt when the cat leaves them on the floor and you around walk barefoot.

Bass notes are louder than you think.
Your neighbors are closer than you think.

Loud low notes will make pictures fall off walls and break the glass.
Broken glass hurts more than left over cat toy bass strings.

Bass necks are long enough to hit the ceiling fan when taking your bass off.
Basses make “interesting” noises when hit by ceiling fans.
Ceiling fans and headstocks do not enjoy meeting each other.

The “super light” stand is and will hold your bass… long enough for you to walk out of arms’ reach.
Basses go out of tune when the stand gives up and dumps them on the floor.

The smell of cigarette smoke will get inside your case even if you only open it outside.
Stale cigarette smoke smell overpowers air fresheners.
“Floral Smoke” will never make it into the scent-of-the-month club.

And the final lesson (for now):
When playing a small club with no stage, one must stand far away from dancers... preferably on the other side of a wall.
Why? Well…….
       Dancing bodies running into your instrument make it hard to play.
       The clumsiest and most unattractive dancer will migrate next to the bass player.
       A dancer will always claim the player ran into them, even if the player is starting to grow roots .
       Bar stools do not make effective stage barriers; rather, they will prompt the drunkest person to sit
       there. That wouldn’t be bad except eventually they will fall off…. on the side towards the band.

As with most good lessons, this one will continue to be added to…… until next time , Susan