OT: Available and Playing the Field!

[AnthonyD]

Current band pretty much imploded this weekend - not going to get into the details, but suffice to say the plans of us "taking over" our little part of the world are on hold for the present and foreseeable future.

We have two gigs on calendar schedule for next summer - I'll decide by end of first quarter if we'll make them or pull out.

So I find myself suddenly available and trolling Craigslist for opportunities to play. Hard rock cover bands, dark and gloomy progressive-rock original bands, recording, Jersey Shore bar bands - I'm checking 'em all out and seeing where things click.

I just want to be "the bass player" - not the music director, booking agent, manager, strategist, secretary, stage director, drum programmer, PA-lugging sound-man...

Just the freakin' bass player.

Tips, tricks and general words of encouragement area all welcome, as I am going head-first w-a-a-a-a-y outside my comfort zone here. All in the hopes of continuing to learn and grow as a bass player and all around musician.

 

[Frankie5Angels]

Well that sucks now doesn't it? But not to worry. You know what they say: When one door closes another opens. So keep your chin up, your chops honed and be ready when opportunity knocks. (I think that should about do it for the cliches, but you get my drift).

 

[tkarter]

When you go try out make sure you are trying them out as well as they are trying you out.
Don't join the band that had a falling out with the old bass player. At least until the bass seat cools down.

Good luck and have fun.

tk

 

[Aussie Mark]

I just want to be "the bass player" - not the music director, booking agent, manager, strategist, secretary, stage director, drum programmer, PA-lugging sound-man...

Word. I'm loving my new band for that very reason. The only extracurricular activity I have to do with this band is maintain the MySpace page. Oh, and help the two Librans in the band make decisions. Otherwise, the toughest part of being in this band is deciding which bass to bring to rehearsal or a gig.

 

[AnthonyD]

Well that sucks now doesn't it? But not to worry. You know what they say: When one door closes another opens...

Exactly what I'm thinking. I'm planning to stay open to various opportunities, following a very simplistic formula in my mind: play quality music with talented musicians for an appreciative audience.

When you go try out make sure you are trying them out as well as they are trying you out.
Don't join the band that had a falling out with the old bass player...

Excellent advice - thanks Tom! I have actually used the words "so we can audition one-another" when planning to meet and jam. I learned this lesson very early on as a drummer in my late teens.

I answered an add for a "drummer wanted" and was asked to learn two Scorpions tunes for the try out. I learned the songs and captured every nuance; every fill, everything. I show up for the "audition" and these guys are barely playing in tune and I'm thinking "Oh what a mistake!". Needless to say, I get call after call about how great it was and when can we get together again until I finally told them I was not interested.

Since then I approach every situation with a "is this good for me" attitude and I've no problem deciding "this is not for me" right on the spot if things aren't feeling right. I don't want to waste anyone's time, especially my own.

It's just been a very many years for me to be "out on the prowl" again!

Word. I'm loving my new band for that very reason. The only extracurricular activity I have to do with this band is maintain the MySpace page. Oh, and help the two Librans in the band make decisions. Otherwise, the toughest part of being in this band is deciding which bass to bring to rehearsal or a gig.

I am so wanting to be where you are Mark - hoping to find the same happy place soon!

 

[adouglas]

I have a small suggestion you might find helpful.

When you first meet, say up front that if you decide to hook up you'd like to have a four- to six-week trial period, then make the decision about whether or not to continue.

This way there's no hard feelings if you decide you just aren't comfortable with the situation. And the reverse, too...they can let you go without any misunderstandings or animosity.

I've been casting about for a second band because my primary doesn't get to play out enough to satisfy me, and this little item has served me very well. It's a lot easier to let someone down if you've got that meeting planned ahead of time.

Oh, and...

Musicians Wanted - Search Local Musician Classifieds : BandMix.com

Best of luck!

And come see my band sometime, willya?

 

[shastaband]

I just want to be "the bass player" - not the music director, booking agent, manager, strategist, secretary, stage director, drum programmer, PA-lugging sound-man...

Just the freakin' bass player.

I understand where you're coming from, but I still think a major reason I was able to make a full-time living playing the bass from 1971 until 1990 was because I was a "bass player with full PA and a van"!

 

[jaylegroove]

Good luck, Anthony. No doubt you'll find the band to play in.

Peace,

Jean

 

[word]

enjoy the period of time "between" bands.

sometimes not having the stress of being in a band for awhile makes you appreciate the music much more when you find the right group to play with.

 

[timmy5strings]

Now's a good time to work on that solo album The most important thing is to just be yourself and play the way you normally play. Don't overplay, know when to fill and also when not to. Find the pocket and stay there.

 

[AnthonyD]

Thanks Guys!

I've been talking to a bunch of folks and trying to see where there's a fit. Actually surprised that there have been as many options to consider thus far.

Here's the latest...

I turned down the "gloomy progressive rock band" - the music wasn't for me, the drummer was a bit "busy" for my taste and the group tended to go beyond their abilities in certain songs (in a bad, bad, way).

I turned down the "hard rock bar band" - I decided I do not want to play the 20-something bar scene. Dinner with live band & dancing I would most definitely do (ala the Texas jam place last year November!), but the rock-club pick-up joints are not for me.

I turned down the "Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band" - their core connections for regular gigs ranged 150 - 265 miles from me (one way).

I am excited about one Band I expect to play with next week - sounds a lot like the band I was running in terms of their music and venues (lot's of community gigs, outdoors, etc.). And I get to just be the bass player!



And yes, I need to see Andrew's Band one day!

 

[adouglas]

Here's a thought:

We're not obscenely far from you. If you hook up with a band like your old one, let's try to figure out some sort of double-bill outdoor park thing for one of the towns in your area. Based on your description of what you used to play, I think we might complement one another. We'd just have to avoid playing the same songs!

 

[Freddels]

I had responded to a CL ad for a bass player a few months back. The contact person was probably not a good choice for them. He hardly gave any information, took days to make the first response and then any follow up question I had (like what tunes would you like me to prepare for the audition) took over a week to respond. He finally responded two days before my scheduled audition with a list of 10 tunes to learn. I told him that I'd pass. I figured if they cannot respond in a timely manner at this point, how was it going to be later.

Good luck in your search.

 

[Oh! Henry]

I had responded to a CL ad for a bass player a few months back. The contact person was probably not a good choice for them. He hardly gave any information, took days to make the first response and then any follow up question I had (like what tunes would you like me to prepare for the audition) took over a week to respond. He finally responded two days before my scheduled audition with a list of 10 tunes to learn. I told him that I'd pass. I figured if they cannot respond in a timely manner at this point, how was it going to be later.

Good luck in your search.

+1

I'm also currently looking, and it's unbelievable how many band do this, I had 3 bands that seemed very interested, and then the closer the audition got, the less news I got from them. I passed on the auditions as well!

 

[joshbrake]

I can't wait to play gigs where I'm just the bass player.

 

[AnthonyD]

Audition Day!

So I'm going out for my first audition tonight - the Band I mentioned a few posts back that seems to "fit" best with my personal interests and style. Here's the 10 songs I'm playing with these guys tonight:

American Girl
Basket Case
Call Me The Breeze
Crossroads
Gimmie Some Lovin'
Keep Your Hands to Yourself
La Grange
Move It On Over
Rockin' in the Free World
The Ballad of John and Yoko

Nothing difficult, mostly 1-4-5 (Arin!?) based rock 'n roll. I'm actually looking forward to a fun jam with some new folks - I've been very non-committal in our discussions thus far so as not to get anyone's hopes up. It'll come down to styles and musicianship.

I've already got the "Our singer plays some guitar - he's getting better every day" commentary from their side so I don't know exactly what to expect...

On the other hand, my cousin and I have some thoughts on a new project that could be the best thing on so many levels, but we can't move too quickly there so I'm trying to keep my options open.

Without do so at anyone else's expense, of course.

 

[oli@bass]

Good luck, have fun!

 

[Psycho Ward]

Good luck and kick ass Anthony!


I've got a few gig leads myself... if I could just stay home long enough.

 

[AnthonyD]

Thanks Guys!

Here's my experience from the evening - random thoughts as they come to me:

Singer says "Now that scares me!" as I take my Bongo from it's case.

Guitar player/band leader has this monster house in a very expensive neighborhood with a fully equipped rehearsal space in the finished basement... You know, right beside the full bar and pool table.

The "house amp" for the bass is a Hartke 3500 through a Genz-Benz 4x10. I run the Hartke completely flat and use only the tube pre-amp (solid-state pre-amp rolled off). Bongo sounds phenomenal...

We run through the above set - I nail everything except the last change in Basket Case - no one seems to notice. I sense they're happy with me early on. Shootng smiles and raised eyebrows at one-another. I relax a bit a few songs in and we're having fun.

The guitarist is very good - stares at his hands a bit too much for me, but he nails every song. The chords, riffs and leads - it was like playing with the record.

Drummer is pretty good - remember, I've been playing with a drum machine for 2+ years in my band and timing is everything. This guy had a few challenges in the keep the tempo steady department. Not too bad, but it got a bit scary at times... I tried to force tempo where I could. Perhaps I am too critical. Then again, perhaps not.

Singer part-time guitar player dude is not for me. Nice enough guy, but I've yet to have a positive experience with a singer that has had "vocal training for 10 years" and "could sing on Broadway" - oh and of course he is a operatic Tenor. Whatever, it just wasn't working... Maybe it's just me.

After we do the above 10 songs, we proceed to play a half-dozen or so other songs that I am familiar with but have never played - most are basic enough I can follow along by watching the chord changes. We do "Dead Flowers" and I stop them mid-song because in one part I see the lead guitarist playing a 'C' and Mr. Singer who plays "some" guitar is playing an 'A'... No one else seemed to notice.

Anyway, we ended with them having a couple more bassists to see and my telling them I need at least a week and probably more to decide if this was the gig for me. I was open and honest about other potential things in the works.

I left feeling good about the experience, and I'm looking forward to chatting with the guitarist later to get some more feedback from him.

 

[phatduckk]

Nothing difficult, mostly 1-4-5 (Arin!?)

i know how u feel dude. i made a VERY tough call about 6 years ago. i was in a band that was doing super well locally and was getting label interest. i was doing everything! booking guy, promoter etc etc. i was even covering practice space rent sometimes cuz the guys wre broke. well, we were literally a couple days out from signing to a label when i just killed the band. i could NOT take it anymore. it was not fun anymore... at all

so i support ya dude! find some dudes you get along with and can have fun with. w/o the fun factor its just an expensive excuse to lift & move heavy stuff

good luck and i hope these guys are on the same wavelength as you buddy!