Why is it so darn hard to find a bass player?

[Norrin Radd]

Gents (I use that term loosely on this side of the board! - okay -issue #1 identified) -

My band is looking for a bass player. We are older guys (early 30s to 40) looking for a player interested in joining us for some original stuff. The songs are already written. The rest of us (2 guitar players/singer & drummer) are all ready to gig - with places to play lined up. We can't for the life of us, find a bass player to join us. I need your insight.

We practice Monday nights at 9:00.

The stuff is original so it only pays marginally, if at all, when playing out.

We only want to gig 6-12 times a year. We are doing this just for fun - not to make a living.

We are in Minneapolis.

Got any suggestions on where to find one of you guys? I tried the county pokey, but none of you I spoke with could make bail (okay - problem #2 identified).

Seriously - any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Here's a rough sample of the music:

http://www.myspace.com/ericneedsabassplayer

 

[JohnnyD19]

Dude if i was 30-40 and i played bass i would surly join your band

 

[nashman]

Hope this helps ....

minneapolis / st paul musicians classifieds - craigslist

 

[adouglas]

Musicians Wanted - Search Local Musician Classifieds : BandMix.com

 

[StingRayzor]

No offense by this, but do you have a hard time finding one or keeping one? We bassists are easy to find. If I were in your town, I would drop by and play. You would probably kick me out, but, that would be OK too.

 

[Norrin Radd]

No offense by this, but do you have a hard time finding one or keeping one? We bassists are easy to find. If I were in your town, I would drop by and play. You would probably kick me out, but, that would be OK too.

No - not keeping - finding! Believe me - we would love to find guys to just drop by and check us out or jam with. We are pretty fun!

We have an ad on craigslist already, have had zero responses.

I'll try the other link there too, though.

Thanks guys!

 

[Caca de Kick]

Isn't there some type of weekly music/entertainment newspaper around Minneapolis? There is in any other big city I've been to, and they always have classified listings in there.

 

[TNT]

". . . . older guys 30-40 yrs old"; what?? You don't know what old is!!???? LOL

 

[Norrin Radd]

Isn't there some type of weekly music/entertainment newspaper around Minneapolis? There is in any other big city I've been to, and they always have classified listings in there.

Great suggestion! And keep them coming guys - I knew you could help point me in the right directions!

". . . . older guys 30-40 yrs old"; what?? You don't know what old is!!???? LOL

Well, my body says I've got some idea!

 

[oli@bass]

We are in Minneapolis.

That's the problem!

Otherwise, I'd drop by.

 

[Musicman Nut]

Gents (I use that term loosely on this side of the board! - okay -issue #1 identified) -

My band is looking for a bass player. We are older guys (early 30s to 40) looking for a player interested in joining us for some original stuff. The songs are already written. The rest of us (2 guitar players/singer & drummer) are all ready to gig - with places to play lined up. We can't for the life of us, find a bass player to join us. I need your insight.

We practice Monday nights at 9:00.

The stuff is original so it only pays marginally, if at all, when playing out.

We only want to gig 6-12 times a year. We are doing this just for fun - not to make a living.

We are in Minneapolis.

Got any suggestions on where to find one of you guys? I tried the county pokey, but none of you I spoke with could make bail (okay - problem #2 identified).

Seriously - any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Here's a rough sample of the music:

http://www.myspace.com/ericneedsabassplayer

Pay Might be your Big Answer, Most Musicians have dedicated their lives to no money when we we're young.

 

[Ken Baker]

". . . . older guys 30-40 yrs old"; what?? You don't know what old is!!???? LOL

Ain't THAT the truth!

Ken...

 

[Aussie Mark]

If they are 30-40 and have young kids and a full time day job, 9pm might be past their normal bedtime. My band of 40-something old farts rehearses from 7-10pm, since we're all up at 5.30am to feed kids or go to work. With two kids under 2 and my 11 or 12 hour work day, I know I'd struggle with a 9pm-12pm midweek rehearsal timeslot.

Also, there aren't many guys I've met in the 30-40 age bracket who want to play originals, because that ultimately means playing one 30 minute set on a multi-band night with teenage punk or metal bands for a share of the door. The way I see it, if guys in that age bracket are looking to join a band to gig 6-12 times per year, they'd want those gigs to be solid 2-4 hour shows to a reasonable audience, playing music that both they and the audience are into. Unless your original tunes are going to make you the next U2, the attraction is unlikely to be there for guys who have already done the original thing when they were younger.

 

[Ken Baker]

I tried the county pokey, but none of you I spoke with could make bail (okay - problem #2 identified).

You guys shower regularly? I mean... you know... we are at least a little picky.

If you can tolerate a young whippersnapper, you might ask around the music departments of local community colleges.

Ken...

 

[RitchieDarling]

Strange. We can't find and keep a guitarist.

Well, not completely true.

But we are sick of Jimi Ray Claptons..........

R

 

[Aussie Mark]

Here's a rough sample of the music:

http://www.myspace.com/ericneedsabassplayer

Given the Pink Floyd comparison, perhaps you could include a few Floyd tunes in your songlist, and pitch your bass player adverts accordingly? That way, you might attract someone who is keen to play some Pink Floyd as well as some originals tinged with that flavor? I'm sure there would be a few 30-40 something bass players who would jump at the chance to play some Pink Floyd live. That might just be the hook you need.

 

[thunder]

Gents (I use that term loosely on this side of the board! - okay -issue #1 identified) -

My band is looking for a bass player. We are older guys (early 30s to 40) looking for a player interested in joining us for some original stuff. The songs are already written. The rest of us (2 guitar players/singer & drummer) are all ready to gig - with places to play lined up. We can't for the life of us, find a bass player to join us. I need your insight.

We practice Monday nights at 9:00.

The stuff is original so it only pays marginally, if at all, when playing out.

We only want to gig 6-12 times a year. We are doing this just for fun - not to make a living.

We are in Minneapolis.

Got any suggestions on where to find one of you guys? I tried the county pokey, but none of you I spoke with could make bail (okay - problem #2 identified).

Seriously - any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Here's a rough sample of the music:

http://www.myspace.com/ericneedsabassplayer

move to brooklyn and i'll play

 

[WillPlay4Food]

Musicians Wanted - Search Local Musician Classifieds : BandMix.com

I haven't had good luck with BandMix.com . I can find people I'd like to contact, but BandMix wants me to pay $10/mo in order to send emails to these people. Some have figured this out and put contact info in their descriptions but most don't.

 

[adouglas]

I haven't had good luck with BandMix.com . I can find people I'd like to contact, but BandMix wants me to pay $10/mo in order to send emails to these people. Some have figured this out and put contact info in their descriptions but most don't.

I would argue that you ARE having good luck, because you're finding people. Not being willing to pay for a service isn't the same thing as having bad luck with it, IMHO.

 

[Oldtoe]

We bass players are busy earning a living while drummers and guitarists are giving us the wrong change at the drive-thru during lunch!



*ba-dum-bum*