Practicing Pop

DirtPoorRobins · #1 02-22-2007, 10:16 PM

Hi Janek, what do you normally do to prepare for pop sessions or tour with pop groups. What do you suggest practicing when preparing to work with pop groups as opposed to practicing jazz, and what do you focus on? Do you have an opinion on where people lack when playing pop, or common mistakes made while playing pop? Thanks Janek.

janekbass · #2 02-22-2007, 11:26 PM

Hi,

I think the main things I prepare for a pop gig are the music that I'm going to be playing if I get a CD ahead of time, any programming I have to do as an MD, and my synth bass rig. I will spend some time programming sounds to match the album of the artist I'm working with, and if I'm the MD of the gig and there's going to be a backing track, then I'll spend time in the studio taking elements from the album and making a live show track in Logic. then syncing up two laptops with sympt time code, and running them in tandem on the gig.

I don't think there's anything I would suggest practicing when preparing to play with a pop artist besides the artist's music. if you are still having issues with fundemental aspects of the instrument then it's unlikely you'll be preparing for any kind of pop tour, so specific shedding for one of those gigs is not really an issue.

I'm in the studio right now rehearsing with a new artist on Sony Records. Got a call monday morning at 9am, rehearsals started monday and midday. we have 8 full days, and a showcase in NYC on the 9th day for Sony. All of that for just 5 songs. so that should give you an idea of how last minute something can be, and how much work goes into very little music. Perfection is what the artist and label is paying for, so as a bass player I have to go into the studio every day and not make mistakes, and retain all the arrangments, set list, patch numbers, sound etc... for the show. and then pull it off without making a mistake in front of the entire staff of Sony Records. So one of the main things you need to be able to do is be prepared for a pressure situation like that, and make it feel like it's totally natural.

I had to show up to the studio and learn this cat's album in the first hour of rehearsal having never heard of him or his music before. Then the musical director has been dictating arrangments, unsion lines, interludes, reharms, etc... for the past four days, and the band has to retain that. And make it all feel natural and grooving each time we run the show. for the next four days we'll run the show from top to bottom all day long and be totally ready to tear it up on the showcase.

I think some common mistakes musicians make when entering a pop/R&B/hip hop situation are.....

1. play too busy

2. don't come prepared with the music learnt

3. don't dress right for the gig

4. aren't a team player

5. play the wrong instrument for the music

6. get too involved too quickly without sussing out the surroundings, and finding out who's in charge.....

Easy,

Janek

markjazzbassist · #3 02-23-2007, 07:34 AM

great advice janek, thanks.

DirtPoorRobins · #4 02-23-2007, 03:02 PM

Thanks Janek, that's exactly what I was looking for, thanks for the thorough response.

fretless Bob · #5 02-24-2007, 10:42 AM

just out of interest are you using your P bass rather than your Fodera on this gig?

Dave

janekbass · #6 02-24-2007, 04:19 PM

I'm using my fodera on this one. It's a stright R&B/Urban/HipHop type of gig. And I'm using a ton of synth bass too. As well as an octave pedal on one track.

you can check the cat out at:

www.noelmusic.net

Easy,

Janek

fretless Bob · #7 02-24-2007, 04:42 PM

so what type of gig would make you use your Fender over your Fodera, would it just be if someone asked for a certain bass or are you just going with your instincts and thinking a fender would suit this better?

Dave

janekbass · #8 02-24-2007, 04:56 PM

Dave,

it's about the style of music for me when I choose the instrument to take out of the house.

The P-Bass sounds great on rock, country, electronica, some R&B even. But this gig I'm doing right now has a lot of different stuff in it, and there are also some really long days in the studio and stuff, so I wanted to play the fodera as it's most comfortable for me right now. And also the record company, artist, or MD didn't ask for something specific. When I showed up at the studio for the first day of rehearsals I hadn't heard a note of music. All I knew was that it was 8 full days in the studio and one show for this week. I had to learn all the music in the first hour of rehearsal and then we got to work on it. So I took my fodera for comfort knowing there was a lot of work to do.

Easy,

Janek

fretless Bob · #9 02-24-2007, 05:08 PM

thanks Janek, thats good to know because that is pretty much how i feel about it as well.

cheers

Dave

Chad.mundt · #10 05-19-2007, 11:23 PM

great thread, janek! This kinda stuff is what aspiring pros like me need to hear! Forget Byzantine Minor and Two-Hand-One-Foot tapping, lets hear about what you need to know to get and keep the gig. Thanks, love having you here!