Fellow bassists, what am I doing wrong? (band related)

[IAMERICCOCHRANE]

So over the last two months I have been vehemently searching for bands through Craigslist, and nothing is popping off at all. The first band I tried out for, "A Cryptic Blue" http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endid=63121425

Seemed like something I could do pretty well in, the bass lines on their posted tracks were pretty simple and I felt I could spice them up a bit once I got familiar with the band, and at the try out things went OK. They tuned in drop C, which I'm not familiar with at all, and they definitely had some crazy progressions which through me off as well, but I kept up well. They told me I was great, but they went with the other guy, and it was a hard decision for them to make. They also told me they would use me as a reference for some other bands looking for bass players, but I never heard back from them (granted, it's only been like 3 weeks).

The next band I found on Craigslist, Mine is Clarence, was a pretty mellow indie rock band. Here's the link:
http://www.myspace.com/mineisclarence

I just played with these guys today and I made sure I was very prepared, I learned the bass lines on the song note for note (all three of the notes there were) and added a little kick of my own to them. They said things went great, and were glad I actually knew how to play, seeing as the last guy they auditioned claimed he has been playing for 6 years, but hasn't owned a bass for 4...

Anyway, they said they had to try out one other guy and they would give me a call to let me know, sounds good. Well I get an e-mail later on that says "Hey, we're still deciding who to go with, but we'll have made out decision by tomorrow night, so hold tight and thanks for playing with us, you were great." I got a bad feeling this is going to be another "You were awesome, but we went with the other guy" situation.


I've talked to a few other bands on Craigslist to try and set things up, but a lot of them flaked out and more of them waited till the last second to tell me they practiced two hours away from where I lived...

[IAMERICCOCHRANE]

Now I know I'm probably jumping the gun, after only two tryouts but what am I doing wrong? I consider myself to be a pretty accomplished bassist at 21, I learn by ear very fast and I understand how to groove with a drummer. I see tons of bands with bassists that have half the skill I have (I really don't mean to sound pretentious, but I do feel I am more skilled than a lot of the people I see play, and am even told so by quite a few people), yet they have the gig, and I don't.

I have pretty good gear, a Conklin GT-5 and a Yorkville 400w (which does pose a problem power wise sometimes), reliable transportation, I'm not a druggie, I have an open schedule, and I don't really have a certain look (you know, metal, emo, goth, classic rocker etc etc, but maybe that's part of the problem lol) So I don't see why these people are getting the job over me.

I'm sure i'm not the only person, but it sure feels like it, like all my talent is just going to waste and I can't figure out why. I don't want rant too much longer so someone actually reads all of this lol, but it's just so frustrating!

[Deluge Of Sound]

Maybe you just don't fit.


Sometimes it's that simple. An alternative would be to start your own band (I hear some people do that, from time to time)

[Musiclogic]

Have you thought about procuring musicians yourself and putting your own band together.

A lot of times auditioning for bands is hard, because there is the personal feel, along with the musicianship, and it's not always going to be you. You just have to persevere, and don't get depressed, or lose confidence.

Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to find the right fit.

[IAMERICCOCHRANE]

Ok, I'm sorry guys but I have to rant a little more, to add some back story to my angst.


So my roommate is a pretty accomplished guitarist who is in a progressive rock band with a very good drummer and singer, but a bad bass player. The bassist is a friend of the drummer and hasn't been playing very long. He isn't very dedicated and will call sick on a lot of practices and feuds with the band a lot. A few times when he has called in sick they have asked me to play with them, and I fit in very well. They were impressed, and a few times i've heard "The drummer is sick of the bassist, he says you're in, we just have clear things up with him" Then the next day I hear "The drummer and the bassist talked and figured out where each other are coming from, so sorry."


It's like this little story is the epitome of my bass playing career. I'm good, but for x reason, I am not what they want. How can I further my playing if his is what always happens?

[IAMERICCOCHRANE]

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

Have you thought about procuring musicians yourself and putting your own band together.

A lot of times auditioning for bands is hard, because there is the personal feel, along with the musicianship, and it's not always going to be you. You just have to persevere, and don't get depressed, or lose confidence.

Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to find the right fit.

I guess i've just been trying to take the fast train to success, by trying to join up with established bands that will have gig time set up. I know it's selfish, but bass playing is what I want to do with my life, and I want to start as soon as possible. I guess this is wishful thinking, nothing in life comes easy, I suppose this isn't an exception. I'll try and take a step back and try to build a band one step at a time, it's just more frustrating then I thought it was going to be .

[Depth_Charge]

Originally Posted by IAMERICCOCHRANE

They were impressed, and a few times i've heard "The drummer is sick of the bassist, he says you're in, we just have clear things up with him" Then the next day I hear "The drummer and the bassist talked and figured out where each other are coming from, so sorry."

Simply stop helping them out. Tell them you are sick of the push/pull effect it has on you, and would prefer something consistent to hopes being dashed every couple of weeks.

You just need to perservere in your hunt for what you are looking for.

And try not to worry too much about the things you miss out on.

Concentrate on the next audition, not the last one. It saves you clouding all of them them with bad experiences from the last ones.

[Sundogue]

I may be wrong, but I'm guessing that everything you have said in your posts is showing up at your auditions, in your demeanor, body language, etc.

I can't tell you how many times over the past 30 years, bands I've played in have picked musicians with lesser talent, mainly because for other reasons, the "fit" was better. Either we thought the guy was easy to get along with, had more upside with either potential or personality, or just plain felt right for some reason.

You need to go to auditions with a quiet confidence. Speak little, and only offer up thoughts when asked. Know you can do it and play it like you mean it. But whatever you do, don't go into an audition with this chip on your shoulder, because IT WILL show up in your attitude and demeanor.

How you feel, what you are thinking and how you behave when on an audition comes out in your playing and the "vibe" you give off. People pick up on that, no matter how subtle it comes across.

Just be who you are, play your best and most of all, have fun with it! Life is meant to be lived with joy, not angst. Stop worrying and have fun with the auditions, and you will get the gig you want, eventually. And most important, it will be the one you want and need.

[Intune]

SD makes some great points above. Reading your posts gives me an almost painful feeling of desperation. Relax. The first band you listed was ok but the second one isn't worth your time. That singer is never gonna get out of the wet paper bag. Denver is a big city. Be patient & selective, don't just grasp straws that you'll regret later. Have you tried the bulletin board at your local big music stores? You're a bass player. You're in demand & control your own destiny so buck up, know your axe and go out there & kick ass.

[Barkless Dog]

I may be wrong, but I'm guessing that everything you have said in your posts is showing up at your auditions, in your demeanor, body language, etc.

I can't tell you how many times over the past 30 years, bands I've played in have picked musicians with lesser talent, mainly because for other reasons, the "fit" was better. Either we thought the guy was easy to get along with, had more upside with either potential or personality, or just plain felt right for some reason.

You need to go to auditions with a quiet confidence. Speak little, and only offer up thoughts when asked. Know you can do it and play it like you mean it. But whatever you do, don't go into an audition with this chip on your shoulder, because IT WILL show up in your attitude and demeanor.

I think that probably nails it, people smell desperation a mile away, or you just have not clicked personally or image wise with bands as of yet. Attitude and how you present yourself is everything.

you read so many bands that "make it" with someone who played little or was a friend or had the right attitude/image.

I'm not saying you don't, but I agree, that something is wrong somewhere and it's likely not your playing.

[ras1983]

Maybe you are underestimating the other bass players who are also auditioning. I don't know about the USA, but in Aus there seem to be a surprising amount of talented bass players (and a surprising amount of the other kind).