Is it me or are there not many bands needing bassists right now?

[SirCanealot]

At least in London, UK.

I left my covers band late last year and I haven't had any luck picking up a new act. I am being a bit fussy (I'm not playing crappy indie rock, dammit!), but nobody really seemed interested in getting a player, and a lot of projects are more looking for a that "perect timing/perfect groove/perfect image/not working at all, 110% commitment" kind of guy. I also see the same old boring bands advertising on the sites time and time ago. I get a reply that looks almost interesting, then the band backs out of even a jam due to image/my work shift/some other randomness.

It's actually getting to the stage where I'm actually thinking of trying to get something of my own going (I can grab a few friends who I've been meaning to jam with lately anyway :P), even though I'm a very amateur song writer. I'm not exactly the next Entwistle, but I can hold my own and I'm at least decent for how long I've been playing.

Is it the same in other places right now? Just that time of year? Or am I just getting a tad unlucky?

[meev992]

For me, it is my personal opinion that some bands / types of music, don't have a place for a bass player. With 2 guitarists, and keyboards, becoming the new norm for bands, it's sometimes difficult to justify adding an instrument such as bass, that takes so much sonic space.

but indeed, most of us bass players are out of luck, there just hasn't been enough of a demand/room for bass players lately.

[meev992]

Originally Posted by SirCanealot

I'm not playing crappy indie rock, dammit!

[SirCanealot]

But there seems to be a lot rock bands around London right now and quite a few places to play (and yes, a lot of them are crap indie rock bands -- I have no problem with indie, but there is so much crap in England...). There seems to be a lot of bands around right now, but most of them seem to have bassists, and most of them either want a perfect bassist (and are willing to wait) or they're happy with their 8th note driving basslines.

It's just weird because I have MUCH more experience and skill than when I was last looking for bands (last April-May), but I'm getting a lot less responses for my ads right now. Maybe I'm just being more picky? Who knows...

[LP75]

Around Seattle, there are always gigs for bass players. Guitarist / singer / songwriters are falling from the sky. But good bassists are in demand. I've got one band I'm in, one band that wants me to commit, and another project that some players and I would like to start.

[Steve]

Around here there is a mountain of work if:

You play metal

Want to rip faces off

Want to get to the top

Want to work for free.

Now, if you want to actually make money with people that have a basic command of their instrument, the mountain becomes an ant hill.