Must have own transportation??

lump · #1 11-13-2006, 05:33 PM

Okay. I gotta ask.

I've been cruising the classifieds in the DC area looking for a steady gig lately, although the fact I can't commit to more than a coupla shows a month is a bit of an obstacle. Anyway, several of the ads have "must have own transportation" as a qualifying factor. I can see this if the guys in the band were, oh, SIXTEEN, but this is for bands with guys in their 20-30s.

Is this really so widespread a problem that you have to PUT IT IN YOUR AD? It's not even something that would occur to me to ask someone. Is there an epidemic of bass players without cars? Or do they all live and work within walking distance of Metro stops? Or will their "rig of doom" not fit in their Mini? I'm really curious.

Rob Lewis · #2 11-13-2006, 05:39 PM

In my experience, there are people in bands who drive and those that don't. That's the way it is. Not fair, I know, but being in a band isn't fair.

nad · #3 11-13-2006, 05:50 PM

I've had a lot of problems with band members and transportion (as in, lack thereof), and that includes those in their late-20's / early 30's.

Rob Lewis · #4 11-13-2006, 06:01 PM

Nice to see that this problem is global. In my experience it is totally unrelated to talent: I played with a great guitarist who was self-propelled and in the same band a mediocre vocalist who could barely walk.

Brad Johnson · #5 11-13-2006, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lump

Okay. I gotta ask.

I've been cruising the classifieds in the DC area looking for a steady gig lately, although the fact I can't commit to more than a coupla shows a month is a bit of an obstacle. Anyway, several of the ads have "must have own transportation" as a qualifying factor. I can see this if the guys in the band were, oh, SIXTEEN, but this is for bands with guys in their 20-30s.

Is this really so widespread a problem that you have to PUT IT IN YOUR AD? It's not even something that would occur to me to ask someone. Is there an epidemic of bass players without cars? Or do they all live and work within walking distance of Metro stops? Or will their "rig of doom" not fit in their Mini? I'm really curious.

Yes, in this area it is. I know drummers who need to have someone take them to and from their gigs. I know one guy who had a weekly gig in Silver Spring who would pickup and drop off one of the players in Baltimore each gig. Me? I fit in the there's no way in hell I'm doing that camp. The exception would be if it was a very good paying gig... and they were going to give me their money

. All of it

I won't leave early for a gig (the people that get picked up also have this annoying habit of not being ready when their ride comes) and I sure as heck am going home directly after a gig.

Yes, many gigging musicians in the DC area have no transportation. Some even have no instruments. Seriously.

lump · #6 11-14-2006, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

Yes, in this area it is. I know drummers who need to have someone take them to and from their gigs. I know one guy who had a weekly gig in Silver Spring who would pickup and drop off one of the players in Baltimore each gig. Me? I fit in the there's no way in hell I'm doing that camp. The exception would be if it was a very good paying gig... and they were going to give me their money

. All of it

I won't leave early for a gig (the people that get picked up also have this annoying habit of not being ready when their ride comes) and I sure as heck am going home directly after a gig.

Yes, many gigging musicians in the DC area have no transportation. Some even have no instruments. Seriously.

That's wild. I mean, it just doesn't seem "urban enough" mass transit-wise here to be able to survive without wheels, but maybe it's because I'm on the VA side of things. Kinda funny you mention the gear thing--I've seen that too--"Must have own equipment," not to mention the inexplicably generous, "We have equipment you can use." I love it.

Aspiring band member: "Yeah, hi. I saw your ad for a bass player. I don't have a car or a bass, but my weekends are wide open."

Band leader: "What time can I pick you up?"

bongomania · #7 11-15-2006, 12:09 AM

I have to admit, I have been one of those guys without his own transportation, bumming rides from my bandmates. I've been a lifelong bicyclist, and I've never gotten a driver's license. In any other aspect of living I'm totally fine with that, but it has been embarrassing as a gigging musician. On the other hand, I did the math and discovered that taking taxis to and from every rehearsal and every gig was still far cheaper than owning a car. Problem (sort of) solved!

Brad Johnson · #8 11-15-2006, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lump

That's wild. I mean, it just doesn't seem "urban enough" mass transit-wise here to be able to survive without wheels, but maybe it's because I'm on the VA side of things. Kinda funny you mention the gear thing--I've seen that too--"Must have own equipment," not to mention the inexplicably generous, "We have equipment you can use." I love it.

Aspiring band member: "Yeah, hi. I saw your ad for a bass player. I don't have a car or a bass, but my weekends are wide open."

Band leader: "What time can I pick you up?"

It's not a mass transit issue... people expect to be picked up and dropped off. Most times they won't even offer any help on gas either. Seriously.

I remember the second group I worked with when I got back here from the USAF. One of the vocalists, who wore designer clothes all the time, talked about not being able to afford a car.

Riding the bus in an Armani suit. Sweet.

Come to think of it, he regularly bummed cigarettes too.

I reecently did a gig where, after going through three drummers, the leader finally found one who could do the gig. The catch? He had to rent him a set of drums.

Brad Johnson · #9 11-15-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I have to admit, I have been one of those guys without his own transportation, bumming rides from my bandmates. I've been a lifelong bicyclist, and I've never gotten a driver's license. In any other aspect of living I'm totally fine with that, but it has been embarrassing as a gigging musician. On the other hand, I did the math and discovered that taking taxis to and from every rehearsal and every gig was still far cheaper than owning a car. Problem (sort of) solved!

But you mentioned bumming rides.

studentaccount1 · #10 11-15-2006, 07:41 PM

40% of my band didn't own cars and gigged weekly. Luckily, they had nice girlfriends with spacious room in their boots.

bongomania · #11 11-15-2006, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

But you mentioned bumming rides.

Right, that was until I figured out the taxi math. I was not happy about the "bumming" situation myself.

**bassybill** · #12 11-15-2006, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by studentaccount1

40% of my band didn't own cars and gigged weekly. Luckily, they had nice girlfriends with spacious room in their boots.

This is going to sound real funny to some of our American friends.

( A car's "Trunk" in USA = "Boot" in England)

BTW, can I suggest you fill out your profile so we all know who we're talking to? Thanks. I assume from this post that you're from the UK, and an insomniac.

Unless the word "boot" in this context has wider usage than I'm aware of?

Munjibunga · #13 11-16-2006, 12:21 AM

I got the gig in my last band because their bass player had too many DUI's and couldn't drive, so someone had to go pick him up for practice and gigs. They got tired of it and hired me, a man with wheels and lesser bass-playing skills.

Phil Smith · #14 11-16-2006, 12:50 AM

I'm amazed at the number of non gig ready musicians i.e. they either don't have a car, don't have the requisite equipment i.e. amp, cable, keyboard stand or instruments.

I once did a gig where the entire band was picked up from a location in the city and taken to the gig. When the gig was done, we found out we were being paid by check and so the percussionist asked the band leader for cab fare so that he can catch a cab once we got back to the city. The leader gave him the bread for the cab and then he bummed a ride home from me once we got back to the city and didn't even offer to give me a red cent also known as a penny.

invader3k · #15 11-16-2006, 07:10 AM

Yeah, it is a problem. We used to have a drummer who would no-show practice, and it would end up being "my truck was having problems" or "I didn't have a ride," as an excuse. It gets old pretty fast. This guy was in his early 20s, so it was even more lame.

I personally don't mind giving people a ride once in a while, but if it's a regular thing, they probably need to get the rest of their life in order before being in a band.