What is your music scene like (Re: Bassist wanted)

Matt Till · #1 06-30-2006, 08:39 AM

I noticed a lot of people talking about how they can't find gigs. In my area, bassist jobs keep falling out of the sky, especially now with the creation of myspace, which has really turn the music world upside down, which is a little weird.

But since myspace, band jobs for bassist keep coming and coming, I'm only allowing myself to be in two bands at once, otherwise, I could probably be in 4 more depending on how serious they were... and if I were unemployed.

I'm not suggesting they are all great gigs, but there are a ton.

What about you guys?

tZer · #2 06-30-2006, 09:11 AM

Exerpts from a St. Louis area Musicians Classifieds page:

Piano, Bass and Drummer needed for jazz (standards) group
Metro East Bass Player for Original Rock - 6/22/06
Looking for a bass player for an original modern rock band.
bassist with vocal needed now!
Modern Bass Player Needed For Comercial Band
Rockabilly/Surf Bassist and Drummer Wanted
energetic bass player needed
Bass player needed for original band -pop/rock
female band members wanted - 6/19/06 - I am a 26 year old guitar player looking for another female guitar player, a bass player,...
Bassist wanted - 6/16/06
Band from Downtown St. Charles area seeks bass player,...
Bassist Wanted for classic/new rock band in IL
Drummer & Bassist Wanted - 6/14/06 - I am in need of a drummer and a bass player for a rock/blues band.
Bass player - 6/13/06
WANTED - Bass player with background vocal abilities wanted for an original rock band. - Belleville IL area looking for - 6/13/06
I'm looking for 3 to 4 people that can play Guitar, Bass guitar, Drums, Key boards or all of the above....
seeking bass, lead guitar player for sunday morning worship service
Need versatile Bassist - 6/12/06
Looking for a Versatile bassist to complete a power trio that can play anything from...
Bass player needed...playing originals - 6/12/06
band in formation needs bass player - 6/6/06
Bassist Needed - 6/6/06
Bass player needed for original band.
Looking for experienced drummer and bassist/2nd guitar player or ??? - 6/6/06
Bassist and Drummer Needed for Band - 6/2/06
Bass Player and Drummer needed for a bluesy rockish type of band.

And there is more - that is only one classifieds page from one website. It would appear that if I were interested, I could be kept busy pretty easily!

Now I would be willing to bet that the amount of $$ to be made is really low with any of these (except possibly the one looking for a bass player for a "Comercial Band") but there are a lot of folks looking for low-enders, that is for sure!

**baba** · #3 06-30-2006, 10:17 AM

Bass players are high in demand in the Annapolis/DC/Baltimore area. I turn down work.

Matt Till · #4 06-30-2006, 10:18 AM

Sweet. I hear so much about bassists not being able to find bands, looks like you guys don't have much trouble.

DWBass · #5 06-30-2006, 10:29 AM

Southeast Virginia here. Many ads looking for bassists but 99% are for metal, punk or hardrock bands! I'm into R&B, Funk, Latin, etc.... I've never seen an ad looking for a guy like me! It sucks here!

keb · #6 06-30-2006, 10:36 AM

I see lots of ads looking for metal, country, or cover band bassists, none of which I'm interested in.

lbanks · #7 06-30-2006, 10:53 AM

I'm in the wrong place.

DWBass · #8 06-30-2006, 11:40 AM

I'll also add that I'll take a variety band/Top40 pop (you know, the wedding/corporate thing) gig! It still sucks for that here!

txbasschik · #9 06-30-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I noticed a lot of people talking about how they can't find gigs. In my area, bassist jobs keep falling out of the sky, especially now with the creation of myspace, which has really turn the music world upside down, which is a little weird.

But since myspace, band jobs for bassist keep coming and coming, I'm only allowing myself to be in two bands at once, otherwise, I could probably be in 4 more depending on how serious they were... and if I were unemployed.

I'm not suggesting they are all great gigs, but there are a ton.

What about you guys?

You and me both! If I took all the opportunities I've been offered, I would never be home. I'd be playing constantly. And if I didn't have kids, man, I'd be doing just that.

I had to turn down three offers in the past month!

So...if some of you young'uns with no kids want to keep busy and play every night, move down here, 'cause you can keep *real* busy!

Cherie :-)

labgnat · #10 06-30-2006, 12:44 PM

My music scene is like a beautiful sunset out of the car window driving down the free way when the clouds and rain have just cleared and you can smell the humidity

vindy500 · #11 06-30-2006, 12:48 PM

pointbass · #12 06-30-2006, 12:49 PM

The NJ music scene is pretty busy if you want to be in a "kick-a** band" that's going to "take over the world" and if you like to "party till you puke" and if you're "17-19 years old and have a car"

OTOH, if you're an old bastid like me looking for a more serious, paying, professional, jazz gig, you're pretty well screwed. It's more of a word-of mouth deal .... luckily I have decent connections, but even those are slowing down with the proliferation of rock cover bands in the Jersey Shore area.

Jazz work in NJ bites, and the money is still at a level left over from the dark ages ....

labgnat · #13 06-30-2006, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vindy500

huh

precisely

Techmonkey · #14 07-02-2006, 07:50 AM

There's a big gap missing in the music scene here. You're either gonna be wanted to play in a teenage group where the only requirement is to have your own equipment, but being able to play isn't really necessary. Or you can go to the jazz clubs where the likes of Laurence Cottle play. There's not really anything inbetween.

clockworkwar · #15 07-02-2006, 07:57 AM

Lots of bass work in my area in England, that is if you like pop/punk

Rock or blues its a little harder to come by but hey.

steve21 · #16 07-02-2006, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointbass

Jazz work in NJ bites, and the money is still at a level left over from the dark ages ....

Come on, who doesn't want to work for a shiny sixpence?

#17 07-02-2006, 01:48 PM

In Chicago, you're either in an emo band, a blues band, a metalcore band, or a cover band, or so I've found.

pklima · #18 07-03-2006, 02:58 AM

Lots of opportunities here - metal, rock, jazz etc. Mostly originals bands that won't make a profit but not only.

tplyons · #19 07-03-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointbass

The NJ music scene is pretty busy if you want to be in a "kick-a** band" that's going to "take over the world" and if you like to "party till you puke" and if you're "17-19 years old and have a car"

OTOH, if you're an old bastid like me looking for a more serious, paying, professional, jazz gig, you're pretty well screwed. It's more of a word-of mouth deal .... luckily I have decent connections, but even those are slowing down with the proliferation of rock cover bands in the Jersey Shore area.

Jazz work in NJ bites, and the money is still at a level left over from the dark ages ....

You would think that at 17-19 years old and having a car, I'd be happy with the work available, but frankly, the hardcore metal, hardcore emo, hardcore this and that. I don't want hardcore, I don't want partying, I want to play music.

superbassman2000 · #20 07-03-2006, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbanks

I'm in the wrong place.

+1

in my hometown you either play blink 182 with a bunch of 13 year olds or you are 59 and play in cover bands that only seem to know CCR and Lynrd Skynrd

In the town where my college is, it is pretty similar, but being that the school offers majors in music, those kids all play classical or straight jazz, and hardly have the urge (or time) to play with non music majors.

In Fond Du Lac, where i am living this summer is the same as my hometown...

not a whole lot to offer for me, who plays experimental/ambient/looped "music"