First time subbing in another band

[Allen_VA]

The bass player for another local band asked if I'd sub for him in a gig that's going to happen in about 3 weeks. 50 minute set, about 11 cover songs or so. I should be able to rehearse with the band 1 or 2 times before the performance.

I'd love input from you guys on prepping for the show. Luckily, the band is super-well organized. They have a Google Docs spreadsheet with tabs for each show, set list, song durations, Youtube links for cover songs, etc.

My approach was to build a Playlist.com list with as many songs as I could find, and I'm now listening to that songlist ad infinitum in order to get the songs stuck in my head. Luckily, I'm familiar with a few of them and the genre/style of the setlist is comfortable for me.

Any other input would be greatly appreciated! How do you prep for a sub-gig?

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Allen_VA

How do you prep for a sub-gig?

I do lots of 'em. I go see the band play as many gigs with their regular bassist as possible.

[RTL]

Sounds like the band has really made things easy for you - very pro!

Whenever I'm doing a sub gig for someone I've never worked with before, the first thing I ask for is a disc with all the songs on it. Then (as long as I actually have a day or more before the gig), I'll put it in the car and listen to it every time I'm driving somewhere - it doesn't leave my cd player until after I've played the gig. It may be completely unnecessary in a lot of cases, but it gives me time to listen deeper than just the changes and map everything out from a melodic standpoint. The songs also have a better way of getting stuck in my head when I'm listening to them constantly, so I'll be sure that I'm nailing my part note-for-note (when required), or at least I'll have the opportunity to come up with fills and ways to groove that won't disturb the tune.

[Raymeous]

My 1 sub experience was doomed to fail from the beginning. Wrong instrument (drums), wrong genre (country), short notice (2 hours prior to the show), which led to not knowing any of the tunes (country + short notice), and oh yeah, first time playing drums in a band, ever! Oh yeah I almost forgot. No monitors. Pretty much a worst case scenario.

I think you got EXTREMELY LUCKY with this band being as organized as it is. I would also agree with RTL on the CD in the car thing. Live, eat, and breathe those songs and nothing else until the gig, even if you already kinda know them. You have plenty of time to learn 11 covers at least passably well, but since they pretty much gave you everything you need you should be able to show up and play with confidence. Go up there and put everything you've got into that show and play those songs like you own them and wrote them yourself.

And don't forget to have fun!

[Phalex]

Can you get any recordings of the band you're subbing for playing the tunes? The arrangements of the songs the way they do them is a potential stumbling block.

Just try to keep it simple, and keep an ear open for the unexpected.

It'll be a fun gig!

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

I do lots of 'em. I go see the band play as many gigs with their regular bassist as possible.

Why?

-----------

I do the same as RTL. Get the songs all on a CD and then only listen to that. It's a cover gig so assuming they play the songs as recorded, your job will be pretty uncomplicated. Especially since they gave you tabs and all.

Put as much time as you need into learning the songs, and then make sure you know them inside out, upside down, backwards, faster than they're supposed to be played, and will be able to play them straight through with no mistakes even if the rest of the band is trainwrecking. If you want to do a good job.

My work ethic is that I go into my first rehearsal as though it's a super high profile gig. I go in gig ready. I've played with lots of musicians and sad to say not a lot of them share that ethic. The rehearsal studio IMO isn't a place to work songs out, especially if they're covers. It's a place to make sure you're all on the same page, get comfortable, and work out details. Or write and work out songs if it's original stuff.

I'll add that I've learned along the way that you need to do whatever it is YOU need to do to make this work. If it takes you 5 minutes to get a song down great, but if it takes you 3 days, 8 hours a day - then do it! Doesn't matter. The point is to get done what needs to get done, no matter what. I've played in bands that were way out of my league at the time I was playing with them. They thought I learned the songs w no problem because I went into rehearsals knowing them inside out. They didn't see me at home sweating, slowing down intricate riffs and playing them for hours until I was able to get them up to speed. As far as they were concerned I was on the same page as them. Got to do some sweet tours like that, become a waaay better player, and earned some decent money too.

I notice lately that I always add "final note" to my posts. Final note. I get just about every audition I go on. Not saying that to brag because I know there's lots and lots of better players than me out there. Seeing lots of others audition and hearing from others I've come to realize why it might be that I have the success that I do. Goes back to the first thing I said. I learn the songs and put in whatever time I have to in order to make sure I know them inside out. When you know songs that well and then you perform them with a group, at least for me, there's no anxiety about screwing up. I don't have to think about what I'm doing and I can make music, listen to the rest of the band, and get excited about the music coming to life with real people as opposed to the recording I'd been playing along with. It's a completely different vibe than if I go in not totally sure I can get through all the material. And if it's virtually impossible for me to accomplish that, I'll be sure I have at least a handful of songs down to that kind of perfection.

It's a bit nerve wracking to you right now only cuz it's the first time. It'll be fun if you're prepared, and you're going to learn a lot. Get's easier just like anything else. Good luck and put in the work.

[fingertap]

Allen_va:

I have done a lot of sub-ing. Most recently for a band doing all original material. The other bassist provided me with a cd with 9 of their tunes on it. I listened, got a feel for the style, and played along with the tunes. This was the day before the show. The show was three sets, three hour +, a large outdoor show. I first met the band at the show, though I had met the drummer once a couple of years ago.

At one point, early on, the drummer laughed and pointed to me, "Sounds like you've played that for a hundred years!" From then on out it went smooth as silk. Sure, I made mistakes, anticipated changes there were just flat wrong, but the ability to play on without embarrassment and not lose confidence was, in my opinion, the key to a successful show.

Nobody in the audience appeared to be aware of any flaws.

My advice is, prepare as well as you can, show up on time, ready to play, don't get wasted, don't fiddle needlessly with the settings on the rig, arrive in tune, smile, make contact with the audience, don't sweat the small stuff, play on despite mistakes, drop back if you have to, and above all, have fun and make it fun for the others in the band.

A good reputation, incrementally developed and maintained will serve you well if you choose to continue to sub. It pays off in other ways as well...


~

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

Why?

Because none of the bands I work with play it just like the CD, ever. And also because I'm acutely interested in the audience expectations.

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Because none of the bands I work with play it just like the CD, ever. And also because I'm acutely interested in the audience expectations.

Thanks.

All the bands I sub with do whatever they do pretty much as recorded (covers or originals) so going to shows would be just adding pointless extra work and time to the gig for me. And I have no interest in the audience expectation. For me it's more often just hoping there's an audience.

[StuartV]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

It's a cover gig so assuming they play the songs as recorded, your job will be pretty uncomplicated.

IME, that would be a bad assumption to make. I have seen very few cover bands that actually play the songs exactly like they were originally recorded. Things like leaving out a break, ending it this way instead of that way, skip the key change, start it like this instead of that. Those are all pretty normal changes that cover bands make to an arrangement.

[StuartV]

ps. and a lot of the bands that play songs like that (i.e. differently than the original recording) will nevertheless TELL you that they play it just like the record.

[Yerf Dog]

What's on the set list?

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by StuartV

ps. and a lot of the bands that play songs like that (i.e. differently than the original recording) will nevertheless TELL you that they play it just like the record.

You need to find different guys to play with. That honestly hasn't ever been my experience. Only issue I ever ran into was people playing different recorded versions, or doing songs in different keys which is something I always make sure I know about now. Given the fact that they tabbed everything out (which I've never heard of a cover band doing before) I don't think the OP needs to be concerned about any curveballs.

[jnuts1]

you guys get CD's of music to learn? most of the subbing i do is for original acts & they NEVER have a CD to listen to. almost never anyways. most will give me 3-4 demos they have done & after i learn them i usually get 1 good practice with them & then right before the show i make sure to ask a few questions about endings & such just to be sure.

the only band to ever give me a full CD to learn ended up needing me to sub for over 3 months & i was unavailable so they went with someone else. i really wanted that gig too

[singlemalt]

itunes, if they don't give me a disc, I go buy a couple versions for a buck each.

I get the set list, in order, in itunes and put it on my ipod. I listen to it while I'm working or walking around or driving. Then I'll spend some time with the headphones and the bass. My goal is to be able to play the song and "hear" the song with the metronome and nothing else. If you get close to that you'll own it at rehearsals and the gig.

But it sounds like these guys did you right and gave you most of what you need. And you have tons of time and even some rehearsals. It should be fun.

Its a lot more work when they give you a disc of their original stuff and nothing else. Then I end up making a chart for my self, and checking it out with them if they give me a rehearsal.

Sub gigs are too much work for the one time money, but they can lead to better things, or not. If the band has lots of stuff (3 hour set list) and gets steady gigs, I'll make a note book of charts and keep discs in there so the next time is easier and faster to prep for.

Find out what they look like at gigs and dress right, show up a little early, relax.
And if you have a moment when your brain goes "huh?" go for groove and keep smiling.

Get your price set up front. Get paid up front. You have committed the night, and a good bit of prep work, you don't want to do this on "spec" but for a set fee. Sure, it'd be nice if they have a good night at the door to get more cash, but you get your fee either way.

[pbass2]

This may not be something up your alley but one thing I started doing early on as an exercise when I was subbing with multiple bands, everything from original rock and pop to classic country covers and you-name-it in between, and I've stuck with it ever since: I got used to writing my own charts as numbers charts. Even once I learned the tunes well enough to be able to not use the chart, that "numbers chart" mindset is incredibly useful on various levels, not the least of which of course, is handling last minute key changes with ease.
I remember one gig where the recordings I was given were from ancient tapes and were not in standard pitch--they were sharp or flat enough to where some were unclear, and I had no time to get definitive answers from the artist, and there was to be no rehearsal. Numbers charts to the rescue!

[Allen_VA]

Great advice all around guys - really - thank you for sharing your experiences and ideas!

First, to clarify, the Google Docs thing is a spreadsheet with "tabs", each "tab" contains the setlist for an upcoming show. I re-read my OP, and this wasn't clear They're not giving me bass tabulature to learn heheehe. Aside from that though, they're very organized for sure.

Next, I haven't discussed the fees with the guy yet. I'm not even sure this is a paid gig. I have about 20 shows with my current band under my belt, and that's about it. I'm trying to broaden my ability by challenging myself with new/different/uncomfortable situations, and also get my name out there a little as I continue growing musically.

The chart idea is great. I'll probably make a little cheat-sheet of the songs I'm not really familiar with to remind me of the chord changes and basic structure in case nerves kick in and I get lost I'll definitely write down the first note of the song LOL. I seem to blank on the very first note sometimes, even with songs familiar to me in rehearsal. Once I get started, it usually all comes back to me quickly!

I'm also on board with the burn-a-cd idea. I'm listening to my playlist.com list now, but I'll probably work it into a CD for easier transportation.

BTW, some of the songs include: Blue on Black, Proud Mary, Ants Marching, Honky Tonk Woman, Turn The Page, Rocky Mountain Way, Start The Car (Jude Cole), Bad Day (fuel), The Weight...and others. A lot of fairly "standard" cover songs for classic/southern rock cover bands.

I've attended one or two of their shows before, and I'll definitely be curious about structural changes to the songs...that seems to be a major tripping point!

Thanks guys! Great stuff

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by Allen_VA

I'll definitely write down the first note of the song LOL. I seem to blank on the very first note sometimes, even with songs familiar to me in rehearsal. Once I get started, it usually all comes back to me quickly!

I usually do that on my final set list too that goes onstage, even if I think I've got it all memorized. Can't hurt.
I might make a little note in my own shorthand about a bridge that gave me brain farts in rehearsal, what the intro is--is it just geetar, drums, blah blah. Then as you say, you go on autopilot from there on out. But if I write down TOO much on it, then I'm tempted to look at it too much! Unless it's a "charts" kinda gig, there's nothing worse than seeing one guy in the band staring at the piece of paper on the floor while the rest of the band rocks out

[JazznFunk]

Get a CD of the tunes that will be done, try to get the band to make out an exact setlist beforehand (yes, even three weeks out!) so there are no surprises, and chart out the tunes, even if it's just a basic chord/form chart. That's what I do all the time.

[SteveC]

I listen. To the tunes for as long as I can - the ones I don't know - before I do anything. Sometimes I will chart them or at least make my version of a lead sheet. Than i try to play them as many times as necessary. The sub gigs I've done have been mixed as far as rehearsing with the band before the gig or not. I'm usually fine without, but sometimes it makes the band feel better if there's time.

Know the tunes, play your best, have fun and know there will probably be mistakes.