Frustration at getting back in the game...

WhiteKnuckles · #1 06-19-2008, 01:14 PM

How hard is it to get the right gig anymore?

I'm 36, played for 20 years, gigged for 10 straight, 300+ shows over 3 acts. I've been 'off' for 10 years now and looking to get back into the game. I'm not a 'great' bassist, but I can hold my own well enough that I'm sure i would be in the running for anyone willing to get me an audition.

I just want to play heavier alt rock with some actual melodies...there are plenty of acts doing it locally, so what the hell can I do?

Craigslist, word of mouth, adds on musician sites...have all been coming up empty for me over the past 6 months. I do get a few hits, but it's entirely been cover acts and genres I'm not feeling/experienced in...I don't think that most folks actually take time to read the ads.

Granted, last week I almost fell into a job with a very slick local act that was right up my alley through word of mouth, but they have some other things going on that completely nixed that opportunity. That one has got me bummed...it would have been a perfect match for me.

Anyone have any off-the-wall suggestions that might could pay off? I'm dying over here!

bwv1013 · #2 06-19-2008, 01:19 PM

no suggestions here, but i'm in a similar situation. i was out of the "game" for several years and it's been difficult finding anything worthwhile. that being said, i don't think it's anything you're doing wrong, it just takes time to get going.

buzzbass · #3 06-19-2008, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteKnuckles

How hard is it to get the right gig anymore?

I'm 36, played for 20 years, gigged for 10 straight, 300+ shows over 3 acts. I've been 'off' for 10 years now and looking to get back into the game. I'm not a 'great' bassist, but I can hold my own well enough that I'm sure i would be in the running for anyone willing to get me an audition.

I just want to play heavier alt rock with some actual melodies...there are plenty of acts doing it locally, so what the hell can I do?

Craigslist, word of mouth, adds on musician sites...have all been coming up empty for me over the past 6 months. I do get a few hits, but it's entirely been cover acts and genres I'm not feeling/experienced in...I don't think that most folks actually take time to read the ads.

Granted, last week I almost fell into a job with a very slick local act that was right up my alley through word of mouth, but they have some other things going on that completely nixed that opportunity. That one has got me bummed...it would have been a perfect match for me.

Anyone have any off-the-wall suggestions that might could pay off? I'm dying over here!

I came back @ 34, after not touching it for 13 yrs. I've been going strong ever since. That was 12 years ago. Relax, take your time, and have fun. The rest will take care of itself

fear_n_greed · #4 06-19-2008, 02:50 PM

I didn't pick up a bass for 23 years until last summer. Got the bug again, practiced some of old favorites, put an ad on Craigslist and and now am part of a great band writing/playing original music and playing larger shows.
I also think I'm a much better player now then I used to be....
Follow your heart and go for it.

steve66 · #5 06-19-2008, 02:53 PM

My guitarist found me on bandmix.com . He knew a drummer and I knew a singer. Worked out well.

Bofee · #6 06-19-2008, 03:19 PM

I moved to a smallish town in a new area when I was 47, so I had to start over. It took about a year to land some steady gigs, and about 2 to find people I really wanted to play with. On the up side, I met someone who convinced me to pick up the upright bass (again). That really opened a lot of doors to gigs. That first couple of years I spent a lot of time and frustration going to Blues jams and open mics for the sole purpose of meeting other players. Just throw yourself out there!

DudeistMonk · #7 06-19-2008, 03:30 PM

It must be my area but every time I post on CL I get like 20 responses people looking to jam, start bands, replace their bassists. Not all are good...but I'm not even working at it I make a post and just wait for the emails.

E2daGGurl · #8 06-19-2008, 04:12 PM

So much depends on where you live. I'm in SoCal, where not only are there lots of opportunities, but there seems to be some kind of renaissance in live music, from block parties to art faires to bars and small clubs, people are playing music for various sized audiences.

Here, though, there are musician's unions that supply lists to in-town artists looking for someone to hook up with for a California or west coast tour - or even just a couple of nights at some club. Bass players are in demand, I don't know how you get to be a member of the union, though.

ksandvik · #9 06-19-2008, 04:18 PM

Jam sessions and open mikes are excellent for networking. You play and someone finds out how good you are and then they connect with you.

--Kent

rockdoc11 · #10 06-19-2008, 05:02 PM

Join a band , (almost) any band.

It'll get your chops up again, plus start networking you with other musicians.

2lim · #11 06-19-2008, 07:41 PM

I took a short break to play drums for another band, and when I needed to get back in to playing bass it was tough. Pretty much I started out playing with anyone who would take me, and through those people, got a rep as a solid player. The more I played, the better the bands got that wanted me to come out.

Now I am in the situation where I have bands come and ask me if I will play for them, while I am on stage with another band.

Not all great gigs, not all great pay, but lots of fun and it keeps me outta trouble most evenings and weekends.

Simon

WhiteKnuckles · #12 06-19-2008, 09:39 PM

Hehe...thanks for replying to my rant guys.

I'm not too worried about me chops, as I never stopped playing the Bass...I love it too much. I just stopped gigging out.

Every spare ounce of free energy went towards my bands, so I ended up being a bit burned out by playing out every weekend for so long. Now that life affords me more flexibility, I'm ready to involved again.

As far as joining 'any' band....I can't do it. Not that I'm that high on myself, it's just that I have a twisted sense of loyalty. If I was involved in something I'm not all that happy with, and something that would make me happy came along...I'd be torn on what to do. I know it's ridiculous, but I can't help it.

Wadge · #13 06-20-2008, 05:54 AM

As might have been mentioned before, join any band, and I mean ANY band. That has been my policy ever since I've started playing (16 years) and it has served me well.

Bands usually have a pattern - they get together, play some gigs, then usually split up. Usually one or two members will get involved in other projects and if you have played with them, chances are you'll get called again.

Also I've noticed that by the law of averages, if you join 6 bands, 2 might be rubbish, 2 semi decent, and possibly two will be good or have musicians worth befriending. When they migrate to other bands or are involved in different projects, they may very well ask you to join on bass.

If your a decent bass player with a good attitude there is no reason why you shouldn't be working.

JEDI BASS · #14 06-20-2008, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve66

My guitarist found me on bandmix.com . He knew a drummer and I knew a singer. Worked out well.

Bandmix worked for me too. Took like 2 weeks to get the band together. My first band looked for a singer for 2 years!! That was before the internet ('89). I'm 37 and finally playing in a GREAT band.... finally!

RED5 · #15 06-20-2008, 06:52 AM

I was in a similar situation about 10 years ago. I'm only now feeling like I'm back in the game. My best advice would be to just get out and play. Any and all chances you get. What worked for me after many hours of shedding? was to stalk the open mic circuit. I know it can be a real drag but there are gems out there. I made connections across the spectrum from folk acts to blues to a few recording sets with original bands,(economical dead ends, but I like them best) As it stands now I gig 10-15 dates a month,even a slow week covers my fuel bill, and I'm in the best shape ability wise I've ever been. Show up, tune up, turn it up and go. Simple as that. Check local EBB's and music papers for stages. Make sure your rig is capable and go out and get some! Oh and welcome back!

Pilgrim · #16 06-20-2008, 11:16 AM

I laid off bass for 25 years and picked it up again at age 48. Found some guys locally playing surf music who needed a bass - and the rest is fun.

"Ju can DOOO eeet!"

JeffreyG · #17 06-21-2008, 08:04 AM

I got extremely lucky... I hadn't been in a band since college (about 7 or 8 years) and some very good friends of mine were looking for another guitarist so I was able to join them. And even though I was playing guitar rather than my (obviously) preferred bass it was a great way to get back into it. A while later the combination of not having much for gigs and wanting to play bass led me to Craigslist looking for gigs. I think it only took me a month or two and I found a band that was an almost perfect fit. Actually the only negative was that they were too much my style and I was hoping to be stretched a little. But it's great to have semi-regular gigs and be playing bass again.

Rathead123 · #18 06-21-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteKnuckles

How hard is it to get the right gig anymore?

I

Well I took 18 years off, got back in to it 3 years ago, went from one frustrating deal to another, Startup bands that go nowhere, dealing with drummers singers guitar players that aren't playing with anyone and now I know why, because all the good ones are in bands. And dealing with the "@#$@" on C.L... But the 3 year wait come to an interesting end when a local popular cover band with a huge fan base, and 3 night a week gigs, fired the bass player for a number of reasons. I auditioned, got the job, and I feel now Im were I need to be.. Hang in ther it may take some time.. A year or 2 or 3..

bassfrenzie · #19 06-21-2008, 08:57 PM

I quit for about 15 years, got back into it in '04. & knocked around with anybody who would have me, country, classic rock - whatever. 18 months a go I got a phone call & now I'm in a very hot s#!t kicking blues band playing two weekends a month.

We could play more but we're kinda old and have jobs & s#!t.

Hang in there & the right bunch of guys should cross paths.

lildrgn · #20 07-07-2008, 04:30 PM

WK:

I found you!

When I left my band of 3+ years, there were certain things I needed to make it work for myself. So, instead of searching for bands, I put out a bassist available ad in a local free arts/music rag and put up a free website with links to .mp3s and my criteria.

I am also 36 and I have 2 kids and work full time. My criteria were:

One practice a week. I've been around the block and don't need to practice more than that to figure out a song.
Pop/Rock oriented. I didn't want metal or country or anything like that. Some tasty, melody driven rock (Cheap Trick, etc) would be perfect.
Age similarity. I didn't want to be with a bunch of youngsters. I'm "older"(??) and wanted dudes/ettes the same age.

I can't remember what else I had and, even with my list of things, I still got a bunch of yahoos answering my ad. However, the band that I'm in now, and have been in since April 2005, found me via that ad, and it's been great.