Is the Bass Player Expected to Find Gigs?

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

Silly question...

why wouldnt you find gigs?

It takes time away from more important things. The OP said he has a family and a job. That and just PLAYING gigs is already enough.

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by two fingers

It takes time away from more important things. The OP said he has a family and a job. That and just PLAYING gigs is already enough.

I'm sure the rest of the guys would also say the same ---- why not carry your load?

[millsbass5]

Yup. the last time I checked. Yes Virginia, bass players are actual band members.

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

I'm sure the rest of the guys would also say the same ---- why not carry your load?

Well, as I put in my post earlier, I'm NOT going to tell my kid that I can't play with her so I can make phone calls to club owners. I'm NOT going to tell my wife she has to watch both my kids so I can get on the phone with club owners. And I'm NOT going to practice twice a week (and not take care of my kids, do my homework, take care of stuff around the house, spend some time with my wife, etc.) because some hacks in the band can't learn their parts at home. We'll do a few out of the gate and then practice is over. If you want to learn a new song, bring it up at a show or email it and we'll give it a go at sound check at the next one. I've done that for two decades with great success.

It's called priorities. Some of us put the band a few notches down on the list. If that means you gotta find a new guy, go for it. But I've never been fired from a gig. I was just honest right out of the gate about how far I was prepared to go.

Plus, in every situation I've ever been in where more than one or two guys did the booking, it turned into a cluster #### quick. Guys would book dates only to find out another guy had booked it already and didn't have time to get up with everyone to let them know. Everybody booking is still a bad idea even if everybody has time to screw with it.

Short version = I'm a family guy first. I have time to play shows and learn a few parts at home when I get around to it. If that doesn't work as far as pulling my weight, find somebody else. (But again, I've never been fired.)

[foldgerz]

Originally Posted by jaywa

My main band is kind of a hybrid situation. Its very much a BL and 4 side guys situation, however we all get equal cuts so the more and better paying gigs we get, the more everyone profits.

Basically the BL is the only one who's *expected* to keep the calendar full but we all FW him leads as we get them. Generally I turn the potential client over to him early in the process cause his pricing structure is pretty fluid depending on any number of variables so I just leave the money talk and contract business up to him.

i agree, we do the same. it gets too messy when everyone trys booking gigs. you end up double booking and prices and times fluctuate to much. we find it to run way smoother with a BL. but all of us do our part in other aspects, buisness cards, webpages, flyers, equipment purchases, leads, etc...

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by two fingers

Well, as I put in my post earlier, I'm NOT going to tell my kid that I can't play with her so I can make phone calls to club owners. I'm NOT going to tell my wife she has to watch both my kids so I can get on the phone with club owners. And I'm NOT going to practice twice a week (and not take care of my kids, do my homework, take care of stuff around the house, spend some time with my wife, etc.) because some hacks in the band can't learn their parts at home. We'll do a few out of the gate and then practice is over. If you want to learn a new song, bring it up at a show or email it and we'll give it a go at sound check at the next one. I've done that for two decades with great success.

It's called priorities. Some of us put the band a few notches down on the list. If that means you gotta find a new guy, go for it. But I've never been fired from a gig. I was just honest right out of the gate about how far I was prepared to go.

Plus, in every situation I've ever been in where more than one or two guys did the booking, it turned into a cluster #### quick. Guys would book dates only to find out another guy had booked it already and didn't have time to get up with everyone to let them know. Everybody booking is still a bad idea even if everybody has time to screw with it.

Short version = I'm a family guy first. I have time to play shows and learn a few parts at home when I get around to it. If that doesn't work as far as pulling my weight, find somebody else. (But again, I've never been fired.)

Sounds like you really don't want to be in a standard issue band - and just want to be an employee

I have zero issues that my drummer refuses to book --- I gladly take a cut for the efforts.... He has no say on anything --- I'll sub for him at any time

In reality with about 15 minutes every few days your band can be booked - the reality is that bandmates are notorious for avoiding selling at any cost - over achieving at excuses

Nothing wrong with choosing not to book - with this viewpoint should include no say in band decisions and lower pay ....

Just show up and play - and let others treat you like this is your limit

[Misty Mountain]

Our BL does most of the booking, but our drummer has been doing a lot of networking to scare up gigs as well. I have a very well-connected friend who has dropped off demo CDs, talked to bar owners she knows well, etc., that has yielded some interest, but no gigs yet. Me? I'm not the go talk to owners type. In fact, I want nothing to do with it. But, I created and maintain the band's website and email, did the logo artwork and demo CD jackets, and own/run the PA. Plus I do little things like rewire the BL's guitars, perform setups, carry spare amps (fortunately at the last gig for the guitarist.) Those are the roles I'm comfortable in, and we tend to play to the band members' strengths, whatever those are. In the end it's all about fun for me (and feeding my insatiable gear addiction), so I don't think it's worth performing tasks that you feel uncomfortable with unless it's your livelihood.

[bumperbass]

Originally Posted by Misty Mountain

Our BL does most of the booking, but our drummer has been doing a lot of networking to scare up gigs as well. I have a very well-connected friend who has dropped off demo CDs, talked to bar owners she knows well, etc., that has yielded some interest, but no gigs yet. Me? I'm not the go talk to owners type. In fact, I want nothing to do with it. But, I created and maintain the band's website and email, did the logo artwork and demo CD jackets, and own/run the PA. Plus I do little things like rewire the BL's guitars, perform setups, carry spare amps (fortunately at the last gig for the guitarist.) Those are the roles I'm comfortable in, and we tend to play to the band members' strengths, whatever those are. In the end it's all about fun for me (and feeding my insatiable gear addiction), so I don't think it's worth performing tasks that you feel uncomfortable with unless it's your livelihood.

I agree. There's strengths and weaknesses in every band. There's a place for everybody and if it works, leave it alone. I've been in bands before where I would NOT, under any circumstances, want a certain member to talk to club owners. In those cases, I would think this guy (there have been several along the way) would blow any chances of getting a gig. Some of us are 'talk to club owners' types and some are not. Would you want a member that couldn't sing worth @#$* to sing his share even though he/she couldn't sing? Let's be realistic.

[oniman7]

I think you answered it yourself. It's a fun band to blow off steam as a hobby. Sure, it's fun to talk about getting gigs, but at some point it becomes a second job. It doesn't take forever for things to get done because it's done by unanimous decision (though that certainly doesn't help) -- it takes forever because everybody's got other things going on. If you want to gig, I would ask them for permission and maybe some open dates to go and get one.

[oniman7]

EDIT: Deleted because I was an idiot and got confused between who OP was.