How Flexible Are You?

[SquierJazz72]

Awesome post!

It's a good point too.

Probably lots of opporotunities that don't get taken either because some bands won't take them, or don't know about them to begin with. Certainly more food for thought.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by the yeti

sure, but if your field of view consists of those bands that have it together (per your own standard) that doesn't mean you're not flexible, just means you're not a fool.

nobody wants to play "beneath themselves". or do they?

Good point

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by groovaholic

I think this has been posted or alluded to before, but gigs are pretty much always graded on the following:

1. - The music: how you feel about what you're playing
2. - The hang: how you feel about those you play it with
3. - The fringes: non-musical benefits derived from the situation

If a gig has one of them, it's tolerable.
Two, it's a good gig.
Three, you're living in the promised land.

I think my best bands have been like 2.75...I've never been in a band that made "quit your day job" money, but I have been in bands that were moderately successful playing awesome music, with great people.

I was happy and considered myself fortunate.

The interesting thing to consider is whether or not the rest of your bandmates felt the same way (more of a general 'you' and not you in particular ). Some of them might have been grinding their teeth the tenure of the band while you thought it was one of the best groups you had ever played in.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Kryptos

Many opportunities exist for musicians, many go unrealized.

That's because many of us don't have the smarts to understand there's a world out there that stems beyond getting high with your buddies with marginal abilities at best trying to get a worthless gig at The Double Door.

Excellent post.

Blue

[JumboJack]

Originally Posted by bluewine

That's because many of don't have the smarts to understand there's a world out there that stems behind getting high with your buddies with marginal abilities at best trying to get a worthless gig at The Double Door.

Excellent post.

Blue

Yup.... Drugs are bad.

[Anthbass]

This is a great thread.

By most of the criteria folks are putting out, I'm not flexible at all, and that maybe the truth of the thing.

What I am most interested in are the people I play with. I'm willing to play less-than-inspiring tunes to gel with people that I find interesting or inspiring. I think this is the bottom line for me, beyond genre, regular gigs, crowd reception, and so on.

If the people aren't good, the amount of money on offer (or anything else) is irrelevant. I play because I enjoy it, full stop. No enjoy = no play. It' simple, for me. I acknowledge that others may feel differently, and I respect this difference.

[Kryptos]

Originally Posted by bluewine

That's because many of don't have the smarts to understand there's a world out there that stems behind getting high with your buddies with marginal abilities at best trying to get a worthless gig at The Double Door.
Blue

There is some of that of course which is unfortunate and usually short lived in this day and age.

More central to availing oneself of opportunity is having a plan, being proactive, acting and appearing professional, being on time, being polite and of course musicianship.

From 1967 to 1975 I attended Berkeley, I got a PhD, I wore tie dye, had long hair, did drugs. I played music in a band with other people that dressed and behaved as I did in venues where people, including the management, drank to excess, did drugs and generally behaved in a non-responsible fashion. It was a lot of fun.

When I graduated I was offered a job that required doing none of the things enumerated above. I was expected to act, dress and behave like an adult. This seemed somewhat onerous at first but I quickly realized this was in fact a wise course, both for employer and employee.

I am now in my early 60's and retired.

I am not a rock star, I am not tattooed, no ear rings, my hair (what is left of it) is gray and appropriate length for someone my age.

I don't wear jeans when I perform, I wear a shirt with sleeves and a collar, I don't wear sneakers or running shoes. I do not wear baseball hats, cowboy hats or Viking helmets. I do not wear mirrored sunglasses especially if I am indoors on a darkened stage. Occasionally when playing outdoors if it is real warm I might roll up my sleeves, fortunately in the 60 some years I have been alive I have learned to cope with warm weather and do not feel a need to remove my shirt, wear cut off shirts or half a dozen wristbands on each arm (I am not Lebron James).

I do not smoke, chew or drink alcohol or use drugs when working. I do not swear, make off colour jokes or ogle women while performing.

We don't text, or talk on our cell phones during a performance.

If we are performing in the evening I bathe and change clothes. I shave.

If you call or email me I will call or email you back, normally within an hour or two, always with a day. If you are the DAV or a ice cream social we will likely come over and play for an hour schedule permitting, if you are the NEA or a national festival we have a lawyer/agent we will likely refer you to. This benefits you and it benefits us.

If you hire us to play music we will make clear what we expect from you and hope you make clear what you expect from us. We will give you a copy of our set lists, if you see something you hate tell us, if you see something you like tell us. We will be on time and ready to play, we like it when you are also. We will play for as long as our agreement states and probably a bit more (we enjoy playing). But if for any reason quitting at a set time is important do let us know and we will see that happens.

Depending on your age and view of the world many of you may find the above old fashioned, preachy, reminding you of lectures from your parents, overly strict, boring, completely wrong and unreasonably inflexible. If that is the case you have my apology.

[ChrisB2]

Originally Posted by Kryptos

I do not ... ogle women while performing.

I was with ya till that part....

[RxFunk]

Originally Posted by vickde

I don't slap. I'm not crazy about funk, so I've never had the need to learn. Other than that, I'm pretty open.

Wha..?!? No funk,madness I say

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Im not ashamed of it at all.

Pfft..I'm not ashamed of not making money. Making bad music that I would be ashamed of.

[JumboJack]

Originally Posted by bassbully

Pfft..I'm not ashamed of not making money. Making bad music that I would be ashamed of.

+100

[BayStateBass]

Originally Posted by Kryptos

There is some of that of course which is unfortunate and usually short lived in this day and age.

More central to availing oneself of opportunity is having a plan, being proactive, acting and appearing professional, being on time, being polite and of course musicianship.

From 1967 to 1975 I attended Berkeley, I got a PhD, I wore tie dye, had long hair, did drugs. I played music in a band with other people that dressed and behaved as I did in venues where people, including the management, drank to excess, did drugs and generally behaved in a non-responsible fashion. It was a lot of fun.

When I graduated I was offered a job that required doing none of the things enumerated above. I was expected to act, dress and behave like an adult. This seemed somewhat onerous at first but I quickly realized this was in fact a wise course, both for employer and employee.

I am now in my early 60's and retired.

I am not a rock star, I am not tattooed, no ear rings, my hair (what is left of it) is gray and appropriate length for someone my age.

I don't wear jeans when I perform, I wear a shirt with sleeves and a collar, I don't wear sneakers or running shoes. I do not wear baseball hats, cowboy hats or Viking helmets. I do not wear mirrored sunglasses especially if I am indoors on a darkened stage. Occasionally when playing outdoors if it is real warm I might roll up my sleeves, fortunately in the 60 some years I have been alive I have learned to cope with warm weather and do not feel a need to remove my shirt, wear cut off shirts or half a dozen wristbands on each arm (I am not Lebron James).

I do not smoke, chew or drink alcohol or use drugs when working. I do not swear, make off colour jokes or ogle women while performing.

We don't text, or talk on our cell phones during a performance.

If we are performing in the evening I bathe and change clothes. I shave.

If you call or email me I will call or email you back, normally within an hour or two, always with a day. If you are the DAV or a ice cream social we will likely come over and play for an hour schedule permitting, if you are the NEA or a national festival we have a lawyer/agent we will likely refer you to. This benefits you and it benefits us.

If you hire us to play music we will make clear what we expect from you and hope you make clear what you expect from us. We will give you a copy of our set lists, if you see something you hate tell us, if you see something you like tell us. We will be on time and ready to play, we like it when you are also. We will play for as long as our agreement states and probably a bit more (we enjoy playing). But if for any reason quitting at a set time is important do let us know and we will see that happens.

Depending on your age and view of the world many of you may find the above old fashioned, preachy, reminding you of lectures from your parents, overly strict, boring, completely wrong and unreasonably inflexible. If that is the case you have my apology.

I don't think it's old fashioned, I think it's smart and mature.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by zachoff

That's funny. Music is my weekly excuse to leave the house.

Not the best reason to be in this business.

Matter of fact, I had auditioned for a band and I could tell immediately they were there to drink and have time away from their wives and family.

I packed up my gear and diplomatically cancelled the audition.

Blue

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by JumboJack

Yup.... Drugs are bad.

They would be for me.

Blue

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by Kryptos

There is some of that of course which is unfortunate and...

...you have my apology.

you did mention how some others may see you, or rather how they may interpret your post, but not much about your view of your own flexibility. care to elaborate?

[Johnny Crab]

Originally Posted by Biggbass

I'm very flexible when it comes to playing with other musicians. but the older I get the less tolerance I have for BS. A Good personality goes a long way.

+10000.
At age 57....I have NO time for ego wars, volume wars, or doing anything that is not enjoyable(i.e. takes the joy out of playing music).

At a certain point in life you realize there are a lot fewer days and nights in front of you than there are behind you. Wasting any of them is not an option.

[Kryptos]

Originally Posted by the yeti

you did mention how some others may see you, or rather how they may interpret your post, but not much about your view of your own flexibility. care to elaborate?

See post 99, thanks:

How Flexible Are You?

[fdeck]

Another thread reminded me of one more thing: I require a smoke and drug free workplace.

[Bert Slide]

I spent many years living in ski towns populated by aging hippy baby boomers who would regale you with misty-eyed stories of the old days when they would walk naked between parties on Main St. tripping their brains out on acid. Some of these same folks would also go ballistic if someone fired up a joint in the lift line. When asked the reason for their somewhat transparent hypocrisy they would tell you "it was another era, it was the culture of the times, we didn't know how much damage we we doing to ourselves, I have kids now and i don't want them exposed to that lifestlye", etc.

Spare me, the times they aren't a'changing you just turned into the man.

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by Bert Slide

Spare me, the times they aren't a'changing you just turned into the man.

boom!