Nervous about gig coming up.

[Busker]

We're playing this weekend with a new drummer. He's very good, but knows little of the material. He'll have to be relying on cues in order to hit the stops, and probably won't be able to count off many of the songs because he's just not familiar enough with the music.

Crud. Our last gig of 2 weeks ago was a near disaster, and that was with the old drummer. He played well enough, but it was mostly the singers forgetting lyrics. And these are songs we've been doing for a long time. This coming gig may not be much better.

FYI, this is the band that I gave notice to in May, and I'm finishing out the last few gigs on the schedule. Mercifully, it will be over (for me) soon. One gig this weekend, another August 9th, IF they need me to play it. They can't seem to find a bassist, so they are going to bring in another guitarist and the current guitarist will be switching to bass, so they say. I have my doubts that that will work out for them, but its out of my hands.

[fretlessman71]

Don't waste your energy being nervous. Look at it as an opportunity to practice "babysitting" a new member through a gig. I've had to do this to about 30 different drummers now, and it's an experience. Difficult to be able to express clearly to the drummer what's about to happen while you're playing at the same time. But it will teach you - and the new kid on the block - more about the music than you knew before.

Besides, it's basically a "last gig" for you - you've held up your end of the bargain, and soon enough the band will realize just how important it is to have a good pro bassist instead of a guitarist who OWNS a bass.

[Busker]

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

Don't waste your energy being nervous. Look at it as an opportunity to practice "babysitting" a new member through a gig. I've had to do this to about 30 different drummers now, and it's an experience. Difficult to be able to express clearly to the drummer what's about to happen while you're playing at the same time. But it will teach you - and the new kid on the block - more about the music than you knew before.

Besides, it's basically a "last gig" for you - you've held up your end of the bargain, and soon enough the band will realize just how important it is to have a good pro bassist instead of a guitarist who OWNS a bass.

Thanks for the advice. He'll be taking most of his cues from the guitarist - that's the way we did it in rehearsal.

I don't know. The guitarist might be a better bassist than me! I've never heard him play though. I know he has a bass or two, but he doesn't have a rig to speak of, just a small combo. He'll surely have to mic the combo, or simply go direct into the board. When I said I had my doubts it would work out, that was based on the guitarist they were bringing in more than the current guy switching to bass. I know the guitarist they are supposedly bringing in and he probably won't commit to the band long term. He might say he will, but then he'll kiss & make up with his old band (which has a blow up every few months).

[Jonyak]

Originally Posted by Busker

Thanks for the advice. He'll be taking most of his cues from the guitarist - that's the way we did it in rehearsal.

I wouldn't say this is the best way to do it.

drummer and bass players should have a very tight symbiosis, the guitards just play over what you and the drums lay down.

you should be cueing each other.

[Stumbo]

Do you have recordings of the songs you'll be playing?
The drummer should be listening/practicing on his own.

Keeping recordings on-hand of all your songs is the way around this kind of stuff.
My old drummer didn't even need his set to practice on. He either used his practice pads or even just his knees. Just give him the recordings and he'd be set to go in a few days.

Thinking back, I don't ever remember him making a mistake or getting off time. The band was spoiled, to say the least.

[Busker]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Do you have recordings of the songs you'll be playing?
The drummer should be listening/practicing on his own.

Keeping recordings on-hand of all your songs is the way around this kind of stuff.
My old drummer didn't even need his set to practice on. He either used his practice pads or even just his knees. Just give him the recordings and he'd be set to go in a few days.

Thinking back, I don't ever remember him making a mistake or getting off time. The band was spoiled, to say the least.

He has the recordings on CD. I'm kinda out of the loop having given my notice almost 2 months ago, and only having seen the guys a few times in the last couple of months. All I know is the old drummer was supposed to stay and do the last three gigs on the schedule but bailed after the first of the last three. So we've had one quickie rehearsal with the new drummer, then do a show tomorrow night. He's a good drummer, I'll give him that, but I don't think he has practiced much of the material. It'll probably be a near-disaster, but we've been there before. That's part of the reason I gave my notice.