New Work Without the Hassle

[jive1]

I've had pretty good month. Found some work with 3 different bands, and the best part of it was it involved very little hassle.

- One band is an A-list band that I found through CL. Talked to the guy, and next thing you know, I'm playing a gig at a nice club a week later. I'm not their permanent bassist, but I'm on their call list for gigs, which isn't bad since playing part-time for them can still get me alot of work. No audition, no rehearsal.
- Another is a modern country band that does mostly events, and some clubs. Called a guy on CL about a different band, and wound up that I had talked to the drummer in the past, but never wound up working with him. Funny thing was on our last conversation, he said he can't really use me, but he was sure we'd cross paths somehow. And we did. Played my first gig with them at the Coast Guard today making some good coin. No audition, 1 rehearsal, and probably not many more rehearsals after that.
- Last is a variety band that does corporates and clubs. The bandleader fills in with the country band, and he liked my work with the country band and now wants to make me his first call player for his gigs. My first gig with them will be this weekend. No audition, no rehearsal.

Best thing is that all these gigs are show up and play, and decent coin. I think I should be busy until the end of the year, or until everything falls apart, which could be tomorrow.

I'm usually not fan of blog type posts, and I'm not trying to brag, but I just want to put some reality to things I've said repeatedly on this forum. My 5 Ps.
People - Network, network, and network some more. Give others a positive experience with you. If people can cross reference your work with people you know in common, you might be able to skip the audition. Bands come and go, so it's more important to find people.
Positivity - Just go out there, and look for something positive from your experiences. Don't assume something is going to be a waste of time, or that someone is worth writing off. Give people a chance to be a jerk or talentless before you think they are. If you met one cool person, learned one cool tune, or played one cool place, it's totally worth it. Be positive about yourself, the people you work with, and the band. Take the band seriously, but not yourself.
Play - You only get better by playing, so do it. Doesn't matter what it is. You never know when it comes in handy. I came from Chicago where Country music is outlawed, but by being willing to learn it, I'm getting more work and keeping my chops up. Play with as many folks as you can, so others can see your skills and vouch for them.
Preparedness - I got the gig with one band because I e-mailed them a list of all the songs I played in the last few years (a long list). Since I actually learned them, I kept the gig because I could actually play them. I cannot stress how important the ability to learn songs is for a cover band player.
Persistence - Probably the most important of all. I've been in this area for over 10 years, and I only really started getting decent paying gigs in last few years. I also found that the bands that are making decent coin have been around for long time. As an old guy who is extremely busy, I don't have the time to network, and follow my own advice as I should. But, persistence keeps things going until a payoff, and when that payoff goes sour, lets you find another opportunity.

That pretty much sums up every post I've ever made in the Band Management forum. I'm all out of wisdom now.

[tekdiver500ft]

Great advice, and good for you! I love hearing these stories, I am genuinely excited when someone can make decent money having this much fun doing what they love.

[Phalex]

I would submit that playing music without any hassle is not work..........

Which band you playing with in about 9 weeks???

[jaywa]

Awesome to hear, Jive. You're a grounded guy with a ton of valuable knowledge earned the old-fashioned way -- out there on stage in the real world. And you seem like an all-around good dude to boot. So it's great to see great things happening for you. I really do believe that what comes around goes around and that persistence pays off and you're proof of that.

Enjoy the gigs and the extra coin... Lord knows in this economy every little bit helps!

[RustyAxe]

I doubt you've run out of wisdom. What you describe is very similar to my own experience. One gig/band/audition/whatever leads to something else. Your five P's are right on the money.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by Phalex

I would submit that playing music without any hassle is not work..........

Which band you playing with in about 9 weeks???

I don't know yet for sure. I'll be a doing a couple of regular thursday night gigs around then, doing country for a place with nice eye candy.

[bassbully]

Cool deal. I saw a CL add for a really good R&B/rock band in our area looking for sub bassist and I really wish I could do it but no time after work, family and my band. I dont know how you do it.

[MNAirHead]

Jive.

Sounds like you've paid your dues....

There is a time frame when the goofs and turkeys hang it up... then what are left include the hard core folks that get it.

I'm happy for you -

[seanm]

I know I don't network enough. I also don't play well enough

Congrats on the success. You worked for it and finally got it.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by bassbully

Cool deal. I saw a CL add for a really good R&B/rock band in our area looking for sub bassist and I really wish I could do it but no time after work, family and my band. I dont know how you do it.

Yeah... just this week I got asked to do a sub gig that would have been decent money with some really good players... but I had to turn it down as I had already committed to spending the day with my dad who's getting up in years. I felt bad passing up the gig (especially since my main band keeps really busy so I don't have many chances to sub)... but I'm hoping they give me another chance down the line and even if they don't my dad's not gonna be around forever.

[MNAirHead]

Jaywa...

I wish I was in your shoes... being able to hang with dad.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by jaywa

Yeah... just this week I got asked to do a sub gig that would have been decent money with some really good players... but I had to turn it down as I had already committed to spending the day with my dad who's getting up in years. I felt bad passing up the gig (especially since my main band keeps really busy so I don't have many chances to sub)... but I'm hoping they give me another chance down the line and even if they don't my dad's not gonna be around forever.

Thats really cool and I need to do the same. I need to take mine fishing before its too cold.

[busmandan]

Then there's the other side of the coin.

I have a sub gig with some guys tomorrow that I picked up from an ad on CL. I practiced with them once last week. Guitarist - good player, good gear, mediocre singer. Keyboard - mediocre player, mediocre singer. Drummer - absolutely horrible and his drums sound like crap.

I get the directions to the gig yesterday and discover that it's 50 miles each way from my house, so I'll be lucky to break even money-wise. Had I not already told them I'd do the gig I'd bail on it. This gig was supposed to be a set-up for a better (i.e. more $) gig that's closer to my house next month, but now I find out the later gig is not confirmed and may not happen at all.

It's been a while since I've played with a drummer that's as much of a stumbledoofus as this one, so at least I'll get to work on my bailout skills.

[pointbass]

Originally Posted by busmandan

Then there's the other side of the coin. ......

That's exactly the point Jive is making .... sometimes those seemingly total loser gigs can pay off (and sometimes, not so much )

If Jive is considerd old, then I'm ancient, but I completely agree with his summary above. If you want to be a working bassist actually putting some coin in the bank now and then, you have to act in a workman-like manner and be a professional. And that includes doing some crappy gigs

A few years back I got a cold call to do a small party gig with a 6 piece band, typical covers of standard rock tunes. Honestly, the band was pretty bad and the gig something I would never do again, but a couple of months after the gig I got a call from the singer to do some studio tracks at a small rehearsal joint. Did the tracks for her and left ....

That weekend I get a call from some guy I never heard of asking if I could fill in at a benefit gig for a children's cancer hospital .... paid gig, good coin, I said sure and asked how he got my number. He knew the keys player at the studio gig who recommended me. Did the benefit gig, met a bunch of really great players (that I still get calls from), spent time in the "green room" chatting with Jennifer Aniston (she's very, very cool) .... point of this is that if I had walked away from the initial pretty bad party gig bad-mouthing everyone and acting like a jerk, none of this would have happened. But accepting that the party gig was just a gig and being cooperative and professional, I ended up with a bunch of excellent contacts.

Pay attention to Jive's list, it's what you'll need to do if you want to be a working bassist

[busmandan]

Originally Posted by busmandan

Then there's the other side of the coin.

I have a sub gig with some guys tomorrow that I picked up from an ad on CL. I practiced with them once last week. Guitarist - good player, good gear, mediocre singer. Keyboard - mediocre player, mediocre singer. Drummer - absolutely horrible and his drums sound like crap.

I get the directions to the gig yesterday and discover that it's 50 miles each way from my house, so I'll be lucky to break even money-wise. Had I not already told them I'd do the gig I'd bail on it. This gig was supposed to be a set-up for a better (i.e. more $) gig that's closer to my house next month, but now I find out the later gig is not confirmed and may not happen at all.

It's been a while since I've played with a drummer that's as much of a stumbledoofus as this one, so at least I'll get to work on my bailout skills.

Happy to report that it didn't turn out as bad as expected - at least the playing aspect of it.

No, the major issue at the gig was getting equipment to work. I use my stuff every week so I know mine works, but these guys play out so seldom that it was a long, tedious process for them to work out all the bad connections and cords.

Guitarist was good as expected. The singer/keyboard was better than he was at practice, which was a nice surprise. The drummer still sucks, but he didn't suck quite as much at the gig - only a couple of real trainwrecks, much less than I expected.

We had a grand total of eight people out to see us.

I've agreed to do one more gig with them since the keyboard guy is retiring and moving to the Phillippines, so there won't be any of those how-do-I-tell-these-guys-they-suck moments. Besides, I could see myself doing some more gigs with the guitarist.

[Feral Feline]

JIVE1, thanks man.


I'll adopt your "Five-Ps" so that when I finally learn how to play the tinderbox I have, I'll be ready.

JAYWA
The time spent with your Dad will be rewarded in many other ways I'm sure. Maybe you'll get hired at a later date BECAUSE you put family first (something similar happened to me once).

The Six Ps...
Jive1's 5Ps and Jaywa's one P (as in Pa, Pater, Pop)

[jive1]

This is crazy.

More offers of work coming in. No audition, no rehearsal.

It's wierd, but I get the feeling that once folks got word that I'm too busy to rehearse, I'm getting more calls from bands that are working alot.

[tekdiver500ft]

Wow, that gives me an idea:

Okay, world, official notice - I do not have time to rehearse!


Now it's time to sit back and watch the gigs roll in...

[jive1]

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

Wow, that gives me an idea:

Okay, world, official notice - I do not have time to rehearse!


Now it's time to sit back and watch the gigs roll in...

Don't forget to add that you won't be doing any auditions unless they are paid gigs.

That should help.

[tekdiver500ft]

Good to know, thanks. I'll have to add that.

;-)