So now what ?

pmaraziti · #1 09-24-2007, 05:33 AM

Hi All !

Ok, i need some help here to understand what's best...

I'm a "late arrival" to the world of bass, I started only a bit more than an year ago... I'm now 33

I love it.. it's my daily distraction from the world, I love music, I'm into listening to many genres, I love to play pop-rock covers, some funk and jazz (still learning, but I'd love to).

I entered a band last may of 30+ years old guys with same issues like mines (e.g. started late, need to cope with work schedules and families, no wish to become professional). The band members are very unreliable (I'm too sometime) as far as rehearsing goes. We just lost the drummer again (it happened twice) and we didn't get together basically for 2 months over summer... the core is me, the singer, a wonderful guitarist. We have a keyboard that comes and goes and an unexisting drummer as said.

I'm looking for fun, but also to play some gig every now and then. I'm really thinking whether I should check also a second band, maybe that plays a different genre or the same (covers) to increase my play time. Not sure though how my core band members would take it...

Any wise suggestion ?

Thank you as always, Paolo

msquared · #2 09-24-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmaraziti

I'm looking for fun, but also to play some gig every now and then. I'm really thinking whether I should check also a second band, maybe that plays a different genre or the same (covers) to increase my play time. Not sure though how my core band members would take it...

I wouldn't think they would care. They might even follow you.

BillMason · #3 09-24-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmaraziti

Hi All !

Ok, i need some help here to understand what's best...

I'm a "late arrival" to the world of bass, I started only a bit more than an year ago... I'm now 33

I love it.. it's my daily distraction from the world, I love music, I'm into listening to many genres, I love to play pop-rock covers, some funk and jazz (still learning, but I'd love to).

I entered a band last may of 30+ years old guys with same issues like mines (e.g. started late, need to cope with work schedules and families, no wish to become professional). The band members are very unreliable (I'm too sometime) as far as rehearsing goes. We just lost the drummer again (it happened twice) and we didn't get together basically for 2 months over summer... the core is me, the singer, a wonderful guitarist. We have a keyboard that comes and goes and an unexisting drummer as said.

I'm looking for fun, but also to play some gig every now and then. I'm really thinking whether I should check also a second band, maybe that plays a different genre or the same (covers) to increase my play time. Not sure though how my core band members would take it...

Any wise suggestion ?

Thank you as always, Paolo

Buy a drum machine! :-)

lpdeluxe · #4 09-24-2007, 01:52 PM

Not bad advice. I used an Alesis SR-16 as an adjunct to my recording (it eliminated the problem of micing the drum kit; AND it didn't hit on my wife, drink all my beer and then go around town badmouthing me

).

The singer rhythm guitarist and I started gigging together with the Alesis for the first six months. Later, we added a lead player and a live drummer, and we are now a working band, gigging three or four times a month...but we're on our fourth drummer!

If you get one, get the footswitches (it takes two, one to start/stop and one to change patterns). This makes it easy to get it rolling on cue and, once you get used to it, it'll become second nature.

THEN when you gig, you can find a live drummer and you'll already be used to playing with drums. (In previous bands, we rehearsed without a drum machine, but if you like to record your rehearsals -- which I have always done -- you'll find something missing).

Liko · #5 09-24-2007, 02:42 PM

Looks like there's a commitment problem. Like any activity, fun or otherwise, where other people depend on you to be there, you need to be dependable. I'm not using "you" to direct this at OP, just the general case. Members of a band depend on each other, probably more than any other group of people. Most teams have at least a couple of backups at every position; bands normally don't have a spare drummer.

Now, to OP, I'd start looking for a more committed group. There are, in any decent sized city, an ample number of bands made up of people like you; older "hobbyists" looking to play some music, have some fun and make some money, but who have no aspirations to be signed by a major label. Make yourself a local Craigslist ad: "old new bassist looking for weekend band". I think you'll be surprised at the interest you generate.

pmaraziti · #6 09-25-2007, 12:02 PM

Just got a call from my singer... we're auditioning a new drummer next Friday... will he like us ? will we like him ?... staty tuned and watch this space !

I have actually also a SR16 that I'm learning to use... maybe I'll follow the eDrummer suggestion

The worst is that the last drummer that quit stayed with us only 4 weeks... we found out that since 3 weeks he was looking for a new group (just checking the web) but he swore he'd stick to us, when he left he claimed some "family issues" , but no word about finding a new band... coward bad mannered guy! Looking at that I think we were lucky to loose him !!!

Thanks for all the support !!! It's nice to have you "around" !

Paolo