Text guitarist and tell him you're bringing a guitarist to assist. When it hits the fan, ask why he is bringing a bassist. You will get the truth shortly thereafter.
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Band Member inviting other bass player
- Thread starter chaak
- Start date
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- band band members bass player metal
If any band I was in decided—against my wishes—to bring in another bassist to “assist” me, I would tell them good luck with their new lineup.
I certainly understand where you are coming from. That would give me a case of the willies too, especially if you aren’t used to outside input.
I will offer this however, and please excuse this old cliche, there is always more than one way to skin a cat. Sometimes a fresh outlook, welcomed or not, may help things along. I know from my own experience some of my best work has come from approaches used or created by other bassists that I ran with and made my own.
In those cases I had to put my guard down. Sure it was awkward and uncomfortable, but it was well worth it.
Look, I would give it a shot. It just may be a good thing.
If it doesn’t work, you will soon know, and make sure you record your sessions. You will then have plenty of tape to prove your point to the regular members, the issue will be solved, and nobody’s jockies are bunched.
I agree that I would be weirded out buy it too but as you have already said you guys invite people over all the time. Maybe just a bad choice of words by your guitar player. Go with it and let us know, damn I'm not gonna be able to sleep well waiting for your update...
i guess i'm just not a nice person
there's not a nice way to deal with this to me. i'm a virtually drama-free band member, but bringing another person to "assist" in the band's work, and - surprise - it's another bass player? first off, i'd want to know if the drummer and vocalist was aware of this. if so, i'd REALLY want to know why i wasn't asked about it in advance. honestly i've never heard of it happening. it's very weird and sort of off.
i'd want to know specifically what this other musician would be there to contribute, and i wouldn't let it go at a simplistic, non-specific reply because that's just the kind of hairpin i am. is the guitar player unhappy with the music as a whole so he feels that a cover/djent person would be able to improve things? does everyone else feel the same? is he just showing off to a buddy or trying to replace me?
if the other band members feels the band's music or you or your playing is a problem, they should have said something. if they don't, then why bring in the other bass player at all? either way, bringing in some guy - and for an unspecified reason - would not be something i'd be happy about. play my gear? that would be something to ask me before inviting the other bass player.
in my world, rehearsals are for the band. any changes or issues should be discussed in advance by all the band members. but hey, what do i know?
As soon as I read pcake's message I thought this is how I would feel about what happened. I think I would have confronted this guy on the phone when he said he was bringing in someone to "assist" me, or I would have called him back after my blood stopped boiling.
Edit: I think pcake is a nice person.
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just leave a stack of these (or something similar, worded more specifically with regards to songwriting contributions) to be filled out in triplicate by all 'non-members' before being allowed in the door...
Musician Waiver and Release
I, the undersigned (“Musician”), hereby acknowledge and consent to providing Musical Performance (the “Performance”), to the recording of songs and music projects being produced, performed and recorded by Recording Company (“Company”), atStudio (the “Studio”) on or about Date.
Further, I do hereby grant permission to Company and any affiliate of Company to use the Performance and any images of Musician as part of any song or music project at its sole and complete discretion. Such use includes, without limitation, any and all recordings and formats now or in the future of the Performance, the display, distribution, publication, transmission, or otherwise use of recordings, photographs, images, and/or video recorded or taken of Musician and/or including Musician during the Performance for use in materials that include, but may not be limited to, music recordings of all kind, nature and format now or in the future, printed materials such as record labels, marketing material, brochures, news releases and newsletters, videos, and digital images such as those for use with the release of such music to the public in any and all formats or on the Company website or incorporated into any and all songs at the sole and absolute discretion of Company and in any and all media, and incorporated by Company in any and all other media whatsoever.
In addition, I hereby waive any and all rights with respect to, the Performance and any and all music, recordings, vocals, photographs, reproductions, copies, transmissions, broadcasts, telecasts and webcasts (by any and all means in any and all media now or in the future) of any and all audio, visual and audio-visual aspects and elements of all or any portion of the recorded Performance at the Studio for Company; and the sound, voice, photograph, likeness, activities and performances of Musician in connection with the Performance (including promotional activities and so-called “behind-the-scenes" and "making-of” audio and audio-visual recordings).
I also know, understand, and appreciate the risks that are inherent with the above acknowledgements, representations and warranties. I hereby assert that my execution of this consent and release is voluntary and that I knowingly assume all such risks on behalf of myself.
I understand that by agreeing to this clause I am releasing claims and giving up substantial rights, including my right to sue for any reason whatsoever.
Lastly, I also hereby indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Company, and their licensees against any and all legal claims and proceedings of any description that may have been asserted in the past, or may be asserted in the future, directly or indirectly, arising from my participation in the Performance and the rights related to recording of the Performance.
Musician Waiver and Release
I, the undersigned (“Musician”), hereby acknowledge and consent to providing Musical Performance (the “Performance”), to the recording of songs and music projects being produced, performed and recorded by Recording Company (“Company”), atStudio (the “Studio”) on or about Date.
Further, I do hereby grant permission to Company and any affiliate of Company to use the Performance and any images of Musician as part of any song or music project at its sole and complete discretion. Such use includes, without limitation, any and all recordings and formats now or in the future of the Performance, the display, distribution, publication, transmission, or otherwise use of recordings, photographs, images, and/or video recorded or taken of Musician and/or including Musician during the Performance for use in materials that include, but may not be limited to, music recordings of all kind, nature and format now or in the future, printed materials such as record labels, marketing material, brochures, news releases and newsletters, videos, and digital images such as those for use with the release of such music to the public in any and all formats or on the Company website or incorporated into any and all songs at the sole and absolute discretion of Company and in any and all media, and incorporated by Company in any and all other media whatsoever.
In addition, I hereby waive any and all rights with respect to, the Performance and any and all music, recordings, vocals, photographs, reproductions, copies, transmissions, broadcasts, telecasts and webcasts (by any and all means in any and all media now or in the future) of any and all audio, visual and audio-visual aspects and elements of all or any portion of the recorded Performance at the Studio for Company; and the sound, voice, photograph, likeness, activities and performances of Musician in connection with the Performance (including promotional activities and so-called “behind-the-scenes" and "making-of” audio and audio-visual recordings).
I also know, understand, and appreciate the risks that are inherent with the above acknowledgements, representations and warranties. I hereby assert that my execution of this consent and release is voluntary and that I knowingly assume all such risks on behalf of myself.
I understand that by agreeing to this clause I am releasing claims and giving up substantial rights, including my right to sue for any reason whatsoever.
Lastly, I also hereby indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Company, and their licensees against any and all legal claims and proceedings of any description that may have been asserted in the past, or may be asserted in the future, directly or indirectly, arising from my participation in the Performance and the rights related to recording of the Performance.
Your gear, your call. If he has the nerve to ask, and it bothers you to let someone else play your gear (as it does me) tell him no.
I think it’s a bit more complicated given that he said these are a bunch of his childhood friends.
OP, if you’re in some sort of writing collective, then okay I guess. I understand why you’re feeling weird about this.
I’ll say this much. If I was in the other bassist’s shoes and someone had asked me to come and sit in on a writing session where the regular bassist was going to be there, there’s no way I’d even touch the instrument unless he or she personally and totally unequivocally asked me to. Even then I might say no.
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Dude, don't let him use your gear. One of the groups I play with has a regular Friday night open-mic gig at a local brew pub. The brew pub provides the backline bass amp although I use my WTDI to make it sound like my Eden amp. I'll let folks plug into my WTDI, but NOBODY uses my bass or my own amp and cab.
I loaned gear out a couple of times in my early years (back in the 60's and 70's) and got it back damaged both times. One was a cigarette burn on a cabinet (I don't smoke) and the other time, the guy I let use my bass messed up the bridge on my '65 Jazz. I take really good care of my gear because it is expensive, took me a long time to be able to buy it, and I can't just go out and replace it if someone damages it. Nobody will take care of your gear the way you do because they have nothing invested in it. Just say no to "can I use your gear?" inquiries.
If a bass player want's to "sit-in" for a song or two, he can use my WTDI with his bass using the settings I put on it to play through our PA system, but that's as far as I'll go. If he wants to play through amp and cab he'll have to bring along his own bass, amp and cab.
no no one knows about this but me. as a band except for the singer we are tight musically and we all do things our way and we take in the comments and critiques of one another we have been having issues with singer he cant keep rhythm he doesnt hit the proper notes he is always in some fowl mood and blames his performance on it.
i've invested a lot of money into my gear and i am very protective over my stuff won't let him definitely use my bass if he brought his i'll let him use the amp and cabs.
I also got the impression that he's invited for input on the songwriting direction and just happens to be a bass player (active musician) .
I'd bite my tongue and see what happens before I said anything. But I do understand your concern.
I'd bite my tongue and see what happens before I said anything. But I do understand your concern.
The networking aspect of this is a positive one though, as others have mentioned. I, for one, would be happy to build a network of fellow bassists just so I can get subs more easily. Well, it would also help ditching a particular band, just pass the torch to the next one like a cursed artifact and blow that popsicle stand. Well, totall different scenario from yours, so ymmv.
What are you going to do when your guitarist asks the visiting bass player how he would play a certain part and then asks to see your bass real quick?
Sorry for bringing it up. Just imagining my own, personal hell.
Show up. Be nice. Just see how it goes. No need to be overly suspicious, but don’t be nieve either.
The only time a band I played in ever invited another bass player to rehearsal/practice, it turned out that they were secretly shopping for a new bass player.
A few weeks later, they let me go right after a big, well paid gig.
The same band asked me to come back two years later. I did. Then they did it again. Those guys had great songs or I never would have given them a second chance. Never again. Jerks.
The only time a band I played in ever invited another bass player to rehearsal/practice, it turned out that they were secretly shopping for a new bass player.
A few weeks later, they let me go right after a big, well paid gig.
The same band asked me to come back two years later. I did. Then they did it again. Those guys had great songs or I never would have given them a second chance. Never again. Jerks.
Definitely weird. Years ago I was at an audition and they asked if one of their friends could use my gear to play a song. I said no. It was very awkward, but not my problem. It's really presumptuous IF they think the other guy can just use your gear. It may be nothing.
