Didnt get the gig...really bummed out...

[MatticusMania]

I am sure you did learn and I stress learn 90 songs.

But you will never convince me that you played 90 new songs live for the first time without rehearsing with that band without making several mistakes.

The definition of learning a song, to me, is learning it well enough to perform live.

Do you play every show without ever making a single mistake? If you say yes I'm going to say that I dont believe you.

I probably make a minimum of one mistake per show, usually its so small that the bandleader, who wrote the songs, doesnt even notice.

So again, I state my position, that YES, I can learn 90 new coversongs up to performance standards in 6 weeks.

 

[MatticusMania]

So everyone here agrees they've never played a perfect night?

So there's no problem if there's a few mistakes on the fill in gig, you can learn the 90 tunes, recognizing it won't be perfect.

No poblem wirh Steve's analysis.It makes perfect sense.

Then why do you insist on pushing the point if its accepted that no one is going to ever play an entire perfect set?

You are truly exhibiting trollish behavior, which is against forum rules.

 

[MikeBass]

Good post. It seems like everyone is twisting this to support their point, me too.

All I am saying is nobody is walking on stage with a live band for the 1st time and know how to play 90 new songs flawlessly with no prior rehearsal with the band.

I have made it clear, 90 new songs, that does not include covers you already know.

.....I've been called on MANY a night at the last second to sub on gigs where for the majority of the night, I didn't know one damn song.
Getting chord changes yelled to me from keyboard players or guitar players....I've made an art form of being able in most "pop songs" of being able to play them pretty close as long as I can see the guitar player/keyboard players hands.
I also have this stupid ability to play something (within reason) if I can "sing" it or hum it.
I "practice" songs mostly for pop gigs by just listening to them a few times.
Pisses my wife off- doesn't understand how I can "learn" something by listening to it. Pretty much by the second verse/bridge I'm settled in to the tune.

So, a commercial/contemporary cover gig. Yeah, no sweat. I've built my rep in town by walking in and having no one except maybe a musician or two notice that I've never played some songs/with the band prior.

When I do practice, sometimes I just put on the popular top40/pop/country/R&B radio station and play along.
Just like on somes gigs.
Song comes on- PLAY it. No rewind. No second chance.
Yes, I practice this way at times.

Wanna be a working player??? Do that. Turn on the radio and play.
Develop that ear and your ability to anticipate changes.

Will it be "flawless"??? No. Not possible.
Will it cover the gig and not train wreck? Yup.

 

[TheVoiceless]

Having been on many auditions, maybe 30-40 total, I can say in most cases your person/personality might have been the determining factor. Sounds like your a solid player and musically knowledgeable. And any pro with half a brain would have seen your side of the story and been sympathetic. It sounds like their way of saying " we are having my cousin join, or some hired gun type. Or maybe they found someone in their inner circle.

Its ok to be bummed. But don't let it hold you back. And don't take it personally, as hard as that is, because it is always personal. But if it was meant to be it would have happened.

I lost a BIG gig because I could not sing back ups. Made it through two auditions, was complemented on my playing, but was told the record label wanted strong 3 part harmonies. So I lost the gig to someone older more established, and a way better singer. Even though I still consider myself a better bass player then the guy who did get the gig, he was the better man for the job. Took sometime to get over it, especially when I found out they toured with Audioslave, but I have made the best of it. Took that experience and began vocal lessons. But in the end, vocals are just not my bag. So I need to focus on groups that do not need a singing bass player.

Head up man, and keep yourself out there. That's the only way you will get what you want.

 

[bluewine]

Then why do you insist on pushing the point if its accepted that no one is going to ever play an entire perfect set?

You are truly exhibiting trollish behavior, which is against forum rules.

Steve's post was realistic and honest.

 

[bluewine]

Cool, that's the point I was trying to make thank you

 

[bluewine]

Everyone understands the premise or parameters of your position: you made a statement that is contrary to the actual personal experience of many people here. You got called out on it. Rather than just admitting you were wrong, you added a bunch of parameters that have nothing to do with the original post and then pretended that those parameters were part of your original statement.

With much respect I have to say no. Admit I was wrong,I do it all the time, but not in this case.

 

[bluewine]

Blue, there are musicians out there better than you or I.

I didn't read all of your post, because of the comment above you don't have any credibility with me.

This was never about musicians that are better than each other. I have never claimed to be better than any other player.

As a matter of fact I go to alot of the TBers web sites and most are better bass players than me.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I love this guy.......

 

[bluewine]

I love this guy.......

Guy as far as your personal insults about my glasses.

I'm 58, I have terrible eye sight and yes I have to wear glasses to see.

I have other health problems as well.

It would be nice if we were all perfect like you.

 

[agreatheight]

I didn't read all of your post, because of the comment above you don't have any credibility with me.

This was never about musicians that are better than each other. I have never claimed to be better than any other player.

As a matter of fact I go to alot of the TBers web sites and most are better bass players than me.

Blue, if T'bers stopped reading posts due a factor of credibility your posts would end at post one.

This IS about musicians that are better than each other. You cannot fathom that other players can do things you can't even mentally approach. You wield your opinion to protect your fragile ego. You are sad to me, a cynic with no imagination of greatness.

 

[MatticusMania]

Steve's post was realistic and honest.

Of course, because my posts were not at all, even though we were saying essentially the same thing...

No way, it is entirely possible. 6 weeks is 42 days. Thats only learning just over 2 songs a day. In my original band I was learning 4 songs a day to catch up to the band, of course we didnt have a 90 song setlist, but 2 songs a day isnt that much to take in.

Sure, there will be some hitches, as are illustrated in the OP. Band does Song A in a different key then was learned. Band adds extended solo to Song B. Band doubles up the chorus on Song C. Thats to be expected, IMO, if youre playing 35-90 new songs with a band that youve never rehearsed with. It seems the band that the OP is referencing is also aware of that, seeing as how theyve given him a second paying gig only a week later.

I didn't read all of your post, because of the comment above you don't have any credibility with me.

Someone loses credibility for saying "Blue, there are musicians out there better than you or I."

Seriously? Youve got to be some kind of a joke man!

 

[bluewine]

Blue, if T'bers stopped reading posts due a factor of credibility your posts would end at post one.

This IS about musicians that are better than each other. You cannot fathom that other players can do things you can't even mentally approach. You wield your opinion to protect your fragile ego. You are sad to me, a cynic with no imagination of greatness.

I have no idea what your talking about.I'm a bass player, not the best, not the worse.

Most guys here are better bass players than me.They can play circles around me. I understand that.

Again I have no idea what your talkinng about and more important why I would care.

 

[TC2112]

Do you have links to the top wedding requests? I'd love to check them out.

I agree, as you learn songs you see how many songs follow similar patterns. Learn the patterns, and then it's just a matter of getting the arrangement. If you play with a drummer that cues the band well, you're good as gold then.

Majority of those songs are 3-4 chords, some even just one. It's not rocket science. And even if you don't nail it note-for-note, as long as the groove is strong, most folks won't notice. They may even like it better.

Jive - I use this site a lot because it has a ton of different top lists. Here is a link to the wedding stuff, but there is a ton of info here

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[MikeBass]

Cool, that's the point I was trying to make thank you

Hold on blue.....Lets not be a bit silly here.
I CAN do what you said.
I have.
Many times.

Flawless from a PERFECT standpoint no.
Flawless from no one in the room except maybe the other musicians will notice on stage? Sure.

Hell my main gig I don't play flawless and I've been playing that junk for a while now!

Your point should at least have something more than expectations that are not obtainable.
90 songs flawless....I'm not sure really ANYONE could pull it off to the exacting letter.
Again, pull it off on a professional level to ensure that from the general publics perspective that it is flawless would be more in-line with the topic at hand.

 

[MatticusMania]

Again, pull it off on a professional level to ensure that from the general publics perspective that it is flawless would be more in-line with the topic at hand.

I thought that would have gone without saying, but apparently blue needs everything spelled out for him.

 

[bluewine]

Of course, because my posts were not at all, even though we were saying essentially the same thing...







Someone loses credibility for saying "Blue, there are musicians out there better than you or I."

Seriously? Youve got to be some kind of a joke man!

Originally Posted by agreatheight
Blue, there are musicians out there better than you or I.

No, he lost credibility with me for acusing me of thinking I think I am a better bass player than other TBers.

There are many high rollers in here that would play circles around me and I have made that clear.

I never made any claims about my abilities other than i like paying and I invest a lot of time in it.

I probably have written so much your probably confused.

 

[crijan]

I am a bandleader. I book subs for gigs fairly often for several of the pieces of the band. Often these subs are hired specifically with the clause that the sub will get no rehearsals.

I don't require them to learn 90 pop songs, but I do require them to learn 25 songs with difficult arrangements that only half of which were ever on the radio.

Out of the dozens of times I've hired someone under these conditions, only one sub has ever really screwed the pooch and he was one that actually did have a rehearsal before hand. The funny thing was that he absolutely nailed the material at the rehearsal, lol.

 

[TC2112]

Originally Posted by agreatheight
Blue, there are musicians out there better than you or I.

No, he lost credibility with me for acusing me of thinking I think I am a better bass player than other TBers.

There are many high rollers in here that would play circles around me and I have made that clear.

I never made any claims about my abilities other than i like paying and I invest a lot of time in it.

I probably have written so much your probably confused.

Ok, You win Blue

Now can we please utilize this space for wishing the OP well, or helping others who may get in this situation

 

[Mulebagger]

Best of luck with your gig search. I would not want to play in a band that is so unhelpful. They didn't even seem willing to help you out. In any gig i've subbed in the players are usually more helpful and more interested in having the band come off as a unit rather than such a trial by fire.

As for being prepared... well, you had a lot on your plate. Stuff happens. That's life. Don't let all those things cloud the real issue at hand which is that the band didn't really give you the tools for success beyond your own technical ability. Being blasted by the drummer, given the wrong time by the singer, not having a spot saved for you to set up in, and some other things you mentioned lead me to believe the band doesn't really care or operate as a team. They certainly were not going out of their way to make you feel a part of their team.

As for your old band: don't look back. you left for a reason and you'll leave again for the same reasons soon. They will handle it as they need to and you shouldn't necessarily expect them to take you back.

For the new band: well if scoring crappy gigs in nice places is important to you then stay with them. Otherwise, I'd keep looking.