Does this sound legit?

[Turbo Sparky]

Sketchy IMO.
"Full-time" as in contract? What's the split/cut? At least picks/strings?
If you give it a go, IMO go with a sidekick/friend at least the first time.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Hi. I haven't been playing electric guitar or electric bass for too long, and I've been jamming with others in public on a consistent basis for a while now. No rehearsed material, all improv, but it still sounds good cause I read up on theory.
Now it looks like I've found myself in an audition spot for an underground pop-like metal band (think Evanescence like). It's mainly root notes they say, no fancy stuff, and that image seems to be more important. I put on a show for the crowd. The last guy could only play one note they say, and they need to fill the spot immediately. I'm also much younger than all of them, they've been playing longer than me.
They have about ten songs worth of original material, some press, and gigs set up. They're actually full time and I could end up getting paid for this. I was worried it could be a scam given how simple it all sounded, just show up, show us that you can pluck, learn the root notes, start touring and studio sessions.
I honest to God need the money and the experience because I can rarely find others who want to start a permanent thing or who want to challenge each other. It looks like I won't have to do much at all here as a bassist, and the way they pitched it almost seemed like a get rich quick scheme. It's just all really quick and I'm unsure if it's natural, worried it might not be for me. I'd like to know anyone's thoughts or advice on this, but I'm also going to talk to my friend and my therapist about it too cause I really don't know what to think.

In my opinion any project with such low expectations of the bass in the roll of the band is a waste of time. The only having ten songs but being full time seems like a red flag. Beware of the “we’re full time musicians” people. Most of them are losers who are “full time musicians” because they can’t keep a day job.

 

[saabfender]

Don't overthink this. Learn the songs. Go audition (sounds like most auditions, from your description) and be all you can be. See what happens after that.

 

[LT131]

How is a band with ten songs talking about touring? That will be a money loser right there.

I guess nothing to be lost checking them out, but I would be VERY careful to not get roped into a situation that will suck you dry monetarily and emotionally.

Maybe they are long songs.

 

[xnewyorka]

They talk a lot about press and they have music videos and an EP or something coming out.

Did you check out their press yet? If you Google them and you can't find all the press, then it doesn't exist outside of their imagination.

Ask them to send you links to a few of their videos as well. Same rule applies there.

These days there are so many different types of scams, it is absolutely right for you to be approaching this with some caution and healthy skepticism.

If their press looks appealing and makes them seem marketable, then I'd say go check it out.

I won't be surprised if they tell you that you are exactly what they are looking for, and then they ask you for some cash to help finance the completion of the EP. Please report back and let us know.

 

[JohnnyChatter]

The Ten song thing doesn’t throw me off so much because In the rock n roll world it’s not uncommon to have a 30-45 minute set. Unless you are headlining big shows. Now I would be more worried about the lack of care of who you are or how good you are. When I try new members out I’m all trying out personality and not just talent. I would go just to check it out and if anything a good laugh.

 

[JohnnyChatter]

Oh yeah. How old are you also? If your under 21 I would be really kinda sketched. Not that it’s a bad thing being young but most pro bands won’t consider players younger because of bar laws. Real pain because I have had to pass up some great players in the past.

 

[Magthegrate]

Take your cheapest bass with you in case you get mugged.

 

[Edarnott]

Run, and run fast.

 

[Element Zero]

Impossible to tell until you get there. I once did an audition for a band with a full list of tunes, and a full PA with subs and custom IEMs at rehearsal and a full time sound man, and they were mediocre players who couldn't get more than three gigs in a year.

Been there. Done that.

 

[db59]

I'm thinking this is some kind of
kidnap/ransom thing......do you have wealthy parents or relatives?

 

[Mister Boh]

I'd have walked when I heard Evanescence come up.

 

[lfmn16]

Did their addy include the phrase "label interest"? If so, run like hell. They're also talking music videos and EP's so...mark my words...they'll be asking you to pony up your share of the costs.

All this without ever playing a single live paying gig.

Riis

Maybe they have "connections" too!

OP - full time doesn't mean sponging off their parents, living in the basement. Full time means making enough money to live on. Use some common sense here. How does a band with 10 songs get enough gigs to make a living? Did you ask them how often they play, where they are playing, how much they get per gig, how the gig money is split, do they have equipment? Did you check their website, Facebook page, listen to demos of their music, search online?

If not, you don't even have enough information to decide to audition.

If you need money, go get a job.

 

[4dog]

take someone with you

 

[Element Zero]

I'd have walked when I heard Evanescence come up.

Meh. At least it wasn’t The Who. Or Creed.

 

[redwingxix]

I say check it out and bring your cheapest bass. It may not be the perfect gig but you never know what other connections you may make. Once the notion of investment on your part comes up, then it's time to bail.

 

[Clark Dark]

Welcome to the forum

 

[Kmonk]

A band that is more concerned about image than the music is a red flag for me. Sounds like they are not really concerned about the music. How are you going to develop as a musician if all you doing is playing simple root notes? You might be able to use the band as a stepping stone to something else due to the fact that you are going to be gigging which will give you the opportunity to network.

 

[sean_on_bass]

I'd have walked when I heard Evanescence come up.

For real. They must be shooting for that early 2000's sound...not all that relevant in 2019. Plus that music is about as shallow as it gets.

 

[Plutonium244]

Yep-- puffery. They are quite naturally portraying the opportunity in its best light, heavy on aspirational stuff, and they want you to take the gig, so of course they talk it up as the next big thing. But-- nothing wrong with that, that's just optimism, not deception.

Not my kind of music, but for the experience, given you've not been at it super long, of playing with older and maybe more experienced-than-you players, why not? And if it ends up paying $ too? Bonus. I've long said-- having played in a multitude of musical contexts over the years-- that all experience is good experience. I've learned a lot with that philosophy.

Worst case scenario -- you decide it aint happenin', and you walk away a little wiser-- as I said, all experience is good experience, that's how you get to be functional in any musical setting, and thus, able to work ($).

In general, if the question is "I don't know, should I go for it?" the answer is usually yes. You'll regret more the opportunities you don't pursue than those you do, in life. Says the bass Buddha from high mountaintop that resembles a soap box.

Good luck, I would be interested to hear how it turns out, here on this thread, once you've got a better idea where this leads.