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East Tennessee Talkbass

#1,662
b-bottom said:
I've been in K town for about 2 months now and I've come to a few conclusions.......

No one knows how to make a decent sub or Pizza. It's a strange thing. Where I came from in PA, you could throw a rock in any direction and hit a decent pizza shop. I've been to 5 or 6 different pizza shops
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DaVinci's. Old City. Has a picture of New Jersey on the sign. They make pizza NYC style.
 
#1,667
As many of you know, I'm a newbie to URB (started lessons in May), and was contacted last week to perform three shows with a solo artist. The vocalist is a very gifted young lady, daughter of a friend at church, and the song selection is pretty far ranging, from Adele to Pink to Ella Fitzgerald, etc.

The "band" will be two piece, acoustic guitar (very versatile and talented guy) and myself, on upright bass.

I've played the upright during worship practice every Sunday just to get some valuable "band time" with the instrument, and have even used it during services when appropriate.

The problem of course, is I'm no where close to the comfort level I have on electric bass, and playing anything other than upright is not an option for these gigs.

I've gone through the set list (36 songs or so) and can "play" them, but it won't be anything fancy. In other words, it's not going to suck, but it won't be representative of my best work.

Would you guys take the gig, or take a pass on it?

BTW two of the three scheduled gigs are benefits, so no pay. Let's take the money part out of the equation.
 
#1,668
It would be nice to be able to support the other two with more in your kit than the basics, esp. if the other two are "talented" and "gifted". There's no doubt you have the chops, but in this case it's on the wrong instrument. I think I'd decline and study/practice a bit more.
 
#1,669
ldervish said:
It would be nice to be able to support the other two with more in your kit than the basics, esp. if the other two are "talented" and "gifted". There's no doubt you have the chops, but in this case it's on the wrong instrument. I think I'd decline and study/practice a bit more.
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I agree, very good response.

You hear the "but" coming....

I've accepted the gig as a favor to my friend conditionally on the results of the first rehearsal.

I can fall back on insisting I use my electric fretless or have her find another bassist. But given the compensation, it's likely me or nothing.
 
#1,670
rollerberg2000 said:
As many of you know, I'm a newbie to URB (started lessons in May), and was contacted last week to perform three shows with a solo artist. The vocalist is a very gifted young lady, daughter of a friend at church, and the song selection is pretty far ranging, from Adele to Pink to Ella Fitzgerald, etc.

The "band" will be two piece, acoustic guitar (very versatile and talented guy) and myself, on upright bass.

I've played the upright during worship practice every Sunday just to get some valuable "band time" with the instrument, and have even used it during services when appropriate.

The problem of course, is I'm no where close to the comfort level I have on electric bass, and playing anything other than upright is not an option for these gigs.

I've gone through the set list (36 songs or so) and can "play" them, but it won't be anything fancy. In other words, it's not going to suck, but it won't be representative of my best work.

Would you guys take the gig, or take a pass on it?

BTW two of the three scheduled gigs are benefits, so no pay. Let's take the money part out of the equation.
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I'm going to go the other way and vote "baptism by fire."

You can practice and study forever on the upright and never be really ready.

Based on the material and your comment stating that you can play it, just nothing fancy, then what else is there? We bass players don't usually get hired for "fancy." We get hired to lock down the groove.

With a two piece, you will be the drummer and the bass player so you'll be the sole time keeper.

It doesn't sound like they're looking for Christian McBride. As long as you're honest about your capabilities, I think you're golden.

I may be wrong, but didn't you do a couple of short notice fill in slab gigs to help guys out and absolutely kill it? Yes it's a slab but to me, this is proof that you have the core skills to make this happen.

How are you going to know where your weaknesses lie without playing in a "for keeps" setting?

I say go. Establish the groove and do not stray. Keep it simple. Watch your intonation. And most importantly, have fun !

You could do this in your sleep on a slab. Get that adrenaline going and make it happen. You may be rewarded emotionally beyond your wildest dreams.
 
#1,674
Thanks guys, all good responses!

If I waited until I was ready, or good enough, I would never have played in public. In the same vein, most of my playing career has been with musicians who are much better than me. A skilled drummer makes me sound like (insert bass hero here), and a stage filled with great musicians inspires me to dig deeper and get lost in the moment. Those moments are why we do what we do, right?:bassist:

Pretty sure I will accept the gig, holding the bottom down really is the "bottom" line, I'm confident I have the chops already to do that. Plus there are some nifty little pauses in a few songs requiring percussion only, which the upright as we all know is the original djembe!:ninja:

It would be a much different consideration if the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra needed a fill in...that would be worse than a 3rd grade trombone recital (cue the overhead B-52 bombers).
 
#1,676
I vote for taking the gig as well. Since they offered the job I'd take that to mean that they are comfortable with your current level of playing and probably have a very good idea that you are capable of growing with them on upright in the same way that you have on electric. :)
 
#1,677
JEDI BASS said:
Heck Jeff... play some songs you don't even know, wing it.
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Lol, that would be most of the throw together gigs I do! The fun is anticipating chord changes and nailing it, and even when you don't, you can walk your way out of it while still making music!

Played a coffee house gig tonight for World Orphans, we threw a bunch of musicians together and hit the high spots on the songs an hour before the show.

I must be doing okay, my eyes are shut lol!

DSCN0235.jpg
 
#1,679
rollerberg2000 said:
Lol, that would be most of the throw together gigs I do! The fun is anticipating chord changes and nailing it, and even when you don't, you can walk your way out of it while still making music!

Played a coffee house gig tonight for World Orphans, we threw a bunch of musicians together and hit the high spots on the songs an hour before the show.

I must be doing okay, my eyes are shut lol!

DSCN0235.jpg
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Awesome!! :-)
 

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