Ever done this ?

[buzzbass]

OK, so I had my 1st audition Friday night. Haven't touched the bass in almost 3 yrs due to health issues. I'm ready to get back to it now.

So from my perspective, I'm still rusty. That being said, it was classic rock stuff that was pretty easy to play. I had no issues. I was surprised at how well it went from my standpoint. The "band" is 3 old guys. One guit who's pretty good, another who claims to have done all kinds of famous stuff, but you couldn't prove that by me with what I saw. He was a real ass too.

Drummer & 1st guit said I crushed it. Grump guy said less, and even bitched at me because my tone needed more treble, or so he says. At one point I was trying to help him trough the cords of several songs he should've known already. Despite all this, it sounded ok at times.

So here's my question. I don't hold out a lot of hope for this situation, but I want to play in a band. Despite my misgivings, do I stick it out ? I think the one guit guy and I will have "discussions" again, but I've played with a-holes before. I think I can deal with that. I see myself as having to be the one who gets things organized musically, and I just wanted to go be the bass player. Don't know if I want all that extra responsibility, but then again....I want to play. Would you stick it out until you find something else, or cut bait and run now

 

[bassbully]

Cut and run. I get a gut about new bands and players and it is usually spot on. My last band had a guitar player who was "out there". He was full of stories about his past, often ignored me, tried to tweak my tone and playing and thru it all was a subpar player... as well as stoned 100% of the time.
I decided I just have no time to waste on grumpy, sloppy, know it all players so I bailed quickly.
The "hang" in a band is important to me. I was with my new band almost 7 hours this past weekend from set up, played 4 sets and tear down. We had a good time together and the hang was good.
Its early with this band but I feel good about them as a group. When you are around somebody that long you better enjoy the company or at least be getting paid damn well for it. Trust your instincts here.

 

[nixdad]

I agree with bassbully. Life is too short to play with people who are not a good fit for you, let alone someone who's a jacka$$.

I'm certain there are plenty of bands which would love to have you. Pass on this one.

 

[bikeplate]

Pass

 

[okcrum]

Seeing as you're getting your chops back, and have nothing else going at the moment, why not give this a shot until something better comes along? I'd at least see if Grumpy Guy comes around. Who's the BL? Let me guess...

I'd definitely stay in contact with the other guitarist and the drummer at the least. Something better might come of that.

 

[buzzbass]

thanks for the input so far guys. I'm still mulling it over. My gut tells me to bag it, but I think I'll go jam one more time before the final decision

 

[Later_Peter]

well, here's my unrequested opinion:
Jam with no commitment if want. Your health (including peace of mind) will be better if you're with people with whom you can spend the time & enjoy it... you're skills will improve, as well... because you'll enjoy it, not because you "have to".

 

[Thor]

Keep looking.

Life is too short to deal with that kind of <*%^@! > stuff.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Don't sign on hoping things will change - that's not fair to them. If you are not willing to accept the band as is, pass.

 

[noagreement]

It doesn't sound like a decision was made yet on either side. Go out and audition as much as you can. Network and try some local open mics or blues jams. Sometimes those chance meetings result in the best band situations.

 

[two fingers]

If you can land a band with only one jerk you're doing fine. Maybe take the drummer off to the side and have a quite chat.

"Is this guy all bark or is he really a jerk?"

To be sure they wouldn't want to hang out with him if he is THAT bad. Go jam again and see what happens. You have nothing to lose. Maybe the guy was having a particularly bad night. Maybe he really is a D bag and you can tell him so when you pack up and leave. And that'll feel good too.

 

[Thor]

Buzzbass, it's nice to hear you're at it again!

I had a really interesting audition some years ago. It'll take me a minute to find the link. But just when you think it was a little sketchy, it can be a LOT worse!

 

[RichardW]

It'll never be as easy to leave as it is now...

 

[Biggbass]

run
you gotta stick to your guns and pursue what it is that you actually want instead of settling for something less than you want and tolerating the compromises.

 

[Bass'd on a true story]

Not worth it. Every time I've had a bad first impression of a band mate it has ended badly. I can't think of a single exception.

 

[Thor]

Lol.

Here you go. This is how it went down. You can't make this stuff up...
Audition from H3!!

 

[Jughead6]

Bands are fun in the same way that junior school was fun. If you can behave like an adult then you'll do fine.

 

[rocu]

It's been said many times here, and for good reason. The reasons to be in a band are the Music, the Money and the Hang. You have to have two out of three.

 

[okcrum]

If you can land a band with only one jerk you're doing fine. Maybe take the drummer off to the side and have a quite chat.

"Is this guy all bark or is he really a jerk?"

To be sure they wouldn't want to hang out with him if he is THAT bad. Go jam again and see what happens. You have nothing to lose. Maybe the guy was having a particularly bad night. Maybe he really is a D bag and you can tell him so when you pack up and leave. And that'll feel good too.

I actually had a BL tell me he was pretty happy with the band lineup we had, because no one was on heroin and the bikers weren't after anyone in the band. We could put up with the drummer in that case; he was just barred from drinking on the gig.

 

[Honch]

Pass, Run Forrest Run.... even if you showed some mitigating mentality with that you'll "suffer fools gladly" in that you can work with a-holes, and used to be in that situation before. I am pretty adamant these days, especially with "old guys". But I wish you good luck anyway, with either band. But I would seek elsewhere.