Ever lose a bass gig to a guitar player?

So don't go there to be taken advantage of. If he needs an explanation, tell it as it is, you're not intested in sitting in, you're looking for proper gigs. In reality though, you can't compete with the guy's buddy. For the future, you need to be that buddy.

Or, he is not sure if you can hack it, so you need to see it as a chance to prove yourself. So, go there and do your best in the hope he will call you next time.

 

No, but I have lost auditions and opportunities because of age. I lost an audition for a cover band a few years a go to a young guy with no experience and didn't even come to the audition prepared. They fired him within the first few months.

I don't mind being screened out because of my age if the band is up front about it.

I spoke with a guy about a cover band opportunity once and he told me that they would not consider adding another person my age to the band and it made perfect sense in terms of what they were trying to do.

My point, we are all going to win and lose opportunities for all sorts of reasons.

Blue

 

I sat-in on a few gigs with some guys a few years ago when their regular guy couldn't do it. Everything seemed to go well and their drummer in particular loved me (their regular guy was much more "active" on the bass whereas I more just hold things down).

Anyway... their regular bass player moved away so I let them know I would love to play with them on a more regular basis as schedules allowed. Never heard from them and come to find out they've still been gigging but using a guy on bass who I had only ever known to play guitar. Now I do know this guitarist is also a great singer (which their former bassist also was, but I am not), and that he has a real long history with the other guys in that band on a church/friendship basis. So I was a little bummed (cause they are all great players who get nice, high-paying, low-effort gigs)... but in that case I completely understand why.

 

Thanks Blue, for finding yet another way to inject age into a band management thread. Yes, you're old and you're living the dream. Congrats.

OP. If this could be a steady gig, you should go and sit in. Blow the guitar player 'bassist' out of the water. Land the full time job. The end.

 

Hi Charlie,

I happen to think age is an issue in this business and band management. But that's just me.

By the way, I'm not old, I'm 60 years young, older but not old in any sense of the word.

Living the dream, not really, but I'm working. lol

I do agree that the OP should go sit in, you never know what might come out of it.

blue

 

No, it's not just you. Age IS a factor in the entertainment business.

It's just not a factor in this thread. Unless you lost a gig to a guitar player switching to bass for the job that happens to be younger than you.

Your second post is on point and relevant. You think the OP should sit in and try to win the job.

Your first post is pure, sweet and unadulterated thread derail...

 

He hired his friend. You would do the same.

 

Maybe, and you might have a point. However, my post was another example of how we can lose opprtunities for questionable and unknown reasons.

It was an extension of the OPs scenario. I am not sure I would call it a complete clear cut derail.

Blue

 

Though the subject of the thread is a bit more specific, "losing a gig to a guitarist", I would think other reasons for having lost a gig would be just as relevant in this thread. I dont see it as a derail at all.

 

I have had guitar player friends call me to borrow my gear for their new bass gigs...

 

When it comes to the blues there are two things you will NEVER beat out.

Buddy Guy and a guy's buddy. Just give it up.

 

I lost a bass gig to a drummer. And I'd had the gig for seven years!

BL was getting increasingly exhausted, sweaty and weak after every set. It got to where I had to help him on and offstage. And he's younger than me!

One Saturday night after the gig he told me "Jeff (drummer) is speeding up the songs. He's wearing me out!" I made sympathetic noises, then he said "I'll give you a call this week". As I drove home I wondered why he'd call me. Suggestions for new drummers, maybe? But he knows more local musicians than I do... ?

He finally called to tell me he was going to "put me on the shelf" and move Jeff to bass. Granted, Jeff is a very talented dude who plays keys, drums, guitar and bass and sings quite well. He'd only been in the band a year or so, but he'd been in a previous band w/the BL. I was told "As soon as we can get a keyboard, we'll put Jeff on that and bring you back". But sadly, apparently there was a long-term shortage of keyboards in that area. That must be why the come-back call never came, right?

Soon after that, the BL found out that he was suffering from congestive heart failure. Within a year, he'd had quadruple bypass surgery and the band went "on the shelf" for quite a while.

I dunno, maybe he did me an unintentional favor. But that's the only time I was ever fired due to someone else screwing up on his instrument.

 

It was relevant to the topic as far as I can tell. However, I do see Charlie Monroes point about you always mentioning your age. It seems to be part of the majority of your posts and topics. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it does define you as the old guy in the band whether you realize it or not. We get it. You're 60 and rocking it.

 

No. I've only ever quit bands.

 

+1, at least as a bassist. Ive been given the spot for every audition Ive had. However, I usually prefer to start my own bands in favor of joining others.

I did get turned down once when I auditioned as a vocalist.

 

Blue,

Why don't you just put your age in your signature and then you only have to type out your age once a year instead of 10 times a day?

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By the way, I'm not old, I'm 60 years young, older but not old in any sense of the word.