Frustrated with Band Situation

[jdwinva]

So I'm a 54 year old bassist and have been playing since I was 27. I've played in some really great bands and have met a lot of great people and one or two really horrible humans with lead signer disease. Over the past five years I have found that finding and holding together the right band situation is increasingly difficult. Sometimes it is the immaturity of a musician, other times it is constant scheduling difficulties, and so on that make it almost impossible to play out as much as I want. I really would love to find a gigging band that plays twice a month. More and more I'm seeing local bands that play some great music and I am finding myself wanting to be in a band like this. I'm gravitating to more soulful music as I get older and making this happen is turning out to be crazy difficult. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Thanks for listening.

 

[two fingers]

1) Network.... IN PERSON. Go to open mic nights amd meet people.

2) Be picky, and completely up front about your expectations and goals. Turn down anything that doesn't meet them.

3) Place a CL ad and describe EXACTLY the kind of band you want to be in.


You are close enough to the DC metro area that you should he able to find some like-minded individuals looking for the same things you are.

It took me MONTHS to form a band once I had a vision in mind for what I wanted to do. Once I found a singer and guitar player, they had to wait on the sidelines until the other pieces fell into place. Now we fit like an old glove and have a blast making music together.

 

[hrodbert696]

It's tough. A band is the most fragile thing. You have to get a bunch of people, all with the right mix and level of skills, with personalities that can function together, schedules that line up, and goals and musical tastes that are all compatible with each other, and keep them that way for an extended period of time. I try to think in terms of "projects" rather than "bands" and cultivate relationships with as many musicians as I can, so that we can all fit together into each other's projects to get gigs.

 

[garp]

I really would love to find a gigging band that plays twice a month. More and more I'm seeing local bands that play some great music and I am finding myself wanting to be in a band like this. I'm gravitating to more soulful music as I get older and making this happen is turning out to be crazy difficult. Any suggestions or comments are welcome.

Rather than waiting to be found by the right band, you might want to consider starting your own. Admittedly, it can involve more work and considerable investment, but at least you get to control the myriad variables. And it just might be the quicker way to be gigging twice a month.

Also, consider becoming a hired gun by offering to sub for any band that meets your criteria. That can help to get you networked into the right group of musicians.

 

[mrcbass]

Yep, it's a very frustrating game this band business. If you're not in to the open mic thing (like me), it can be tough locating new blood. I just try to respond to anything that looks close and at least get some networking out of it. I only have a few years under my belt, so trying to expand the list of musicians I know. You find it, just need to keep at it and be ready when the opportunity knocks.

 

[JRA]

try to think in terms of "projects" rather than "bands" and cultivate relationships with as many musicians as I can, so that we can all fit together into each other's projects to get gigs.

also: don't give up. never give up. good luck!

 

[ArtechnikA]

I'm in that club too, I'm afraid.
I'm writing my resignation right now. Had a long band meeting last night, so this is really more of a pro-forma...

 

[buldog5151bass]

Keep looking. As venues with full band live music disappeared, so do regular gigging bands.

 

[Spidey2112]

I've played in some really great bands and have met a lot of great people and one or two really horrible humans with lead signer disease.

I feel ya'... what's worse is their fanatical obsession of clicking their pens multiple times, while you try to get a word in, edgewise.

 

[40Hz]

The problem I see most often is that far too many players expect their bands to make a commitment to their priorities, but at the same time want to keep all their own options open to pursue “other opportunities.” Kinda like saying: “I’ll give you all my love forever - on Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus the occasional Saturday if nothing else comes up.”

 

[Wisebass]

: “I’ll give you all my love forever - on Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus the occasional Sunday if nothing else comes up.”

Fixed! The perfect marriage!

Saturdays are for gigs.


greetings


Wise(b)ass

 

[friskinator]

I'm in the same boat. I'm currently faced with the challenge of trying to find something agreeable in a new city (I've only been here about a month). CL has yielded no results, and the ad I posted with specifics about what I'm looking for has yielded 2 responses that made it clear the responders didn't read my ad at all. Sigh.

I also contacted the booking agent for one of my previous bands for help. It's always great having a personal connection, right? He connected me to the BL for one of the agency's bands in my area that happened to be looking for a bassist. Sent the guy my info, and he said "cool, thanks! Give me a couple days, and I'll get back to you." That was a month ago.

At this point, I'm trying to decide if I have the patience for this anymore. Sometimes it doesn't seem worth it.

 

[MIMike]

What about trying to reconnect with some of your favorite players and people from the past?
They might have a network that could help expand yours and grow something new from your previous band relationships.

 

[TheReceder]

I got to know an exceptional bassist that does repair work, eventually let him know that if he knew anyone looking that I was interested.

I didn't think about it at the time, but now I realize, his being one of the best in town, he got asked a to fill in a lot. My being respectful of him, led him to think that I was ok, and if something came up he could recommend me without any hesitation.

After he recommended me, I landed a gig with a group that has minimal problems, and I've been with them for about 7 years. This band was exactly what I was looking for and to a degree, we've landed some pretty good warm up gigs for what's arguably the best band in the state. (The band that the exceptional bass player is in).

 

[Stewie]

Definitely go to open mics. Someone will eventually ask you to join a band or form one. Just be a reasonable player and a really good guy.

 

[nixdad]

1) Network.... IN PERSON. Go to open mic nights amd meet people.

2) Be picky, and completely up front about your expectations and goals. Turn down anything that doesn't meet them.

3) Place a CL ad and describe EXACTLY the kind of band you want to be in.


You are close enough to the DC metro area that you should he able to find some like-minded individuals looking for the same things you are.

It took me MONTHS to form a band once I had a vision in mind for what I wanted to do. Once I found a singer and guitar player, they had to wait on the sidelines until the other pieces fell into place. Now we fit like an old glove and have a blast making music together.

Excellent advice. Networking is the key.
My son got most of his work for years by participating in the Monday Night Jam Nights at The Baked Potato in L.A. You need to put yourself out there to see and be seen.

 

[2112]

It took me over a year to put together the covers project I have now, and it's as solid a situation as I can expect for a bunch of professional family men in their mid-late 40's. It's all about putting your personal preferences aside and thinking about the band as a whole... and we're all real good about it. The latest test along those lines for me... our alpha keyboardist left a few months ago and we haven't been able to replace him... there's just nobody in our area that can fill his shoes. So I'm actually considering putting on the cape and moving into that role and hiring another bassist, which are a dime-a-dozen. While I prefer to play bass, it ain't about me, it's about the band.

 

[Muttleybass]

Welcome to the club! I think it's the same dilemma we all face... The older we get the more picky we are and the harder it seems to be to find the 'perfect' band.

What I did is started my own thing. Before I met the guys I'm playing with now, I never stopped looking for that right band. I still went to auditions, met people, took numbers... I used to get different people out every week at my place, agree on 6 - 10 songs and just kept trying to keep in touch with the people I like. I still try and make it out to jams once a week to keep in the network. If you don't have a place, it seems that there are more affordable rehearsal studios than ever before, at least around here.

I look at it like a journey, not a destination. Keep plugging away. You'll get there. Don't stop believing'

 

[electracoyote]

So I'm a 54 year old bassist and have been playing since I was 27. I've played in some really great bands and have met a lot of great people and one or two really horrible humans with lead signer disease. Over the past five years I have found that finding and holding together the right band situation is increasingly difficult. Sometimes it is the immaturity of a musician, other times it is constant scheduling difficulties, and so on that make it almost impossible to play out as much as I want. I really would love to find a gigging band that plays twice a month. More and more I'm seeing local bands that play some great music and I am finding myself wanting to be in a band like this. I'm gravitating to more soulful music as I get older and making this happen is turning out to be crazy difficult. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Thanks for listening.

You need people who share your goals and standards in the important respects you outlined, and more. Try to get some kind of commitment that once the ball starts rolling everyone you play with can hold up their end of the bargain.

Momentum and continuity are always impeded by members pulling the band in distinctly different directions in terms of time/availability/scheduling for rehearsals and performances, target audiences/venues/talent buyers, playlist/song selection designed to please that talent buyer (and hopefully fulfill musicians' basic needs as well), pay scale, dress code/aesthetics, marketing, and all the important elements that make for a successful project. Outline these elements as you see fit for a healthy rewarding band experience, have detailed meaningful dialog about these goals right up front, and find people who understand, share, and can support your vision.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Welcome to the club! I think it's the same dilemma we all face... The older we get the more picky we are and the harder it seems to be to find the 'perfect' band.

There are a dozen examples of what I'd consider an ideal situation right here in my part of the world. But there's only about 5 working bass players in that genre, and they've got all the gigs. It's like the Supreme Court - you practically have to wait for someone to die before an opportunity becomes available...