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Getting gigs

#21
how many auditions have you been to? start answering ads for "bass player wanted". if you don't know anyone and don't want to be in a jam environment, do that at least.

there is tons of great advice. here's one thing i'm certain we'll all agree on: no one is gonna come knocking on your door saying "PLEASE come play bass for me!". that is almost as close to a guarantee as death and he taxman. now get out there and good luck.
 
#23
the yeti said:
how many auditions have you been to? start answering ads for "bass player wanted". if you don't know anyone and don't want to be in a jam environment, do that at least.
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With all due respect, I must disagree. Walking into an audition with complete strangers is much more stressful than going into an open jam where there are no expectations and you don't even have to play.
 
#24
hmmm, it seems like you have a confidence problem.

i used to overcome mine by thinking of something i can do better than others, that i also worked hard for... and i keep telling myself "i was able to do this, so i can do whatever this next thing is."

i also assigned myself a motto that i live by.... it goes something like:

being terrible at something i love doing will not make me stop from doing it.

i hope it helps you.
 
#25
Ok, listen up, I am not shy when playing at all. I love it. I rock it every sunday at church in front of three services. I guess don't know how to talk to people when it comes to getting into bands. But I guess that's just me. Also, I simply don't want to do an open jam. I want to be in a band that has rehearsals, and gets to play once in a while. Is that too much to ask? I don't want to noodle around with people I don't know. By the way, I still live 40 mins from LA, so its no cakewalk to just go out there and play.So if I did meet people to play with at an open jam and manage to join their band, I would still be to far away to make rehearsals with them.

As for college groups, I have been in them and they are horrible. It's constant competition and you can never make friends with people you compete with.

I love to play any kind of music though. Guess what else? I would do it all for FREE!! It's the joy of playing that makes me happy, not money. I also constantly scour craigslist for gigs, but there is nothing that ever works for me. Another thing about LA is that your looks are more important for a band than your skills.(And I don't have the look).

By the way ggun my talkbass name is just a joke, don't take it so seriously....

I am not afraid of rejection, I never said that. And how do you expect me to go up to a club owner and ask for a gig when there is no band? I just don't understand that.

Anyway, thats all I have to say for now.
 
#30
ggunn said:
With all due respect, I must disagree. Walking into an audition with complete strangers is much more stressful than going into an open jam where there are no expectations and you don't even have to play.
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except that the op said the unstructured environment of an open jam was too intimidating. at least at an audition he can "learn these 5 songs" and deal with only 2-8 people at a time instead of a room full. i agree open jams are a good way to network and networking is a good way to gigs, just recognizing op's stated limitation.

JCsuckybass said:
You know what, thanks for all your help. I apologize for being rude. But I will work this out on my own. I am done with talkbass. Thanks. Goodbye.
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wow... sorry.
 
#31
Here is a great resource to finding musicians. Go to as many music stores as possible in your area and see if they have a help wanted and help available board posted with names and phone numbers with people looking for a bass player or put up a bass player available listing with your contact information. Also, ask the store employees if they know anybody looking for a bass player.
 
#35
You're right, dude. There's no one who can help you here. None of us has ever been intimidated by other players in class rooms or jam nights. None of us have ever had a hard time finding the right group of musicians to play with. We've all had a breeze finding gigs.

Get my drift?
 
#36
A year and a half ago I moved back to a city where I had lived thirty years ago. I didn't know ANY musicians anymore. On top of that, I had two strokes in 2008 and I pretty much had to learn to play all over again. My confidence was zero.

I started going to open jams and watching and listening a lot. I realized that even after my strokes I could handle this. So, I sat in for a song or two here and there if I felt comfortable. If I wasn't confortable I'd still just watch and listen. Eventually, I got my confidence back. It takes time, this doesn't happen over night. It is totally worth the effort.

Good luck!
 
#37
JCsuckybass said:
I only read hostility from everyone else. But I guess everyone sees things differently.
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You think? Everyone was being helpful and nice, albeit a little blunt and too the point. That said, no one can hold your hand through this. If you have the confidence to rock out at church then you have it to get on CL and either post an ad or respond to an ad and see where it takes you.

JCsuckybass said:
You know what, thanks for all your help. I apologize for being rude. But I will work this out on my own. I am done with talkbass. Thanks. Goodbye.
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:rollno: Alright, man. Dueces.
 
#40
JCsuckybass said:
To be honest, I don't think I could handle that kind of thing. I am shy and not that confident with my ability, and I don't feel that my musicianship is at that high of a level to just jump in and jam with people, especially if I haven't done any kind of jamming in the past 5 years. But thanks for the advice. I will at very least keep it in mind.
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That's your problem. You have to get out there and take a risk. Enthusiasm and desire will usually beat out ability. I've had bad showings and good ones. It's okay to bomb. Just dust yourself off and move on. I also find that most of the time, gigs that don't work out are usually blessings in disguise.

Good luck and keep us posted!
 

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