How Did You Start Out Gigging

[31HZ]

The '80s and '90s were amazing. I picked up a bass because a friend needed a bass player, and I was in a band that had a weekly gig within three months, and was playing in multiple bands making good money in short order.

To be clear I had played guitar for a few years (and clarinet in grade/high school) so my background prepared me, but even so it would be near-impossible to do so today.

 

[Pocket Dave]

The '80s and '90s were amazing. I picked up a bass because a friend needed a bass player, and I was in a band that had a weekly gig within three months, and was playing in multiple bands making good money in short order.

To be clear I had played guitar for a few years (and clarinet in grade/high school) so my background prepared me, but even so it would be near-impossible to do so today.

How so?

 

[Deleted member 409896]

Maybe he's referring to the general decline in paying gig opportunities?

I'm no expert, but music YouTubers I follow have remarked on bands doing things like not having a bass player, to save on touring expenses. Instead, they use a pre-recorded or programmed track.

I aim to not be replaceable by a programmed track.

 

[Pocket Dave]

Maybe he's referring to the general decline in paying gig opportunities?

I'm no expert, but music YouTubers I follow have remarked on bands doing things like not having a bass player, to save on touring expenses. Instead, they use a pre-recorded or programmed track.

I aim to not be replaceable by a programmed track.

I don't know; It's why I asked.

To your point, I'd guess it's dependent on the market, your goals, etc.

Not too hard staying reasonably busy playing bass here in the fourth largest metropolitan area in the US if you're ok with average bar scale ranging from $100/man weeknights to $150-200 on weekends, especially if you're willing to play some country.

 

[DWBass]

TLDR version: Mid 70's. Garage band with hacks. Some interested folks came around to hear this 'really good' bass player. Got a call to join a 'real' band. Older brother/drummer of the keyboardist was forming a new band so got the call to join along with some of the other band members. On and on and on and on............................

 

[climber]

My first band was the Odds Against at University of Florida in 1966. This picture is in a local bar called Trader's Tavern in Gainesville FL. I was the singer. I had never played in a band or even played an instrument before. 6 months later guitarist flunked out of school, bass player played guitar and I started on bass.

 

[Jalopy]

I'd always noodled a bit on guitar but after college I started jamming with a drummer. He'd never been in a band either but his chops were way ahead of my guitar chops. However, I'd been playing trumpet and singing in choir all through college so I had a good ear. We went a couple years before we found a bass player who stuck around long enough for us to gig. We ended up doing all the local places that had original music, as well as traveling for gigs all over the northeast U.S. (which I hated doing).

I was fortunate to find a guy who saw my potential for songwriting and eventually pretty creative guitar playing, and was willing to jam a couple years until we were ready to gig.

 

[Deleted member 409896]

I don't know; It's why I asked.

To your point, I'd guess it's dependent on the market, your goals, etc.

Not too hard staying reasonably busy playing bass here in the fourth largest metropolitan area in the US if you're ok with average bar scale ranging from $100/man weeknights to $150-200 on weekends, especially if you're willing to play some country.

At this point I would be astonished if someone wanted to buy me dinner for playing, let alone cash. Hell yeah I'll play country, I'll play pretty much anything.