I bought my first bass back in 1977 from a classmate in college. I had never played bass guitar before, but I thought it was cool. I had my first gig that weekend. I sucked royally. I suck less now.
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How long before your first gig?
- Thread starter PaulMichael
- Start date
I played for about a year and a half before I played a show. It was only after I had played for about five or six years that I joined a band and started gigging regularly.
about 5 years for me. I had one live gig at Pizza Hut. Then it was another 12 until I started gigging regularly.
Got my first bass in the 7th grade (1965) played my first gig in the 8th grade (1966).
The gig was an 8th grade dance. We played Louie Louie about 12 times in a row. That was what the audience wanted.
The gig was an 8th grade dance. We played Louie Louie about 12 times in a row. That was what the audience wanted.
I started playing at age 12, my dad taught me, in about 3 months i started playing every sunday at church, but as far as a gig at a bar with a rock band that didnt happen until i was 24
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
One person's gig is someone else's non-event: sometimes that's a blessing.
I started playing percussion when I was in 5th grade, and started playing bass around 1968, when I started high school; everyone, it seemed, had a guitar in those days, so I stood out like a sore thumb playing the school's DB and, later, an electric bass of my own.
In those days, my friends and our families played music together just as naturally as breathing. It was just something we did. Some of the guitar players only knew three chords, but they joined in, too. People were more welcoming and supportive back then - as I remember it. We didn't know from gigs, but some of us were invited to play with others in front of groups of people. I was among them.
Without much in the way of planning or deliberate intent, some of us began playing "gigs" without really knowing it. There was no moment when the clouds parted, the angels sang, and I had my first gig. It unfolded gradually, and included performances in various high school music programs, junior theater productions, playing at church, and joining friends who were playing in cafes, parks, and coffee houses. Occasionally, some of us were offered money to play; at first, some gas money to make it worth my while. Then the musicians got free food. Next, it was free food and a few dollars (remember that gas only cost $0.32 per gallon back then).
In hindsight, I'm grateful that events unfolded the way they did. House parties, camping trips, and coffee houses led to wedding receptions and going away parties for friends who'd been drafted and were on their way to Vietnam. By the time I was playing bass in bar bands for regular pay, I'd been playing for about 8 years, but I'd been playing with, and in front of, other people the whole time.
Not a bad way to have learned, if you ask me. Now that arts and music programs are being gutted and removed from the schools, I don't know how kids are supposed to receive a useful music education, unless their parents are insightful and supportive.
Those destined to become musicians always seem to find a way, no matter the obstacles. Persevere. And start playing with others as often as possible, no matter how well, or poorly, you play; that's where the magic happens.
I started playing percussion when I was in 5th grade, and started playing bass around 1968, when I started high school; everyone, it seemed, had a guitar in those days, so I stood out like a sore thumb playing the school's DB and, later, an electric bass of my own.
In those days, my friends and our families played music together just as naturally as breathing. It was just something we did. Some of the guitar players only knew three chords, but they joined in, too. People were more welcoming and supportive back then - as I remember it. We didn't know from gigs, but some of us were invited to play with others in front of groups of people. I was among them.
Without much in the way of planning or deliberate intent, some of us began playing "gigs" without really knowing it. There was no moment when the clouds parted, the angels sang, and I had my first gig. It unfolded gradually, and included performances in various high school music programs, junior theater productions, playing at church, and joining friends who were playing in cafes, parks, and coffee houses. Occasionally, some of us were offered money to play; at first, some gas money to make it worth my while. Then the musicians got free food. Next, it was free food and a few dollars (remember that gas only cost $0.32 per gallon back then).
In hindsight, I'm grateful that events unfolded the way they did. House parties, camping trips, and coffee houses led to wedding receptions and going away parties for friends who'd been drafted and were on their way to Vietnam. By the time I was playing bass in bar bands for regular pay, I'd been playing for about 8 years, but I'd been playing with, and in front of, other people the whole time.
Not a bad way to have learned, if you ask me. Now that arts and music programs are being gutted and removed from the schools, I don't know how kids are supposed to receive a useful music education, unless their parents are insightful and supportive.
Those destined to become musicians always seem to find a way, no matter the obstacles. Persevere. And start playing with others as often as possible, no matter how well, or poorly, you play; that's where the magic happens.
Well written and thought-provoking Jazzdogg.
I started out jamming with a friend who played drums and just practicing on my own. Two or three years later I was approached about joining the youth band at our church because the old bassist was leaving. I said sure.
That was two years ago and we still play. Some of the most fun times to me is still when we're just jamming before practice.
My point is that if you don't know of any friends or people that are likely to start/join a band, or you don't feel ambitious enough to start your own, at least put yourself out there as a bass player.
That way when a band is forming there's a possibility you will come to mind.
Of course, that really isn't answering your question, just about joining a band in general I suppose.
But like someone else said, join one as soon as you can play root notes in time for a whole set and it will only go up from there.
I started out jamming with a friend who played drums and just practicing on my own. Two or three years later I was approached about joining the youth band at our church because the old bassist was leaving. I said sure.
That was two years ago and we still play. Some of the most fun times to me is still when we're just jamming before practice.
My point is that if you don't know of any friends or people that are likely to start/join a band, or you don't feel ambitious enough to start your own, at least put yourself out there as a bass player.
That way when a band is forming there's a possibility you will come to mind.
Of course, that really isn't answering your question, just about joining a band in general I suppose.
But like someone else said, join one as soon as you can play root notes in time for a whole set and it will only go up from there.
I started playing at age 15 (1st year of high school). My town was so small there were no places for bands to play but I was fortunate enough to be taken under the wing of a very talented multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who I jammed with quite a bit the next couple of years. My first real gig (and band) didn't happen till I was 17 which was also the first time I played with a real drummer. He was a year older than me and in retrospect, OK but not great (could keep time and had a decent feel)... but as the first actual drummer I played with after two years of jamming to prerecorded drum tracks I thought he was the best player on the planet. It was a bar gig and I remember it well because I was underage and the BL had to come over and vouch for me to the doorman before he'd let me in. That gig is going on 30 years ago... I still have a tape of it and for a couple of teenagers he and I held down the rhythm section pretty well.
I had been playing guitar for a few years - everyone did in the 60's. I told my teacher I wanted to play in a band, and he said to learn to play bass to get a gig. I rented a really awful bass and amp, and he gave me one bass lesson. He called it "How to play bass like Ray Brown in one easy lesson". Probably a month later he set me up with another student's working band, and I started playing professionally. Whatta rush that was!
I started on guitar, but it was about a year-and-a-half before I played a gig with it, back in '65. For electric bass, I played some off and on with that band. As far as being the regular bass player in a band, I bought my own first electric bass in '88 to go to an audition. Got the gig and was gigging within three weeks. Before that, I had begun studying upright in college in the early '70s and played with the university orchestra beginning my first semester. That went on to include the Columbia Philharmonic soon after.
Zero time.
Many years ago a friend had a gig at a local beachclub. They had a bass and amp the singer would use for a couple of songs and when I got to his gig my friend asked if I'd play it. I said, "Why not?" I had played accordion and some guitar and piano but I had never touched a bass before.
Many years ago a friend had a gig at a local beachclub. They had a bass and amp the singer would use for a couple of songs and when I got to his gig my friend asked if I'd play it. I said, "Why not?" I had played accordion and some guitar and piano but I had never touched a bass before.
I started in May of 1992, was in a band by June or July I think, and had my first gig at a local community center that halloween in 1992. We found our singer at that gig. So yeah- we were just playing instrumentals. But by early 1993 we were playing in bars and clubs. I was 14. The rest of the band was a year or two older.
My first gig was about a year after I first started. It was HORRIBLE but fun nonetheless. It was a sort of a battle-of-the-bands thing and most other bands were much older and experiences than us.
I do remember that I did get to slap some solo crap with the drummer and the kiddy crowd loved it. One of the songs we played was a cover to RHCP's Higher Ground and for some reason, the drummer kept speeding up.
I haven't played a slap song at a gig ever since than.
I do remember that I did get to slap some solo crap with the drummer and the kiddy crowd loved it. One of the songs we played was a cover to RHCP's Higher Ground and for some reason, the drummer kept speeding up.
I haven't played a slap song at a gig ever since than.
Short answer .... 4 days.
Long Answer ...
My grandfather and his brother were in a band together. His brother died and the band had a show that weekend. The band pulled me aside at the funeral gathering at the house and talked me into playing a show that weekend. We started that day and I practiced with my grandfather and the sax player for a few hours each night until the weekend. We got through the show, but it was rough and I was scared like nothing else.
Long Answer ...
My grandfather and his brother were in a band together. His brother died and the band had a show that weekend. The band pulled me aside at the funeral gathering at the house and talked me into playing a show that weekend. We started that day and I practiced with my grandfather and the sax player for a few hours each night until the weekend. We got through the show, but it was rough and I was scared like nothing else.
It's basically a "only you will know when you are ready" type of thing. My first band I was in jammed for about a month before we even started writing our own songs. Took us close to 4-5 months until our first gig. As a band you all know when you are ready and have enough material to fill a typical 30-45 minute set.
