I predict I will be fired by the end of weekend

[Joe Nerve]

Been in the same exact situation more than once. Either someone will quit, or someone will get fired.

I think the singer/front person is the person that ultimately has to be happiest with the song choices. If they're not on board with what you want the best bet IMO is to bow out. If they want you badly enough, they'll change their mind.

 

[dkelley]

If they are already gigging and making useful money and you will get useful money for the work, I'd play anything. Literally.

But in this case? There will be more coming along, I'm sure, eventually. Wait it out. It's a useful story though for you to tell to other bands that come along, in case are considering adding more than maybe one tune by Poison and Whitesnake.

 

[RickyRocknRoll]

You know what to do. Do yourself - and them - a favor: "Bad fit, no thanks, good luck". It's very simple and liberating. Something else will pop up.

 

[crucislancer]

The bait and switch would bug me a lot more in this case. Been down that road in the past, and it's not cool. I would move on, and very professionally tell them to find someone who wants to play that genre rather than sucker someone into the gig.

 

[honeydorick]

I agree,Life is to short to play somthing constantly that makes your stomach cringe.I have had an honest add up in Craigs list for a while now.I am intermediatish in my playing and let them know that right up front.I think we all have different opinions of what classic rock is depending on our age groups.Im 67 and already have fired myself on good terms with a couple of bands.The right fit will come along,it just takes time and honesty.I think I have found My souls fit with a good group of guys who are true musicians not Judges.My first jam with them will be comming up after we are all Covid Vacinated.I cant wait .Good luck on your quest. !The right fit is out there!

 

[Mark 63]

People just expect bass players to come in and play with no input on song choices. It's part of the overall disinterest in what we do.

 

[Oatis]

You can be banished or exiled but not fired from a job that pays nothing . If they paid you gas money or fed you each rehearsal ...

 

[VolverseLoco]

I agree,Life is to short to play somthing constantly that makes your stomach cringe.I have had an honest add up in Craigs list for a while now.I am intermediatish in my playing and let them know that right up front.I think we all have different opinions of what classic rock is depending on our age groups.Im 67 and already have fired myself on good terms with a couple of bands.The right fit will come along,it just takes time and honesty.I think I have found My souls fit with a good group of guys who are true musicians not Judges.My first jam with them will be comming up after we are all Covid Vacinated.I cant wait .Good luck on your quest. !The right fit is out there!

Hey, when you put your add in the Craig's List, how do you try to convey with words that your 'intermediash', so that when you get a call and talk to the person, you feel like you would be at least a good fit to tryout? What is expected generally when you do show up for a tryout, would it be something like the ZZ Top guy said, 'shuffle in C', where you just jam and make stuff up or do you agree to learn 1 song, 2 songs, what? I need some guidance here, I am going to take that step soon but I have never played my bass with any real person or stranger yet.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Hey, when you put your add in the Craig's List, how do you try to convey with words that your 'intermediash', so that when you get a call and talk to the person, you feel like you would be at least a good fit to tryout? What is expected generally when you do show up for a tryout, would it be something like the ZZ Top guy said, 'shuffle in C', where you just jam and make stuff up or do you agree to learn 1 song, 2 songs, what? I need some guidance here, I am going to take that step soon but I have never played my bass with any real person or stranger yet.

If you haven't played with anyone yet, doing auditions will be difficult. Are there any jams in your area that you could use to some playing with band members under your belt? Not sure how COVID shut down you may still be.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Both the singer and the drummer actively want to play Poison songs? Poison doesn't even want to play Poison songs.

I would have the said the same until I found out that there is 1.) A New England Poison tribute band and 2.) They actually got hired to play a race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2019, with a very nice full production package provided.

They actually weren't bad... and I'm not a big Poison fan.

 

[Picton]

So, @oldrocker?

It's past sundown on Sunday... how'd the prediction in the thread title work out? Are you still their bassist, or what?

 

[oldrocker]

Hey, when you put your add in the Craig's List, how do you try to convey with words that your 'intermediash', so that when you get a call and talk to the person, you feel like you would be at least a good fit to tryout? What is expected generally when you do show up for a tryout, would it be something like the ZZ Top guy said, 'shuffle in C', where you just jam and make stuff up or do you agree to learn 1 song, 2 songs, what? I need some guidance here, I am going to take that step soon but I have never played my bass with any real person or stranger yet.

The guy who contacted me - one of the guitar players - provided a list of 15 songs they were doing.

I have played a lot of songs - I'm not a great bass player but I have played a lot of songs over the years. Typical of a classic rock cover band song list I knew 1/3 of the songs cold another 3rd I've played before or familiar with so I just needed to brush up on them. The last 3rd were songs I have not played so I learned those for the first meet up. We went back and forth for a couple of week as I think they were looking at another bass player, so it gave me a chance to be work on the songs.

We played through most of 15 songs on 1st meet up.

I don't convey 'intermediashness' but if it comes up I will share that I'm not a pro player and don't need the gig to play the bills. I don't advertise any of my shortcoming as its up to them to decide if I'm good enough for them.

Good luck - have fun

 

[J Mon]

That's too bad
Can I get the band leaders phone number? Sounds like they will need a bassist. 80s hair is the new classic rock.

 

[oldrocker]

So, @oldrocker?

It's past sundown on Sunday... how'd the prediction in the thread title work out? Are you still their bassist, or what?

I am no longer their bass player.

It took about an hour. Last night the drummer got back to me in the group text and said the singer wants to play those songs so if I'm not on board to basically don't let the door hit me on the way out.

He also said that I didn't suggest alternatives but that is not true as I suggested a bunch of stuff - mostly additional songs from bands in the original 15 list and a bunch of others, even 80s stuff but at that point I wasn't going to argue with him.

--

Today the guitar player that originally answered my CL post - not the guitar player who also suggested songs that were ignored - contacted me to see what was up. I again explained that I'm flexible and will play a lot of different stuff but that I don't want a set with 70% Poison, Motley Crue and Ratt songs.

He said he never played with the singer before so he didn't know he was really into that stuff but that he is willing to play anything.

He also said he is OK with the stuff I mentioned so he wants to suggest more songs and "see if they stick". He also said he's not worried and that "things will work out" - They won't.

--

Here is an amusing anecdote - like some have suggested here and as I was planning anyway, I re-posted my listing.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Guess who answers - yep the drummer, remember only the 1 guitar player had seen my original post.

My name is Xxxxxwe have a band looking for a bass player we do alot of what your looking for and more if interested give me a call​

--

As noted the term 'fired' really doesn't apply as it's not a paying situation or even an established band type relationship. My point was really that I would be pushed aside if I questioned the song selections in a meaningful way.

Just a note - I have nothing against 80s music or hard rock. I'm even OK with adding 1 or 2 of the Poison, Motley Crue or Ratt songs per set. It's just that if 70% of the new songs are going to be these bands its not for me. If that's what the original list of 15 sings looked like I would have passed.

I will keep in contact with both guitar players.

Thanks for all the thoughtful feedback from everyone on this thread.

 

[oldrocker]

That's too bad
Can I get the band leaders phone number? Sounds like they will need a bassist. 80s hair is the new classic rock.

Post a listing on CL. They will contact you

 

[VolverseLoco]

I am no longer their bass player.

It took about an hour. Last night the drummer got back to me in the group text and said the singer wants to play those songs so if I'm not on board to basically don't let the door hit me on the way out.

He also said that I didn't suggest alternatives but that is not true as I suggested a bunch of stuff - mostly additional songs from bands in the original 15 list and a bunch of others, even 80s stuff but at that point I wasn't going to argue with him.

--

Today the guitar player that originally answered my CL post - not the guitar player who also suggested songs that were ignored - contacted me to see what was up. I again explained that I'm flexible and will play a lot of different stuff but that I don't want a set with 70% Poison, Motley Crue and Ratt songs.

He said he never played with the singer before so he didn't know he was really into that stuff but that he is willing to play anything.

He also said he is OK with the stuff I mentioned so he wants to suggest more songs and "see if they stick". He also said he's not worried and that "things will work out" - They won't.

--

Here is an amusing anecdote - like some have suggested here and as I was planning anyway, I re-posted my listing.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Guess who answers - yep the drummer, remember only the 1 guitar player had seen my original post.

My name is Xxxxxwe have a band looking for a bass player we do alot of what your looking for and more if interested give me a call​

--

As noted the term 'fired' really doesn't apply as it's not a paying situation or even an established band type relationship. My point was really that I would be pushed aside if I questioned the song selections in a meaningful way.

Just a note - I have nothing against 80s music or hard rock. I'm even OK with adding 1 or 2 of the Poison, Motley Crue or Ratt songs per set. It's just that if 70% of the new songs are going to be these bands its not for me. If that's what the original list of 15 sings looked like I would have passed.

I will keep in contact with both guitar players.

Thanks for all the thoughtful feedback from everyone on this thread.

Your post in CraigsList is definitely a standard I see for what your into, and by what you list your interested in playing, I don't see how that would or should ever get confused with something like Motley Crue. It clearly defines a decade that is not the 80's. Others will still have alternate agendas of trying to convert you I guess, probably cause either they just can't read or they just cant find someone with an add like yours that clearly defines the 80's.

 

[fivestringgecko]

I am no longer their bass player.

I'm a little late to the party by now, but after scanning through this thread, I agree with everyone else... you're way better off getting out now and avoiding the headache. Get in with a group that plays what you're interested in playing.

It sounds like the drummer is (at least a bit) difficult to deal with, and he and the vocalist will basically try run the show, in addition to being @**holes. Not to mention that it sounds like they're not communicating very well among themselves... all of which equals no fun for you. Especially if they're not paying, better to get out now and avoid the headache. Even if it was a good paying gig, all it takes is one person in a band to be a bully or drama magnet to ruin the experience, and sounds like that band has at least two.

Sounds like they're just looking for players to support the vocalist's (and/or drummer's) ego. I'd be surprised if they last very long even with a bass player who's on board with 80's hair rock.

5sg.

 

[VolverseLoco]

If you haven't played with anyone yet, doing auditions will be difficult. Are there any jams in your area that you could use to some playing with band members under your belt? Not sure how COVID shut down you may still be.

Your right, I haven't played with anyone yet, and quite honestly, I am hesitant because of that. I live in Vegas, you think there would be 10 times as much of everything than anywhere else. I would be happy to be a part time beginner at a church who only practiced with the band and was on standby if the real bass player got sick. I look at the CraigsList all the time here but never see just guys who want to get together on a weekend and play a few songs. Most of the adds are by people who have the idea they are going to take over the world with their music. I will start searching to see if even open type jams exists here..

 

[fivestringgecko]

Also @oldrocker - an analogy to show you're not alone and much better off!

I just quit my main gig for pretty much the reasons you've mentioned. What bassist quits a 14-piece band with 4 vocalists and 5 horns playing music I love (Tower of Power, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, etc), with mostly corporate and wedding gigs that pay at least decently, even for 14 people? Well, when the band leader is a bully who dismisses any input/thoughts/concerns other than what he wants to hear: me. And the drummer before me, one vocalist after me (but maybe even two more), and the keyboardist is also on the fence.

I made it a point to stay diplomatic when I submitted my notice, no pointing fingers or anything to avoid burning any bridges: "I've had a great time, thanks for the opportunities, made some great friends," etc. I was going to leave it at that and move on, but the BL asked if anything precipitated my decision, so I remained diplomatic but did express that the main reason was being dismissed/ignored too many times... He kept with his totally tone deaf M.O. and completely dismissed my email, but asked if he could buy my lights and then needed help with the band's website. (I was also the band's webmaster, social media coordinator and own the band's lights). lol

5sg.

 

[honeydorick]

Hey, when you put your add in the Craig's List, how do you try to convey with words that your 'intermediash', so that when you get a call and talk to the person, you feel like you would be at least a good fit to tryout? What is expected generally when you do show up for a tryout, would it be something like the ZZ Top guy said, 'shuffle in C', where you just jam and make stuff up or do you agree to learn 1 song, 2 songs, what? I need some guidance here, I am going to take that step soon but I have never played my bass with any real person or stranger yet.

I have them send me some songs they like and I send them some songs I like.But its important to let them know if you want a job ,or just have fun Jamming,with different songs you all like. Some bands are very serious,and you need to let them know how much you can do upfront and I tell them I dont want to lead you on so here's where Im at..Especially if your married or have kids.Schedualing rehersals can be a problem.or cause problems with familly members.If you are single.Thats half the battle.My wife is very jellous of my time away with music. But she lets me free to play once or somtimes twice a month.In my case I dont want a job.Just to have fun because i love music.I started 50 years ago by playing with friends and people who were not expecting me to be a pro .We all made mistakes,but learned and laughed, alot about it.That was back in the Led Zeplin days.LOL.When I post on CL now,I say right up front if you are looking for a seasoned pro Im not your man.So no one expects perfection.If they cant deal with having fun,verses perfection they either wont call me or I find the perfect fit.Like now.I am a drummer turned bass player.I have dabbled with bass for 30 years but have a long way to go.I love the instrument Bass.So I take some pretty melodic piece of music like Bernadett by the 4 Tops,Or Nowhere Man by the Beatles.And practice till i get it.then see where I can put my own spin or style on the piece.I have lots of fun that way I dont read music but,know most of the basic stuff.Honesty is the best policey.Be true to yourself,and enjoy your bass,Dont be afraid to try different bands,or say how you feel about playing.Its got to feel right in your soul brother.Hope I helped keep me in the loop Rick