• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

I quit...

alapantera

alapantera

Mar 22, 2004
461
2
Wisconsin
#1
I received a phone call about a week ago from a guitarist that I used to play with back in high school. He said our old singer had entered a battle of the bands and needed a bass player to round out the line-up. He said they were playing reggae music and we'd have about a month to learn the music.

I agreed and thought it might be fun to try. Our first rehearsal was last Saturday. I was running behind schedule and got to the guitarists house about 15 minutes late. well, other than the guitarist... i was the first one there. The guy who actually signed up cause he wanted to play his music at this show finally made an appearance about 45 minutes after i did. The other guitarist showed up about an hour after that and the drummer (who i believe was the only one with a legitimate excuse of being at work) showed up after that. We probably ended up playing about 30 min in the 3-4 hours i was there.

I probably should have walked right then and there.... but we had our 2nd "rehearsal" tonight. I get there on time and am surprised to see the singer and guitarist already there. Unfortunately they've been drinking all day, and are smoking some pot. So, we start rehearsing and it's an hour later and none of the other members have shown up yet... and the 2 that are there are not being constructive at all (for somewhat obvious reasons). I told them that it wasn't going to work out and they should find someone else.

The sad thing is it reminds me why I pretty much stopped playing with them a long time ago. Some people never seem to change.

/rant
 
#7
papajune said:
hey, if u dig it it is a legit hassle to endure. however, it sounds like u arent into it in the first place so why subject yourself? bail.
Click to expand...

I already bailed as i said in my first post. I was just ranting about what a complete waste of time it ended up being.


PBass101 said:
You shouldn't have said anything - you should have just left, they probably would never have noticed if they were drunk and high.
Click to expand...

Funny you should say that... i had all of my gear packed up before i even said anything to them about it. They didn't seem to notice. lol
 
#10
If I show up to an audition or anything like that and I'm the only one there on time, that's usually when to I'm gonna bail. If they're late to practice, who's to say they won't do a same for a gig when your reputation is on the line.

You only played thirty minutes out of the four hours you were there:eyebrow:? Couldn't you have at least jammed with just the guitar player? Sounds like voluntary time waist there.

As for the substance abuse, I'm very much a 'to each his/her own' guy. I do see a good chunk of conservative people out here so I'll just say this. I have played with a lot of people (small town, most bands know other bands and jam after shows in backrooms and stuff.) and I have not seen much of a correlation between substance abuse and well musical substance. (Sorry for the rantish part of this, it's just annoying when people judge someone for one thing so quickly. Judge him for the caliber of his musicianship, not for his or her poisons because we all have them, one is no better than another one.) (also note that I do not promote or condone the use of any substances that could be affecting someone)(also note that I do understand both sides of the coin, and why people judge so harshly, but we're all only human.:p)

I think you made a good choice dipping on those guys. I would have done so after everyone showed up late (especially if only one has an excuse).

But I don't think quitting because things don't go your way is a very good option, stick to it and seek out some people you know are good.
 
#11
I would have bailed after about 30 minutes, not that I am Mr. Prompt or anything. To me, that's just disrespectful of your time and effort right off the bat.

As for the substance problem, I don't mind players having a sociable beer or two, but if they are drunk or stoned out of their trees, I just simply don't choose to play with them. It is not a judge of their character (I am a member of AA myself) but rather a choice not to work with those that will not exercise self control. It makes things very hard when band members are drunk and you want to progress as a band.
 
#12
SpecialEdd said:
If I show up to an audition or anything like that and I'm the only one there on time, that's usually when to I'm gonna bail. If they're late to practice, who's to say they won't do a same for a gig when your reputation is on the line.

You only played thirty minutes out of the four hours you were there:eyebrow:? Couldn't you have at least jammed with just the guitar player? Sounds like voluntary time waist there.

As for the substance abuse, I'm very much a 'to each his/her own' guy. I do see a good chunk of conservative people out here so I'll just say this. I have played with a lot of people (small town, most bands know other bands and jam after shows in backrooms and stuff.) and I have not seen much of a correlation between substance abuse and well musical substance. (Sorry for the rantish part of this, it's just annoying when people judge someone for one thing so quickly. Judge him for the caliber of his musicianship, not for his or her poisons because we all have them, one is no better than another one.) (also note that I do not promote or condone the use of any substances that could be affecting someone)(also note that I do understand both sides of the coin, and why people judge so harshly, but we're all only human.:p)

I think you made a good choice dipping on those guys. I would have done so after everyone showed up late (especially if only one has an excuse).

But I don't think quitting because things don't go your way is a very good option, stick to it and seek out some people you know are good.
Click to expand...


As i said, i knew these people before hand. So yes, it was somewhat voluntary waste of my time. As for the substance abuse, I wasn't surprised by it. I knew they had their habits, but there's a time and a place for it. And IMO getting baked out of your mind before practice when you only have a month (i.e. maybe 6-8 rehearsals) to get things in shape is NOT the time. And no, we don't need another substance use related discussion thread lol.

I'm not quitting playing... I'm quitting playing with these guys. I have a group I've been playing with for the last 4 months, and they really help me to appreciate playing with dedicated, skilled musicians.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back