In Between Bands

[jive1]

Understood. I have tried every single possible method for joining or forming bands and the only one that has ever yielded positive results for me is networking face-to-face with musicians. It's the only way to judge the chemistry between myself and other band members and (for me) being friends with a wide range of musicians is the fastest way to get a referral when someone in the area needs a bass player. Craigslist/online contacts have yielded exactly 0% success for me in the last 10 years or so. Even with the most positive, open-minded attitude, I would call online band formation an exercise in frustration and lost energy.

Very true. Nothing beats face-to-face networking.

There can be so many personal and musical differences that the best way to find that stuff out is through contact with someone over time. People tend to like to work with people they know, so the best thing to do is get known. And if you can make friends, even better.

 

[bluewine]

Why do you always act so condescending towards start up bands? Like you are above them or something? Do you expect everyone to do the work for you, and you just come in after the band is established and grace them with your talent?

I really can't respond to this. This not about me,however I don't think I am alone in this.

There is nothing wrong with start ups. I like start ups, they are just not for me, not at this time in my life.

 

[snappytom]

Last band imploded in August .......

•How do you feel about not being in a band
Usually relieved at first ... depends on the circumstance. After a break for a few months I realize that being in a band is what keeps me motivated to learn.

•What kind of plan or strategy do you have to get back up and running
CL ads and networking.

•Are you getting auditions
No .... replied to a few ads but the BS filter is always on.

•Are you getting offers from working bands
I have 2 sub dates in January with an established band

•What have you had to change professionally, musically and philosophically
Nothing .... I gotta be me ....

•When do you think something will happen for you
It may already be happening, the sub dates may result in being in the band. I am not pushing it but it appears to be an agreeable situation for everyone involved. We will see .....

 

[bassbully]

Like i said to you before Blue these kind of Cats are where its at and are grounded players for the most part and have their @hit together, Not all but most. This is where most players who want a good band that's going places should invest their time, blues R&B, classic rock,Motown etc.

 

[jive1]

In all honesty do you think they will ever see their first gig, if yes how long will it take to be gig ready with 1.4 hrs of material.

IMO, 1.5 hours of material isn't much. It'll get you showcase gigs where you share the bill, but it won't get you an all-niter.

I've played with "startups" where between the members we had well over 4 hours worth of material. Those are the kinds of bands I prefer to be with, and the guys tend to be older.

Personally, I think if a band has over 4 hours of material ready among it's members and they have good contacts for gigs, I wouldn't classify them as a startup in that the players themselves are established, even though the band isn't. So if a band is a start-up, but has some established players, it's usually worth my while. The criteria is simple - Do they know enough material? Do they have contacts? The rest is personal preference, but those two are essential.

 

[Jim Campbell]

IMO, 1.5 hours of material isn't much. It'll get you showcase gigs where you share the bill, but it won't get you an all-niter.

I've played with "startups" where between the members we had well over 4 hours worth of material. Those are the kinds of bands I prefer to be with, and the guys tend to be older.

Personally, I think if a band has over 4 hours of material ready among it's members and they have good contacts for gigs, I wouldn't classify them as a startup in that the players themselves are established, even though the band isn't. So if a band is a start-up, but has some established players, it's usually worth my while. The criteria is simple - Do they know enough material? Do they have contacts? The rest is personal preference, but those two are essential.

seems to me that the more assets the start up has the more demanding they can afford to be when auditioning new members.....the big question is who brings what.....is a so so geetar guy with great connections gonna do better than a great player/all round good guy from out of state....i see a lot of talk on here regarding guysv who just want to walk into a fully functioning band,learn the list and go.....

but what about the work that went in before....i mean somebody had to do it....so why should a guy with nothing more than chops just walk in and start demanding this or that.....loads of guys got chops....i fully understand where seasoned pros don't want to waste time with start up projects,as after years of work one gathers a credit or three,but if there are no established bands in need of a bass player in the area the choice is simple......move to an area with more opportunities or lower your expectations....plenty of skilled people had to swallow their pride and work at mcdonalds when times were lean,and the ability to play music does not immunize anyone from that

 

[jive1]

seems to me that the more assets the start up has the more demanding they can afford to be when auditioning new members.....the big question is who brings what.....is a so so geetar guy with great connections gonna do better than a great player/all round good guy from out of state....i see a lot of talk on here regarding guysv who just want to walk into a fully functioning band,learn the list and go.....

That sounds like the situation I just joined. Have an awesome guitarist that moved here from Buffalo, NY who knows hundreds of songs, and can learn just about anything on the fly. We have a drummer who is OK, but could definitely use improvement. But, he is the booking manager for a bar downtown near where I live, he has contacts from previous work as a DJ, and is motivated to move the band forward. And they bring in me to go, even before I've learned all the songs. And we're booked until the end of the year, and have a regular house band gig.

but what about the work that went in before....i mean somebody had to do it....so why should a guy with nothing more than chops just walk in and start demanding this or that.....loads of guys got chops....i fully understand where seasoned pros don't want to waste time with start up projects,as after years of work one gathers a credit or three,but if there are no established bands in need of a bass player in the area the choice is simple......move to an area with more opportunities or lower your expectations....plenty of skilled people had to swallow their pride and work at mcdonalds when times were lean,and the ability to play music does not immunize anyone from that

I totally see where you are coming from. The ideal would be to join a band that has all their ducks in order, and you just come in and play. The tricky thing with startups is that you don't know if the other guy is BSing about how established they are unless you're well known enough that people want to join your project just because they know you can make it succeed somehow. But, if you can get in with a startup that consists of some established players, or folks with potential you get to get in on the ground floor. On the other hand, if you're going on potential you'll have to bring something to the table to move it forward, and contacts seem to help the most.

Sometimes you run into a situation where all they want you to do is come in and play. I've been in band situations where I've offered resources or services but was turned down because someone else wanted to have control over that arena.

I find that if you meet good folks who have something to contribute, over time something fruitful can come up. But, I agree sometimes you just need to temper your expectations or move somewhere with more opportunity.

 

[bluewine]

Like i said to you before Blue these kind of Cats are where its at and are grounded players for the most part and have their @hit together, Not all but most. This is where most players who want a good band that's going places should invest their time, blues R&B, classic rock,Motown etc.

I see where your coming from, seems like theres more BS in the whole Pop Rock arena, more flakes than in jazz and blues.

 

[bluewine]

IMO, 1.5 hours of material isn't much. It'll get you showcase gigs where you share the bill, but it won't get you an all-niter.

No, it's not and with musicians with experience it should be nothing to get it together.

However, if you are dealing with newbies and even worse, newbies that don't know they are newbies it could take forever.

 

[BassyBill]

I may be stating the obvious here, but one of the things that will keep you in bands is being a useful, reliable and musical player. It always seems to me that just as my diary is starting to look rather empty, something comes along and that's enough to keep me ticking over. I've been gigging for well over 30 years now, and haven't had too many dry spells.

I had to smile just now, after reading a post on here from a very young guy who a year or two back was always just a tad authoritative and assertive. Nothing wrong with being all fired up, but I really don't need someone who's been playing for 2 years telling me why I should use Bass X like he does instead of Bass Y that I prefer (especially when I actually own both). Let's just say he gave very freely of his opinions and "advice" to all and sundry. Anyway, turns out that he's now sold his bass X (apparently he was wrong about these, after all) and his rig and is "not in a band anymore". He referred to his enthusiasms of 2008 as if they were a very long time ago. I'm betting he won't be anywhere near TB in 6 months.

I've heard this sort of thing so many times now, it's kinda sad. I always take comfort in the fact that I'm still going.

SHORT VERSION - next time you read anything on TB, just remember that a largish proportion of the people posting on here now won't be playing music at all in 3 years time. Sad, but true.

 

[bluewine]

I may be stating the obvious here, but one of the things that will keep you in bands is being a useful, reliable and musical player. It always seems to me that just as my diary is starting to look rather empty, something comes along and that's enough to keep me ticking over. I've been gigging for well over 30 years now, and haven't had too many dry spells.

I had to smile just now, after reading a post on here from a very young guy who a year or two back was always just a tad authoritative and assertive. Nothing wrong with being all fired up, but I really don't need someone who's been playing for 2 years telling me why I should use Bass X like he does instead of Bass Y that I prefer (especially when I actually own both). Let's just say he gave very freely of his opinions and "advice" to all and sundry. Anyway, turns out that he's now sold his bass X (apparently he was wrong about these, after all) and his rig and is "not in a band anymore". He referred to his enthusiasms of 2008 as if they were a very long time ago. I'm betting he won't be anywhere near TB in 6 months.

I've heard this sort of thing so many times now, it's kinda sad. I always take comfort in the fact that I'm still going.

SHORT VERSION - next time you read anything on TB, just remember that a largish proportion of the people posting on here now won't be playing music at all in 3 years time. Sad, but true.

Nice post, I have been gigging for over 40 years.

Just understand something. The TBers that have been playing for 2 years think they know more about this than the veterans.

They know it all and were angry old men that no nothing.

 

[gregoire1]

I've been out of a band for a very long time (about a year) and miss it now. I have followed your story, Blue, because I plan to start auditioning soon myself.

I landed my last band by responding to a CL ad and got the gig on my first audition. I have better gear now and WAY more confidence. I've just started eyeballing CL again, but there are way more "bassist available" than "looking for bassist"'s.

I'm looking forward to starting my own "I have an audition tonight" post.

I've been playing for 25 years, not ready to quit yet.

 

[bluewine]

I've been out of a band for a very long time (about a year) and miss it now. I have followed your story, Blue, because I plan to start auditioning soon myself.

I landed my last band by responding to a CL ad and got the gig on my first audition. I have better gear now and WAY more confidence. I've just started eyeballing CL again, but there are way more "bassist available" than "looking for bassist"'s.

I'm looking forward to starting my own "I have an audition tonight" post.

I've been playing for 25 years, not ready to quit yet.

Good Luck, just keep the BS O'Meter on high when your evaluating bass player wanted ads. 2 out of 10 ads might be real opportunities, the rest are start ups that will go nowhere and wannabees.

 

[Jorm]

I started a band last month, but I was without a band for a year.

But I don't get depressed when I don't have a band. I take the time to practice, experiment, and jam like crazy. There's a place half an hour from my house that does open jam sessions every Tuesday night.

 

[Tampabass]

I may be stating the obvious here, but one of the things that will keep you in bands is being a useful, reliable and musical player. It always seems to me that just as my diary is starting to look rather empty, something comes along and that's enough to keep me ticking over. I've been gigging for well over 30 years now, and haven't had too many dry spells.

I had to smile just now, after reading a post on here from a very young guy who a year or two back was always just a tad authoritative and assertive. Nothing wrong with being all fired up, but I really don't need someone who's been playing for 2 years telling me why I should use Bass X like he does instead of Bass Y that I prefer (especially when I actually own both). Let's just say he gave very freely of his opinions and "advice" to all and sundry. Anyway, turns out that he's now sold his bass X (apparently he was wrong about these, after all) and his rig and is "not in a band anymore". He referred to his enthusiasms of 2008 as if they were a very long time ago. I'm betting he won't be anywhere near TB in 6 months.

I've heard this sort of thing so many times now, it's kinda sad. I always take comfort in the fact that I'm still going.

SHORT VERSION - next time you read anything on TB, just remember that a largish proportion of the people posting on here now won't be playing music at all in 3 years time. Sad, but true.

That reminds me of a quote - did I see it on a TB sig? - "What I miss most about being a teenager: Knowing everything."

 

[AltGrendel]

I've seen a major dropoff in the amount of bassists needed in my area in the last year. I haven't played in a band in a few years (just studio) but now I'm unemployed, figured I could make some $ playing out - NOT! I look every day in the want ads and it's really sad out there (at least in the Capitol District of NY)

What are they doing? Using keys as a replacement or are there just fewer venues/bands?

 

[HeadyVan Halen]

Just got "dumped" from a Blues Trio doing originals (I helped with the music - i.e. where to put the bridge, etc) but it was the lead/guitar/singer/songwriter's project mostly (though I helped refine it)......we were at it for 2 years....in the last year we managed to do 20 gigs for which I got paid $88 for only one gig out of the 20 the rest were freebies....that's OK.....got to pay your dues when you're an original band......and the "leader" had just declared bankruptcy so we didn't stress the fact that we should get paid at least gas money.......strangely, after our sets most people in the audience came to me to congratulate me on doing a great job on the bass.....that made me happy cause the audience was happy.....we've worked hard for 2 years getting "his" music heard and getting a following...small following but it's a start...so just when things start looking up and we're thinking of doing the 2nd CD, the "leader" decides to dump me and the drummer, writes a few new songs, hires studio musicians (bass, drum, organ, horns?) and pays them, the studio, the engineer - don't forget, the guy is supposed to be bankrupt (lied just so he wouldn't have to pay us).....he's gone on an ego trip, he even dumped his girlfriend of 12 years leaving in the middle of the night 3 days after she found out she had cancer and he leaves her with a $55,000 credit card bill (from buying cars, guitars, etc)....oh and by the way, he'd been having an illicit internet affair for the last few months while still with his girlfriend............this guy is a "loser" though I wished I would have known that before I wasted 2 years on his stuff..........I can't wait to hear what his new CD is like and how hard it will be for him to find anyone wanting to learn his songs and play them for free, he's not all that good and lacks "frontman" charisma......and good luck on recuperating the cost of the CD which will be majorly expensive......this guy is just trippin'

Anyway, I'm looking for a band now, I miss playing.....I've had a few auditions....great musicians...nice guys.....but scheduling problems have caused trouble.....got an offer but these guys rehearsed at 10 AM on Sunday mornings and that just doesn't work for me.........but I keep looking.......went to a few jams to keep up the chops....maybe I'll just start another cover band from scratch but not really looking forward to that again, would prefer joining an already working band

I really miss playing with others

Holy Sh!t, I feel like beating that dude down and I don't even know him..you are lucky, very lucky to get out of that situation.

 

[loopee]

You're welcomed to it..........wouldn't mind doing it myself but it's best to leave this one be......happy to be out of this situation but still haven't found a band and it's driving me crazy....guess I'll just take the time to hone my chops and learn more tunes and try a few jams and see what happens......it's the first time in 8 years that I'm not in a band and it really feels weird....