People with no vehicle?

[Brad Johnson]

I also live in so cal and I don't find that to be true UNLESS you need to be out real late. (Which might be a problem for some gigs)


Forgot what post said it be I want to mention again. The take away here is if you don't hvae good transportation be so damn good AND likeable that the bandleader insists and helps make it happen that you get transportation to the gigs .

That musician doesn't exist in my world.


There was one BL who had a gig in the DC area and would pick up (during rush hour ) and drop off the bassist in Baltimore. This was on a $100 gig. I found that fascinating.

 

[sean_on_bass]

No doubt, but will your average Uber/Lyft driver be willing or even able to accommodate an acoustic bass or even a combo amp plus a bass or two? I don't know - just asking. And I know for a fact that said drivers may be far and few between at 1am or 2 am....

I think a modest combo and an electric bass, probably. I believe you can request a larger vehicle in your Uber too but don't quote me on that. Actually my own rig would not be uber friendly...an upright bass is hard to fit in most vehicles and that doesn't even consider the amp yet. Definitely not an end all be all solution for a bassist.

 

[Drgonzonm]

Gas money is not enough. $0.26/mile plus $ 0.52 from driver's house to rider. Just standardized cost of operating a vehicle.

I've been in the position of mooch. Got to work an hour early, and left an hour and a half late. Bought a car three weeks later. Also been the guy with a license, and three members of the crew lost their licences. Got old fast.
Given a choice if public trans is a viable option, then public it is. Reduced stress, lower operating costs.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I recently scheduled an audition with a horn player. Later (and before the audition), it came to light that he doesn't own a car. I'm not really sure how he expects to get himself to where he needs to be on a regular basis.

Have any of you folks had this happen? How common is it for people to take an audition and not have their own transportation? If I don't exlpicitly say "you must have your own transportation", do people actually take that to mean they can get rides from other band members? How much of a deal breaker is this for people trying to hire musicians?

I would think this depends a lot on where you play. Some bigger cities have respectable public transportation and horn players don’t have much to carry. When I first started gigging as a teenager there was a band member that didn’t have a car but he lived in the same neighborhood as our guitar player and would help cover gas. Where I live and the venues we play now though it wouldn’t work at all. Everyone in the band and the venues we play are too spread out. The amount of money you’d have to pay for Taxis or Uber’s would be so high you might as well buy a cheap used car.

 

[Downunderwonder]

I would think this depends a lot on where you play. Some bigger cities have respectable public transportation and horn players don’t have much to carry. When I first started gigging as a teenager there was a band member that didn’t have a car but he lived in the same neighborhood as our guitar player and would help cover gas. Where I live and the venues we play now though it wouldn’t work at all. Everyone in the band and the venues we play are too spread out. The amount of money you’d have to pay for Taxis or Uber’s would be so high you might as well buy a cheap used car.

You done got Zombied!

 

[godofthunder59]

There is a lot more to being in a band than just being a good musician. Getting yourself and your gear from point A to point B is a basic requirement.