"Please, no metal, classic or country...."

Being picky and direct are the only things that landed me my current gigs and, likely, the only reasons I haven't murdered a band mate.

 

Yeah, I am not sure wanting to play any old thing with any old bunch of players would be my personal definition of fun, but to each their own.

I do get frustrated, though, with the proliferation of non-serious players who have 40 hour a week day jobs but somehow consider themselves pro or say they're in a "working band." A working band for me is one where I can make decent money and don't have to work at something else.

Nothing wrong with making a little extra pocket change on the weekends, but that's not a "working band." That's a band that gigs occasionally.

 

Hi,

I agree with both @Bodeanly and @LBS-bass. Some folks have a wide definition of fun. Others prefer specific types of fun in particular places. Some folks like a custom fit. Others are fine with off-the-rack. Sometimes your choices are limited by the local market, in which case you must decide whether or not to compromise your criteria.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

Holy poop! This is the second time someone's agreed with me on the internet today!

 

I call BS. Pics or it didn’t happen.

 

And both of them were post #4!

Something strange is afoot...

 

I agree with you too, so you must really be on a roll today. Play the lottery!

 

^This.

 

We'll try not to make it a habit.

 

They are explicit about what they are looking for. These are great because they are saving you time because it is clear that you have different needs than them. You should be thankful for ads like this. Be irritated at the vague , indecisive ads that ultimately lead to wasted time.

 

Phew! Lucky that I only work 32 hours per week...

 

Playing music you don't like with people you don't mesh with is no fun. What's not to get here?

 

Well, then, if you're game for metal, country or classic, then the market favors you. What's the problem? Why care that other people are picky? How does that affect you negatively?

 

You couldn't pay me to be in the same room as any of that. That is wack. By definition not fun.

 

My guess is this guy has already replied to a few adds and wasn’t getting what he was looking for so got more specific.

So how many gigs a month fits the definition of “working band”? My band plays 3 weekends a month most months. So 6 gigs a month. Full PA. Lights. Pro gear and playing. We take our craft seriously and we are very professional. I’d consider that working. How bout “part-time working band”?

 

I've done all 3 of those in one song live. Gotta put your own flavor on it, even if you're indecisive.

 

If you're a bass player looking to make your living at playing bass, none of this qualifies as a "working band." In a working band, you make your living doing the "work" of music (which some would say is not work at all.)

Seriously, none of what I said was in any way a dig at people who don't play for a living. It's just that it is hard enough to find steady work in music without wading through constant misrepresentations about "work" on Craigslist, which is about all I ever find there. So please don't see-saw this post into something it isn't. Enjoy your full time job AND your music! Part-time working band does at least convey the amount of work your band does, which is great. And I'm super glad for you that you get to do it

 

Don’t get used to it!

 

QUICK!! Show your wife!!