• 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.

Practice times?

#22
Jazzdogg said:
I guess it's all a matter of what you're used to, and what your expectations are. When my expectations aren't being met, I've gotta ask how well I've communicated them before I look to others for solutions.

I've always called "practice" the time each of us spends improving individually; "rehearsal" is the time we spend working together as a band. I've seldom seen an effective rehearsal that wasn't preceeded by individual practice. When band rehearsals aren't bearing fruit, it usually means the band members haven't agreed on concrete goals, aren't communicating effectively, or individuals aren't being diligent in their practice.

Do you stand or sit during your gigs? When I want to sit during rehearsals (or at a gig), I bring a stool.
Click to expand...
^ THIS... beat me to it.
 
#24
the yeti said:
3 hour rehearsals with a break in the middle are pretty normal for me.

as for fooling around with the bass lines it's expected that i'll take care of that somewhere else or else on the fly. that may not be the situation you're in but since you're asking about rehearsal i thought i'd throw that out. if it's a new situation for you maybe you should ask your bandmates.
Click to expand...

When there is no practice, when do I get a chance to fool around with the bass lines with the bandleader? It's either at rehearsal or I thump out roots and fifths. There is no other time to work on a bass line.

Summary - I join band in April after buying a bass in March, not having played in 25 years. No practices and no music other than a CD of half the tunes get to me before the first rehearsal in the third week of May. I pry chord/lyric sheets out of him and work out a few lines on my own. This works okay, but by then the gig is less than three weeks away. He throws in three more songs I don't know at the next rehearsal. I learn those during the rehearsal. He throws in 8 more at the third to last rehearsal, four written by other songwriters who are either in the band or are friends of his. I thought my complaints might get some reasonable responses, but outside of "GET OUT", which is good advice but undoable, I get a lot of tapemeasure posts. If you like what you're playing, GOOD, but don't make your good fortune seem a virtue. These songs aren't what the bandleader played last year, and he wants to tie in some Big Theme into the set. This set is for a freaking block party! It should be fun, danceable stuff to keep the neighbors amused and the money dropping. Who wants a lesson at a party?

And this is my last words on this. If you heard the songs he intends doing, you'd know why I'm glum having to stand to do these songs for 3 hours on Saturday.
 
#26
We used to do the each song once routine. I hated that, personally. Waste of a rehearsal as far as I was concerned. Cause I'm with you, OP, I think you should work a song until you have it down. In the end, we didn't really learn the songs well before the gig and had to stand on stage with MUSIC STANDS (YUK! :mad: ).
That does kinda sound like a long rehearsal, I guess. Maybe you could bring a stool and a snack. That could make the night a little better for you. I personally, spent a good amount of money on a stool just for that reason. Now ANY time I play out, I bring my stool, my footstool (the little folding guitar footstool), and my guitar stand. I got tired of standing all night or sitting on some hard wood (or worse! Once I had to sit on a stone fireplace hearth! That hurt).

As far has him bombing you with an ever-growing song list, I know that feeling too. I don't know why but it seems that some guitarist/band leaders think that since they've learned the song it must be OK for the band. After all, he already learned the guitar parts! All you have to do is play bass and eveyone knows bass is easier than guitar. ;) Not sure there's much you can do about that now other than just do your best to learn 'em.
 
#27
mndean said:
When there is no practice, when do I get a chance to fool around with the bass lines with the bandleader? It's either at rehearsal or I thump out roots and fifths. There is no other time to work on a bass line.

Summary - I join band in April after buying a bass in March, not having played in 25 years. No practices and no music other than a CD of half the tunes get to me before the first rehearsal in the third week of May. I pry chord/lyric sheets out of him and work out a few lines on my own. This works okay, but by then the gig is less than three weeks away. He throws in three more songs I don't know at the next rehearsal. I learn those during the rehearsal. He throws in 8 more at the third to last rehearsal, four written by other songwriters who are either in the band or are friends of his. I thought my complaints might get some reasonable responses, but outside of "GET OUT", which is good advice but undoable, I get a lot of tapemeasure posts. If you like what you're playing, GOOD, but don't make your good fortune seem a virtue. These songs aren't what the bandleader played last year, and he wants to tie in some Big Theme into the set. This set is for a freaking block party! It should be fun, danceable stuff to keep the neighbors amused and the money dropping. Who wants a lesson at a party?

And this is my last words on this. If you heard the songs he intends doing, you'd know why I'm glum having to stand to do these songs for 3 hours on Saturday.
Click to expand...

wow. sounds like i hit a nerve. sorry. i was just saying your understanding of the expectations may be different from the band's and, since you asked, it may be in your best interest to all be on the same page. for instance if they expect you to take the cd's/charts and work up lines on your own you should probably do that or find a different situation.

which brings to mind a question: is this a prison band? a (cell)block party? i don't understand why getting out is not an option. please explain (if you care to).:)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back