Should I join this band?

[HolmeBass]

If you can reschedule your original band stuff to Sunday then I'd say go for it for the experience and money.

If you can't then it might not be worth giving up a fun originals project for a gigging band playing music you dislike. It might be better than to find another band that isn't gigging as frequently so you can still have some Saturdays with your originals band, and maybe music you like better as well.

That said, I find I enjoy playing music even more than listening. Given that, there is a lot of music I enjoy playing that I would not enjoy listening to. As another poster noted playing with other good musicians is fun, and playing for appreciative crowds is fun, and getting paid well is fun, all of which can make up for playing music which is itself not inherently fun to play.

 

[BrickBatMansion]

Do it. The worst thing that will happen is you will learn another style of music, learn "bandcraft" as someone else put, meet contacts, and youll get paid. The learning experience alone is worth it.

 

[David A. Davis]

If you have to come on TB and ask a "should I" question the answer is more than likely no.

 

[fishdreams]

There is a lot more music that I like to play than that I like to listen to. More important to me would be if I can connect on some level with the people in the band, and their audiences- if that connection is missing it is going to show on stage, and not going to work in the long run, regardless of music and the pay.

 

[waynobass]

Should I join this band?

Yes.

You may like the band members, the audience, the venues, the money, the exposure, and the experience, even if you don't like the music per se.

 

[electracoyote]

I'm so relieved to see the PERFORMERS and ENTERTAINERS contributing to this thread.

You know, even if you had that dream come true of your own hit records and stardom, after a few years of playing the same songs over and over and over, you become nothing more than a cover band of yourself. The feelings are very much the same for the superstars of the music world as they are for those of us who cover music we're tired of and don't like.

It is the ENTERTAINERS of the world who will play music they may not like for the sake of an appreciative loving audience. Thank God and Mother Nature for both of them.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

Personally, I would be candid with the BL, and if he is of the mind "Try it and see", then I might try it. Because like others have said, sometimes music you never listen to is actually fun to play.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

It will provide you with experience and who knows, you might start liking it... Take it like having a foot in the doorstep, you might get other offers and get yourself closer to what you like.

 

[bassman10096]

+1 to what @Reedt2000 said.

+1 here too. I took on a paying gig playing 80s, hair, Pink -- I'm a blues and rock guy at heart so I had my doubts. But I learned more and met more good players in a couple years (the style did grow on me as a musician) than I ever would have. You need to do what works for you but don't be afraid to take a risk.

 

[madbass6]

Hello TB, long-time lurker here who is faced with a situation that I'd like TB's general consensus on before making a decision.

I had posted a local Craigslist ad about a month ago offering myself as a bassist for any local giging bands. I have received only one bite from this, an offer to play in a local modern country cover band. The BL emailed me with details like their gig radius, band website, types of venues, schedules, etc. The two example artists that he gave me were Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, if that means anything to anyone. He also advised that it pays well but wasn't specific.

My major issue with this is that I really, reeeaaally don't like modern country. It's one of very few genres of music that I just outright dislike and cannot enjoy in any capacity. I don't think it's objectively bad music, as if such a thing exists, it's just that I personally dislike it very much. I scoped out their site and confirmed that, from the videos on there, I wouldn't enjoy the music being played. The other issue, which is less severe, is that it looks like the band plays almost every Saturday, and I've got a current, longstanding originals project with my best friend and drummer, and our only days to get together and write/record are Saturdays (I know it's kinda naive to expect to find a band that won't be trying to gig every Saturday, but that's the hope anyway).

However, this would be my first real shot at being in a get-paid-to-play-music situation, it would give me a lot of live performance experience, and would probably be a great experience in general for me, regardless of my distaste for the music. I'm just really torn over what to respond to this offer with, or whether I should even respond. I feel like at bare-minimum that I ought to reply and explain myself as I've done here, what with disliking the music but being otherwise open to the idea.

What do you think? Please let me know, I've never been in this position before and am really at a loss. Thank you for any input you can provide!

if you got to ask "NOPE you probably shouldnt join! Dont ₩aste your tine and theres!

 

[Siggy]

I really enjoy playing. I don't do it to make a living. If I hated the music then it would be a job and I don't need a job.

Next time put your music preferences in the ad.

 

[pudgychef]

It would be a great learning experience - playing music for the song and learning to do it even when you don't like the song (while looking like you are enjoying it) is an important skill if you want to gig.

Nothing replaces stage time/gigging in terms of prep, growth and knowing how to gig. Saturdays cannot be off limit imho - too limiting.

I say go for it - you can always back out if after a few mths it isn't clicking...but you can't un-do saying no...(trying to make a simple 'we only regret what we don't try' example)

 

[RandomBass90]

Wow, first off thank you everyone for your feedback and help, I come back after one day and there are six pages of advice. I really love this community.

I'm leaning towards telling the BL how I'm excited about the opportunity and am willing to play but don't like the music, and letting him determine if that's a problem for them. I know that would probably be a bad look to be upfront with the pessimism, but I feel like it'd be fair to let him know about it on the front end. I've looked through their site and watched several of their live videos, and I think I can pick up on many of the basslines pretty quickly. I am fairly confident that I could play the parts, it's just that I'm afraid of accepting the gig and finding out very quickly that It's not for me, and don't want to waste anyone's time going through that. The trial period idea is really smart I think, and I'll mention it to the BL and see what he thinks. I'll also try to get a sample of the setlist to review. My big question though is, do you guys think I should be upfront about my disposition towards the music?

As for the weekend project, it's 100% basement dwelling and is strictly a writing project for my drummer and I. We've been writing experimental instrumental stuff for years and are finally taking some of it to a friend's studio in 2 months, we've already booked the time and everything. The project doesn't bring in any money of course, and doesn't facilitate any live playing either, but it's extremely fulfilling musically for me, and I think we're making some of our best stuff right now. I don't want to disrupt that project too much, but still want to get some live band experience. I know the practical choice is to just take the paying gigs and to hell with the originals, but they're just too important to me and we've put so much into them. If my drummer and I can swing Sundays instead, that'd really help out my situation. I just wanted to give some added context regarding the Saturday thing - it's totally a pet project.

Forgot to mention that I know it's silly to expect a band not to be working on Saturdays, I just meant moreso not EVERY Saturday. My personal project can make every 2nd or 3rd Saturday work, but flat booking every Saturday would be kinda problematic. Is it wishful thinking to expect to find a band working a schedule like that?

 

[richntiff]

I play in a modern country band - well, 80'-s country to current. I'm not a fan of most country, but the newer stuff can actually be fun to play, and it definitely has its audience. I don't listen to it except to learn new tunes for the band. The older stuff can be brutal, root-five ad nauseum. Jason Aldean is a rock singer though - of that there should be no doubt. Ymmv...

 

[electracoyote]

I'm leaning towards telling the BL how I'm excited about the opportunity and am willing to play but don't like the music, and letting him determine if that's a problem for them. I know that would probably be a bad look to be upfront with the pessimism, but I feel like it'd be fair to let him know about it on the front end.

Noop, please don't do that. It is a bad look.

I know you have a twinge of apprehension and it's weighing on your conscience, but keep it to yourself. Either go in with nothing but enthusiasm and optimism, or take a pass.

As a band leader, I would be disappointed and confused if you played True Confessions and let me know about your misgivings, but then said you were going to give it a shot nonetheless. I'd probably block that move and tell you to do a little more soul searching, then I'd move on to the next candidate who showed the requisite enthusiasm.

You should, however, make your Saturday restrictions perfectly clear up front. Saturday is prime time in my neighborhood and my band members know to keep them free for gigging as much as possible. Turning down gigs is bad for business, and nailing down subs is a pain in the butt and usually not the band's best sound.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I am beyond 100% certain that telling them you don't like the music will serve no productive purpose outside of easing your conscience, and only hurt you. Unless these guys are idiots, and it doesn't sound like they are. There is not a chance in hell I would work a player into any band I was ever in if I didn't get the impression that he wanted to be there. Much less someone who didn't have experience and wanted to use my band just to get that experience.

Starting to rethink my other 2 posts in this thread. Sounds to me like you will just be wasting their time and money, and that's not cool.

 

[Ox Boris]

Hello TB, long-time lurker here who is faced with a situation that I'd like TB's general consensus on before making a decision.

I had posted a local Craigslist ad about a month ago offering myself as a bassist for any local giging bands. I have received only one bite from this, an offer to play in a local modern country co...

No!

 

[Kevorargh]

I agree that telling the BL you don't like the music is a superbad idea. It makes you look like you're not committed to the music, and it comes off as a little arrogant - I want to play but I'm going to hold my nose while I do it sort of vibe. You're not doing yourself or them any favors by telling them that.

It sounds like this is a hard working band - if you're not prepared to fit their schedule this may not work for you. Also, if you're not going into the project with an open mind then it's also not a good idea. It sounds like this band may have an attitude of in the boat or out of the boat. I've been there when I joined a folk band where both were pursuing music as their main job but I was not. Ultimately, my work commitments that I was not willing to give up may have been a major factor in our inability to make the band work as a self-sufficient entity despite the hard work I put into it.

Anyway, good luck.

 

[hrodbert696]

I agree there's not much point in telling the BL you don't like the music but you want to be in the band anyway. Either you want to be in the band or you don't.

I've posted it many times before, but this is a good moment for my Summer of 69 story. I always HATED that song, long before I played bass, would switch the radio dial when it came on. A few years ago I joined a classic rock band. We didn't play it every gig, but when there was a certain type of dancing crowd we would pull it out and people always loved it and sang along. I dutifully learned it and put up with playing it because I had to.

Then, after a year or year and a half with this group, we were playing this big backyard BBQ party, the BL hits those A chords and sings "I got my first real 6-string..." and everyone jumps up cheering and singing along, I come in with the bass, and all of a sudden it occurs to me... I'm ENJOYING myself. It was FUN.

I still don't particularly like the song, wouldn't put it on to listen to in the car. But what I realized is that I like entertaining people. I love the energy off a crowd of people getting into the music and having fun. It doesn't have to be MY personal favorite music. I enjoy the connection to people and the joy it gives them.

We often repeat the mantra that being in a band is about the sacred trinity of music, money, and hang. But I would add a fourth - it's also about the crowd, to me. If I'm making people happy, I'm happy.

 

[Kevorargh]

I agree there's not much point in telling the BL you don't like the music but you want to be in the band anyway. Either you want to be in the band or you don't.

I've posted it many times before, but this is a good moment for my Summer of 69 story. I always HATED that song, long before I played bass, would switch the radio dial when it came on. A few years ago I joined a classic rock band. We didn't play it every gig, but when there was a certain type of dancing crowd we would pull it out and people always loved it and sang along. I dutifully learned it and put up with playing it because I had to.

Then, after a year or year and a half with this group, we were playing this big backyard BBQ party, the BL hits those A chords and sings "I got my first real 6-string..." and everyone jumps up cheering and singing along, I come in with the bass, and all of a sudden it occurs to me... I'm ENJOYING myself. It was FUN.

I still don't particularly like the song, wouldn't put it on to listen to in the car. But what I realized is that I like entertaining people. I love the energy off a crowd of people getting into the music and having fun. It doesn't have to be MY personal favorite music. I enjoy the connection to people and the joy it gives them.

We often repeat the mantra that being in a band is about the sacred trinity of music, money, and hang. But I would add a fourth - it's also about the crowd, to me. If I'm making people happy, I'm happy.

+1 to the crowd. When I tried to get a band going a year or so ago I suggested Keep Your Hands to Yourself (Georgia Satellites). It's a crap song for bass but the crowd loves it, and I find myself enjoying it as well because I can really drive the song even with the simple bass line and the crowd loves it. The singer/guitarist couldn't bring himself to stoop so low as to play/sing it. The band imploded. Check you attitude at the door when playing in band.