Should I stay or should I go?

[jtg]

A - if he’s calling you out for experimenting and as you describe, is less experienced, I’d be sure to point that out on the gig recording each time he transgressed and when he’s practically in tears catch him with a basic theory question and then when he’s about to just grab his stuff and go I’d declare that it’s an unpaid “hang” gig and if he wants to call you out again it’s going to be a lot worse next time.

B - tell him (completely out of spite) that from now on you’re playing that song with a slide and since you wrote the bass part it is your prerogative unless he wants to hear you dictate openly how he should play guitar.

C - then I’d crack open a beer and hand it to him because it’s not about being a jerk, it’s about setting the condition that you won’t be treated like one.

Dear KF: you are my hero. I mean, that's epic. That's totally what i would fantasize about doing before not doing it.

 

[pbass2]

Wait, you're a "hired gun" who does not get paid? Sounds like you're a band member. They need to treat you like one or start paying you. Better yet, just bail on these guys. Big egos and amateur hour are just a recipe for headaches.

 

[Matt R.]

The first red flag should’ve been a gig with no pay.

 

[Killing Floor]

Dear KF: you are my hero. I mean, that's epic. That's totally what i would fantasize about doing before not doing it.

Seriously though, not about being a bad guy, just set the precedent that you don’t want to be treated that way. Especially if you’re a volunteer.

 

[J Wilson]

These things are simple:

EITHER the networking, visibility, and any money make this worth doing. . . . .

. . . . or they don't. From the sound of it, 'creative liberty' would seem a non-sequitor in this case, so IF it were ME, they'd already be looking for a bassist down at their level.

But only you can decide what's best for you.

 

[themickster]

So, I played a gig with an originals band whom I’ve been playing with for about 4 years. We probably do about 3 or 4 gigs a year and have recorded an album and EP of original tunes. My role as bassist is to supply basslines to the tunes—I am not paid to do this, nor are any of my ideas for original tunes entertained. Im completely a “hired gun”, as is another band member. We play with these guys because we enjoy the hang.

Here’s the catch: we played a 30 minute (free) show with 3 other bands over the weekend. Prior to the show, I had indicated I’d like to try one of my basslines with a slide (a la Morphine) - it sounded cool in my woodshed and thought it might be nice to try with the band. Well, many of the band members liked the idea, but another stated he’d rather me try things in the studio. Understandable.

Anyway, the gig happens, some of the band members with less gigging experience were nervous, and the mistakes started to happen. Well, the song comes up, I play it with the slide, it sounds ok.

Next day, the guitarist who did not want me to try the slide on the gig called it “sloppy and messy”. That said; he’s the least experienced musician in the group, and plays like it.

I’m reconsidering whether I want to continue on with this band where I have no songwriting input, and then any playing input seems to be “controlled”. I’m not paid to replicate parts, so I’d like more creative leeway than what I’ve been getting. What would you guys do?

I don't let anyone keep making me unhappy

 

[DWBass]

Hmmm...lesser musicians trying to be in control.....buh bye!! It happens. Once you progress as a musician, you tend to see and hear those who are NOT progressing will most likely go nowhere. Time to move on.

 

[gidbass]

So, I played a gig with an originals band whom I’ve been playing with for about 4 years. We probably do about 3 or 4 gigs a year and have recorded an album and EP of original tunes. My role as bassist is to supply basslines to the tunes—I am not paid to do this, nor are any of my ideas for original tunes entertained. Im completely a “hired gun”, as is another band member. We play with these guys because we enjoy the hang.

Here’s the catch: we played a 30 minute (free) show with 3 other bands over the weekend. Prior to the show, I had indicated I’d like to try one of my basslines with a slide (a la Morphine) - it sounded cool in my woodshed and thought it might be nice to try with the band. Well, many of the band members liked the idea, but another stated he’d rather me try things in the studio. Understandable.

Anyway, the gig happens, some of the band members with less gigging experience were nervous, and the mistakes started to happen. Well, the song comes up, I play it with the slide, it sounds ok.

Next day, the guitarist who did not want me to try the slide on the gig called it “sloppy and messy”. That said; he’s the least experienced musician in the group, and plays like it.

I’m reconsidering whether I want to continue on with this band where I have no songwriting input, and then any playing input seems to be “controlled”. I’m not paid to replicate parts, so I’d like more creative leeway than what I’ve been getting. What would you guys do?

I'd have bailed long ago. Hired gun with no pay and no songwriting input for an originals band ? No thank you.

Good Luck!

 

[bdplaid]

I’m reconsidering whether I want to continue on with this band where I have no songwriting input, and then any playing input seems to be “controlled”. I’m not paid to replicate parts, so I’d like more creative leeway than what I’ve been getting. What would you guys do?

I think I'm gonna unpack a bit…

I helped build an all original band that sounded fantastic. I had some nonmusical ideas early on, which were used, but I was uncredited for them. From the start, it was never intended to be a paid project, but rather an "outlet."

So as the band progresses, I can see that what it is: the lead member of the band, who had a big recording contract 40 years ago, but you've never heard of him, bringing in his old recorded material for us to play. It spans a period of about 20 years, of varying styles. It all needs to be somehow made coherent in totality, as some is rock, some is kind of Smooth jazz, other styles. And newer material that he's recorded in his home studio, by himself, kind of a soft rock.

The rub is that he demands all the parts to be exactly as written. Some of the studio material is highly produced, making that an adventure. As for my basslines: As written, buddy.

To top it off, the lead singer, a really great talent mind you, is a condescending ******* towards me. I was a lead singing bassist back in the day. And I studied music in college.

Bear in mind the band lead guy, the drummer and I are all of the same experience level. The Others vary, but no beginners.

Despite that, the manner in which rehearsals were conducted was like nothing I've ever experienced. I'll leave it there because it's complicated, but it was super non standard, and greatly extended the band's time to learn the material. My suggestions went unheard.

And then there's the leader's wife. Worse than Spinal Tap, honest to God.

So it dawns on me that, really, we're a cover band. Just covering the one guy's songs.

I was outta there. But it took some soul-searching before I did, because at least initially, I put a lot of my heart into the gig. But afterwards, what a weight off of me!

I hooked up with some old friends and have pursued various things in the years since.

But I can't help but keep in mind the crap they pulled, always serving as a bad example for my future endeavors.

 

[dave64o]

I think I'm gonna unpack a bit…

I helped build an all original band that sounded fantastic. I had some nonmusical ideas early on, which were used, but I was uncredited for them. From the start, it was never intended to be a paid project, but rather an "outlet."

So as the band progresses, I can see that what it is: the lead member of the band, who had a big recording contract 40 years ago, but you've never heard of him, bringing in his old recorded material for us to play. It spans a period of about 20 years, of varying styles. It all needs to be somehow made coherent in totality, as some is rock, some is kind of Smooth jazz, other styles. And newer material that he's recorded in his home studio, by himself, kind of a soft rock.

The rub is that he demands all the parts to be exactly as written. Some of the studio material is highly produced, making that an adventure. As for my basslines: As written, buddy.

To top it off, the lead singer, a really great talent mind you, is a condescending ******* towards me. I was a lead singing bassist back in the day. And I studied music in college.

Bear in mind the band lead guy, the drummer and I are all of the same experience level. The Others vary, but no beginners.

Despite that, the manner in which rehearsals were conducted was like nothing I've ever experienced. I'll leave it there because it's complicated, but it was super non standard, and greatly extended the band's time to learn the material. My suggestions went unheard.

And then there's the leader's wife. Worse than Spinal Tap, honest to God.

So it dawns on me that, really, we're a cover band. Just covering the one guy's songs.

I was outta there. But it took some soul-searching before I did, because at least initially, I put a lot of my heart into the gig. But afterwards, what a weight off of me!

I hooked up with some old friends and have pursued various things in the years since.

But I can't help but keep in mind the crap they pulled, always serving as a bad example for my future endeavors.

Going through bad experiences sucks, but you learned something from this one and that only leads to better situations.

 

[Wesley R]

Open, honest communications.

Not everyone is going to like every thing about your playing, yet some will

 

[Admiral Akbar]

Open, honest communications.

Not everyone is going to like every thing about your playing, yet some will

So very true.

And not everyone will like you, even if you’re genuine and an overall good human being.

 

[ChrisB2]

Timing-wise, maybe should have let him get used to it in rehearsal. But playing completely pro bono and stifled creatively up until that point, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I totally support you in this point. If it's not fun, why bother? I'm glad you did what you needed to do for you.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

If you’re a hired gun that isn’t getting paid and you’re not getting any creative input, you’re screwing yourself and being a free backing band for someone. What are you getting out of this? If nothing, bolt.

 

[Admiral Akbar]

I totally support you in this point. If it's not fun, why bother? I'm glad you did what you needed to do for you.

I didn’t mean to play the slide out of pure ego or self-flagellation… I played it at that moment as I felt the gig was going flat, the band was uptight, mistakes were happening — I thought I could “jumpstart” things by doing something which I thought was interesting. I thought: How much worse could it be(?), let me give this a shot and see if the guys can rally a little….

Well, the song went over ok, but mistakes still happened after that tune as well, so I guess the slide failed to galvanize the troops! Lol. Ironically, the tune with the slide was one of the better tunes (mistake free) that evening.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

Stay but actively look to start/join another band. And contacts you make could lead to other opportunities.

 

[fdeck]

Without being negative about your current situation, if you've been playing for 4 years, and have made reasonable progress during that time, then it wouldn't be at all surprising to have one of two things happen: 1) You've outgrown your band. 2) You're good enough now, that you deserve to learn what's out there in terms of opportunities.

Stretching out and finding a more challenging band might also give you some ideas for how to advance your own abilities.

 

[Artman]

These guys sound like a group of incompetent hacks. Hacks who are taking advantage of you.
The only thing you need to decide is whether or not you want to be closely associated with their poor musicianship and bad performances. That can stain your reputation in the business.

It sounds as if you can and ought to do better than to waste your precious time with such clowns.
Life is shorter than you realize. I do not know how old you are, but I'm guessing you are quite a lot younger than the average TB user.
The older you become, the faster time passes, and before you know it, you will feel as if you are running out of time.
Shoot higher. Don't waste your precious time working for or with such bottom feeders.

 

[brianrost]

some of the band members with less gigging experience were nervous, and the mistakes started to happen

An inexperienced band that can't play their own material live after 4 years and maybe a dozen gigs?

This is raising a serious red flag for me. I quit two bands where the songwriters couldn't remember how their own songs went. No sense wasting my time.

 

[Admiral Akbar]

An inexperienced band that can't play their own material live after 4 years and maybe a dozen gigs?

This is raising a serious red flag for me. I quit two bands where the songwriters couldn't remember how their own songs went. No sense wasting my time.

Most of their mistakes start from the drummer. The the guitarists tighten up, and the less experienced of the two starts playing timid. The singer keeps his head in the game, and I feel it’s up to me to inject some life into the performance. This occurs just about every gig.