Just as a side note it is also the best way to tell who is serious about being in a band and who just wants to hang out and jam. It may show you how committed the rest of your band is.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
should we take this gig?
- Thread starter hieronymous
- Start date
Wow - it's like forum Christmas! I posted right before I went to bed, then when I woke up remembered to check - this is the most responses I have ever received! lol
I knew I was leaving out lots of info, so I appreciate that people responded from a variety of perspectives. Definitely some answers applied more than others. I went with responses like this:
... and told the other guys that I don't want to do the gig without a drummer in place. We'll see what the response is.
Would you like more info? We are a half-originals/half-cover band at this point. One guitarist (the one who wants to book the gig before we get a drummer in place, I'll call him gtr1) is in his late-50s/early-60s, is a fantastic lead player but tends to overplay, and has hearing issues. The other guitarist (the one working on the east coast, gtr2) is about the same age, and a grizzled rock/groove band veteran - a very intense dude, it can be hard to get a word in, but a fantastic guy overall. I'm an improvising rock bassist - I want to play in a band that can play songs but also improvise - I come across quiet and mellow but assert my ego every now and again (maybe more often than I know). We all sing, the other two guys bring originals and covers, I only sing covers but participate in spontaneous composition for new material. We don't have charts for any of the songs - we've been learning them as we go, so we can be rusty when we come back from one of these month+ breaks. I bet to some of you this sounds like a nightmare! But when it works it works.
Info on the gig: the most important part - UNPAID. Next most important part - we need to bring the PA. gtr2 has one, but it didn't work too well the last time we played this gig in the fall. Basically it's playing at an outdoor vendor event where are looking to increase attendance. The last time we did it it turned out ok, though the drummer drank too much and passed out from heat exhaustion - after the gig ended. Sound like a nightmare?
The bigger picture is that I love playing music and love playing in front of people, but I do have a full-time job with strange hours - flexible in one way, but I'm also on-call 24-7 - rare to get called, but when I am I have to run. So I can't commit to a "regular" band 100%. The guitarists are ok with this - they like my playing and I think we have a lot of promise. The challenge for me is finding people to play with who have similar levels of commitment - it's a very delicate balance. Also, I'm not in it for the money, and neither are the other guys. But I also don't want to just take any and every gig that comes along, whereas the guitarists get excited and want to play out, even under less than ideal circumstances. So that makes me feel like the Debbie Downer of the group sometimes.
There were lots of great comments and I feel like I could write an essay in response to many of them, but I think I've said enough for now. Thanks again everyone! Hopefully this thread will help someone else too.
I knew I was leaving out lots of info, so I appreciate that people responded from a variety of perspectives. Definitely some answers applied more than others. I went with responses like this:
... and told the other guys that I don't want to do the gig without a drummer in place. We'll see what the response is.
Would you like more info? We are a half-originals/half-cover band at this point. One guitarist (the one who wants to book the gig before we get a drummer in place, I'll call him gtr1) is in his late-50s/early-60s, is a fantastic lead player but tends to overplay, and has hearing issues. The other guitarist (the one working on the east coast, gtr2) is about the same age, and a grizzled rock/groove band veteran - a very intense dude, it can be hard to get a word in, but a fantastic guy overall. I'm an improvising rock bassist - I want to play in a band that can play songs but also improvise - I come across quiet and mellow but assert my ego every now and again (maybe more often than I know). We all sing, the other two guys bring originals and covers, I only sing covers but participate in spontaneous composition for new material. We don't have charts for any of the songs - we've been learning them as we go, so we can be rusty when we come back from one of these month+ breaks. I bet to some of you this sounds like a nightmare! But when it works it works.
Info on the gig: the most important part - UNPAID. Next most important part - we need to bring the PA. gtr2 has one, but it didn't work too well the last time we played this gig in the fall. Basically it's playing at an outdoor vendor event where are looking to increase attendance. The last time we did it it turned out ok, though the drummer drank too much and passed out from heat exhaustion - after the gig ended. Sound like a nightmare?
The bigger picture is that I love playing music and love playing in front of people, but I do have a full-time job with strange hours - flexible in one way, but I'm also on-call 24-7 - rare to get called, but when I am I have to run. So I can't commit to a "regular" band 100%. The guitarists are ok with this - they like my playing and I think we have a lot of promise. The challenge for me is finding people to play with who have similar levels of commitment - it's a very delicate balance. Also, I'm not in it for the money, and neither are the other guys. But I also don't want to just take any and every gig that comes along, whereas the guitarists get excited and want to play out, even under less than ideal circumstances. So that makes me feel like the Debbie Downer of the group sometimes.
There were lots of great comments and I feel like I could write an essay in response to many of them, but I think I've said enough for now. Thanks again everyone! Hopefully this thread will help someone else too.
Hi @hieronymous,
For me, no pay = no pressure, unless this is truly one of those rare "exposure" gigs that you can really get some good exposure. But somehow I doubt it. So if you want to do the gig it may be a good first gig for trying out new personnel. The PA shouldn't be a big deal, but you must have one that works. Your whole project sounds like it's pretty loose and not really serious. And that's OK. Whatever level you're comfortable playing at, go have fun.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
For me, no pay = no pressure, unless this is truly one of those rare "exposure" gigs that you can really get some good exposure. But somehow I doubt it. So if you want to do the gig it may be a good first gig for trying out new personnel. The PA shouldn't be a big deal, but you must have one that works. Your whole project sounds like it's pretty loose and not really serious. And that's OK. Whatever level you're comfortable playing at, go have fun.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
With the additional information you provided I think this hits the nail on the head for me. It sounds like a great gig to break a new member in.
Ideally, when you book a gig, you know what kind of product you're offering and bringing to the stage. I'm not a fan of "book it, and they will come." But I understand the mentality. Sometimes a band really is stuck in rehearsal mode, and a date on the books can light a fire under everyone's butts and get you out there. Sometimes it's even good enough to be encouraging and let you build on it.
Sometimes it's an unmitigated disaster, a soul-sucking motivation-killing embarrassing group faceplant in front of a live audience.
Good luck with it.
Sometimes it's an unmitigated disaster, a soul-sucking motivation-killing embarrassing group faceplant in front of a live audience.
Good luck with it.
These two things do not go together for me. If I'm schlepping extra gear, it for sure needs to be a paid gig.
If you are OK with going out of pocket ( travel expenses, meals, your time...) for what is essentially sounding like a public jam session, then by all means go for it 
"We're just going to play numbers that we know because we've never played together before..."
"We're just going to play numbers that we know because we've never played together before..."
Thanks for the insight. One thing I know is that if I don't get along with the drummer, then it's not worth it for me. The groove/feel has to fit. I am spoiled, having played with two drummers with whom the playing is just magic - and I'm too old to play with people that a) don't have the right sense of time and groove, and b) don't know how to listen to the music and react to what's going on.
We are definitely loose, but I'm not sure that "not serious" fits - we are all very serious about music and are trying to make it work under the circumstances. But of course from the perspective of working musicians and professional bands we do not fall on the serious end of the spectrum!
Lots to think about for sure. The May gig is not getting booked at this time - whew! At this point we are going to wait for gtr2 to come back and try and get together with a potential drummer gtr1 knows.
I don't think you're being uptight at all @hieronymous No reason to line up any gigs if you don't have a drummer. Who knows when you'll find another drummer. Could me 6 days, could be 6 months. You may not even find one. How you guys gonna feel when it's a week or two away from the gig and you still don't have a drummer?! Talk about a crappy situation. I would most def find a drummer THEN start booking after you've broken said drummer in with the band.
Hi,
I think you and I are on the same page here. The drummer can either make the gig enjoyable or suck all the fun right off the stage. Even drummers that I love, if they're having a bad night, not paying attention, get self-absorbed, too loud, etc, can make my night less than wonderful. Somehow it doesn't seem to bother the guitar or piano guys as much. Maybe I'm just too picky.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
I think you and I are on the same page here. The drummer can either make the gig enjoyable or suck all the fun right off the stage. Even drummers that I love, if they're having a bad night, not paying attention, get self-absorbed, too loud, etc, can make my night less than wonderful. Somehow it doesn't seem to bother the guitar or piano guys as much. Maybe I'm just too picky.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Mostly tangential, but I'm reminded of a playwright friend of mine. When he feels like he has a great concept for a new play---but before he's written a single line---he goes ahead and rents a theater for some dates, months down the road. He hires a director, casts the show, and starts publicizing it. He puts up all his own money for this. Then, he sits down to actually write the play. He says if he didn't do it this way, he'd never get around to actually finishing his plays. The looming deadline, the fear of public shame, and the investment of money all motivate him to do his best work.
Sometimes a gig can kickstart your band right into gear!
like we only have 7 weeks, gotta get someone NOW and start practicing!
do the gig, the band is humming along, hopefully you get another gig out of it and keep the ball rolling.
however, I wouldn't want to bring the PA. If it is a small gig where I only gotta bring a couple of powered wedges, then sure, I can do that, but anything larger would be a no from me.
I say go for it, book the gig, find a drummer, and get that stuff goin!
what's the worst that can happen ? you have to cancel a non-paying gig ?
like we only have 7 weeks, gotta get someone NOW and start practicing!
do the gig, the band is humming along, hopefully you get another gig out of it and keep the ball rolling.
however, I wouldn't want to bring the PA. If it is a small gig where I only gotta bring a couple of powered wedges, then sure, I can do that, but anything larger would be a no from me.
I say go for it, book the gig, find a drummer, and get that stuff goin!
what's the worst that can happen ? you have to cancel a non-paying gig ?
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
Too risky without having time to rehearse with a drummer. Sounds like the guitarist likes to rush things and take short cuts. I can't see anything good coming from doing the gig.
Playing in multiple bands may be a necessity these days for a steady flow of work. And I see no problem with that in and of itself. Snarky Puppy, my current favorite band, has a central core of musicians with established regular call substitutes available since they all have music careers independent of SP, and not everyone is available for every show of every tour. But not everyone is up to the caliber of Michael League’s bandmates, professional associates, and guest artists. Which I think is something to remember.
My nit is seeing local “bands” with continually changing personnel. It’s one thing seeing one bass player in two or three different bands. It’s another thing seeing one “band” where two or three out of their five players is different for every other show. Because the music suffers for it IMO. The deep musical interaction and synergy you get working closely with the same people falls by the wayside from what I’m seeing and hearing.
But that’s me. Good enough appears to be good enough for most people. So going from a commercial perspective, there’s no point pushing for “better” if the buyer doesn't care. I personally think the buyer has been taught not to care by the behavior of music world. But that’s a conversation for another day.
