• 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.

Sub gig coming and no setlists yet!

#21
I've played sub gigs where I saw the set list about five minutes before the soundcheck.
They provided song sheets with chords and were okay with the fact that I was winging it.
No trademark parts except for the songs I knew by chance.
I did this because I knew the band is tight, all capable musicians, all able to lead a clueless bassist through a show. Plus, they knew me and my abilities, they would not have let just anyone play.

If your scenario is similar, I would not sweat too much.
If you don't know the band, I would sweat. Profoundly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Manticore, getrhythm and Zooberwerx
#22
Zooberwerx said:
Apparently, you're taking the the project more seriously than the host band. Ch****, write the tunes down on a legal pad and send a pic. Don't assume they're all I-IV-V...we do "Drinking Problem" and "Beautiful Crazy".

Riis
Click to expand...

Agreed. You can't care more than they do. I used to do that, and it ended up causing me frustration for nothing. I get that the OP doesn't want to embarrass himself, but it's really the band's problem, not his.

If it were me, I'd show up on gig day and start marking through songs I don't know with a Sharpie, then hand the list back to them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Scott, ThudThudThud and Zooberwerx
#25
Zooberwerx said:
Apparently, you're taking the the project more seriously than the host band. Ch****, write the tunes down on a legal pad and send a pic. Don't assume they're all I-IV-V...we do "Drinking Problem" and "Beautiful Crazy".

Riis
Click to expand...
+1

Anyone that thinks country is all I, IV, V and root/5th doesn’t know country. I played in a classic country band for several years. There were lots of songs with walking bass lines and you had to know where you’re walking from and where you’re walking to. Lots with ii and iv chords, bridges, and other little change-ups.

It’s not like trying to wing it with a Rush tribute band, but if you go in without a solid foundation thinking you’ve got it, you’ll probably **** up pretty good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: One Way, LBS-bass, Slinger and 1 other person
#28
I havent played in a country band but ive been there with covers bands. At one point i was heavily advertising myself as a fill in and then i got a bunch of gigs. Changed my mind quick. Had this exact problem happen over and over. It was pulling teeth to get the setlist and when I did, there were no indications of of key changes or changes to the songs. I would get to the gig and in the middle of a song they wouldnt play a particular part that was in the original. Or add some new ending. So I started being very clear on what i need or im not doing it. And, Im not sure how popular this opinion is here but...I told them my rate to do the gig too. Im not talking a huge number but I generally want a little more than equal share. Im generally learning at least a bunch of songs on usually short notice and imo, thats worth a few bucks more.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Scott, Kevan Campbell and coyote1
#29
Stinsok said:
I have less than a monthl.
Click to expand...
How long ago did they ask you to sub in?
They do owe you a set list NOW, and you have a right to tell them you need it now or they will be needing to look for a sub for the sub.

On the good side, classic country rarely varies from root-5 and almost all of it falls within well-known song structures. For so many of those songs, they can simply tell you “ok, this one is in G” and away you go.
 
#31
Slevage said:
Haggard, Jones, Twitty, Hank…..,
Just wing it.

Ask them for anything 1990 or newer.
Click to expand...

I did a play-through of Hank’s 1953 Memorial Album last night. Almost all root-5 playing and largely based on I-IV-V blues form…and keys of C, D and E dominated. Mostly major, but also some minor. However, there’s just enough variation to throw things off - the occasional foray to the II or the VI, starting on the IV or the V and holding for an extra bar or two on the turnarounds. If you don’t know they’re coming, it’ll throw you off.

if you’re familiar with these forms and variations, it’ll be relatively easy, but I wouldn’t call it dead simple for anyone and everyone!

And then if there’s some Willie - that’ll be fun!

Hopefully they won’t call The Devil Went Down to Georgia on you!
 
  • Like
Reactions: One Way
#32
DirtDog said:
I did a play-through of Hank’s 1953 Memorial Album last night. Almost all root-5 playing and largely based on I-IV-V blues form…and keys of C, D and E dominated. Mostly major, but also some minor. However, there’s just enough variation to throw things off - the occasional foray to the II or the VI, starting on the IV or the V and holding for an extra bar or two on the turnarounds. If you don’t know they’re coming, it’ll throw you off.

if you’re familiar with these forms and variations, it’ll be relatively easy, but I wouldn’t call it dead simple for anyone and everyone!

And then if there’s some Willie - that’ll be fun!

Hopefully they won’t call The Devil Went Down to Georgia on you!
Click to expand...
Trial by fire.
If the band has any sense, they won’t play “Devil…” unless they’re confident that a sub knows it.
I’ve played Devil, and similar tunes with bands that use charts— those are show up and read gigs.
 
#34
I realize everyone’s different but a month is a good long time for me. I wouldn’t be on panic-button fight-or-flight mode just yet. A gentle reminder every few days that you’re a busy person who needs prep time, please send a general playlist, should do the trick.

And to be honest, on a sub gig, even when I get the playlist what most would consider “a little late,” I still give it the old college effort. When I finally get it, I do send a caveat email message reminding them this is now “short notice” and that I’ll do my best. Some bands just roll that way and the time to make a final assessment on how it went is after the gig. I also like to try to rise to the challenge and surprise myself with how much I can internalize on short notice; it’s a good skill.

That’s not to say any of that is the ideal, and it can introduce a little unnecessary stress for some. But I have found that a sub gig almost always exposes the band’s flaws and rolling with it has always been the best tact IME. You’re there to do all you can to get them through the show, warts and all.

If they are slow on the draw administratively, chances are you won’t be the only musician on stage hitting the occasional clam. And remember the Golden Rule of playing an unfamiliar tune: There is honor in dropping volume or entirely out during the rough patches.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kevan Campbell and QweziRider
#35
I regularly learn new music for church gigs. I can learn and memorize at a rate of a song a day pretty easily, but I've been at this quite a while, and typically it's 3 or less songs in a week - I learn them, memorize them, then polish the heck out of them for a few days. If I had a gig where I had to learn 40 new songs, that'd be a slog under any circumstances - for a one time gig, I'd politely decline that. But you've said yes, so that makes it a bit less straightforward.

I think I'd send an email or text to everyone saying "guys, it's gonna take time for me to prep - I'm pretty certain you don't want the show to suck. Neither do I. For me to do this, I'll need to know all the songs we're going to do by (tomorrow?) or I'll have to bow out. Sorry, but this is not negotiable."

Next time, inquire about songs and when you will have them before you say yes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 31HZ
#38
buldog5151bass said:
I once had a large outdoor gig where the stage sound was so bad, I kept my foot against the kick drum peg to feel the beat. It was terrible, but I got through it.
Click to expand...

That's a perfect argument for in ear monitors - all my gigs are on in ears now, which (once you learn how to do it) is a huge benefit in situations like that. I now position myself further away from the drummer, because the sound in my ears is much better and more useful than the ugly sonic wash coming through the drum shields. The best drum sound I ever got in my ears was when I was about 40 feet from the kit. That sounded great, though visual communication was a bit impaired.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back