Taking a Stance

[Tampabass]

questions asked and answered, accusations made and responded to, ad nauseum.
This thread just gets sillier and sillier.

 

[bluewine]

I'd say Stewart was the problem there, but then I just remembered my 28 year old fiancee actually likes Rod Stewart, so it must be your girlfriends tastes. Might I ask blue, is this the same younger girl who was singing for your previous band?

Hell no!

 

[Metal Mitch]

My Reasoning

The reason I gave them an ultimatum, I told them I was a pro-level bass player. If this was an established band with shows lined up I would have never put the screws to them. Since I was only marginally interested and it’s a start up, I am not going to sit around for a week waiting for a decision on a marginal opportunity.

Have I missed out on something, maybe? I have no regrets on how I handled this.

What do you think.

If you're only marginally interested and it's a start up, what do you care? You can keep looking, practicing, writing, or whatever while they sit around with their thumbs up their collective...

if you're already in an established band with shows, and don't have time to waste, that's when "the screws" are called for.

 

[bluewine]

Personally, I think its only fair for them to audition several bass players before they make a decision. I'd say you should have given them a week. My $0.02.

I gave them a week, no problem.I was not interested in giving them 2 weeks.

The thread has gone on way to long.I made a mistake,I learned and it won't happen again.

Funny, it has made me think back.I was never the best bass player.I was in the inner circle, in the club,mainly because I grew up with a certain bunch of guys.I was a good friend, guess thats why a lot of things happened for me.

 

[bluewine]

This was the last place I was happy playing.Just a bunch of good guys in a garage. playing

No audition, no jerks,no creeps no age, race or anything bariors. To bad I can't market it.

 

[Jim Campbell]

This was the last place I was happy playing.Just a bunch of good guys in a garage. playing

No audition, no jerks,no creeps no age, race or anything bariors. To bad I can't market it.

who's to say you can't....if it's good,it should find an audience...maybe not the usual places,but....

 

[tycobb73]

I know a few pro bass players that have their own house, takes care of their kids, pay for their own food while playing a cheaper bass, and have jobs to supplement their income from making music.

But then again, these guys usually don't audition either.

They're out there, but are they auditioning for the local start up cover band with now gigs? That was my point.

 

[Munjibunga]

This was the last place I was happy playing.Just a bunch of good guys in a garage. playing

No audition, no jerks,no creeps no age, race or anything bariors. To bad I can't market it.

Looks like that was before you went pro.

 

[bluewine]

Looks like that was before you went pro.

Pro is a term I used when the ads specifically said they were looking for Pro level only.

I am not a Pro at anything.

I really think your either giving me a hard time or you don't get it?

 

[drpepper]

I think that was good natured ribbing.

I'm pretty sure most everybody gets that there are different connotations of "Pro" with some crossover and some differences - "Pro" in that you do something for a living, "Pro" in that your skills are on a high level, and "Pro" in that your attitude and demeanor are similar to if what you're doing were your occupation (even though it's not).

If you've been playing for 40 years, I'd think it should be pretty fair to say you play on a "pro level," regardless of what your main occupation is.

 

[Munjibunga]

Pro is a term I used when the ads specifically said they were looking for Pro level only.

I am not a Pro at anything.

I really think your either giving me a hard time or you don't get it?

A little of both. You act a little snooty for a pro. So is there a difference between pro and pro-level?

 

[bluewine]

A little of both. You act a little snooty for a pro. So is there a difference between pro and pro-level?

Snooty, maybe, maybe a little. 40 years of doing this and then not being able to get any traction might make anyone seem a little "snooty".

 

[bluewine]

I think that was good natured ribbing.

I'm pretty sure most everybody gets that there are different connotations of "Pro" with some crossover and some differences - "Pro" in that you do something for a living, "Pro" in that your skills are on a high level, and "Pro" in that your attitude and demeanor are similar to if what you're doing were your occupation (even though it's not).

If you've been playing for 40 years, I'd think it should be pretty fair to say you play on a "pro level," regardless of what your main occupation is.

Or Pro level as I what I intend to bring to a band;

The ability to be a part of a team

Being prepared for rehearsals and shows

Showing up on time, reheasals and shows

 

[LaklandBass]

To be honest I dont really understand the OP.
Put yourself in their position.... do you really take the first decent dude that shows up?
When you are looking to buy a new bass do find the first "acceptable" one at the first store you walk into and just throw down your cash?
I've been in your situation before..... it makes you realize that the band might actually be a great group of guys. To be honest whenever I try out for a band and they take me on the spot I'm rather put off by it. The fact that these guys are following through will all options should let you know that they're serious.
And if you really cant wait an extra week thats fine. Just let them know that you're still looking at other options and that you dont want to be rude and leave them hanging so you're being up front. But giving an ultimatum? I wouldnt call you back based on that alone.

 

[xgator4u]

Again good thread, I was wrong.

However I will not be auditioning for any Red Necks in the near future.They don't want me, thats cool and I don't want them.

HEY I resemble that remark.

On the bright side, at least you took a different road to blaming it all on your age.

 

[bluewine]

HEY I resemble that remark.

On the bright side, at least you took a different road to blaming it all on your age.

Hmmmm? Some of my best friends are Red Necks

Does that work?

 

[Gus Borden]

I thought this horse died about two pages ago?!?

 

[bluewine]

I thought this horse died about two pages ago?!?

So did I. I am not sure what my thread is actually about now.

I think we are letting people give their veiws on how to audition for a Red Neck band.

 

[puddin tame]

Snooty, maybe, maybe a little. 40 years of doing this and then not being able to get any traction might make anyone seem a little "snooty".

If you've been doing this for 40 years and you're in the position you're in now maybe you're not as good as you think

 

[Marko 1]

This was the last place I was happy playing.Just a bunch of good guys in a garage. playing

No audition, no jerks,no creeps no age, race or anything bariors. To bad I can't market it.

Now that looks like a blast! *** is “marketing it”; what the he!! is going on in your head?!?!

You’re expressing how much fun you had with this garage jam, and it just makes me wonder why you can’t still enjoy something like that?

You’re wasting such precious time trying to appease your ego. Is it more about being a wannabe star - a “look at me” thing - or having fun making music?

An ego is like some demon that’ll consume you and suck all the enjoyment and quality from what’s left of your life.

I suggest you reprioritize your values, dump the ego, and enjoy your remaining years.

Read on if you‘re bored…

I’m in a gigging band (not initially my idea), and we take a weekend off every few weeks to avoid burnout (at least for a couple of us). Those weekends, drummer and I have three other buddies, two guitarists and a keyboard player (none really gig-worthy), come over to my music room and jam like crazy, and I look forward to those nights waaaaaay more than the band gigs.

I swear, if my band buddies didn‘t need what I bring to the table ($$$), I’d dump that band in a second to return to every-weekend real fun.

(Okay, I do have a lot of original material and recording capability and prefer that to live performance, but the point still stands.)