Uncool to try and poach someone's gig, right?

[honeyiscool]

Don’t offer yourself for the band. That’s a faux pas, in my opinion. If someone came up to me being like, I would like to replace your bassist, I’d be like, go get lost.

However, do go introduce yourself to a band member or two and let them know that you have an interest as a musician to play with them and you play bass and you like their style and you’re serious. That’s how my band got our last drummer. He didn’t know that the spot in my band was about to become vacant, but he offered that he’d love to connect with me in a future project. One day later, I was like, so about that thing you said yesterday....

 

[FunkHead]

I don’t believe the OP has any intent to muscle in on the other bass player.
And the quote you quoted about the OP “being a better fit” was a bit short on context that would have better described the OP’s position... IMO.

Are you sure you read the same post I did? "Poaching" due to being a "better fit" is as clear as it can get my good man.
This could happen with the Drummer, Singer, Guitarist, Trumpeter an on and on.
Maybe a bunch of 'Better Fits" can just completely reform the entire band.
This has proven to be a ridiculous discussion.

 

[FunkHead]

If someone came to one of my gigs and said Wink, Wink, "I am a drummer just in case, yada yada" Wink, Wink.
I would point him to the door.
My drummer is my right hand man. If I lost him, I would only then consider a replacement and it wouldn't be some egotistical blow-hard from the club last night.
I find it pretty poor character to go around presuming ones self to be a better fit in any relationship.
OP needs to get over them-self.

 

[JMacBass65]

This place cracks me up.

Let me clarify a couple of things.

It's not in my nature to muscle in on somebody's gig, I don't think I could pull it off, even if I tried.

I'd be much more inclined to do exactly what others have said would be "ok", network and leave it at that. But make no mistake, the long game would be to hopefully get the gig. But I'd only do that if it happened organically, they would have to initiate it. I'd never say "hey, you should ditch so and so......".

As for the bit of argument going on between a few of you, honestly I couldn't quite follow.

And as far as me getting over my self, well whatever, I know what I saw. Clearly this leaves out the personalities involved, but as far as visual presentation, I am a better fit that the other guy, the end. There is no mistaking that.

 

[Spectrum]

This place cracks me up.

Let me clarify a couple of things.

It's not in my nature to muscle in on somebody's gig, I don't think I could pull it off, even if I tried.

I'd be much more inclined to do exactly what others have said would be "ok", network and leave it at that. But make no mistake, the long game would be to hopefully get the gig. But I'd only do that if it happened organically, they would have to initiate it. I'd never say "hey, you should ditch so and so......".

As for the bit of argument going on between a few of you, honestly I couldn't quite follow.

And as far as me getting over my self, well whatever, I know what I saw. Clearly this leaves out the personalities involved, but as far as visual presentation, I am a better fit that the other guy, the end. There is no mistaking that.

I just hope you're not talking about my band!

On the other hand, sometimes I could use a vacation .

No, but seriously, joining my band is a great way to lose money, so I'm not too worried about it.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Are you sure you read the same post I did? "Poaching" due to being a "better fit" is as clear as it can get my good man.
This could happen with the Drummer, Singer, Guitarist, Trumpeter an on and on.
Maybe a bunch of 'Better Fits" can just completely reform the entire band.
This has proven to be a ridiculous discussion.

That’s why I refuse to no longer try to understand how someone else interpreted the OP.
Only the OP knows for sure, if we’re lucky.

 

[JMacBass65]

I just hope you're not talking about my band!

On the other hand, sometimes I could use a vacation .

No, but seriously, joining my band is a great way to lose money, so I'm not too worried about it.

I'm broke enough as it is, your gig is safe!

 

[tradernick]

I don’t believe the OP has any intent to muscle in on the other bass player.

Ummmm....according to the first post, that’s exactly what he’s intending?? He says as much!

 

[tradernick]

but as far as visual presentation, I am a better fit that the other guy, the end. There is no mistaking that.

Fascinating. How so?

 

[the slug]

I think the right way to handle it is, sit outside the venue in your vehicle. Mow down the current bass player, then go talk to the BL. Maybe blame the whole incident on the drummer. just my 2 cents

 

[JMacBass65]

Fascinating. How so?

Well, since I'm not going to post a picture I guess you'll either believe me or not.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Ummmm....according to the first post, that’s exactly what he’s intending?? He says as much!

You’re in his head. I’m not. I left the building a while back.

 

[tradernick]

You’re in his head. I’m not. I left the building a while back.

No idea what’s going on in his head. Just going by the words he says.

But now more than ever, it’s clear to me that people can look at a set of facts and draw literally opposite conclusions from them. So this isn’t a huge surprise.

Carry on.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

But now more than ever, it’s clear to me that people can look at a set of facts and draw literally opposite conclusions from them. So this isn’t a huge surprise.

On that we agree sir.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Right.

 

[twinjet]

Ugh. I was in a similar position just a few days ago. Wednesday, I got a chance to play with whom I consider jazz royalty in my city. She is a skilled and pleasant lady to deal with. I came to a jam sesh she had hosted and after a few tunes, she had made it known that she liked what I did. I have wanted to play with her for years and here, I finally get to jam! This was perfect.

At the end of the jam, we parted ways. I was really hoping she'd ask for a card because I felt douchey just walking up to her while one of her main players (also local "jazz royalty" in my eyes) was right there.

I guess I'm going to just hope my contact who knows her well plugs me...

 

[Stumbo]

Ugh. I was in a similar position just a few days ago. Wednesday, I got a chance to play with whom I consider jazz royalty in my city. She is a skilled and pleasant lady to deal with. I came to a jam sesh she had hosted and after a few tunes, she had made it known that she liked what I did. I have wanted to play with her for years and here, I finally get to jam! This was perfect.

At the end of the jam, we parted ways. I was really hoping she'd ask for a card because I felt douchey just walking up to her while one of her main players (also local "jazz royalty" in my eyes) was right there.

I guess I'm going to just hope my contact who knows her well plugs me...

Don't be so passive. She's royalty, us serfs gotta take the initiative sometimes.

"I enjoyed my time with you and the group. May I leave my card with you?"

 

[40Hz]

@JMacBass65 - to get back on topic, there’s no possible harm in speaking to the bandleader to let him/her know how much you like the band, that you’re a bass player, and let it be known you’re available.

Positioning and networking are the name of the game in music. Word of mouth on the street level is the best way to build what used to be called “street cred.”

Best band I ever got asked to join worked out that way for me.

Met one of the band members after a show and got into a conversation that eventually wandered over to music. From that he knew who I was, what I played, and with who. Since they were loading out I gave them a hand while we were talking.

After that it was nothing for about a half year. Then I ran into the same guy socially at a mutual friend’s party. He had another band member in tow. More conversation. Then nothing for another few months.

But after that I get invited to hang at a “band rehearsal.” Met the rest of the band. Their bass player left right after rehearsal was over. (New GF. Wanted to get home.) B/L asked if I felt like jamming on a new song he wrote that they were about to start working on.

So I did. Offered some input and suggestions as we worked through it. Then ended up just jamming on some of their other stuff. After it was over I told them I had fun and how much I liked their music. And that was it. No sales pitch. I just figured it was another social call and I was getting a little of the old noblisse oblige since these guys were all locals (I was new to the area) and they had been together for about two years already.

A few days later the first guy calls and tells me he thinks the B/L is going to offer me a job. And he was wondering if I’d be interested. I said “absolutely.”

A few weeks later I was told I was their new bass player.

I asked the B/L if they always hired without an audition. He told me my “audition” had begun the night I got into that conversation with the first guy after the show and helped with the load out. That established I knew something about music and wasn’t lazy. Or pushy.

The night I ran into the two guys was the night I got a second thumbs up I might be someone worth talking to someday because I was cool in a social situation, and not someone who drank to excess or behaved like a jerk.

The night of the “jam” it established I had good chemistry with the rest of the band, knew music, interacted well, and could actually play. And the fact I didn’t once pitch them for the position implied I wasn’t blown away with myself.

So there you have it. The night it all began, they weren’t even looking for a bass player at that point. And I wasn’t asking to be theirs. But I put a bug in somebody’s ear. And the rest naturally followed once they were looking.

Positioning. Word of mouth networking. Street cred.

It works.

 

[JMacBass65]

@JMacBass65 - to get back on topic, there’s no possible harm in speaking to the bandleader to let him/her know how much you like the band, that you’re a bass player, and let it be known you’re available.

Positioning and networking are the name of the game in music. Word of mouth on the street level is the best way to build what used to be called “street cred.”

Best band I ever got asked to join worked out that way for me.

Met one of the band members after a show and got into a conversation that eventually wandered over to music. From that he knew who I was, what I played, and with who. Since they were loading out I gave them a hand while we were talking.

After that it was nothing for about a half year. Then I ran into the same guy socially at a mutual friend’s party. He had another band member in tow. More conversation. Then nothing for another few months.

But after that I get invited to hang at a “band rehearsal.” Met the rest of the band. Their bass player left right after rehearsal was over. (New GF. Wanted to get home.) B/L asked if I felt like jamming on a new song he wrote that they were about to start working on.

So I did. Offered some input and suggestions as we worked through it. Then ended up just jamming on some of their other stuff. After it was over I told them I had fun and how much I liked their music. And that was it. No sales pitch. I just figured it was another social call and I was getting a little of the old noblisse oblige since these guys were all locals (I was new to the area) and they had been together for about two years already.

A few days later the first guy calls and tells me he thinks the B/L is going to offer me a job. And he was wondering if I’d be interested. I said “absolutely.”

A few weeks later I was told I was their new bass player.

I asked the B/L if they always hired without an audition. He told me my “audition” had begun the night I got into that conversation with the first guy after the show and helped with the load out. That established I knew something about music and wasn’t lazy. Or pushy.

The night I ran into the two guys was the night I got a second thumbs up I might be someone worth talking to someday because I was cool in a social situation, and not someone who drank to excess or behaved like a jerk.

The night of the “jam” it established I had good chemistry with the rest of the band, knew music, interacted well, and could actually play. And the fact I didn’t once pitch them for the position implied I wasn’t blown away with myself.

So there you have it. The night it all began, they weren’t even looking for a bass player at that point. And I wasn’t asking to be theirs. But I put a bug in somebody’s ear. And the rest naturally followed once they were looking.

Positioning. Word of mouth networking. Street cred.

It works.

That's an awesome story. A perfect example of "we make our own luck", as I like to say to my kids.

 

[JMacBass65]

Don't be so passive.

This is a good point. I realize, looking back on it, that a band I spent about ten years in started because a dude showed up a rehearsal/party of a band I was in at the time. He knew the guys as he was the drummers neighbor. We talked after, he handed me a cassette, said "I'm putting a band together, call me if you like what you hear on the tape".

That was it, I still played with the other guys while he finished recruiting players, and then I split and went with him.