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When would a 5-string be required?

#101
gln1955 said:
A serious applicant doesn't need the band telling them what to play.
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This is the key right there. There are lots of non-serious applicants who will absolutely waste the band's time by not learning the songs correctly, so why not weed some of those out before you get too far? It's totally legit to put in screening questions to make sure you don't wind up wasting time with that guy who thinks his audience doesn't care about the quality of the music.

I'm all about making it easy on everyone. Tell me exactly what you want and need from me so that if I am not your candidate nobody wastes their effort on this.
 
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#102
gln1955 said:
I sure hope that isn't what you took from my post.

In this particular case, anyone interested can listen to their music and determine for themselves if a fiver is needed or if BEAD or drop tuning will get the job done. A serious applicant doesn't need the band telling them what to play. They are not looking for a hired gun, but someone to commit to the band long-term and invest $$. They should be looking for the best player and compatible bandmate they can find rather than maybe limiting their choices.
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If you can’t handle being told what to play, then you should start your own band and declare yourself off limits. I have never been in a band in my life where suggestions weren’t made by the others. And sometimes I was the one making the suggestions. A musician who can’t take occasional direction is someone I have no desire to work with.
 
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#103
JimmyM said:
If you can’t handle being told what to play, then you should start your own band and declare yourself off limits. I have never been in a band in my life where suggestions weren’t made by the others. And sometimes I was the one making the suggestions. A musician who can’t take occasional direction is someone I have no desire to work with.
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I don't, in general, disagree but that's not at all what I'm saying. In this particular case, where they are looking for someone to invest a lot of time and money into their band, I would want to know why they are making this request. It might be obvious from a listen to their songs, or maybe not.
 
#104
gln1955 said:
I don't, in general, disagree but that's not at all what I'm saying. In this particular case, where they are looking for someone to invest a lot of time and money into their band, I would want to know why they are making this request. It might be obvious from a listen to their songs, or maybe not.
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That's where a quick e-mail or phone call comes in handy. I frequently found myself doing exploratory emails to make sure a gig was what I thought it was before deciding if I wanted to take on the work.
 
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#105
I had a gig at a prominent wharfside seafood restaurant. I asked all the players to wear black. A professional look for that venue. (I'm all about bowling shirts and jeans for roadhouse gigs.) The guitarist showed up with a grey tweed jacket and a silver blue tie.

I know I am talking about clothes not 5s. There are several types of people. The person with vision. They start a company/band and employ a few to thousands. The next doesn't want that realm of responsibility. They will show up and do their jobs. The next want to be accepted for their existence. Accept yourself. Don't look for bandleaders' accommodations to show your worthiness. Meanwhile if you are hired to do a job for pay and you agree then do what they say. You know. Show up early, play your parts, wear what you're asked, and be cooperative. Wear the Starbucks uniform or leave. If you have a great idea promote it and I'll come work for you or come see your band.

There are extremely pro musicians I play with in my town. I never ask the sax player to bring a sax. If I hear a soprano on a piece I may ask him to bring it. All of these musicians ask me what should they wear to a gig. Is it a tux gig or a roadhouse gig? When they get to the gig they ask me where I prefer them to set up. Their chops are outrageous. Their humility is huge.
 
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#106
chadds said:
I had a gig at a prominent wharfside seafood restaurant. I asked all the players to wear black. A professional look for that venue. (I'm all about bowling shirts and jeans for roadhouse gigs.) The guitarist showed up with a grey tweed jacket and a silver blue tie.

I know I am talking about clothes not 5s. There are several types of people. The person with vision. They start a company/band and employ a few to thousands. The next doesn't want that realm of responsibility. They will show up and do their jobs. The next want to be accepted for their existence. Accept yourself. Don't look for bandleaders' accommodations to show your worthiness. Meanwhile if you are hired to do a job for pay and you agree then do what they say. You know. Show up early, play your parts, wear what you're asked, and be cooperative. Wear the Starbucks uniform or leave. If you have a great idea promote it and I'll come work for you or come see your band.

There are extremely pro musicians I play with in my town. I never ask the sax player to bring a sax. If I hear a soprano on a piece I may ask him to bring it. All of these musicians ask me what should they wear to a gig. Is it a tux gig or a roadhouse gig? When they get to the gig they ask me where I prefer them to set up. Their chops are outrageous. Their humility is huge.
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Absolutely %true!
 
#107
The size of your scene might factor in.
I am currently covering one night a week for a production of In The Heights, which is clearly written for 5-string.
If the main guy & I both got COVID and they needed another sub, reading skill & familiarity with salsa/tumbao syncopation would 100% trump string quantity IMHO.
Something like this already came up with a last-minute sub for trumpet. I gave them a couple names for good readers on trumpet, then a couple names of good readers on saxophone. I didn't give them the number for a trumpet player I know who is pretty shaky for reading rhythms, because that would have been an absolute train wreck. They wound up using a guy on soprano sax and we made it through the show as best as we could have.
The catch is, I'm in a smaller scene where the list of qualified players is pretty short. In a more competitive scene with dozens or hundreds of numbers to call, they could probably have found the right person, without having to compromise on their choice of instrument. (Even here, this theater will fly someone in when they can.)
 
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#108
tvbop said:
The vast majority of the public could care less if the bass they hear is played on a whizz bang multi stringer or a guy with a horse hair strung across a plank. Out in the mosh pit it all sounds like an indestinct drone.
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Wow. You're suggesting everyone plays the type of music (punk/certain types of rock/metal) where there is a mosh pit and notes are indistinguishable.

Maybe expand your horizons? Or maybe don't, that's fine, too. But get out of that tunnel.
 
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#109
JimmyM said:
What a sad and pathetic way to approach playing music. Why even show up?
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Just real my dear fellow...Been at this game a long time, unless you have a dedicated sound guy then thats the truth and even then it ain't gauranteed...Seen many big time acts with a myriad of basses being played and its the same old boom and drone....you think spending a ton of cash is gonna give you a better sound?...your call.

I always sound fantastic on stage, P bass, old flats, light touch, mid range dominant...and thats where it ends..what they do out in the auditorium I have no control over.
 
#110
Relayer71 said:
Wow. You're suggesting everyone plays the type of music (punk/certain types of rock/metal) where there is a mosh pit and notes are indistinguishable.

Maybe expand your horizons? Or maybe don't, that's fine, too. But get out of that tunnel.
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Sorry my bad. Mosh pits a term we used to use for the auditorium, theatre, club, bar...wherever, guess its a bit out of date to use such a term.
 
#112
tvbop said:
Just real my dear fellow...Been at this game a long time, unless you have a dedicated sound guy then thats the truth and even then it ain't gauranteed...Seen many big time acts with a myriad of basses being played and its the same old boom and drone....you think spending a ton of cash is gonna give you a better sound?...your call.

I always sound fantastic on stage, P bass, old flats, light touch, mid range dominant...and thats where it ends..what they do out in the auditorium I have no control over.
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I'm really sorry that you've never experienced a show from either side where the sound was done well.
 
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#113
tvbop said:
Just real my dear fellow...Been at this game a long time, unless you have a dedicated sound guy then thats the truth and even then it ain't gauranteed...Seen many big time acts with a myriad of basses being played and its the same old boom and drone....you think spending a ton of cash is gonna give you a better sound?...your call.

I always sound fantastic on stage, P bass, old flats, light touch, mid range dominant...and thats where it ends..what they do out in the auditorium I have no control over.
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LBS-bass said:
I'm really sorry that you've never experienced a show from either side where the sound was done well.
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What she said.
 
#114
Jaycat said:
"It is required to have a 5 string bass and your own bass rig."

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Sorry, not getting it. (I didn't open their link as I don't do spotify.)
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They’re the ‘employer’. This is their requirement. What don’t you get? It’s very clear. If you don’t have a 5 string BEADG or even tuned lower possibly you’re not getting that gig.

If an engineering company says you have to have a professional engineering license (PE) and you show up as a graduate with a degree in the appropriate engineering discipline but no PE, you’re not getting the job.

This is a requirement of the employer in this case the BL. It’s really simple. Either you meet the criteria or you don’t.
 
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#115
tvbop said:
Sorry my bad. Mosh pits a term we used to use for the auditorium, theatre, club, bar...wherever, guess its a bit out of date to use such a term.
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Mosh pit is a term for where the rowdy portions of the audience run into each other usually at a punk concert. It gets crazy and sometimes people get a few broken ribs. Been the definition since late 70’s/early 80’s

Your definition is really off the mark.
 
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#119
ModuMan said:
A long time ago I saw an audition for the Blue Man Group. Audition requirements were to use a pick. Gonna tell them a thousand reasons why they are wrong?

I didn't go, I just wasn't that good with a pick then. Kinda regret it, even if I wouldn't have gotten the gig.
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Ya, these hardasses should tell those eggheads that they will use their fingers and they’re going to hire them and like it. Riiiiiiiight!

“I fought the law and the law won.”
 

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