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Who’s In between Bands and Scouting

B

bluewine

Inactive
Sep 4, 2008
10,296
27
WI
#1
Share your approach, resources and progress.


  • Do you have a strategy

  • Are you a newbie

  • Veteran

  • What type of band and opportunity are you looking for

  • No. 1 criteria, what does the band have to offer

  • Deal breakers

  • Are you limited by your location, small market space

Blue
 
#2
I can't respone, I'm not in between bands.

However if I was, my main criteria would be work, do you have and can you validate you have significant work on the books at least at the $100.00 a man level.

Not looking for bands that want to gig 1-2 times a month.

blue
 
#3
It's been about 12 years since I was in a band. I haven't started trying to get one together yet because I haven't gotten a larger amp yet. I'd like to get together a punk band and play some bars. If we make enough to drink I'll be more than happy.
I'm limited in time and money and age. Not interested in partying like a 22 year old. I'm 34 with 2 kids.

I can see some of you guys are really serious musicians, but I'd just like to have a few drinks and play some songs.
 
#4
I was inbetween bands, going to jams and seeing what's out there. Yes, I am a veteran and I'm looking to gig more than once a month. Now I have a jazz duo gig with a guitarist and I also recently joined another blues band. I'm still atending jams, getting my name/face/bass out there and will gladly take sub gigs as they come up. I also play Catholic masses on Sunday and that keeps me happy.

Deal breakers would be the ground up concept or wanting to practice more than once a week. If I do a ground-up approach, I'm going to call a LOT of the shots regarding song selection. maybe someday I'll build MY band...

I had rehearsal this past Wed with the new band and we barely touched 10 tunes, and not all of them were played all the way through. Other band members were happy and the next meeting will be next Fri at a gig. I like that...

The last band I recently quit was a 75-minute drive one way for rehearsal. The 65-mile drive didn't bother me but the crappy drummer & 2.5 hrs of driving time that I wasn't getting back was wearing me out.
 
#5
I'm a 52 year old woman, and whilst I'm a pretty competent bass player, I rather doubt that anyone would want me in their band. I guess its an image thing; most bands seem to comprise men aged between 18 and 40 (although they might have a female vocalist) , so I'm way outside the right demographic in both age and gender.
Shame though, because I think it would be pretty special to be able to play with other musicians.
I first took up the bass in 1974, fooled around with it for a few years and then joined an band in '81. After that folded I did a few other gigs and then stopped playing for about 25 years. I started playing again 2 years ago, so I think I would count myself as a newbie, albeit an experienced one.
I don't think I would be comfortable playing for a big crowd, so small venues and small money would be fine as a starter.
 
#6
Sarah_J said:
I'm a 52 year old woman, and whilst I'm a pretty competent bass player, I rather doubt that anyone would want me in their band. I guess its an image thing; most bands seem to comprise men aged between 18 and 40 (although they might have a female vocalist) , so I'm way outside the right demographic in both age and gender.
Click to expand...

Don't cut yourself short, I'm 60 and going strong.

Blue
 
#8
drpepper said:
Yet somehow, you managed to do it anyway...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I wish more would, I think it helps some of the folks that are looking, understand some of the pit falls to choosing a band.

At the end of the day it's your responsibilty to do your homework and pick the band that's right for you.

For example if a band is gigging 6-8 times a month and you only want to play 1-2 a month, don't audition for that band.

blue
 
#10
Like Blue, I am not between bands at the moment.

If I were looking at a new band my most important criteria would be work ethic. I want to work with people who can prepare off-line, be prepared to work on arranging at rehearsal (instead of learning the notes), able to tackle new stuff with a good ear and quick learning, and willing to give and receive feedback.
- I'm not in for practice twice a week and gig once a year.
- I can handle learning a new song on the gig, and so should the rest of the band.
My ideal gig schedule is 2 a month, with compensation in the $100 a man range. I work a full time job, have family, etc, so more than 2 a month can be too much sometimes. Less leaves me home sitting on the couch stuffing my face and expanding my middle.

Deal breakers:
- All rehearsal and no gigs.
- Attitudes. I once formed a band with a guy who wanted to be the most unstable guy in the band. Anyone more unstable than him was a non-starter no matter how much talent they had. When we disbanded he confided that this had been the most successful band he'd been in from a gigs and stability standpoint. Yea, it was him moving out of state that broke up the band.
- Dishonesty. Don't lie to your band mates. Don't steal from your band mates. The rest of the big 10, with me being the pseudo father of the band. Or mother. You decide.
- Drunkeness. You don't have to be dry, just not drunk or high.
- Dictatorship - goes with attitude maybe. I work best in a partnership where everyone has an equal footing, and everyone has a common direction (the good of the band). Could be retitled politics - where one puts their self interest above that of the group.

That's about it. I hope this helps.
 
#11
Sarah_J - I got back into bass playing after a 12 year "vacation" by playing for my church. There are also jam sessions around my area on various days of the week. Make connections, eventually something will come together. No worries on age, I'm older than you and still jumping around like a fool in the cover band... meanwhile being very serious during my church gigs. Good luck!
 
#13
Sarah_J said:
I'm a 52 year old woman, and whilst I'm a pretty competent bass player, I rather doubt that anyone would want me in their band. I guess its an image thing; most bands seem to comprise men aged between 18 and 40 (although they might have a female vocalist) , so I'm way outside the right demographic in both age and gender.
Shame though, because I think it would be pretty special to be able to play with other musicians.
I first took up the bass in 1974, fooled around with it for a few years and then joined an band in '81. After that folded I did a few other gigs and then stopped playing for about 25 years. I started playing again 2 years ago, so I think I would count myself as a newbie, albeit an experienced one.
I don't think I would be comfortable playing for a big crowd, so small venues and small money would be fine as a starter.
Click to expand...

My drummer's a female and somewhere around 50, not sure her exact age because I really don't care so I don't ask. She works hard and sees the vision of the band so she can be in my band as long as she wants. It also helps to have a female voice on backups but that's a miner bonus.
 
#15
tycobb73 said:
It also helps to have a female voice on backups but that's a miner bonus.
Click to expand...
Aah yeah there is always that. I really don't want a microphone in my face; I have a terrible voice anyway but I find that trying to sing while playing breaks my concentration and it affects my playing.
I would prefer to just stand at the back and play the bass; Just put me near enough to the drummer that we can communicate and that's all I want. Maybe its that I can't do 2 things at once, or maybe I just try too hard on the bass, but I tend to play more than just the root notes and that takes up more of my brain.
 
#16
Yes, I am between bands atm, mainly due to high work commitments and a lack of opportunities.

bluewine said:
Do you have a strategy
Click to expand...
Know my stuff, be professional, hit up the usual resources for finding musicians, audition when opportunities to do so come up, network, network, network.

bluewine said:
Veteran
Click to expand...
Played in working cover bands over five years, as well as running my own for 12 months prior.

bluewine said:
What type of band and opportunity are you looking for
Click to expand...
Working cover band with local city club and pub gigs.

bluewine said:
No. 1 criteria, what does the band have to offer
Click to expand...
Regular work.

bluewine said:
Deal breakers
Click to expand...
Not enough work.
Poor quality of musicianship.

bluewine said:
Are you limited by your location, small market space
Click to expand...
Limited by location, not really, the cover scene is pretty good over here. More limited by the "closed club" mentality at that level...the same guys are swapping between bands and filling in for each other, and the same acts work the same venues week in and out. Venues are happy, agents are happy, working bands are happy. But there's little scope for an "in", so it's a tough nut to crack :D
 
#19
Well this is a well-timed thread. After a multi-year break I have started pounding the pavement with a sax and bass looking for a working band... even though I SWORE I'd never do it again. Here's my situation:
[*]Do you have a strategy
Click to expand...
Due to the still somewhat limited size of the 'scene' here (posted about that in another thread with very little response) the initial approach was the ol' "shotgun". Random drop-ins to clubs that hosted live music. After an initial bad report from everyone, I finally found a few groups that claimed to be looking for work. now I have narrowed the lines of communication to them. Next step - find out who wants to actually WORK and who just thinks they do.

[*]Are you a newbie
Click to expand...
On bass, I am. A year plus experience there, but with a solid background on music theory it's just the mechanics holding me back. On sax, I have nearly 20 years' experience with multiple groups and styles - and I appear to be in limited supply around here :D

[*]What type of band and opportunity are you looking for
Click to expand...
Short answer - a working band. I am freelancing in my other job as well, so anything to supplement goes a long way. Love making me some music, but the pay's gotta be there. I am not wedded to any particular type of music.

[*]No. 1 criteria, what does the band have to offer
Click to expand...
Gigs! Although that sums it up, there are a lot of qualities that have to be in place to get there, chiefly musicianship/showmanship, organization, and a good work ethic. Again, NOT looking to party (MAN I thought I'd never say that!)

[*]Deal breakers
Click to expand...
That one's easy. Flakiness can't be tolerated at this stage of the game. I went through it with other groups for a few years and it only leads to missed opportunities. And being fired for stupidity.

[*]Are you limited by your location, small market space
Click to expand...
Somewhat. My primary search area is a pretty depressing area for music, but it is surrounded by decent ones. Have horn and will travel.
 

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