Who’s In between Bands and Scouting

[bluewine]

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.

Were all different. I have always been an out front in the spot light kind of player. I want to be seen and and I love being close to the audience, seeing whats happening, who's gettting into it and who's not.

By the way, my singing is awful. And yes for alot of us riff players, singing and playing is hard.

blue

 

[BayStateBass]

Share your approach, resources and progress.

• Do you have a strategy
  I feel my best option is to try to tap the network of musicians I have met over the last few years. I have also put my name out there for sub work to see if something pops up. I had my first sub gig Saturday and it went awesome, with some really great people. I have no faith in CL, Bandmix, or other sites....seems it's just bad band after bad band looking for fresh meat.

• Are you a newbie
  Depends what you call a newbie. Overall, yes, most would say so. I've only been in three bands and you can count my number of actual on-stage performances on your fingers. I have had one studio session and a number of years with professional training, though. And I am not new to music or to the music scene.

• Veteran
  Not by most standards.

• What type of band and opportunity are you looking for
  Part time cover band doing dancing music, rock, country, working 2-3 times a month playing small shows and average venues. Not looking to go farther than your local bar.

• No. 1 criteria, what does the band have to offer
  Stability with the members and an established, working setlist.

• Deal breakers
  Completely new startup band that's never played a gig. Or bands that tell you that even though they have never played a gig they are looking for a record deal and a tour.

• Are you limited by your location, small market space
  I don't want to travel excessively, it's a small market for the most part so I am open to various music styles, genres, and ages of band members.

Blue

I'm not in between bands right now, but my feeling is that it will be happening soon based on all of the issues with my current band, so I've had to weigh these types of questions heavily.

I will go on looking for another band when this one fries up. But I have some criteria that is far more specific than it was a year ago when I was hired by this band. My skills have gotten better, my attitude is different, and my desire to put up with BS, childish behavior, and unprepared people who drag everything down is virtually non-existent. I would be looking for a band where the people are reasonable with their expectations, have a common expectation of ability to perform the songs for a crowd, the musicians are of comparable ability, and do their homework.

I have absolutely no desire to be in a band that's about "the hang". If we can get along like mature adults when we're with each other, that's all I need or want. I have enough friends and a family, plus a full time job. I don't need you to be my friend. If it works out that way, it's just a plus I guess. Don't misunderstand me, I'm a very nice guy, very patient, and I will never be a jerk to you, but whether or not we are "friends" will have no impact one way or another if I want to play with you or not.

When I go looking I will probably market myself as a mid-level, reliable, solid bassist with some vocal abilities looking for players/bands who want to put together a solid, serious, fun show with the focus on doing local bar gigs playing music people like and want to have fun listening to.

 

[bluewine]

I'm not in between bands right now, but my feeling is that it will be happening soon based on all of the issues with my current band, so I've had to weigh these types of questions heavily.

I will go on looking for another band when this one fries up. But I have some criteria that is far more specific than it was a year ago when I was hired by this band. My skills have gotten better, my attitude is different, and my desire to put up with BS, childish behavior, and unprepared people who drag everything down is virtually non-existent. I would be looking for a band where the people are reasonable with their expectations, have a common expectation of ability to perform the songs for a crowd, the musicians are of comparable ability, and do their homework.

I have absolutely no desire to be in a band that's about "the hang". If we can get along like mature adults when we're with each other, that's all I need or want. I have enough friends and a family, plus a full time job. I don't need you to be my friend. If it works out that way, it's just a plus I guess. Don't misunderstand me, I'm a very nice guy, very patient, and I will never be a jerk to you, but whether or not we are "friends" will have no impact one way or another if I want to play with you or not.

When I go looking I will probably market myself as a mid-level, reliable, solid bassist with some vocal abilities looking for players/bands who want to put together a solid, serious, fun show with the focus on doing local bar gigs playing music people like and want to have fun listening to.

Solid approach, I think playing with good people which is important is different than the hang factor. I am with you there.

I think the hang is more important to younger guys.

Blue

 

[MatticusMania]

Im pretty much between bands right now. I'll be leaving my current band after our gig tomorrow night. I havent announced it to them, yet, but it shouldnt come as a surprise.
I was going to quit about 2.5 months ago, and after a long talk I decided Id give them a bit more time to improve in a lot of areas in which I felt we were lacking.
Well, 2+ months later and Im not seeing any improvement. SO, its time for me to take my leave.

I'll likely be starting up a new band soon. I have an idea of where I want to go with the music, I just don't have the other players yet.
With the new band I want to do trip-hop/electro rock with some dubstep influence.
If I were to list 3 acts as influence Id say its somewhere between Beats Antique & Wax Tailor, with a bit of the glitchiness and bass drops of dubstep, if that makes sense.

 

[MatticusMania]

• Do you have a strategy

- I have a few people in mind I want to contact to see if theyre interested, otherwise I'll post a very detailed ad about what I want to accomplish in hopes of finding some like minded musicians.

• Are you a newbie

- Nope.

• Veteran

- Ive been playing in bands in my area for over 10 years, so in that regards you could call me that.

• What type of band and opportunity are you looking for

- An original started up by myself.

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

- Not sure if thats the number one criteria, but we'll be creating original music with an emphasis on dance music. If we can do it right we'll be looking for opportunities to actually make some money (maybe).

• Deal breakers

- Any of the usual red flags, but Im open enough to at least discuss things over a beer with anyone who seems into the idea and doesnt immediately come off as a flake.

• Are you limited by your location, small market space

- Not really. Its Los Angeles. The sky's the limit.

Response to list.

 

[MrLenny1]

Veteran.
Looking for recording projects & paying gigs.
Surf CL & a few bars.
Age discrimination rampant.
All I see is Bass needed, must be 21-35 years old.

 

[Bert Slide]

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.

I once told a guitar player in one of my bands that I thought it would be fun to do a glam rock cover band and dress in drag and play T-Rex, Dolls, Bowie etc. and I asked if he was interested in putting an act together. His response was "No way! I'm a 'serious' musician".

Nothing wrong with a professional taking the business of music seriously but working with weekend warriors who take themselves too serious can be a real drag. I see a lot of bragging on here from people in $100 a man cover bands about how seriously they take the business of making music. If they were serious businessmen they would be in another line of work! Get over yourself, put things in proper perspective and have a good time.

 

[pbagley]

Networking comment - a few years ago I was out with my wife and the guitarist from my then current band. We talked to the guys in the band on their break, guitarist tells them I'm a bassist. I retaliate. Start of the next set they call me out to play bass on a couple of numbers. It went fine, first time I'd played through an Ampeg. Liked the amp, didn't so much like the bass. I think they were disappointed that I was competent - they may have been hoping for some embarrass the wannabe bassist fun in this low rent dive bar. Their bassist was pretty good, and a nice guy to boot. If I'd pushed the networking aspect I could still be talking to these guys and picking up a few sub gigs (bassist had driven over 100 miles to the gig), but I dropped the ball somewhere along the line.

 

[Sarah_J]

I once told a guitar player in one of my bands that I thought it would be fun to do a glam rock cover band and dress in drag and play T-Rex, Dolls, Bowie etc. and I asked if he was interested in putting an act together. His response was "No way! I'm a 'serious' musician".

Marc Bolan and Freddie Mercury were serious musicians as well, but they also managed to inject some fun and showmanship into their performances.
If there's one thing I really dislike in music, its those self-indulgent 'musos' who put their audience second and themselves first. If you aren't going to make it fun, you can't expect anyone else to enjoy it!

 

[Saxn]

... guitarist tells them I'm a bassist. I retaliate...

Am I the only one that is thinking there's a missing bit in here? Surely you weren't retaliating for them simply stating that you were a bassist!

 

[bluewine]

I see a lot of bragging on here from people in $100 a man cover bands about how seriously they take the business of making music. If they were serious businessmen they would be in another line of work! Get over yourself, put things in proper perspective and have a good time.

I'm in a $100.00 a man cover band. It's hard to get to that level locally. A lot of bar bands in Milwaukee don't get to that and wish they could. Taking it seriously is how we got to that level.

I am not sure if I'm a serious business man or not, but I am in another line of work. I have a regular corporate career. And I sure have a lot of fun on weekemds.

blue

 

[Bert Slide]

I'm in a $100.00 a man cover band. It's hard to get to that level locally. A lot of bar bands in Milwaukee don't get to that and wish they could. Taking it seriously is how we got to that level.

I am not sure if I'm a serious business man or not, but I am in another line of work. I have a regular corporate career. And I sure have a lot of fun on weekemds.

blue

Blue I certainly wasn't refering to you with my comment. We all know your level of committment is unsurpassed in the industry and you would never toot your own horn.


Hey check this out! If you use photobucket you can post giant pics of yourself at the bottom of your posts instead of those crappy little thumbnails people have to click on to see:

 

[the yeti]

Hey check this out! If you use photobucket you can post giant pics of yourself at the bottom of your posts instead of those crappy little thumbnails people have to click on to see:

the downside of that is you see it even though you didn't click on it.

(that's actually a pretty cool pic!)

 

[Bert Slide]

the downside of that is you see it even though you didn't click on it.

(that's actually a pretty cool pic!)

I've decided that henceforth I will include large pics of myself at the bottom of all my posts in all of Blue's "This post will start out as something else but evolve into another there can be only ONE band!(what I am calling the Highlander Law) and of course a lengthy discussion of the Milwaukee scene" threads.

 

[bluewine]

I've decided that henceforth I will include large pics of myself at the bottom of all my posts in all of Blue's "This post will start out as something else but evolve into another there can be only ONE band!(what I am calling the Highlander Law) and of course a lengthy discussion of the Milwaukee scene" threads.

I love pics, nice SVT bottom.

By the way,playing in mutiple bands is fine. It's only a pain for me. And I do understand it's great for free lance and sub guys.

blue

 

[bluewine]

Blue I certainly wasn't refering to you with my comment. We all know your level of committment is unsurpassed in the industry and you would never toot your own horn.


Hey check this out! If you use photobucket you can post giant pics of yourself at the bottom of your posts instead of those crappy little thumbnails people have to click on to see:

I love the Jazz Bass and those pearl block in lays.

Blue

 

[Bert Slide]

I love pics, nice SVT bottom.

By the way,playing in mutiple bands is fine. It's only a pain for me. And I do understand it's great for free lance and sub guys.

blue

The head is SVT too. It's an early 90's SVT-CL I got for super cheap because some joker had covered it in cheap surf green tolex and painted the grill white. It actually looks pretty cool and unique even though it's kinda ghetto.

 

[bluewine]

The head is SVT too. It's an early 90's SVT-CL I got for super cheap because some joker had covered it in cheap surf green tolex and painted the grill white. It actually looks pretty cool and unique even though it's kinda ghetto.

As long as it works and has the power and sound you like.

I new a guy that used white tolex on an SVT and found some sort of white cloth for the grill.The whole amp was white . It looked awesome.

I think I had one of the original SVT's I purcahswed it right after High School, 1972 or 73. I'm not sure. Best amp I ever owned.

I have been more than happy with my GK rig.

 

[Bert Slide]

I love the Jazz Bass and those pearl block in lays.

Blue

And I love you too Blue even though I kid. You've got a great enthusiasm about band life even though I disagree with some of your platitudes.

Hey I'm playing in Madison on Wed. May 8 and I expect you to be there!

[This invalid link has been removed]

 

[bluewine]

And I love you too Blue even though I kid. You've got a great enthusiasm about band life even though I disagree with some of your platitudes.

Hey I'm playing in Madison on Wed. May 8 and I expect you to be there!

Looks like you guys are having a blast!

Where are you playing on a Thursday night in Madison?

Blue