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Why I can't join a band

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KingRazor

KingRazor

Supporting Member
Jun 4, 2010
6,747
415
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Beaverton, Oregon USA
#1
I'm sorry if this comes off as whiney.

I'd love to be a part of a band. I feel like my bass playing could improve quite a bit if I had other musicians to play with. However, in my case, I seriously doubt that I'll be joining a band any time soon. Here's why:

First of all, as stated in my sig, I don't have a car. Which means I wouldn't be able to drive to rehearsals or gigs. I'd have to ride the bus or bum rides off of other band members.

I don't have a rig. I have a 15-watt 1x8 bass combo amp and a Behringer V-AMP. So if I did any gigs that required more than that, I'd have to rent or borrow a rig. Won't be able to afford a decent sized rig any time in the near future, either.

I'm not available on Saturday nights or Sunday mornings because I'm at church during those times. Church takes up 10 hours of my weekend. If I were to gig on the weekends it'd have to be Saturday mornings or Sunday nights.

I don't go to bars. I don't drink and I feel it's a lot easier if I just avoid places like that all together. That doesn't I can't step foot into an establishment that serves alcohol or anything, I just don't go to bars. So I wouldn't be gigging in any bars.

I don't know any musicians who would have the free time to join a band, so I don't think starting my own band is something I could do. So I'd most likely have to join an existing band.

And lastly, I really don't think I'm good enough to be a hired musician. I know enough to get by, I can play roots along to whatever chords the rest of the band is playing and maybe throw in a 5th or a 3rd every once in a while. So I think I'm (barely) good enough to join a band, but to be hired on as a musician? I don't think I'm that good.
 
#3
Maybe try to get a church band going. Meanwhile, play bass along ot your favorite CDs. Playing with other people is an important step in your musical evolution, but it is NOT the only thing you need to be doing. Learn to sight read and get a subscription to Bassplayer magazine, for example.
 
#5
Regarding no rig - find a singer with their own PA...plug into the PA.
Get yourself a decent gig bag, maybe you could cycle cross town to the practice space. Besides the bus is underrated.

Like the others say, try out a church band.
 
#8
jefwho said:
Maybe you could play at church?
Click to expand...

You know the original reason I learned Bass was to play on the Worship Team at my church, actually.

Instead I became their sound guy.:D

And they need me a lot more as a sound guy than as a bass player. If I joined a church band it'd have to be a different church. Dunno when I'd be able to do that.

hdracer said:
Get a Job.

It is amazing all the things you can do When you have some money in your pocket.
Click to expand...

Been looking for one since November. No luck yet but I keep looking.
 
#9
You pretty much answered your own question...

That said, there's usually something for everyone, no matter how challenged.

Of course, getting a job, learning to drive, getting a louder rig and freeing up your Saturdays couldn't hurt, either. Not meant as an insult, just stating the obvious.

Are you still in school? Maybe there's some other students.
 
#10
jefwho said:
Maybe you could play at church?
Click to expand...

Beat me to it.

I play for a medium sized group at my church ( 100ish people) and have and continue to give a few free leasons to some of the younger people around. I fix gear for most of the musicians in the church, and have done countless setups for younger people who either couldn't afford it of didn't know it was possible. Talk to a few of the more experienced players, you never know how far some one is willing to go to help you untill you speak on it.

You don't have to find a WHOLE BAND either. I started by just playing root notes with another girl playing an acoustic guitar. Playing with other people will accelerate your playing and understanding of Bass. Piano, Mandolin, Ukellele, Guitar, it doesnt really matter what you are playing with, just play with some thing
 
#11
Muttleybass said:
You pretty much answered your own question...

That said, there's usually something for everyone, no matter how challenged.

Of course, getting a job, learning to drive, getting a louder rig and freeing up your Saturdays couldn't hurt, either. Not meant as an insult, just stating the obvious.

Are you still in school? Maybe there's some other students.
Click to expand...

Oh I know. I'm the one at fault for all this. Not trying to place the blame on others. I know that getting a job, a car and a rig will help out a lot. My Saturdays won't be freed up any time soon, though.
 
#13
You're 22 not 14. Finding a job will be hard if you put as many constraints on potential employers as you do potential band mates. My best advice is this: get off the internet, man up, get to work, make some dough, improve your playing, improve your life. Stop making excuses. Best of luck to you. The world is a tough enough place without putting obstacles in front of yourself. I am almost 37 and have been without a job for exactly 2 weeks since I was 14. If you are handicapped, however, I am sorry, thats a different story.

Ten hours at Church? What kind of Church? Sorry, I grew up Catholic, 45 minutes tops. LOL!
 
#15
SteveHeissner said:
Keep practicing until you feel you're ready to play in church. Get a DI like a Sansamp and plug into the church PA. Some day when you have a job and a car you can expand your horizons beyond church, if you wish to do so.
Click to expand...

I can play just about any of the songs we play at my church. The church already has a DI so I'd have all the gear I need. But I have to be invited to play in the band by the worship leader and that hasn't happened yet. We've talked about it in the past, but the biggest thing right now is that they need me to do sound, not play bass. They have enough bass players to cover each service, but right now they have me mixing for 2 out of 4 services. When we get more sound guys, I might be able to play every once in a while.
 
#17
I'm in the same boat, OP. I'll also add that I'm a terrible player, but I'm kind of like a kid finger painting: I'm having fun, but Monet I ain't. Because of that, I'm not all that interested in joining a band anyway.

When you get a group of musicians together, you inevitably run into some sort of drama, and I can do without that. I'm much happier playing along to songs at home on a decent practice amp than I would be dealing with some pointless tension between a guitarist and a drummer or whatever.
 
#18
ffutterman said:
I'm in the same boat, OP. I'll also add that I'm a terrible player, but I'm kind of like a kid finger painting: I'm having fun, but Monet I ain't. Because of that, I'm not all that interested in joining a band anyway.

When you get a group of musicians together, you inevitably run into some sort of drama, and I can do without that. I'm much happier playing along to songs at home on a decent practice amp than I would be dealing with some pointless tension between a guitarist and a drummer or whatever.
Click to expand...

Why go to the beach when you can swim in your bathtub?:hiding:
 
#19
StrangerDanger said:
You're 22 not 14. Finding a job will be hard if you put as many constraints on potential employers as you do potential band mates. My best advice is this: get off the internet, man up, get to work, make some dough, improve your playing, improve your life. Stop making excuses. Best of luck to you. The world is a tough enough place without putting obstacles in front of yourself. I am almost 37 and have been without a job for exactly 2 weeks since I was 14. If you are handicapped, however, I am sorry, thats a different story.

Ten hours at Church? What kind of Church? Sorry, I grew up Catholic, 45 minutes tops. LOL!
Click to expand...

Like I said, I've been looking for a job since November. I haven't found a place that's willing to hire me yet.

And yeah, 10 hours every weekend. On Saturday I have a prayer class from 4:30PM to 5:30PM, then I have rehearsal with the worship team (doing sound) until 6:30PM. Then at 7:00PM the service starts and wraps up at about 8:30PM, then I edit and upload the pod cast of that service to the website and get home around 9:45PM.

Sunday is similar although it also includes a 2 hour chunk for worship practice after service.

The only restrictions I've placed on jobs is that they can't interfere with church.
 
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