Should I take the gig?

[62Jazzbass]

As mentioned in my "Key Signatures, WTF?" thread, I auditioned for a cover band last night.

It was…..interesting. They are not very good. I am being kind. The singer, she has some potential, the keyboard player and harp player are decent. The drummer……..well……..not so much. He keeps really good time…..really, but that's it. I mean……I almost forgot he was there until I was so distracted by his complete lack of feel and musicality. It was like playing to a Boss Dr. Rhythm. The guitar player……kinda the same.

They offered me the gig to join them for a New Years party and a couple of club bookings after that, and presumably anything going forward. To their credit, they are rather up front about their abilities, their desire to get better, and what they want out of this band. As far as the material and what they are looking for in terms of commitment, it's right up my alley (we all have day jobs, families, we are not looking to be rock stars). But……again…...they are not very good. To the point that, aside from my wife, I would not tell my friends to come to a gig. See my dilemma?

I mean, this whole audition thing came about due to the fact that I cannot get together with "my" band as often as I would like to, and I want to play more than I am. Simple enough. I'd also like to play different styles that I don't get to play with my band, challenge myself and branch out. I feel that being in my "all original" band has actually limited me quite a bit by allowing me to ignore other styles, we just kinda "do OUR thing", whatever THAT is. It's allowed me to be lazy. I'd like to find a decent blues/R&B type band and really get inside that music and play it convincingly.

I don't know if I can do that with this band. Again, the material fits more or less, with some country and classic rock stuff in there as well. But once I learn the list of songs, that might be all I can get out of it. I don't think that this is a situation that will push me musically, at least not much. In theory, we could "grow together", but they have been together for a couple of years…….I don't hear the potential.

So….shit….do I stop thinking about it and take the fucking gig? Learn some songs, make a few bucks and maybe get seen by someone else looking for a bass player??

[Johnny]

They get gigs so they can't suck too badly, right?
Are they bad enough that you'd dread the gigs?
Are they good people?
Is the money good?
Any chance of improvement with you on board?

[bbkong]

So…stop thinking about it and take the fucking gig. Learn some songs, make a few bucks and maybe get seen by someone else looking for a bass player!!

I think you answered your own question there buddy.

It's not like you're getting married or anything.

[Aardvark]

They are not very good. I am being kind...





























...harp player?[/B]




Take the seasonal gigs and tell them you will be their fill-in guy. After a few hours of listening to wanker fuckin' harp solos you might have serious motivation to light a fire under your band's ass.



Cheers,
Aardvark

:Wink:

[solomon2]

Take the gig.
You can't get any other offers until you are seen in the context of playing live in a (somewhat) professional setting.

Its money, right? Why say no to 4 hours of practice on your ax while you make some pocket change.

Maybe they'll get better with you as a model.

and the number 1 reason
You can always quit and that empowerment of knowing you could walk out at any time should give you peace of mind.

At least thats what I would do.
I've played for many a bad band and with many bad drummers. Its a job. Almost like a cottage industry to the music business. Sometimes the fringe benefits are great, sometimes you count down from 4 hours by the minute and just grit yer teeth. Let Henny Youngman be your guide " If it hurts when you do this, don't do this."

[Palewailer]

Do you have a current stream of gigs?
Yes?
Fuck 'em.
No?
Take it.

[Jason Phair]

What will happen to the world if you give the harp player a nyckel?


Hohoho.

[Southpaw]

I say take the gig. Do the shows and collect your $$$. You can always keep looking for a better gig in the meantime.

[Johnny]

Take the pen.

[crunch]

Take the gig.

a) They're actually working, which means you're out playing and getting paid for it.

b) They seem nice, so you can probably teach those folks a thing or two which makes them better, and

c) the worst thing that can happen is people "in the know" will say "Wow, that band kinda bit, but the bassist ruled! WTF is he doing with those folks?" And then they call you when they need a killer bassist.

No one will ask you to come play if you're not out on the market. While it would be nice to have great players, there's also something to be said for being the strongest player in a band. It's not forever, and it might just start to get fun.

[62Jazzbass]

OK, so I took the gig, for the same reasons most people cited….…what harm can come of it, after all, I don't have anything else lined up at this time? Right…..right??

Well, I intended to position myself as their "hired" bass player, rather than a "member of the band", but it turns out that they already HAVE a guy that fits that role. This came up in the context of the New Years gig, as in "if you don't think you will be ready for the New Years gig, we have a guy that can sit in at a moments notice". Okaaay then…..whatever.

So I chose to just keep quiet on that front and "join" the band……for now. They have three gigs lined up, including New Years. I'll hang for these three and then take it from there. Maybe at that point I can re-position my role and be another hired player when they need one. Being a member is making me squirm a bit, because……..

I rehearsed again this weekend with some of the band….and I take back much of what I said about them……they are worse than I thought, with the exception of the keyboard player. What's REALLY funny/sad, is she is a better drummer than THE drummer. See…..he couldn't quite get the drums to "Walking on Sunshine" (fuck me, I never thought I'd be playing that song), so she got behind the kit and played it for him. They should put her on drums NOW. Anyway, he still couldn’t get it and said he'd need to work on it at home this week…..OMFG!

She also plays guitar, and for the next rehearsal we'll be playing the songs where she plays second guitar rather than keys……should be interesting, I bet she's the better axe slinger too.

OK, I am being too negative, these guys have given me the gig, I'll make the best of it. They are nice folks and they were very up front about their abilities. I'll get out there and be seen/heard. I'll learn 40 songs or so and that can't hurt for the future. Shit, as a bass player I should have learned "Pump It Up" years ago but never bothered, I nailed it for the audition though. And I never thought I would say this, but I am particularly enjoying the country ballads that the singer seems to favor, as the chord progressions are different from the sort of thing I am used to playing. I'll try my best to look on the plus side of the situation.

[Cosmic Pig]

If you're a player not doing anything always take the gig... unless the band leader has a rep for being a dick head or something.

Bad players often wind up in getting into the band business in some other capacity than playing, they become agents or entertainment managers for clubs or myriad other areas where you'll be glad you know them down the road.

Plus you always learn something. Like the value of the right set list... Much as I hate Walkin' on Sunshine you can't miss with it.

Old Time (gag) Rock and Roll... Brown Eyed Girl.... Red Red (hurl) Wine...

Just have to get used to that pre-puke metalic tasting saliva.

Cos.

[Johnny]

How can anyone not get that part?!?!?

[62Jazzbass]

See:

They are not very good. I am being kind. The singer, she has some potential, the keyboard player and harp player are decent. The drummer……..well……..not so much. He keeps really good time…..really, but that's it. I mean……I almost forgot he was there until I was so distracted by his complete lack of feel and musicality. It was like playing to a Boss Dr. Rhythm. The guitar player……kinda the same.


And it is wore than I thought initially, but what the hell, I'm in for now, we'll see what comes of it.

[st robert]

Old Time (gag) Rock and Roll... Brown Eyed Girl.... Red Red (hurl) Wine...


Cos.

and when you're done with that, why don't you just eat your own liver.


EEEEAAACK!!!!!!

[st robert]

And I never thought I would say this, but I am particularly enjoying the country ballads that the singer seems to favor, as the chord progressions are different from the sort of thing I am used to playing. I'll try my best to look on the plus side of the situation.

aaaaahhhh, brother, you drank the koolaid?


DOOOOOOOMED..... DOOOOOOOMED.

eeeeeyah, flashbacks!










sorry.....




rob





p.s. enjoy the show. a shit night playing live trumps a good day as a greeter at walmart!

[62Jazzbass]

aaaaahhhh, brother, you drank the koolaid?

Yeah...I suppose I did.:Roll eyes:

a shit night playing live trumps a good day as a greeter at walmart!

Yes, well, let's hope so in this case. If nothing else, It'll give me a story to tell!