Oh man.
I’m going to find the internet and make it tattoo this quote right on its forehead.
Great words and great perspective.
Thanks for the update, and big kudos and congratulations!
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I authorize t shirts, just make sure I get my cut 
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It’s been fun to read this thread; reminds me of my journey… Here’s the TLDR version:
I had only been playing bass for a few months when I got on Craigslist/Bandmix and being recruited for a fairly successful local cover band. That definitely forced me to get good in a hurry! Plus, it gave me a repertoire of songs AND some street cred so that I was then able to say I’d “been in a band.”
Next, I did try forming my own band, but it ultimately didn’t go anywhere. We had decent personnel (bass, drums, guitar) and got along OK, but we could never find that final piece of the puzzle (lead vocals). Mostly, we had trouble finding anyone who was both talented AND reasonably committed/reliable.
In the meantime, I tried out with and was picked up by a different band, and I’ve now been with these guys for over a year. I figure we must have played at least 26 gigs by now, but it might be closer to 40. We average at least two a month, occasionally less, but often more (we played six shows last month). Each of these are 3-4 sets, so approximately 3-4 hours of music, taken from a catalog of well over 200 songs. (Again, I’ve long since lost count…) We play bars. Lots of bars. And a handful of fraternity/sorority parties (mostly before football games).
I value the experience, the learning , the camaraderie – and the extra income $ – but it’s time-consuming and tiring, too. I guess I’ll end with this: To anyone who dreams of being in a band, I say do it. Just jump in and try it out. Personally, I would even say go ahead and play in a band that’s less than ideal (i.e., the “wrong” genre, slightly above/below your current level, etc.). Don’t torture yourself or allow yourself to get stuck in an unpleasant or unhealthy situation, but be flexible and open to whatever presents itself.
It sounds like that’s what the OP is doing, and I, for one, fully endorse that approach. What’s the saying? The only opportunities you’ll regret are the ones you don’t take. (Or something like that.)
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Dude I thought you were retelling my story for a second 
Good to hear I’m on the right track.
Seriously though from the reaction I got from Craigslist ->community-> music
And bandmix
bassists seem to be in really low supply out there
So if you are feeling not good enough read that line above again.
I mean it’s hard, I’m practicing like 2hrs a night but that’s because I hate feeling behind. But it’s pushing me to put in enough time to grow. Which of your serious about learning it might be what you need.
I also think places like George’s music have groups they build for you so you may want to try there.
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That’s a really good point – it will push you to really put in the work, put in the hours, and get better. Plus, you gain experience and confidence in all the “extras” – like, now I know how to set up/tear down/operate the sound system (cables for miles!); I could book shows if I needed to (thankfully, it’s not my responsibility, lol); I can work a crowd; etc.
And, I know that, if I had to or chose to quit the band for whatever reason, I could always pick it up again and get a “job” with whoever because A.) yes, bass players are usually in demand (especially ones who are decent at their instrument, show up on time, and don’t cause a hassle), and B.) I have these countless hours of experience and a repertoire that can literally span hours and hours.
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“We’re going to work up to 3 sets that’s 3 hours” My hands literally started crying at that moment. I thought it was nervous sweat but no I’m pretty sure they were crying 
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Luckily, the good habits and techniques ingrained from the initial lessons of B2B will carry you through three hours of playing and more.
(assuming there are no other, pre-existing health issues)
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Oh yeah, just like a drummer that can’t keep time, a bad bassist’ll wreck the vibe for sure. I have a BPM meter on my phone and I can watch us start out at 110 and by the time were thru the song we’re in the 90’s. Makes me want to scream!
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Hey what app are you using? I think I’d like to see that one in real time 
Lots of great advice in this thread! I’ll throw in my $0.02 for others who peruse this thread, as I’ve played with a few bands, tried to join bands via Craigslist, had some good and bad experiences. So here’s what I’ve learned along the way.
First, the ideal is to play with a band where everyone else is better than you (assuming they’ll have you). That’s how you’ll grow and learn the fastest.
Sorry if this is too obvious, but if you can only jam with one other person, the best is a drummer. You can learn a LOT from a good drummer, and it will be the best bang for your buck as far as becoming a better bass player (assuming the drummer is decent).
When auditioning for a band (auditions go both ways), really pay attention to the drummer. Make sure they’re someone you want to play with. Ideally they’re an awesome drummer with rock-solid timing, but you’ll have to decide for yourself what you’re looking for here. Ideally the drummer is passionate about music and willing to get together with you outside of full band practices to jam. This will help the two of you learn to find the pocket together, and the rest of the band will benefit from a rock solid rhythm section. I’ve learned almost as much from good drummers as I have from good bass teachers.
All the bad experiences I’ve had came from poor communication. There are a lot of things you want to be on the same page with the bandleader on. Here’s the ones I can think of.
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Your skill level and experience. Be as descriptive as you can here. I’ve learned that “I’m an intermediate bass player” can mean VERY different things to different people. I haven’t mastered this myself, but the best method I’ve found is to get their set list, listen to the songs, and be honest with them (and yourself) about whether they’re songs you can learn, and how hard they’ll be for you to learn, and how long it will take. I also recommend actually trying to learn a bit of each song, as I’ve found songs can often sound a lot easier to play than they are.
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How often do you want to rehearse and for how long?
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Do you want to be in a gigging band, or do you just want people to jam with? Would you rather be in a band that wants to gig sometime in the distant future, or one that wants to gig now or soon? How often are you comfortable playing gigs?
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If the band does want to gig, ask if they have any upcoming gigs they want to play or are committed to. E.g. a band might already be committed to play a gig in 3 months, so they’d need you to have a certain number of songs down in that time.
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Do your best to find out as much as you can as far as what they expect from you. Almost every band I’ve played with or auditioned for has said they’re “laid back”, but that too can mean VERY different things to different people.
I’m sure there are other things I’m forgetting.
For a bass player playing in their first band, I think type of music isn’t nearly as important as we tend to think it is. The most important thing is that you have the skill and chops to play with them and that everyone’s expectations are aligned. Playing with other people is WAY more fun than playing by yourself, even if it’s music you don’t like to listen to. E.g. I really don’t like country music, but right now I’d be willing to play with a group that played country, as it would still be more fun to play with them than by myself, and especially if they had a good drummer, I’d learn a lot. Of course, I’d make sure they didn’t want a long time commitment as eventually I’d want to find something else.
Finally, I’ll share something I learned from an excellent drummer who’s been in the biz a long time. As a bass player, the most important thing often isn’t your skill on the bass. Things like being reliable, punctual, having a good, positive attitude, easy to work with, etc. are often more important.
EDIT: Another thing here: help the drummer set up and tear down their drum set at gigs and at rehearsals if they have to do that. Learn how to do it, and learn what everything’s called. The drummer will love you for it, and I honestly think everyone in the band should know how to set up and tear down the drum kit. You’ll sometimes have very limited time to get on and off stage, and even when that isn’t the case, the whole band should pitch in to help. No one should be leaving until everything is packed up.
Here’s a great video on that topic:
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Awesome ideas thank you so much for sharing. I’ll have to dig in on the drum kit one. I set mine up a few times back in 5th grade but that was a few years ago.
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It’s a great opportunity to bond with your drummer.
Thanks for the great input. Good info right there.
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It’s called “Live BPM” and cost a whopping .99 cents. It’s pretty cool, just open the app and let it listen for a few secs and the tempo will appear on the screen. Another drummer friend of mine showed me because we have issues with slowing down in our band and wanted proof.
Aww man $3.99 for android. I put it on my wishlist. Looks cool!
$4.99 in Aussie dollarydoos.
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