At age (redacted) I just played for the first time with a band in front of actual living humans who weren’t related to me! Ok it was a lightly attended block party but a laid back local neighborhood cowboy band didn’t have their bass player and had a very wrong idea about my level of experience (and my lack of a stand up bass!). I’ve been noodling for years but only recently started lessons here and I definitely feel more confident so insanely I said yes. They sent me 18 charts of admittedly pretty simple cowboy/country songs (I had heard maybe 6 of them before) and I had 5 days to learn. I worked my ass off playing with the songs on iTunes. My wife wanted to move out. I simplified the living hell out of each bassline and really relied on half note root notes and occasionally 5ths but really really concentrated on trying to stay focused, simple and in the pocket. It was a blast!! Was I great? Hardly? But neither did I pass out, throw up, or fake a seizure to get away. Seriously for the first time ever, after all this time playing with YouTube and recordings I was with HUMANS and there’s nothing like it. I got nestled in, I was locked taking cues from my “band mates” (ahem) and hardly ever made a spectacle of myself with mistakes. The drummer was smiling and I could feel the communication we had. It is what I took this hobby up for, and it took years to happen. And it makes everything worthwhile. I hope the same happens for you. Thanks @JoshFossgreen for giving me the courage to say yes.
I dig these stories! 
This is the truth and the way.
You (meaning me) feel weird getting out there just ‘1 5 1 5 1 5-ing’ and knowing all these guys who are bedroom bass wizards with fretless 6 strings are scoffing at you but honestly when the drummer looked at me and smiled and nodded that was all I needed.
Dude, that’s so awesome (and encouraging)! You did the thing!! 
No matter how much you learn, practice and shred, there will always be a 9-year-old on Youtube who is better than you will ever be.
Accept that and do your own thing and have fun 
Fantastic. I’m also a recent convert to the ‘just join a band’ tribe.
So very happy for you 
Best story I’ve heard all week! How awesome! It’s also commendable that you didn’t just show up with people you know and songs you know and like… you showed up in all areas outside of your comfort zone and even CLICKED with the other musicians! Gotta be honest… I’m kinda peanut butter and jealous right now.
Congratulations! What a great story!
Way to put yourself out there @xrad2!