Good call but I was looking forward to more of the cranky drummer stories
So am I! Wishing you good luck, that is. Not myself
Good luck! You got this
is that idiot going to pay you to buy a pbass? how about, “yeah, are those the drums you play, because i really think you need to play ludwigs”. seriously, nobody would ever tell a guitar player to change his favorite guitar, ridiculous.
good luck!
Yeah that was my take too. “You’re just gonna use sample triggers, right? Or do you really think you’re gonna mic that thing?”
I know, right?! I mean, someone else on the thread said he’s entitled to his opinion, and I totally agree, but I also would never have the audacity to tell somebody — before they’ve even been given a chance to play — that their gear sucks. That was just lame.
Y’all are the best! Thanks so much for all your support.
The audition tonight was awesome! I pretty much nailed every song that was on the audition list, and I came prepared with some additional ones — some of the “standards” they typically play, plus a couple of songs that are in their “new” material (including “Footloose” which is pretty dang fast and squirrley, but tons of fun).
I made a few minor mistakes, but once you’ve got dual guitars and drums most of those get swallowed up in the overall sound. Mostly though, I played everything just right. I felt good, I was loose and moving around, obviously having a good time, which is something the bandleader told me from day one: “We want somebody who looks like they’re having fun so the audience can have fun, too.” And that’s definitely the vibe I brought – because it is fun!
I think I may have said somewhere else in the forums… I feel like I was made to play this instrument, like this is what I should’ve been doing all along — except I never would have wanted to play bass because, like most casual observers, I didn’t think bass was “cool.“ How wrong I was!
Anyway, like I told my wife, I have to imagine that they feel pleased and that it’s surely just a matter of everyone giving the thumbs up. If for some reason that isn’t the case, I know that I’ve done my dead level best to learn the material and “put on a good show,” and that’s all anyone can ask for.
Oh, one more thing… I actually asked these guys about my equipment and the fact that I usually play with a pick (I’m just a lot more confident and fluent because of having played so many years on other instruments using a plectrum) and they, without hesitation, said “hey, whatever works for you and lets you play your best, works for us,” which I thought was such a cool vibe — especially compared to the other guys who seemed completely hung up on every detail being the way they wanted. I have to admit, I’ve been a gear snob myself down through the years, but playing music and having a good time ought to be the focus. As long as it sounds decent and the crowd is into it, it shouldn’t matter.
So, that’s my story. Hopefully, pretty soon, I will be starting a new thread called, “Yikes! I’m in a band!”
Thanks for sharing @thebanjoplayer ! Sounds like a much better fit than the other band with the little drummer boy. Good luck!
Congratulations, that sounds awesome!
I’m looking forward to this thread.
Cool beans! Hope you get it!
Ok… I guess this is it… My last post on this thread…
Tonight I met with the bandleader at the rehearsal studio to “roadmap” some songs that they play in a weird key or that have a spot where I need to come in or lay out or whatever.
It all went well, and I even got to work on my — get this! — BASS SOLO near the end of “Play That Funky Music.” It’s really just a few measures of improvisation that lead back into the iconic “lay down the boogie…” and then there’s a drum roll and then I immediately kick off “Brick House”!!!
At the end of rehearsal he said — if I feel ready — that he’d like for me to play my first gig with them on the weekend after next (October 22) at a major casino in our area! And then two more shows the next week (Tuesday and Friday), including a 4-hour outdoor gig (!) at a major new venue that’s opened on the downtown strip! These are legit shows!!!
In other words, it looks like I’m basically in a band (knock on wood). I mean, I’ve still not actually played a show, (so, I guess I’ll wait a while for the tattoo, ) but I’m being integrated into the group, and he’s talking about “our” upcoming schedule.
It’s all kind of unbelievable… My daughter is assigned bass in the school band about a year ago… In January of this year, I decide to buy her a bass of her own — and end up mostly playing it myself… I had never cared a thing about bass guitar, had never paid it any attention, but immediately fell in love! And now, I’m a bassist in a legitimate local band, like, with paying gigs!!! It’s too cool! (And, yes, I told him “I’m definitely ready to play the casino!”)
So, be on the lookout for my next saga called “The Life of a Gigging Musician” or “What Have I Gotten Myself Into?!”
Wow! Congrats!
Congrats @thebanjoplayer, sounds like a great time.
So amazing. Congrats! Looking forward to your upcoming topic!
Holy crap that’s awesome!
This post has greatly improved the quality of my day.
I am so very happy for you, congratulations!!!
Congrats! Good work
4 hours gig holy hell, that needs a lot of stamina… Good luck and have fun!