blue

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1462912949' post='3046972'] I've been many a time on the sound engi end of things, and have always appreciated any (competent...) aid before or after. As a band member, I'm now well past any more than rolling up cables or rolling away flight cases, but, if it helps the tech team (a solo bloke or a whole flock...) I'll never refuse, once my own gear was done. I'm not the jealous kind, so I don't care about who's being paid for what, and at two in the morning, it's too late (or too early..?) to think about getting home a few minutes sooner. Having done this for over forty years, it's now second nature, but I really can't do much more, now, than stay out of the way and crack dumb jokes till it's finished. We all have our different attitudes; that's mine. [/quote] Yes, to all that. Blue

[quote name='Wooks79' timestamp='1462905470' post='3046886'] Sounds like a completely different set up to the OP, who is paying a seperate professional for a service at an agreed fee. [/quote] Agreed, in the ops scenario, I would say no help, if I contract with a plumber I'm not helping him do his job. Blue

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1462910759' post='3046942'] I'm not actually sure. Probably lack of talent. But the leader asked me about six weeks before "Do you think I'm too manipulative?", apparently seriously... [/quote] To me, if a guy has paying work to offer he can be as manipulative as he wants. Blue

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1462910113' post='3046933'] Fired for wanting to have some creative input and not being an exact replica of the previous guy. I was in fact the most reliable member of the band , during my two year stint everyone else failed to turn up to at least one rehearsal without warning. The guitarist once failed to turn up because he'd forgotten what day it was. They went on to have four bass players in the next few months before disappearing into the "where are they now file". [/quote] A few of the posts here really reflect, again, guys not doing their homework before joining a band. I joined my band to play bass guitar and sing background vocals. It was made clear from the on set that was my role. I have no creative imput and I'm fine with that. My point, we established what my role would be prior to my accepting the offer. That was 5 years ago, and things are still cool. Blue

I own 9 basses. My justification, I gig all of them in rotation. They don't sit around gathering dust. Blue

We travel with a sound person and our own sound and lights. He's a part of the band as far as I'm concerned. We all help carry and set up and tear down. Blue

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1462872433' post='3046393'] I wouldn't shut up about the growing up in the 60s and how amasing the beatles were [/quote] Hey, it's not your fault you were born in the right time period and right place. Blue

I can't make this gig, I can't make that gig. Cool, we'll get someone that can. Blue

When alcohol and or other substances become more important to you than your band and music. Blue

Thought I'd open up the flip side to reasons for quitting a band. . There are many reasons guys get fired from bands. I would think not understanding your role in a band and not understanding how to be in a band would be up there. Blue

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1462786082' post='3045584'] point 1 - i don't know what it is like state side, but bands don't produce literature or a manual on how they operate in the uk. often you can't find all the information out, you can ask questions of course, but no band is going to tell you if their drummer is (in your opinion) a bell end. you can't tell how a group of 4 or 5 people will gel until you spend time together regularly.[/quote] After you've been around a while it becomes easy to spot "holes". And it's easy enough to check a band booking history and what they have booked. Easy enough to ask about how many personnel changes there has been in the last 12 months.All can be helpful in making a decision on whether a band is a match for you. Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1462817075' post='3045968'] "Unless" [/quote] Exactly, there will always a be an "unless" consideration. Blue

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1462806336' post='3045781'] Lots of bands lots of reasons, but usually this one: Moany moany tossers, 'this gig is too small, this gig is too big, this gig is too near, this gig is too far, your amp is too loud, I can't hear you, I'm not important enough, I am too important...' and that was just one drummer. We were not making enough money for me to put up with that sh*t. Which always makes me wonder why on earth these moany bastards go out and play in bands? Is it because I did something bad once? [/quote] A paying gig is a paying gig. If a local bar/pub band is turning down gigs for any reason other than your already booked is questionable. I play big gigs,small gigs, gigs in cool places and gigs in not so cool places. I can't afford to be picky. Blue

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1462786082' post='3045584'] point 1 - i don't know what it is like state side, but bands don't produce literature or a manual on how they operate in the uk. often you can't find all the information out, you can ask questions of course, but no band is going to tell you if their drummer is (in your opinion) a bell end. you can't tell how a group of 4 or 5 people will gel until you spend time together regularly. I have joined bands who have gigs lined up, sh*t hot musicians who are all nice guys but left because it just doesn't click. some times you just have to take a shot and sometimes it doesn't work out. point 2 - the beatles were a start up band, as where the rolling stones, the who, U2....bands have to start up, regardless of whether they are original or covers. you don't join start up bands, that's your choice, but don't go on about it as if people who join start up bands are by some how wasting their time and won't go anywhere. we all know the implications of starting a project and some times the rewards outweigh the sh*t. if we were to focus on every little thing in a band, or refuse to join start ups we wouldn't join bands. you have to take a chance when it comes to playing music, a band may fizzle out, but you might find lightning in a bottle. i'd much rather take a chance and spend a couple of months finding out a band isn't right, than spend a couple of months analysing their facebook, emails and adverts to see if they are 100% perfect. you are lucky enough that you have joined a band with good musicians that works for you, and kudos for that, but they had to start at one point, and they no doubt had people come and go before you for various reasons and you know what, that's how music works. [/quote] Yes, I'm very lucky and if my band folded, I'd be screwed. Finding another local established working band would be impossible.And it's not that there are not opportunities, but the real good jobs are not advertised or open to the public. Only to those in the bands inner circle. I get where your coming from, but I still maintain that generally speaking, if your looking for paying gigs joining any kind of start up is usually a waste of time. Here's an an example, because they're both local to me. If Greg Koch or Daryl from Phil Collins were looking for a bass player, I'd never hear about it. Blue

Not necessary if your an at home player. Not really necessary for us gigging bass guitar players either. Me, I've always used them and will continue to use locks. Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1462812973' post='3045890'] It's an unusual amount but not unheard of. A few people have said "the only reason I'd", which implies that they're not adverse to doing it for certain reasons. It's a really good way of sorting out people who are serious about playing music and being in a band. Would you want someone who has only got enough time, ability or motivation to learn three songs in a week in your band? And we're talking about standard pop tunes here, not originals or prog rock opus'. It's something we can all do if we're going to dep for £80 for one night. 20 songs to add to your armoury. So what's the tipping point? . [/quote] Tim, I'm not sure how old you are, but for a lot of us older players, the request is suspect and comes off as amateur and out of touch. Unless the band has several months of good business booked, asking people to learn 20 songs is innappropiate. Blue

[quote name='dand666' timestamp='1462812165' post='3045881'] Had to learn over 100 songs in around a month just after we secured our first cruise contract. That took it out of me! [/quote] Understandable, a cruise contract makes a huge differences and a good reason to invest your time in learning that many songs. Blue

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1462801831' post='3045730'] Hi Tim I don't think anyone is reluctant to learn new tunes for a band, it's just the 20 songs for an audition that seems to have people raising their eyebrows mate. It is in my experience of auditions an unusual amount to learn, and it would appear the same for many who've commented on this. Les [/quote] Exactly Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1462800681' post='3045719'] I wonder if the reluctance of bass players to learn tunes that they might never play bears any relation to why bass solos are so rarely performed and received well. They're just tunes, it's not hard. I don't understand. I've had the same problem when it comes to learning new tunes with a band. Just go away, learn the tune and if it doesn't work, bin it, learn another one. Too many closed minds considering we're supposed to be musicians. [/quote] The consensus is, requesting 20 songs for an audition is suspect a "red flag". I agree. Blue

[quote name='NickRiffed' timestamp='1462748396' post='3045469'] I was playing in a three piece, great guitarist, great drummer. I lived about 30 miles from the guitarist and 45 miles from the drummer. I was getting gigs near me based on my previous form in another band. The drummer was getting gigs near him based on his previous form and many contacts. We never failed to get rebooked but sometimes the guitarist would knock the booking back because he didn't like the place for some reason. He never seemed to come up with any bookings in his area apart from one charity do. He had contacts coming out of his ears and was mates with managers and or owners of all his local music venues but nothing was forth coming. When I asked him at the end of a rehearsal as to why he couldn't get us into any of these places, he said that he could easily but he didn't think we were good enough not to show him up in front of a crowd of people that he knew. [/quote] I would never play with a guy that had that type of poor attitude. Good thing you asked. Blue

[quote name='the_skezz' timestamp='1462746432' post='3045459'] Left my last band four years ago - simply too much marijuana in the band. I've nothing against people having a toke, but when I'm lugging my gear over there (on the bus, no less) I expect far more than to play two or three songs before the others skin up and proceed to discuss government conspiracies for the next three hours. When they cancelled a gig because they couldn't be arsed, that was the end of my tolerance - I'll not work with anyone who doesn't put the effort in again. Leave your vices for your own time. [/quote] Again, you guys have to research these bands more before you join as well as define what your looking for. I think anyone who just wants to be in a band and joins without research or much thought is asking to be disappointed. You guys won't like this but I stand by it. Generally speaking, because there will always be exceptions. Joining a start up band when you have defined that you want to gig, more than likely will be a waste of time. Once I saw weed use, I would have been gone. I'm not 16 and it's not 1969. A little harsh, but I have pretty strict ideology when it comes to bands. Show me the guy that says " I dont like being in bands" and I'll show you either a guy that doesn't like working with or being around other people, does not like performing in front of a crowd or a guy that's only had bad experiences in bands. And it's usually because he didn't think things out. I know, I've been there. Blue

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1462720979' post='3045169'] The only reason for a 20 song audition IMO is that theres a gig to be played and they need to check whether you could cover it. 3-4 songs is more than enough for a regular audition. Generally I'd know before the end of the first song whether the auditionee would work in the band. [/quote] That would gave been my first question; "Why 20 songs" Now,like you said if it's a band with several months of good paying bookings, then there's a reason and motivation for me to learn and audition 20 songs. Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1462706581' post='3044997'] I auditioned for a band a few years ago. Their bass player had to drop out at short notice. They had lots of well paid gigs lined up and needed someone urgently. The guitarist auctioned 3 bass players on separate nights. I was second and after a few tunes was told the first guy had nailed it but he thought he should at least give me a chance. [/quote] Yeah and a lot of times your actually auditioning for a back up slot but they never tell you that. Blue

I met Sly Stone in the the early 80s. I knew who he was though. Nice guy, not pretentious just another guy. We we're both in the nens bathroom of a bar he was playing. The last time I saw him prior to this was headlining at Madison Square Garden. Blue

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1462657989' post='3044779'] I learnt 34 songs in a week.......phew (well I created cheat sheets). In the end I'd got the date wrong and turned up in the venue with my bass and cheat sheets a week early. In the end it turned out I actually had 2 weeks to learn 34 songs. [/quote] Learning 34 songs in a week is commendable. However; Regardless,from the responses here, the consensus leans toward, 20 songs for a traditional audition is questionable.IMO Blue