TimR

Yes. We try to make sure the singer doesn't arrive at the venue more than 10mins before we go on and get him out as soon as we're paid. It's just a lot easier that way.

Quite. I'm no pro and I have no idea how many songs I've learned over the last 30years. Sometimes to play for free as a one off. If it's less than 2-300 I'd be surprised.

[quote name='funkypenguin' timestamp='1462986022' post='3047616'] The current workload for Carnival Cruise Line bands is that we have 3 weeks in rehearsals with the band to put 180 plus songs together. I received the setlists last night so I have 2 weeks as of today to transcribe and learn the 90 of these that i've not played before before i leave on the 25th to join the band. [/quote] This is kind of what I'm leaning towards. It's a skill as bass players we should all have and really shouldn't be a huge ask. Personally when I'm bored I'll sit in front of YouTube for an hour and just play along to whatever comes up. Most songs are under my fingers by the end of the first chorus. If anyone has done a few jam sessions or depped for a function band on the fly this should be second nature to them. I can't understand the hardship or reluctance to learn a few tunes.

He should really have made it clear how much help he was expecting from you when you booked him. When we hired a guy he said he would need help lifting subs, speakers and racks out of the van, wheeling them in and positioning them. They're two man jobs. [quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1462912235' post='3046958'] Does his insurance cover you for personal injury sustained while you are acting as his unpaid employee? [/quote] This would worry me. Ideally he should be bringing someone with muscle. If I smashed a finger unloading from his van and couldn't play - what happens. If I smash a finger lifting my bass cab out of my car (I wouldn't I wear gloves, but did get a metal splinter before the last gig putting up a speaker stand) that's my lookout. .

[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] We did actually fire a guitarist who kept suggesting we should play Beatles tunes.

[quote name='neilp' timestamp='1462911674' post='3046952'] I've only been fired once, and that was because "you're not black enough".... [/quote] Looking at your profile pic I'd say they did have a point.

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1462872555' post='3046394'] He wasn't turning the gigs down, just moaning about them the whole way through, really put a downer on it, so I joined one of the other constant stream of bands asking me to play instead, job done. Except there's always another moany bastard in every band. [/quote] My lot take it in turns. It adds to the excitement, you never know who will be doing the moaning. I hate predictability.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1462875665' post='3046428'] This would have been a non starter for me without resorting to a hair transplant... [/quote] Me too now. This was 30 years ago.

I wouldn't grow my hair long. The band wanted my hair longer. My boss wanted it shorter. I did try to explain that without a job I'd have no car and without my car the band would have no transport. They decided on another bass player and then realised I was right about the transport. .

"Unless"

[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] 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? .

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 name='Les' timestamp='1462658810' post='3044789'] Agreed. I suppose one way of looking at it is your prepared to do 20 songs for an audition your chances of getting the gig are higher than usual as going from this thread there's a sh*t load of us not turning up for the audition anyway. [/quote] 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 name='blue' timestamp='1462655795' post='3044771'] Sounds very questionable to me. For those of us with decades of playing and experience behind us I don't think, at least for me, it would make me a better bass player. There are tons of other options I use to keep up my chops and over all skill level. Not a questionable band that wants me to take the time out of my schedule to learn 20 songs for an audition. Blue [/quote] If you have decades of playing behind you it wouldn't take you 10 hours to learn 20 songs.

Sounds ok to me. The more songs you learn the better a bass player you'll be. Even if you don't get the gig. Sound like most of the songs will be standard pop tunes so useful if you want to get into depping. Or at least if you're auditioning for this type of band again. Develop big ears and a huge repertoire and you'll be in demand.

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1462613269' post='3044337'] Yeah, but we don't all play for the money. [/quote] Therein lies the problem. Once you have gigs lined up, the band either steps up to the mark, or spectacularly crashes/implodes. And while the amount of money shouldn't make any difference, people will always put in a lot more work and produce a polished performance for the higher paid gigs. The 'only a pub gig' vs 'someone's wedding' ethic will always be there.

I'm not sure a bass with a bowed neck would be top of my list.

[quote name='4-string-thing' timestamp='1462097846' post='3040193'] ... very quick to moan about the quality of the gigs despite never actually looking for any herself. ... [/quote] This is one of my bugbears. One band I was in, I booked all the gigs and all I got was band members 'not going to play there'. I was them met with blank looks when I asked where they would play. They won in the end and don't play anywhere.

The first thing to do is ask for a list of booked gigs or a list of dates when everyone is free to gig and practice. If that list isn't forthcoming in a very short time - one week is my limit. Then it's time to go. People will string you along so that they can tell their mates that they're in a band. These are people who want to [b]be[/b] in a band but don't want to [b]play[/b] in a band.

[quote name='bassbiscuits' timestamp='1462025733' post='3039723'] Any damage to an instrument must always be referred to as 'battle scars' and an instrument is often described as a good one to have 'in your arsenal ' despite my belief that few basses ever actually take part in wars. Unless of course the damage is genuinely caused by shrapnel, in which case I apologise. [/quote] You should come to one of our rehearsals.

I wanted to gig regularly. The rest of the band only seemed to want to gig occasionally and only in front of their mates. The last two bands - exactly the same. I've finally found a band that have some drive.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1461354954' post='3034053'] A lot of great music came out the 80s & 90s. A lot of what's consider new is not new to me. It's what happens after you hit a certain age. Blue [/quote] Yes. My Grandad was saying that in the 60s "This is an old 40s number.", My Dad was saying that in the 80s. "This is an old 60s number.", I'm saying it to my kids now "This is an old 80s number". Nothing is new in pop.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1461324966' post='3033680'] Sounds like my idea of hell 80s onwards for me, although I'm really liking the musical turnout from bands in recent years to be honest so I guess I like being stuck where I am?! Though there are a few bands I wouldn't mind dropping back in time to see! [/quote] I remember when my dad stopped playing in bands. Around the 90s I suppose. We were playing a Sunday afternoon jazz set (he and I will play anything) and he said he didn't want to end up stuck playing music to people in old folks homes. The artists that have done the best have been those that have experimented and reinvented themselves. Sometimes it works, sometimes its spectacularly failed and they've had to move on swiftly. At the moment I'm happy playing classic rock to a bunch of 50 year olds. But I'm pushing to move our tune bass to something more recent. Pretty soon I'll be 50 and if I'm not careful I'll be playing Beatles and Rolling Stones tunes to people in their 80s. Although at the rate the people from the 60/70s are dying this year I may well be spared that.

You've missed my first sentence from your quote. Which effectively makes the rest of my post seem ridiculous as you've taken it completely out of context. Strange thing to do really.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1461133148' post='3031646'] Sort of, We didn't like the performance.😄😄 Blue [/quote] That's the problem with everything being available and recorded now. It was an improvised solo that didn't work quite as people who've heard the recording expected. I suspect you had to be there to appreciate it. Live music should stay live. I've got loads of recordings of awesome gigs that don't stand up to any detailed listening. Maybe Flea will watch it back and think he would have done something different. I doubt it, I don't study recordings of my gigs anymore.