peteb Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 (edited) 18 hours ago, meterman said: Definitely true, networking is essential, although sometimes (as I was) you'll be out of your league and it won't matter who you're playing for or with - sometimes you will never see those people again, except on TV on the Graham Norton show, or SNL, or with Robbie Williams on the main stage at Glastonbury or something. It doesn't really matter that much, even if they are 'out of your league'. If nothing else, it gives you the opportunity to learn from, or at least to observe at close quarters what they are about and legitimately gives you the right to say that you have played with them. If you have done a rehearsal with someone who either is, or goes onto be, a big name then it always looks good on your CV. You don't have to claim that you have toured with them or anything, but just to have sat in for a rehearsal will do it...! And as you say, networking and developing contacts is essential. Edited November 5 by peteb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 3 hours ago, TimR said: I think he doesn't actually know what he is looking for. U2 tribute?😂 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 4 hours ago, TimR said: I appear to be doing this regularly. It's 15mins from my home and they're looking for a permanent bass player. The band leader has been through about 50 musicians in the last 3 years looking for the perfect players and refining his 10 tunes. I think he doesn't actually know what he is looking for. I know what he's looking for. Employees. He just doesn't want to pay them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 Re. the original post, could it be a disguised audition? As they approached you, might they want to get you to play with them and see how it works out without the pressure of a formal audition? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurricane Jimmie Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 So Anyway, I'd probably do it as a favor if I knew someone in the band. I don't think anyone would call me unless they knew me and by background. I'm retired and have time for this type of outing. And I'd cold-call rehearse with a Death-Metal-Slim-Whitman Tribute Band if there was beer involved. 😄 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoham Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 I was, and to an extent am in a situation like this. Mate of mine - I've been in two bands with him before - he asks if I want to join his new project. I can't commit to it, so decline. He asks me to fill in at a rehearsal, so they can at least practice the material with a bassist until they get someone. I went along and had a decent night at the rehearsal room. I get the impression from the rest of the guys that they'd been led to believe I was genuinely interested..they'd love to have me in the band etc. I suspect my friend thought I'd be swayed after playing with them They did eventually get someone, who about a year down the line is quitting and I'm being approached to 'fill in' at rehearsals and a few gigs. I wouldn't mind if that was actually the case - but I just know efforts to find a permanent player would cease if I was there. I do take it as a great compliment to my playing, but I'm happy in my current band and don't have time for two. If you are in the market for a new band, you can definitely treat this as an informal audition. Otherwise, if it's a hobbyist level band, you want to help a friend, it could be fun evening. You may also see it as a opportunity for some dep gigs, or at least to build your reputation. Otherwise - I'd question what's in it for you? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 13 minutes ago, geoham said: He asks me to fill in at a rehearsal, so they can at least practice the material with a bassist until they get someone. Seems to be the same situation I'm in. Don't these people understand. Write the material. Audition musicians with a timeline to the potential first gig. Get gig ready. Record a demo. Get gigs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAgent Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 As said by a previous poster: this is very common in big band land. I've done quite a few rehearsals with the funk big band my brother is the drummer for, without being paid (mind you, I am a professional bass player). If it's on a week day, not too far away and I don't have to prepare anything: sign me up. If I have to study new material or drive over 30 minutes: you'd better pay. Sitting in with that particular band got me quite a few sit-in gigs with that band afterwards, so it did also help in getting more paid gigs. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 54 minutes ago, TimR said: Seems to be the same situation I'm in. Don't these people understand. Write the material. Audition musicians with a timeline to the potential first gig. Get gig ready. Record a demo. Get gigs. I guess there's also... Hang on to the people you've recruited to the band so far by keeping them interested/committed with rehearsals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 1 hour ago, Norris said: I guess there's also... Hang on to the people you've recruited to the band so far by keeping them interested/committed with rehearsals Musicians good enough to dep will do a handful of rehearsals before getting bored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 A couple of bands ago I had a call from a guy who had depped for me on well paid gigs in the past. He asked if I would do a dep for him, which I assumed was offered to me partly as thanks for giving him some dep work. Then it turns out to be with an 18 piece big band who used their rehearsals as informal ‘ gigs’ in a local pub, with a small cover charge on the door. When I asked him what that amounted to I think he said something like a fiver each plus a pint from landlord! He seemed surprised at my reply that I was busy on a Monday night ( I didn’t want to offend him by getting into a big debate about it). Never knew if he found someone to do it, but he hasn’t rung me for it again. 😆 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julietgreen Posted November 7 Author Share Posted November 7 These replies have really helped put things in context. It might have been a good networking opportunity but this was for a band I don't know and a bit of a drive away. I slightly know the person that asked me. I turned it down saying I'd be more than happy to dep for/at a gig. (It's mainstream jazz, so mostly leadsheet stuff) or to dep rehearsals online. I did this a lot between 2020 and 2023 (jamulus) and I found it to be an excellent way to rehearse. No humping gear. No freezing rehearsal rooms. No commuting. No standing around waiting for people to have fag breaks. I do enjoy playing jazz on EB but like some of you here, as I get older, I get pickier about how far I'm willing to go and how late I'm willing to set out! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluewine Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 On 04/11/2024 at 10:48, ezbass said: If they need it that much, they should be willing to pay for it, especially if you have to put some work in to learn the tunes (maybe you don’t). In answer to your actual question, no I haven’t. Agreed, they should have offered a little money. Daryl 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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