HOW hard is it to find a decent band to play in these days?

[TimR]

1 hour ago, Supernaut said:

Most of the ads on JMB just seem to be that way. 

 

What does YOUR ad say?

 

I couldn't find anything that was interesting at all on Bandmix. Once I'd sorted my own profile I had lots of requests. Good bass players are in short supply and I think anyone with a decent band isn't going to be advertising for random bass players, they'll be choosing people. 

 

Basically, don't be looking for a band, be the bass player the bands are looking for. Let them do the work. 

 

State your terms and that will steer those who are serious towards you. 

Edited December 10, 2023 by TimR

[BillyBass]

10 hours ago, neepheid said:

I have a different problem.  I'm in two great bands - we're having a godawful time finding a replacement singer for one of them at the moment.  So far had got nothing but unfortunately nervous people, poseurs, wannabes, liars and weirdos.  We're cursed.

Our drummer left...it looks like we have a replacement.  Now the singer/guitarist has decided to rest his dodgy vocal chords for 6-12 months, so we are now looking for a replacement singer too.  ☹️

[BillyBass]

2 hours ago, Supernaut said:

For reference, I have no interest in playing technical blackened death metal on a Wednesday night at the Dog and Muck in Kidderminster.

Thank heavens for that!  I thought we had some rival competition there for a minute.

[TimR]

7 minutes ago, BillyBass said:

Our drummer left...it looks like we have a replacement.  Now the singer/guitarist has decided to rest his dodgy vocal chords for 6-12 months, so we are now looking for a replacement singer too.  ☹️

Yes. I was in a band that pretty much happened to. The singer was actually asked to leave, the drummer took on singing duties.

Then one of the guitarists said they were looking at houses on the Isle of Wight for retiring too. 

Then the drummer/singer announced he was moving and would have to leave. 

 

I politely told the remaining two guys I was off, but if they find a drummer and a singer to call me. 

[BillyBass]

6 minutes ago, TimR said:

Yes. I was in a band that pretty much happened to. The singer was actually asked to leave, the drummer took on singing duties.

Then one of the guitarists said they were looking at houses on the Isle of Wight for retiring too. 

Then the drummer/singer announced he was moving and would have to leave. 

 

I politely told the remaining two guys I was off, but if they find a drummer and a singer to call me. 

I only joined this band initially as there was a drummer.  It was a drummer and guitarist advertising on JMB for a bassist.  Anyway, a drummer I have played with before got in touch and we had a rehearsal today, all seems fine.  I got back from the rehearsal to see a message from a singer/guitarist on JMB, so we might be alright.

 

Myself and the guitarist have put a lot into this band so we are not going to give up without a fight.

[markbunney]

Am struggling a bit in my current band at the minute.

 

we’ve been going for about a year, and have had around 14 gigs which I’ve all gone very well.

 

I am surprised at how well we are doing, from a band that started from scratch.

 

The problem we are having is that our singer has now started having availability issues and only wants to commit to one gig a month, and is rarely available for rehearsal, and when he is he can’t start until really late.

 

The rest of us are getting frustrated as we would like to do more, and we are turning down countless gig opportunities. He has said he doesn’t want to book any more gigs, but would be available to cover any cancellations that came up. Realistically it is unlikely that 4 people would be available at short notice on a Fri/Sat night.

 

We can’t really get a dep either as he sings and plays guitar, and owns the mixer so we are a bit stuck.

 

I have been looking for another band to join, or dep opportunities for several months now but nothing is coming up. I naively thought that there would be more demand for bass players in our area, as there are loads of bands playing every weekend.

 

Next year I am going to get out to some more jam nights and see what comes up.

[dmccombe7]

13 minutes ago, markbunney said:

Am struggling a bit in my current band at the minute.

 

we’ve been going for about a year, and have had around 14 gigs which I’ve all gone very well.

 

I am surprised at how well we are doing, from a band that started from scratch.

 

The problem we are having is that our singer has now started having availability issues and only wants to commit to one gig a month, and is rarely available for rehearsal, and when he is he can’t start until really late.

 

The rest of us are getting frustrated as we would like to do more, and we are turning down countless gig opportunities. He has said he doesn’t want to book any more gigs, but would be available to cover any cancellations that came up. Realistically it is unlikely that 4 people would be available at short notice on a Fri/Sat night.

 

We can’t really get a dep either as he sings and plays guitar, and owns the mixer so we are a bit stuck.

 

I have been looking for another band to join, or dep opportunities for several months now but nothing is coming up. I naively thought that there would be more demand for bass players in our area, as there are loads of bands playing every weekend.

 

Next year I am going to get out to some more jam nights and see what comes up.

I don't understand why he can do cancellation gig cover but not gigs arranged well in advance. Normally its the other way around. 

It sounds like he's the limiting factor in the band and as a band you either have the conversation with him on how the band wants to do more or you look for a new singer. Is he the only guitarist in the band ? It might be worth advertising or putting the word out you are looking for a new singer / guitarist and have him prepared for when your singer leaves or gets the elbow one way or another.

Does he also own the PA cabs ?

Its not expensive to pick up a reasonable PA depending on venue size you'll find a decent set of 12" 2 or 3 way cabs will do for vocals and use your backline on its own. Obviously playing bigger venues you might need to add things. Your earlier post showed your amp and cab so i'm kind of assuming its not large clubs you're doing and a vocal PA would be enough to cope with it.

Doesn't do any harm to have a 2nd band on the go if you have the time. I like having options in my bands altho one band is now taking over due to demand from venues. 

Dave

[markbunney]

26 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

I don't understand why he can do cancellation gig cover but not gigs arranged well in advance. Normally its the other way around. 

 

I think he is getting grief from his other half about the time spent playing in the band. And his reasoning for taking cancellations at short notice is that he can gauge his partners mood on the day, and whether or not he would be “allowed” to play that night. It’s very frustrating for the rest of us.

 

The 4 of us own the PA speakers and lighting jointly, but he bought a digital mixer and is the only one who knows how to run it, and use the IEMs with it. He is rhythm guitar and vox and we have another lead guitarist.

 

The frustrating thing is that he was the one who put the band together and was instrumental in wanting to invest in the PA, IEMs etc but now we have “taken off” so to speak, it is causing him problems on the domestic front. I am sympathetic as I have been in the position before in another bands when I couldn’t do the amount of gigs everyone else wanted.

 

It is only a hobby ultimately, and we are playing pubs at the minute, but we have managed to get a theatre and a wedding booking for next year.

Everyone gets on well, it is fun etc so my plan is to accept the situation in this band for now and look for something else in parallel.

[dmccombe7]

4 minutes ago, markbunney said:

I think he is getting grief from his other half about the time spent playing in the band. And his reasoning for taking cancellations at short notice is that he can gauge his partners mood on the day, and whether or not he would be “allowed” to play that night. It’s very frustrating for the rest of us.

 

The 4 of us own the PA speakers and lighting jointly, but he bought a digital mixer and is the only one who knows how to run it, and use the IEMs with it. He is rhythm guitar and vox and we have another lead guitarist.

 

The frustrating thing is that he was the one who put the band together and was instrumental in wanting to invest in the PA, IEMs etc but now we have “taken off” so to speak, it is causing him problems on the domestic front. I am sympathetic as I have been in the position before in another bands when I couldn’t do the amount of gigs everyone else wanted.

 

It is only a hobby ultimately, and we are playing pubs at the minute, but we have managed to get a theatre and a wedding booking for next year.

Everyone gets on well, it is fun etc so my plan is to accept the situation in this band for now and look for something else in parallel.

I can understand his predicament. Does he have kids too ? My wife goes to majority of my gigs so i'm lucky in that respect but she would never stop me playing in the band as its how she met me all those years ago.

If you are all having fun as it is then by all means stay with it but look for a 2nd band to get some more gigs in. Everyone wins. It might even give him a wake up call when he hears you are looking at a 2nd band. 

Dave

[markbunney]

Yes, a couple of kids, and he’s just got a puppy which isn’t helping his situation

[Jamesemt]

13 hours ago, TimR said:

I couldn't find anything that was interesting at all on Bandmix. Once I'd sorted my own profile I had lots of requests. Good bass players are in short supply and I think anyone with a decent band isn't going to be advertising for random bass players, they'll be choosing people. 

 

Basically, don't be looking for a band, be the bass player the bands are looking for. Let them do the work. 

 

State your terms and that will steer those who are serious towards you. 

 

Interested in what you put in your advert if you don't mind me asking? 

[casapete]

Reading some of the comments on here, I’m amazed at how some of the bands mentioned manage

to exist at all!
Imagine the scenario with say a sports team, who have scheduled matches against others and then one

or two of the players decide to arrive late / can’t make it / will only play if their other half is in a good

mood etc etc. The team wouldn't last five minutes. Surely it’s no different with bands.
Whether it’s just a hobby or something more serious, there is no point in band members having such

a lack of commitment. Of course things in life occasionally happen which mean changes need to be 

made to rehearsal schedules, but isn’t it funny how when a paying gig is on the cards then people

seem to be able to commit to them more readily? In an old band of mine, getting everyone to agree

on a mid week rehearsal was a nightmare ( mainly down to two band members who were also

full time teachers) but if we got a mid week gig offered they always seemed to manage it!

[TimR]

37 minutes ago, Jamesemt said:

 

Interested in what you put in your advert if you don't mind me asking? 

 

Kept it really simple. Wasn't looking fir a band as my main band were on a gig hiatus due to other members' lives.

 

https://www.bandmix.co.uk/timr/

[Rexel Matador]

Sometimes a band might not seem perfect at first, but things get ironed out with a little perseverance. I joined a covers band and was very unsure about it, but once the second guitarist got kicked out due to his negative attitude and generally not being a great fit, we started to gel as a three piece. We're not perfect but audiences seem to like us and the gigs are steady. I'm taking a break now as there's a baby on the way, and they're adamant they want me back when I'm ready - we'll see. Either way, it's restored my faith a bit, both in what's out there and my own judgement.

[Supernaut]

17 hours ago, TimR said:

 

What does YOUR ad say?

 

I couldn't find anything that was interesting at all on Bandmix. Once I'd sorted my own profile I had lots of requests. Good bass players are in short supply and I think anyone with a decent band isn't going to be advertising for random bass players, they'll be choosing people. 

 

Basically, don't be looking for a band, be the bass player the bands are looking for. Let them do the work. 

 

State your terms and that will steer those who are serious towards you. 

My ad is pretty straightforward:

 

Bass guitarist looking for originals band. Open to most genres and styles. Plenty of experience live and in the studio. 
 

Please, no busybodies who believe they are experts in all areas of life. 

[neepheid]

1 minute ago, Supernaut said:

Please, no busybodies who believe they are experts in all areas of life. 

 

How do you put up with being a member of BC then?

 

[dmccombe7]

43 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

How do you put up with being a member of BC then?

 

We're not busybodies, we advise in good faith and with a touch of humour of course 

Dave 

[Rexel Matador]

54 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

busybodies who believe they are experts in all areas of life

That would actually be the perfect name for my band if it weren't a tad unwieldy.

[tauzero]

2 hours ago, Supernaut said:

Please, no busybodies who believe they are experts in all areas of life. 

 

I thought you wanted to be in the band.

[TimR]

2 hours ago, Supernaut said:

My ad is pretty straightforward:

 

Bass guitarist looking for originals band. Open to most genres and styles. Plenty of experience live and in the studio. 
 

Please, no busybodies who believe they are experts in all areas of life. 

 

Seems pretty simple. I'm surprised you've not had many requests. Assume there are also fields for age, experience and genres on join my band. You didn't  accidentally tick the box for "technical blackened death metal"?

[nilorius]

7 hours ago, Supernaut said:

My ad is pretty straightforward:

 

Bass guitarist looking for originals band. Open to most genres and styles. Plenty of experience live and in the studio. 
 

Please, no busybodies who believe they are experts in all areas of life. 

Do You mean - No quarter ???

[Lozz196]

6 hours ago, TimR said:

 

Seems pretty simple. I'm surprised you've not had many requests. Assume there are also fields for age, experience and genres on join my band. You didn't  accidentally tick the box for "technical blackened death metal"?

Positively screams “specialises in technical blackened death metal”.

[Wolverinebass]

I had a bleak time after I left a signed band when I was 28. I couldn't understand why bands wanted a more simple feel. I really was actually quite angry and disappointed about it. 

 

Then after a bit of a venty post, Chris B said "maybe you're not going for the right bands?" Something immediately clicked and I realised that was the case. 

 

Since then, I've been very picky about the projects and people I work with. I'm very lucky to be in 2 originals bands with people who are not only great players, but also lovely people.

 

I guess being in the sticks is much more difficult. I'd probably be doing some form of online collaboration if that was an issue. Certainly, where I'm from in Scotland I'd be stuffed as I'd have to drive everywhere and I've never owned a car.

 

I think as many have said, be very sure of what you want and eventually it'll make itself known. Although one of the bands I'm in is mine, the other, I was referred to the guitarist by a friend, so that has been borne out in my experience at least. 

 

Yes, I had to wait for a while to get started with both of these and the gap between them and my previous projects was actually about 3 years. There was only a few attempts at things during that gap which didnt work out, but I will say I was lucky.

[nilorius]

21 hours ago, Wolverinebass said:

I had a bleak time after I left a signed band when I was 28. I couldn't understand why bands wanted a more simple feel. I really was actually quite angry and disappointed about it. 

 

Then after a bit of a venty post, Chris B said "maybe you're not going for the right bands?" Something immediately clicked and I realised that was the case. 

 

Since then, I've been very picky about the projects and people I work with. I'm very lucky to be in 2 originals bands with people who are not only great players, but also lovely people.

 

I guess being in the sticks is much more difficult. I'd probably be doing some form of online collaboration if that was an issue. Certainly, where I'm from in Scotland I'd be stuffed as I'd have to drive everywhere and I've never owned a car.

 

I think as many have said, be very sure of what you want and eventually it'll make itself known. Although one of the bands I'm in is mine, the other, I was referred to the guitarist by a friend, so that has been borne out in my experience at least. 

 

Yes, I had to wait for a while to get started with both of these and the gap between them and my previous projects was actually about 3 years. There was only a few attempts at things during that gap which didnt work out, but I will say I was lucky.

Best regards!!!

[Marvin]

On 11/12/2023 at 08:15, casapete said:

Reading some of the comments on here, I’m amazed at how some of the bands mentioned manage

to exist at all!
Imagine the scenario with say a sports team, who have scheduled matches against others and then one

or two of the players decide to arrive late / can’t make it / will only play if their other half is in a good

mood etc etc. The team wouldn't last five minutes. Surely it’s no different with bands.
Whether it’s just a hobby or something more serious, there is no point in band members having such

a lack of commitment. Of course things in life occasionally happen which mean changes need to be 

made to rehearsal schedules, but isn’t it funny how when a paying gig is on the cards then people

seem to be able to commit to them more readily? In an old band of mine, getting everyone to agree

on a mid week rehearsal was a nightmare ( mainly down to two band members who were also

full time teachers) but if we got a mid week gig offered they always seemed to manage it!

 

At grassroots adult football that happens. The team I used to help with had to disband the 3rd team because players were so unreliable. Several teams I know of locally have withdrawn from their leagues mid-season because players are so flaky.