The world of depping

[Burns-bass]

15 minutes ago, Kiwi said:

It's nice to feel someone understands that situation!  His songs are like progressive blues, more than the blues most of us would be familiar with.

His songs and style are so good!

[Belka]

Although this may be slightly outside the OP's question, from my experience of depping as well as playing with a lot of deps, I would point out that it's always good not to forget about your overall musical development/improvement. It can be exciting playing with new people all the time and flying by the seat of your pants, as one poster put it, but you run the risk of becoming a 'busker' who learns the overall form of the songs but never learns anything properly. Of course, when it's a last minute thing this is a great skill to have, but I've come across too many 'professional' deps who have atrophied musically and are only concerned about things being 'good enough' rather than doing things properly.  

[TimR]

@Belka You know that the vast majority of music was recorded by session musicians who listened to a tune once, did one take, and went home? 

Edited 3 hours ago by TimR

[Belka]

3 minutes ago, TimR said:

@Belka You know that the vast majority of music was recorded by session musicians who listened to a tune once, did one take, and went home? 

Yes, of course, and the very best session musicians, the likes of Chuck Rainey, Marcus Miller, Anthony Jackson, Pino etc., have/had the skills and theory knowledge to ensure they knew to create interesting lines which perfectly outlined the harmony, and could listen to what the producer/artist wanted them to play and interpret that appropriately; they didn't get gain their reputations by just being 'good enough'. 

[lowdown]

1 hour ago, Belka said:

 but you run the risk of becoming a 'busker' who learns the overall form of the songs but never learns anything properly. 

 

Yes, of course, one can run that risk if not serious about what they do or deliver. But if one wants to be called up again, one makes sure they know all/most of the relevant, popular Bass lines to certain well-known songs, rather than just busking lines over changes and structures. Any regularly called up, depping musician, will have a vocabulary of 'learned' tunes stored in their brain that they need to know (or should do). That's why they get called back again, and again. Just busking over a set of chords might be okay if you get called at the last minute. In fact, some bands/MD's/leaders may well be thankful you helped out without any major disasters.

 

However, you probably won't get the call again in favour of someone who knows the tunes/Bass lines. Or at least, you get asked to learn the tunes in advance. As 'Chris B' said further up thread, you want to do as good a job as the musician you are covering. Just busking the gig on its own, probably means you are just winging it. Successful, regular depping is an art. If you get called back regularly, it's probably because you are better than being 'just good enough'. You tend to do a lot of homework and become familiar with a lot of tunes.

 

The only gigs I remember doing where just busking away was okay, were usually Jewish functions. A lot of the music was just solid one and five playing. Or on certain pub gigs, playing Jazz standards, or covers of soft rock/country tunes etc, but certainly still not to be taken lightly. Well, that's from my personal playing experience, along with working with excellent, reliable deps... And just as importantly, have enjoyed regularly working with them on a musical level. YMMV.

[BigRedX]

From the other side of the fence from someone who has used deps for their band, I'll repeat this because IMO it is worth repeating:

 

If there is a dress code then follow it! While we didn't except our deps to go all out with full leathers (we were a garage punk/psychobilly band) although it would be nice if they had, we did think that a simple instruction to wear black with no obtrusive band or brand logos and no trainers for anyone other than the drummer would be easy to follow. However you'd be surprised by how many couldn't or wouldn't do this. Remember that for the night you are on stage you are part of the band and you are in part responsible for maintaining their reputation both sonically and often visually.