Walked out tonight

[Spudman***]

I turned off my amp and put my gear away and walked out of the open mic tonight.

I've become the host for this open mic to some degree because nobody else has a repertoire. I sing 95% of the material and get no help with backup vocals and the bass player can't ever remember week to week how the songs go or what key they are in, and he was given a song list with all the keys on it. He even forgets his songs, and no he doesn't drink. He also looses concentration frequently when a woman walks across the room, stares at his fingers, misses cues and doesn't pay attention. It's like he is somewhere else in his head rather than at the gig. On almost every song I have my fingers crossed that it will go all right. I shouldn't have to do that.

I got really fed up with all the excuses as to why he can't learn the material.
I told him that I'm a professional and that when you are presented with material then professionals get it learned. He was given all the songs on CD months ago. I think I've been very patient with him. He is the one booking gigs in spite of being unprepared. Not one single other member has presented any songs to do either.

I took him outside after I had my car loaded and explained to him how critical this is and gave him until next week to prove himself otherwise I won't be doing any gigs with him. We've done a few already but I feel like it's totally amateur night every time.

I look at it like this: if you are being hired and paid then that makes you a professional. Professionals have (or should have) standards that make them worth hiring and paying. The rest of the group shouldn't be forced to come down to another band members level just because they are too lazy to get their sh** together.

Sorry to rant but I just had to let you know how frustrating a band can be sometimes. I've never really dealt with this situation before because I usually work with players that are serious about what they do and rise to the occasion.

Rant over. Peace.

[sunvalleylaw]

I turned off my amp and put my gear away and walked out of the open mic tonight.
. . .
Rant over. Peace.

Sorry the situation has not gotten any better. If it was just open mics and therefore it was a fair number of amateurs showing up, I would say you would have to just deal with it if you were playing there. But, when the group is getting paying gigs, then it seems all members have to work to play in a professional way. I hope he improves, or that another member who wants to play in a band getting paid to gig shows up.

[mrmudcat]

Not an easy situation to be in ..................peace brother

[Robert****]

I think you did the right thing. Nobody enjoys being in such a situation as you've been in, and we're all playing for enjoyment I think. If it's not enjoyable (due to whatever reason), then why do it?

I've quit bands with similar problems - the leader of a band I was in was a joke. She couldn't sing or bring anything of value to the band, so I gave up on that.

It's never worth to be stuck in situations like these. I would have done the same thing. If the guys can't meet the standards, it's really a waste of time and just depressing to continue.

Don't worry, there are more boats coming. You'll find some other, better players that are worth your time. Hang in there, bro.

[Jimi75]

Spud, I had the same situaton with a drummer, although he was drinking all the time. One time he even fell from his seat during the gig. If you feel that you are professional and you want to achieve something then get rid of such unprofessional musicians. Otherwise you waste your energy thinking about problems instead of being creative with the band.

Good luck and I wish you do the right thing.

[Plank_Spanker]

It's definitely frustrating when all of the effort is one sided. You did right by walking out, Spud...................but I wouldn't expect a total turnaround from this guy. I bet he's been riding coat tails for a quite a while..................

[Spudman***]

It's definitely frustrating when all of the effort is one sided. You did right by walking out, Spud...................but I wouldn't expect a total turnaround from this guy. I bet he's been riding coat tails for a quite a while..................

Thanks for all the encouragement guys. I've never been to this point before because it has just never happened.

My guess is that this guy has indeed been riding coat tails. Well put. Time for me to do some tailoring.

[SuperSwede]

http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/JS-5/

This one doesnt stare at women, doesnt forget songs (at least not if you keep it plugged in) and generally speaking plays better than most amateur bass players

[jpfeifer]

Yes, you did the right thing.
Unfortuntately, this is the ugly side of playing in bands. You will run into musicians who don't treat it seriously even when they're getting paid to play. These are the kinds of things that force people to eventually play along with midi backup bands so that they don't have to put up with all the crap that you run into with real musicians. However, when you do find that group of players who have good attitudes and play well it's like heaven.

Good luck on your next group, sorry to hear about this current situation. Keep at it. Sometimes frustration can be a good motivator.

-- Jim

[Bloozcat]

You're known for the company you keep Spud, for better or worse...

You are professional, but the band doesn't sound like it because of this one guy. Someone looking to hire a band won't notice this distinction; he'll only remember that the band you were playing with wasn't very good.

You owe it to yourself to only play with those who are willing to put in the same effort as you. As the saying goes, a team is only as good as it's weakest link.

Hang in there Spud, you'll find someone else and things will work themselves out.

[Spudman***]

As the saying goes, a team is only as good as it's weakest link.

Exactly! I said this to him 2 or more weeks ago. Another analogy: a time trial team is only as fast as the slowest rider.

[jpfeifer]

Here's a good bass player joke, if that helps :-)

Question: Two bass players are riding in a car, which one is driving?
Answer: The policeman.

-- Jim

[Spudman***]

Better yet...
Did you hear about the drummer that locked his keys in the car?
He had to break a window to get the bass player out.

[jpfeifer]

Q: What's the definition of relative minor?
A: The bass player's girlfriend

O.K. I'll stop now. :-)

[Spudman***]

Q: What's the definition of relative minor?
A: The bass player's girlfriend

O.K. I'll stop now. :-)

Oh that's a good one.

We're not meaning to offend just bass players. Please insert musician of your choice into any line that says "bass player."

[Robert****]

Yeah, after all we are a Guitar and Bass forum! Let's offend singers, keyboard players and drummers instead!

[Spudman***]

Speaking of keyboardists...

The bass player calls the keyboard player earlier in the day to remind him to come to the open mic (it's our band rehearsal). Keyboardist says that he is out of town and has vehicle problems. The bass player already knew that the keyboardist was already at another rehearsal when he called him. Apparently the keyboardist thinks it is more promising to play with a group that has no bass player, sound equipment, lights, gigs or singer and the only drummer in town that has never been able to keep a gig or put a band together. Interesting eh. And the keyboardist says he's a pro. :

[Duff]

One man can't hold up the world, or even hold up a rock band. Don't regret it. At least you gave the guy a chance. That's way more than probably most professionals would have done, I'm sure you are aware of that. A really effective leader is a coach and he coaches everybody all the time, otherwise they wind up at the hot dog stand or in your case gloating in the ego trip or just being lazy.

I remember skiing at Eldorado all the time at night. The Colorado Ski Team, one of the best, practiced their every night. We would ski by them and watch them sometimes and I remember thinking; "Hey dude, these people are dressed all grungy and don't ski much better than us, pretty sloppy actually."
Later I realized that they were probably sick of practicing in the cold every night while every one else was partying, etc. Then I realized, when race day came and they were decked out in their flashy uniforms, their competitive spirit and enthusiasm and talent probably escalated by multiple powers of ten and they probally skiied like you wouldn't believe. Know what I mean. These were definitely no slouches like you might mistakenly think the were judging by their practice runs.

Now your bass player might not have the inherent talent and ability and high degree of skill attainment and knowledge of the bass lines. Those skiiers knew their fall lines, believe me. They were just tired of doing the same drills over and over and just wanted it to be over so they could have fun.

If I was in a band I'd try to have fun and do my best. My son is very cool and works really good with his bands and never argues with his bandmates about the bassline. He tries to work it out but manages to get his own homemade lines in there with no problem. Some of the other band members are squabbling about playing it this way and that way instead of listening to the dude that knows his s***. I'm proud of my son for this. They all have quite good amps and rigs now and are ready to do some paying gigs. He's
17, sings, plays keyboard, guitar, specializes in bass and has nice ones and nice amps, is a great actor that I don't even recognize as my son when he gets into his part and acts it out on stage, awesome. It's talent and the ability to work with others without getting all upset, and follow leaders.

Your dude might be in it for all the wrong reasons and not have the metaphysical element in his groove, or the ability to focus on practicing for any length of time. Probably doesn't even practice.

The other dudes obviously lack enthusiasm and a burning desire to develop new material. You might be able to influence them and bring out some latent talent and be a catalyst for bringing them into contact with that metaphysical dimension that has the great songwrites saying, "I have no idea where it came from, it just came to me," or "I owe my success to God (or whatever higher power); I could never have done it on my own," or " I wrote that sone in five minutes". There is definitely the soul part and if you don't have it your whole musical experience is going to be shallow.

Consider talking to them about making that quantum leap, unleashing powers that they might have, but then again might not have.

I have talent with drums. I can do things without thinking, complicated things and keep right on time with an inherent time clock. I love my new pro set of three full size congas. That really gets into your soul an projects your soul into vibes. Some call it "skin to skin", your hand and the Buffalo skin. The Am. Indians played Buffalo skin drums and I have no doubt at all that the skin to skin principle was a central element and purpose of them playing drums: a spiritual thing. "Soul" might be what your guys need.

I hope my amateurishness doesn't dilute too much the ideas I'm trying to convey. I know you are probably way ahead of me when it comes to these ideas, but maybe there are one or two that you can use, dude.

Best luck,

Duff

[jpfeifer]

Hi Everyone,

Hope I didn't offend any bass players here!
I was only trying to make Spudman feel better!

The truth is, I have a whole list of musician jokes, even some about us guitar players. I trade these jokes with my other musician friends.

All joking aside, there are fewer bass players out there than guitar players. The bass players that are good and easy to get along with are gigging all the time.

-- Jim