Bass players. Why are their kind so troubled? They don't have their amp, they don't have a car, they have a car but don't have a job so can't afford gas for rehearsals. They have the amp and the car, but also have a passion for weed that exceeds oxygen. They have it all, but would rather play Charles Mingus in their basement because playing live is so 1997.

Guitar players. These people are the delicate fragile egotistical indian chiefs of the world. And I should know, I am one. HOW did the Stones work out with two guitar players? How did ANY band work out with two guitar players? These kind are similar to bass players in that they have 2 out of 3 necessary items, always. The gear, but no car, a job but no gear, the talent but no interest. Put them all in an elevator and push the B button.

Drummers. All gung ho but no talent at all. Amazing talent but would rather play with every band on the planet, all at once. Decent talent, but they found Jesus and only want to play in their praise band. OR, the best one, hey, they just knocked up a stripper and they're moving to Pennsylvania to be a DJ.

Sigh. Days like this, I'm ready to just cancel all my shows and take up basket weaving. That stupid line in Purple Rain KEEPS BANGING ME IN MY HEAD:

"your music makes sense to no one but yourself."

Seriously here. WHY IS IT so hard to find just THREE OTHER MFERS out there who WANT TO PLAY MY MUSIC! is it THAT horrible?

augh. just venting. without a bass player, and a gig in 13 days.

Ah, I know your plight well my friend!

I've developed a pool of pro players I pick from since everyone plays with everyone else:

Bass player 1 - can you play a show on the 14th? No? OK,
Bass player 2 - can you play a show on the 14th? Yes? OK
Drummer 1... and so on!

Luckily I live in a city big enough that I can find pro players on short notice every time.
(I've also developed my solo acoustic show I can do in a real emergency!)

13 days? Thats nothing! Pro players will be able to do it with 1 rehearsal. I've done many shows with no rehearsal. Standard pop song structure is easy if everyone watches you.

I wouldn't sweat it!

So what do you think the real problem is Beau..... ???

Your attracting half hearteds.....
Which might say more about your approach than theres.....

Is that a possibility..... ???

Pay them more?

heartbeatocean said:

Nahhhh.... get some marijuana cologne... (essence of bong water)
and givem a high...

beauhall said:

That's why I always hire serious pros ..no wannabees and weekend worriors. With pros I very very rarely run into problems. Keep a list of top pro bassists and drummers and be done with the headaches. Your in Atlanta so it should be a piece of cake!

Yeah, but it's been hard for me to find pros that want to REHEARSE! Fortunately, it looks like I'm FINALLY settled with my group. Good attitudes, chops, no major drama, willing to work. Our CD might get done after all.

NuPwr319 said:

Exactly. That's my problems. The pros are solid and close to dependable but don't want to rehearse, aren't INTO the music. I want to put on a show, not just play accurately and punctually. I'm not saying I don't love a pro player, i DO, and they are definitely worth the money, but I'm about to start a new CD, new songs, these guys are doing 5-8 gigs a week.

Its purple rain all over again.....

How long will it b before you say....
"this is a song the girls in that band wrote...."
[Edited 9/24/06 23:27pm]

hahahaha oh snap that was funny. I think I'll start my next gig with that line - see who gets the joke.

On you next gig....
I'd be happy to get on the mic for you and say.....

ladies and gentlemen.... THE TIME....

this is why i play with less than pro players. less ego, more heart.

beauhall said:

Well I've got the gear, the job and the car. My problem is I like to guzzle beer too much

beauhall said:

Ahh, I feel your pain, sweet'ums. I've been bitching about this fer yayers and people think because I'm a chick, I'm just being a bitch. People laugh when I say that our band was like Spinal Tap because we couldn't keep drummers. They all for some reason needed to run away to Vegas to get gigs. I think I posted this before, my absolute favorite pasttime is posting classified ads in the Music Connection and when you call these nutjobs and they find out you're a girl like me, they cop an attitude like I was bothering THEM!!!! I finally ust used my husband to do it because I didn't even want to talk to the MFs anymore, I let him handle the musician department.

The best way to get musicians I found out is to go to the weekly jams. My man started doing all the blues jams and there's always someone to do a gig. Try that route. It's a pain in the beginning because you have to deal with all these egos from people who have never been famous but they like to believe they are, but once you get to know them, you'll find some pretty good decent cats out there. I still give them shit though.

Don't even get me going on rehearsing. Everybody just wants to show up and wing it. Sorry, but nobody THAT good where you can get by without a rehearsal or two. That's why you can tell the tight bands against the losers who just show up to get paid.

LQ
[Edited 11/22/06 5:30am]