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You know what I hate about subbing in?
Re: You know what I hate about subbing in?
On May 10, 8:23 pm, "js" <nothing AT nothing DOT com> wrote:
> I hate the opposite, actually - When people assume that because you have a=
> good ear and/or a lot of experience, you can just play ANYTHING at the dro=
p
> of a hat.
>
> Played a gig the other day with a keyboardist I've worked with before. Goo=
d
> player, nice guy. However, he shows up with no bass book - which is OK
> except a) he does a lot of originals b) he plays a lot of standards with
> different changes c) he doesn't count off the songs before he stats playin=
g
> or tell you anything about the song. I had no choice but to wing it.
>
> Never even contemplated taking the originals off the list, nor did I ha=
ve
> time to ask as one song went right into another. It was interesting to say=
> the least.
>
> The corollary to this one is: Just because I have good ears and I like
> Steely Dan, that does not mean I can fake my way through the one Steely Da=
n
> song you do - especially when the whole thing hinges on a bass into that
> I've never played before. They're shocked when you tell them to skip it.
>
> "J Stevens" <IdontLikeSpamjay-stev...@telus . net spamsucksass> wrote in
> messagenews:tCnVj.1871$KB3.644@edtnps91...
>
>
>
> > Learning a bunch of songs that you don't end up playing!
>
> > Twice this week I've subbed in on a gig with short notice.
> > "it's all songs you know...no problem"
> > I get the song list for this weekend's gig, and I don't even recognize t=
he
> > names of the songs. Any songs I do recognize aren't the versions I know.=
>
> > Earlier in the week I sub in for an original act. I work hard charting 2=
> > cd's worth of stuff, and then memorizing them so I don't have piles of
> > papers on stage.
>
> > Both bands played barely any of the songs they gave me to learn.
> > The original band played 2 songs off their new cd, and a handful of ones=
> > from another. Then they just called out stuff on the fly.
>
> > Last night the band deviated from the set list they gave me and either
> > scratched some songs 'cause the singer couldn't find her lyrics, or they=
> > transposed the songs to a singer friendly key.
>
> > Just once I'd like to sub in a band that gives me a list of songs that
> they
> > WILL ACTUALLY PLAY in the keys they play them in.
>
> > Jay S- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
A small handful of songs like that I can handle, I just look at it as
a challenge and do my best to rise to the occasion. It's all good
practice, and it keeps your edge sharp. I've developed a reputation as
the play anything guy.
Then again, a few too many ( and a whole night is definitely past
that line) and I start to feel punch drunk, and anxious from being on
edge for too long. I geuss I'm saying it's a double edged sword...
One of the funniest was a guy asking if I would give an original a go,
I said sure why not, and then he says :
" That's great. I love the bass part, and you start it ! "
On May 10, 8:23 pm, "js" <nothing AT nothing DOT com> wrote:
> I hate the opposite, actually - When people assume that because you have a=
> good ear and/or a lot of experience, you can just play ANYTHING at the dro=
p
> of a hat.
>
> Played a gig the other day with a keyboardist I've worked with before. Goo=
d
> player, nice guy. However, he shows up with no bass book - which is OK
> except a) he does a lot of originals b) he plays a lot of standards with
> different changes c) he doesn't count off the songs before he stats playin=
g
> or tell you anything about the song. I had no choice but to wing it.
>
> Never even contemplated taking the originals off the list, nor did I ha=
ve
> time to ask as one song went right into another. It was interesting to say=
> the least.
>
> The corollary to this one is: Just because I have good ears and I like
> Steely Dan, that does not mean I can fake my way through the one Steely Da=
n
> song you do - especially when the whole thing hinges on a bass into that
> I've never played before. They're shocked when you tell them to skip it.
>
> "J Stevens" <IdontLikeSpamjay-stev...@telus . net spamsucksass> wrote in
> messagenews:tCnVj.1871$KB3.644@edtnps91...
>
>
>
> > Learning a bunch of songs that you don't end up playing!
>
> > Twice this week I've subbed in on a gig with short notice.
> > "it's all songs you know...no problem"
> > I get the song list for this weekend's gig, and I don't even recognize t=
he
> > names of the songs. Any songs I do recognize aren't the versions I know.=
>
> > Earlier in the week I sub in for an original act. I work hard charting 2=
> > cd's worth of stuff, and then memorizing them so I don't have piles of
> > papers on stage.
>
> > Both bands played barely any of the songs they gave me to learn.
> > The original band played 2 songs off their new cd, and a handful of ones=
> > from another. Then they just called out stuff on the fly.
>
> > Last night the band deviated from the set list they gave me and either
> > scratched some songs 'cause the singer couldn't find her lyrics, or they=
> > transposed the songs to a singer friendly key.
>
> > Just once I'd like to sub in a band that gives me a list of songs that
> they
> > WILL ACTUALLY PLAY in the keys they play them in.
>
> > Jay S- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
A small handful of songs like that I can handle, I just look at it as
a challenge and do my best to rise to the occasion. It's all good
practice, and it keeps your edge sharp. I've developed a reputation as
the play anything guy.
Then again, a few too many ( and a whole night is definitely past
that line) and I start to feel punch drunk, and anxious from being on
edge for too long. I geuss I'm saying it's a double edged sword...
One of the funniest was a guy asking if I would give an original a go,
I said sure why not, and then he says :
" That's great. I love the bass part, and you start it ! "
Re: You know what I hate about subbing in?
Then again, a few too many ( and a whole night is definitely past
that line) and I start to feel punch drunk, and anxious from being on
edge for too long. I geuss I'm saying it's a double edged sword...
One of the funniest was a guy asking if I would give an original a go,
I said sure why not, and then he says :
" That's great. I love the bass part, and you start it ! "
I think it's harder to "wing it" on keyboard than bass but the principles
are the same. Some years back I was subbing with no notice on keyboard and
the leader asked me if I knew a song. I told him I had never heard of it.
He said, "It's okay, if you'll just play that opening riff we can make it
from there." I shit you not.
Gerry
Then again, a few too many ( and a whole night is definitely past
that line) and I start to feel punch drunk, and anxious from being on
edge for too long. I geuss I'm saying it's a double edged sword...
One of the funniest was a guy asking if I would give an original a go,
I said sure why not, and then he says :
" That's great. I love the bass part, and you start it ! "
I think it's harder to "wing it" on keyboard than bass but the principles
are the same. Some years back I was subbing with no notice on keyboard and
the leader asked me if I knew a song. I told him I had never heard of it.
He said, "It's okay, if you'll just play that opening riff we can make it
from there." I shit you not.
Gerry
Re: You know what I hate about subbing in?
On May 10, 4:31 pm, "J Stevens" <IdontLikeSpamjay-
stev...@telus . net spamsucksass> wrote:
> Learning a bunch of songs that you don't end up playing!
>
> Twice this week I've subbed in on a gig with short notice.
> "it's all songs you know...no problem"
> I get the song list for this weekend's gig, and I don't even recognize the=
> names of the songs. Any songs I do recognize aren't the versions I know.
>
> Earlier in the week I sub in for an original act. I work hard charting 2
> cd's worth of stuff, and then memorizing them so I don't have piles of
> papers on stage.
>
> Both bands played barely any of the songs they gave me to learn.
> The original band played 2 songs off their new cd, and a handful of ones
> from another. Then they just called out stuff on the fly.
>
> Last night the band deviated from the set list they gave me and either
> scratched some songs 'cause the singer couldn't find her lyrics, or they
> transposed the songs to a singer friendly key.
>
> Just once I'd like to sub in a band that gives me a list of songs that the=
y
> WILL ACTUALLY PLAY in the keys they play them in.
>
> Jay S
As a sub, good of you to memorize the stuff, I never bother. Also
seems that learning unplayed material seems to be unavoidable downtime
if you like to be prepared.
If I'm given material ahead of time, it's one listen to chart, one
play along to confirm, then off to the gig. I use Nashville notation
as much as possible, because keys changes are like s**t and will
"happen".
The benefit is you build books for each act, and the next *whenever*
time they call, you just walk out the door and do the gig. I just
counted twenty four on my shelf right now.
On May 10, 4:31 pm, "J Stevens" <IdontLikeSpamjay-
stev...@telus . net spamsucksass> wrote:
> Learning a bunch of songs that you don't end up playing!
>
> Twice this week I've subbed in on a gig with short notice.
> "it's all songs you know...no problem"
> I get the song list for this weekend's gig, and I don't even recognize the=
> names of the songs. Any songs I do recognize aren't the versions I know.
>
> Earlier in the week I sub in for an original act. I work hard charting 2
> cd's worth of stuff, and then memorizing them so I don't have piles of
> papers on stage.
>
> Both bands played barely any of the songs they gave me to learn.
> The original band played 2 songs off their new cd, and a handful of ones
> from another. Then they just called out stuff on the fly.
>
> Last night the band deviated from the set list they gave me and either
> scratched some songs 'cause the singer couldn't find her lyrics, or they
> transposed the songs to a singer friendly key.
>
> Just once I'd like to sub in a band that gives me a list of songs that the=
y
> WILL ACTUALLY PLAY in the keys they play them in.
>
> Jay S
As a sub, good of you to memorize the stuff, I never bother. Also
seems that learning unplayed material seems to be unavoidable downtime
if you like to be prepared.
If I'm given material ahead of time, it's one listen to chart, one
play along to confirm, then off to the gig. I use Nashville notation
as much as possible, because keys changes are like s**t and will
"happen".
The benefit is you build books for each act, and the next *whenever*
time they call, you just walk out the door and do the gig. I just
counted twenty four on my shelf right now.
Re: You know what I hate about subbing in?
> Learning a bunch of songs that you don't end up playing!
I've had that experience. A band gave me a few cds so I could get
familiar with their material. After about a week of learning the
songs I show up to rehearse with them. That's when I find out they
don't do half the songs on the cds anymore because a former member had
sung them. Nice time to let me know.
> Learning a bunch of songs that you don't end up playing!
I've had that experience. A band gave me a few cds so I could get
familiar with their material. After about a week of learning the
songs I show up to rehearse with them. That's when I find out they
don't do half the songs on the cds anymore because a former member had
sung them. Nice time to let me know.
Re: You know what I hate about subbing in?
> Learning a bunch of songs that you don't end up playing!
Oh, well... c'est la vie. With any luck, at least they are songs you
like. A month or so ago, I spent time learning Nickelback's "Rockstar"
and then it never got called at the gig -- now that's just adding insult
to injury.
Here's an odd little story from Friday night's gig -- it begins about
six years ago, when a guy called me out of the blue, complete stranger,
heard I was a bass player, wanted to know if I'd do a church festival
gig down in Illinois, in McHenry. I don't remember what it paid, but it
must have been enough, 'cuz I said yes. I asked about the band -- "Oh,
it's not a band, I'm just getting a bunch of players I know together."
I asked when a rehearsal would be -- "We're not going to be able to
rehearse, just show up at the church." "Can I at least have a set list,
to see what you'll be calling?" "No, if you know classic rock and pop,
you'll be fine. We just call the tunes as we go." Oy. At least no one
will know me there. So, the day comes, I drive the hundred miles to the
church, actually find the place, and we do pull the gig off
successfully. Got paid very well, there was a sizable tip, they
realized how we had pulled it off at the last second and were very
appreciative.
So anyway, I get a call about a month ago from a band that I sub fairly
regularly with, they're doing a church festival gig in McHenry,
Illinois, can I make it? Sure, fine. By this time, I didn't even
remember that the gig six years ago was in McHenry, I just remembered it
was in the northwest Chicago metro area. I tell the singer, "Hey, that
reminds me of a gig I did in Illinois a few years ago," and I proceed to
tell him the story of the potential train wreck gig, and he gets a kick
out of it. So Friday afternoon, I load up and drive down to McHenry,
and as I follow the Google directions, I start to think this all looks
pretty familiar, and as I turn onto the road on which the church is, I
realize it's the same church. The only two gigs I've ever played in
Illinois, for completely unrelated bands, no link whatsoever between the
two, a hundred miles from my home, and it's at the same place just by
pure coincidence.
Well, I thought it was pretty weird anyway -- guess you had to be there!
> Learning a bunch of songs that you don't end up playing!
Oh, well... c'est la vie. With any luck, at least they are songs you
like. A month or so ago, I spent time learning Nickelback's "Rockstar"
and then it never got called at the gig -- now that's just adding insult
to injury.
Here's an odd little story from Friday night's gig -- it begins about
six years ago, when a guy called me out of the blue, complete stranger,
heard I was a bass player, wanted to know if I'd do a church festival
gig down in Illinois, in McHenry. I don't remember what it paid, but it
must have been enough, 'cuz I said yes. I asked about the band -- "Oh,
it's not a band, I'm just getting a bunch of players I know together."
I asked when a rehearsal would be -- "We're not going to be able to
rehearse, just show up at the church." "Can I at least have a set list,
to see what you'll be calling?" "No, if you know classic rock and pop,
you'll be fine. We just call the tunes as we go." Oy. At least no one
will know me there. So, the day comes, I drive the hundred miles to the
church, actually find the place, and we do pull the gig off
successfully. Got paid very well, there was a sizable tip, they
realized how we had pulled it off at the last second and were very
appreciative.
So anyway, I get a call about a month ago from a band that I sub fairly
regularly with, they're doing a church festival gig in McHenry,
Illinois, can I make it? Sure, fine. By this time, I didn't even
remember that the gig six years ago was in McHenry, I just remembered it
was in the northwest Chicago metro area. I tell the singer, "Hey, that
reminds me of a gig I did in Illinois a few years ago," and I proceed to
tell him the story of the potential train wreck gig, and he gets a kick
out of it. So Friday afternoon, I load up and drive down to McHenry,
and as I follow the Google directions, I start to think this all looks
pretty familiar, and as I turn onto the road on which the church is, I
realize it's the same church. The only two gigs I've ever played in
Illinois, for completely unrelated bands, no link whatsoever between the
two, a hundred miles from my home, and it's at the same place just by
pure coincidence.
Well, I thought it was pretty weird anyway -- guess you had to be there!
