Do you sub?

[Spidey2112]

Nope.

 

[turf3]

I've done a TON of subbing, but I don't play rock and roll (yes, Virginia, there IS other music besides rock and roll!) so it's almost always either charts or lead sheets or chord sheets. Show up, read it down, take the money. No problem.

 

[mr80htz]

Like I imagine the response to this would be for a lot of people...it depends. If it's for a bunch of gigs while someone is out, it's worth the work. One gig? If it's really simple music, simple firms. Cool. I'm not learning a bunch of covers and originals for three sets if it's one or two gigs as I don't want charts or notes in stage to be leaned heavily on. I took a gig for a latin trio within two days notice where I would be the bass player after. It lasted 5 gigs so I'm happy about the effort needed

 

[Hasty]

I don't sub as much as I used to. A couple of years ago I had a really busy year and had about 40-50 sub gigs mixed in. They're almost all reading gigs and usually lots of fun.

I was playing at a festival last year and we were the third band on the schedule. The bassists for the first two bands was sick (same guy) so they called me as I was arriving and asked if I could sit in, so I did three sets in a row with the first two being sight reading gigs. It was actually more fun that it sounds as I type this out.

Also did this for another band last Friday. Their bass player was on the way from another gig and running late, so I joined them for their set until she arrived, then played with my band afterwards. Also a reading gig.

If this was a top 40 or country band, I would fold like a cheap suit.

 

[bikeplate]

Yes

 

[mdogs]

I used to do a lot of sub work and enjoyed it, but I am an R&R guy and the climate has changed. Way too many bands looking for subs that they expect to work at the same rate as the band. That might work if they are getting paid a decent amount, but in most cases they are not. They don't really seem to understand that I really don't have any long term goals of making your band successful. I'll help if I can for the night, but you need to be willing to pay me to do that.

At this point, I'll only do it for friends when I don't care about the money. Otherwise, no thanks, way too much work for zero reward.

 

[Derek Kay]

Having a reliable sound, big ears and the ability to sight read gave me a living from sub work. However some was work others opted out of for good reason, to avoid any reputational damage.

Overall it was good for the finances (and ego) but the peer competitive aspect also did my head in. It was more satisfying, and better musicaly, to work in regular bands.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I know a lot of you regularly do sub work and for a pro, that's a big part of keeping busy. I've only subbed a handful of time, just to help out a friend in need. Those gigs were stressful and it's not something I'd like to do on a regular basis. It's not that I don't like playing with different people, but the work involved in learning a bunch of songs and knowing I'm probably not playing them as well as the band deserves doesn't sit well with me.

So, how many of us do sub work and how much is that a part of your playing out?

Do you enjoy playing with different bands more than just one or a few that you're a regular member of?

The older I get, the more self critical I’ve become of my playing. I mean if I’m not totally prepared I’m a nervous wreck. And to that point, I really haven’t listened to too much music that’s been produced in the last 20 years to be able to fill in suitably without a lot of work. Usually sub work is sort of sudden and not enough notice to be good to go.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I’ll sub but I’m not going to memorize for a one off gig. Sure, if Jason Aldean asked me to sub I’d memorize, but I don’t think that’s happening.

 

[Altitude]

It’s all I do.

I travel a lot for business and I’m just not around town reliably enough to have a normal gig. Sub gigs work for me since I can do them when I know I’ll be around and pass when I’m not.

The best situation is to become the first call sub in 3 or 4 bands and ride that. That way I don’t have to be learning new sets of music all the time. I’m not quite in that situation at the moment.

 

[rtslinger]

Only once and it was only because during a show I was playing with a few other bands the bass player was a no show
no big deal they had like four songs that weren't on our list. so I help them out. I have been asked many times to sub for people, but that was the only time.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I sub so often that this was my business card for a while:

- Steve

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I don't sub these days, but I got a sub bassists in one of the bands. He can sing too, maybe I should be the sub? Haha

 

[pfschim]

I am focused on original music projects and am currently in 3 of those .. all of which are quite stylistically different (Americana, Celtic Rock-ish, and Jazz/Fusion/World Music). I also gig fairly regularly with a cover trio.

The originals projects all gig pretty steadily but to fill out my calendar I sub very regularly in all kinds of bands. I mostly like subbing as it can really push me as far as working through lots of unfamiliar music in a short time span. Really keeps your ears tuned up! It also keeps my name/skills out there and helps with finding new projects.

I'm really used to subbing. I've been playing pro (full time)/semi-pro (part time) for decades. Back in the day I made a living for a reasonably long period of time doing what was called casuals in Chicago. You basically got a call for a date, got some idea of the dress and music genre for the date (pop/cover, standards/real-book/jazz etc.) showed up and hit the downbeat when the BL called it.

 

[JazznFunk]

Depends on the music, band, and players involved. Back in the day, 'sub work' was a big part of what I did. I don't consider jazz gigs where mostly standards are the repertoire as the same kind of 'sub' gig as a band where it's all original material and you need time to prepare. I've done the latter before, with the caveat that 'hey.... this won't be perfect, but I'll give it my best shot'! I manage expectations depending on the music. These days though, I don't sub as much, since those gigs tend to not pay enough to entice me to put in the time the way they used to. Most of my focus these days is on my original project(s)... something I neglected in my freelance-heavy times.

 

[SDC1-ClickClack]

Clearly, I must spend too much time on the Internet. My first thought on seeing the title of this thread was, "I think you meant to type Do you even sub, bro?"

 

[2112]

I'm not doing any subbing right now, but when the day comes my covers project goes toes up, I'm not sure I'm going to have the cycles start all over again. So, the plan is to sub from that point forward.

 

[climber]

I can play any style of music, know a ton of tunes and have very good ears, so there was a period of time I subbed a ton. in fact it was a big part of what I did. but now I have both my own band and play with one other group regularly. both with people I really like playing with. so now I only sub as a personal favor with good friends.

 

[Blue Moose]

Very rarely these days, but I usually enjoy it when I get the opportunity. But that's probably because I only take the gig if I think it's a good fit for both parties.

 

[MrLenny1]

I sub out. Not a lot of work so if you want to play.
I do New Country, Rock, Pop, Blues.
It is a lot of work though.