Are we ready to gig?

[oldrocker]

Here's my dilemma:

I've been playing with a group of knuckleheads for the last 2 years. We practice once a week and we know about 25-30 songs, and can play half of those pretty well.

The problem is, is that we are not very good. The drummer speeds up and slows down during songs, and plays the songs at a different tempo from week to week. Usually at practice, the last few songs are super fast as he is in a hurry to get home.

The rhytm guitar player strums every thing like a country tune, plays way too loud and forgets the chords to songs we have been playing for a long time.

The other guiar player and bass player are not that great either

Not only that, but we have trouble starting and ending songs together.

It is a lot of fun getting togehter in the basement once a week to make some noise and hoist a few brewskis, but for some reason some of the guy are pushing to play out. We actually have an offer to play in a bar for $$$ in a couple of weeks.

We did play last summer at a BBQ, in the guitar player's back yard. We ran through 24 songs, some good, some not so good, but it was amongst friends and nobody was really expecting anything great, so it went over OK.

But to me, playing in a bar for money in front or strangers is a whole different deal.

Am I right to push for us to get tighter, and learn more songs, before gigging, or am I just being a pussy and we should go for it?

[Thor]

Given what you just said, I see a trainwreck in the making.

The knucklehead band I have, No Exit 7, will never be ready
to play out. We have about 90 songs in the play book,
with 45 pretty decent.

Here are the problems.

Bass and drummer - ok
Guitar 1 - no leads, lazy fingers, does mediocre vocals
Guitar 2 - listened to too much Neil Young grownig up. Only
works well on that country tempo your guy uses. No vocals
Guitar 3 - Knows every Beatles song ever. Can play the hooks
to all. Is over 50 and never played in a band before. Needs
a strap button so he can stand up. No vocals. (Tough for
a Beatles cover specialist).
Horn player - where's my chart?

Typical comments:
Can we start this song together?
Look at the drummer for the ending!
The bridge is wrong, it goes from G to B to E to Am to D and
back to G. Circle of fifths dude, remember?
Ever consider getting a tuner?
That Crate is a small bass amp not a guitar amp.
When is the last time you picked up that axe?
It's be nice if you printed the words out BIGGER!

And that is just the beginning. Some projects, though they are
fun, and a cool hang, shouldn't come out of the garage.

For me, my other band Rotten Angel is the gig vehicle, no
embarrassment worries, solid rhythm section, top guitarist/s,
and minimal rehearsal required, 1 session for a well polished set.

But I like to play more often than that vehicle allows, so the
knucklehead projects help keep me fulfilled.

If you want a gig quality band, consider some additional projects.

[invader3k]

If your cover band has been together for two years and only knows 30 songs, that is a problem. You should easily know two or three times that many.

There's nothing wrong with having a casual group of people to play with and drink some beers, as you're describing. However, it doesn't sound like everyone in your band is on the same page as far as goals and expectations. If you guys seriously want to play out, you'll need to know roughly 50 songs, if not more, and have them down pat, before doing any serious bar gigs or anything like that. Starting and ending songs are pretty basic stuff...if you can't pull that off, you shouldn't be thinking about playing out yet.

[pointbass]

Respectfully, it sounds like you may never be ready to play out Issues like bad time, wrong chords, stutter starts/stops and a very limited set list are all signs of an "unprofessional" band. The average bar/club attendee may not be musically astute, but for sure they'll recognize a free-for-all when they hear it.

There is no problem with just kicking back in a rehearsal-only band, especially if everyone gets along well. But the minute you play live in front of a paying crowd and things get ugly, friendships will go flying out the window ....

[invader3k]

Exactly...that's what I was getting at, pointbass. It's one thing to talk about playing out, it's another to have the dedication to practice enough so you can't do it competently and not embarass yourselves on stage.

[sedan_dad]

Originally Posted by oldrocker

Here's my dilemma:

The problem is, is that we are not very good. Not only that, but we have trouble starting and ending songs together.

Find another band.Don't waste any more of your time.
2 years down the toilet.Move on.

[theshadow2001]

Originally Posted by sedan_dad

Find another band.Don't waste any more of your time.
2 years down the toilet.Move on.

I wouldn't call it two years down the toilet. Kicking back and having a few beers and jamming out some songs for fun isn't wasting time. It's recreation. It's a waste of two years if ye were aiming to play out from the start. This probably wasn't always the case when ye strated out if the issue has only arisen now. Although forever practicing can be frustrating too I've been in that situation as well.

If you believe the band can get it together then you should let them know if they are serious about it they're going to have to put some effort into it.

But I mean if you guys aren't rock solid after two years of playing only thirty songs I really don't think there's much hope. If practice was done in a chilled out whatever goes wrong doesn't really matter we're only having fun way that could explain some of the sloppiness.

Maybe some focused practice could get things a little tighter. Record you guys playing a few songs and scrutinize everyones playing (including yourself) maybe that might get the rest of the guys in gear.

But in my opinion, from what you describe I wouldn't put too much faith in it. If you yourself want to play out I would find a different band. Although breaking that to the rest of your band would be a whole different kettle of fish which could lead to some uncomfortable and awkward situations. But thats not what this thread is about

[Basshappi]

In a word: No.

Sorry, but I think Pointbass nailed it.

[sedan_dad]

Everyone else may have put it more diplomatically but the message is ultimately the same.
The idea of playing at the next level appeals to you.
It sounds as if the rest of the band isn't there yet.
It's going to take some time for them to get there if they even want to go at all.
You might best be served by moving on to the next project.

[Munjibunga]

No, and I'm with the others who say you're not going to be. If the other members are not committed to putting the songs together at home and bringing them to practice for a little polish, it ain't gonna happen. You might offer to play for free at various friends' parties where everybody gets plenty to drink, and nobody can bitch because the price is right.

[ibnzneksrul]

Originally Posted by Basshappi

In a word: No.

Sorry, but I think Pointbass nailed it.

I agree. Bar crowds can be merciless. Bashing it out in practice is fun, but sucking onstage is humiliating.

[oldrocker]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

Thor, that was pretty close have you been to one of our practices?

Yes, we never had the idea to play out when we first got together 2 years ago. It was just a bunch of guys with a similar hobby getting together to hang and make some noise.

Because of that, we did have the attitude that we were just having fun so we didn't sweat the mistakes or work on the non fun stuff, like actually starting and stoping together.

I'm OK with continuing as we are and maybe playing parties and BBQs for fun, but some of the other guys are pushing the playing bar gig idea. It does seem like the ones that do the least paractice and homework are the ones pusing hardest for the gigging thing.

I have no illusions or delusions about my own playing, whenver I see a band in a bar, the bass player is always (always) better than I am. I may be able to play out someday, as I do put the work and have leaned many other songs that these guys don't have the time or interest to learn.

I have to be a little diplomatic here as we all work in the same building with cubes within 75 feet of each other.

We are discussing this tomorrow at practice, what I am going to be firm on is that if we are expecting to really play out we will:

- Have at least 45 songs that we can actually play
- Actually work on the beginning and end of songs
- Record ourselves
- Do our homework, practice with a metronome
- Play in tune

Then I'll let they're actions indicate they're decision. If they don't do this and continue to insist on playing out, then I walk.

If you like I can keep you guys posted on how this plays out.

Thanks Again