So my band made an album!

[goldehfish]

So my band made an album after having played 5 shows and only having been together 4 months. We made $105 dollars from all 5 of those gigs(4 of them didn't pay.) And the drummer and I brought all the people to the show where we made money. The guitarist/lead singer/asshat decided we would record an album with it since we had 10 songs written. Well, I thought that was dumb that he wanted to do it so fast with so little money but we got a deal on the recording studio(5 bucks an hour, not worth IMO with the final product.) or something, so I said whatever and went along with it. Now, there are four of us in the band and 5 parts to record separately, that means we each get 4 hours of recording before we have to pay for our own time, right? Well, that's the logical thing to do! Our drummer spent about 8 hours in the studio, I spent 2 hours with a 30 minute smoke break recording my stuff, vocals took 4 hours, and the two guitars were about 10 hours total. When we finished recording the guitarist told me that I owed him 20 bucks for the recording which I refused to pay because I didn't even spend that much time in the studio.(I have paid 10 bucks because I felt bad for them.)

Now that the CD is out I don't get to see a dime from the sales that I'm doing. The CD release party the guitarist/singer/asshat gave away CDs and I have sold 10 CDs and have about 5 or 6 other people I could still sell them to now. I have the money from the sales that he demanded I give him at 3 bucks a CD and I don't plan on giving it to him ever. I made the sales, I recorded the album, and I bring all the people to our shows.(The drummer who recorded with us quit because of college starting.) Is that fair that I don't get any money out of this? Not to be conceited or anything but I'm the only bass player who could play a few of the songs on the CD(The best ones I've been told by other people.) at our age level.(High school Juniors/Seniors)

Oh, did I mention what the guitarist/singer/jerk wants to spend it on? A tour next summer. There's no way I'm touring when we don't even have fans outside of family and friends. It's insanity.


If you want to hear the CD it's all up on our MySpace. (www.myspace.com/therovingcesareans) I recommend The Tanner Song and the Psychadellic song. I do some decent basslines, I'm a lot better live because I improvise more.



EDIT: Post your other horrible gig/band moments!

[ParadigmBass]

Dude how much money are you expecting from CD sales if (like you said) you're only fans are your friends and family? If you only spent 10 bucks, why expect to see any more than 100 dimes?

[kalle74]

No offense, but to me, it sounds like you made a demo with too many songs.

An album is a much bigger effort.

[deekay911]

If you paid $5 an hour, and you don't think the final result is worth that, then it must be total cr*p. You can't get anything worth listening to for that price. Wait til you guys are grown up and in the real world, you'll be getting some shocks.

[fleita]

Originally Posted by kalle74

No offense, but to me, it sounds like you made a demo with too many songs.

An album is a much bigger effort.

+1

[nightcityburn]

Here is a better idea, save your money, buy a computer and a simple recording interface and learn to demo your own tracks. You will save a ton of money, and you control the quality.

[Downlowd]

I guess you are looking for some advice.... really I think worrying about ten or twenty bucks here and there in a band setting is silly. the band should be working toward a common goal together, so what if one guy used more studio time. Yes he should pay the difference but you guys are a band...work together and quit worrying about petty money issues.

On the other hand, I think you music has potential. You have to figure out a way to convince you guitar player to quit noodling during the verses....it distracts from the vocals. He has to learn some discipline.

Having said that...keep at it and don't sweat the small stuff.

[TheRockinRoadie]

Hence the reason i no longer play in originals bands

Cover bands all the way for me, im garunteed my expenditures plus a little bit extra to pay for drinks and food etc

So..
1) Quit your band
2) Join a cover band

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by TheRockinRoadie

Hence the reason i no longer play in originals bands

Cover bands all the way for me, im garunteed my expenditures plus a little bit extra to pay for drinks and food etc

So..
1) Quit your band
2) Join a cover band

True but there is more to some then money when making music I did the cover thing and made decent coin. I now play originals and the band makes much less but i enjoy it much, much more.

On your deal if you have someone who is running the band and calling the shots that is a HUGE problem right there. If it cant be fixed get out now....trust me. I dont understand how after 5 gigs you have only made $105.00. In my area the scene sucks and my band just finished our 8th gig last night. We dont get rich but only 2 gigs were under 100.00 for the night and most were a couple to several hundred dollars a show. It could be the music ,your band or the bookings.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by goldehfish

Now, there are four of us in the band and 5 parts to record separately, that means we each get 4 hours of recording before we have to pay for our own time, right? Well, that's the logical thing to do!

No, this doesn't make any sense at all. You're recording a band, not five individual parts.

[GearHeadBassMan]

keep the money, quit the band. It appears you don't like being in the band.

Also, don't start with the "no one else can play my lines" bull crap. I used to think the same way, until I spent a weekend at a berklee bass intensive and every single person there was head over heels better than me. Sobered me up to the reality that no matter how good you are, 95% of bassists are still better than you

and the point of a tour that early is to get new fans outside your family and friends. and if nobody but your family and friends have bought your demo/album, then it's probably not a good idea.

[GearHeadBassMan]

Originally Posted by TheRockinRoadie

Hence the reason i no longer play in originals bands

Cover bands all the way for me, im garunteed my expenditures plus a little bit extra to pay for drinks and food etc

So..
1) Quit your band
2) Join a cover band

the kids in high school, what cover band wants a member that can't even play clubs?

[Getaway Driver]

Originally Posted by goldehfish

If you want to hear the CD it's all up on our MySpace. (www.myspace.com/therovingcesareans) I recommend The Tanner Song and the Psychadellic song. I do some decent basslines, I'm a lot better live because I improvise more.

EGAD, Dude, I'm Levi, the bassist from Woof! I can say for certain that you're in the wrong position to be doing this. Your frontman is a moron, his amp is always way too freaking loud at gigs and he's a beastly dimwit. You and Joe obviously have the talent. Don't get discouraged and don't be afraid to make lineup changes. Just because a singer can be the most recognizable sound in a band doesn't mean you can't kick him and find someone else. If you're serious about being a musican, you can't let personality get in your way.

No offense to you guys, but any band that has ten songs after four months isn't putting a very large effort into the quality of those songs. You sound like you all know what you're doing, but it sounds to me like you wrote some lyrics, threw some instrumental work behind and moved on. There's a certain polish to your material that's missing. It's a common mistake I see with young bands. My band has written several songs that have decent structure, good lyrics, but just don't shine like they should. After a year of jamming and gigging, we've only got five original songs that we feel are worth playing on stage. Don't ever see a band as a concrete thing. It should be allowed to grow and breathe and mature.

[bassforce]

Finally someone who's trying to PLAY music - not just DOING covers and pretending being happy with the money

But yes, it sound's like a demo. So this IS a demo with too many songs
And it's quite crappy - I can hear a very bad timing problems.
Also the singer is not on pitch sometimes.
BUT - You've made your first step.
Choose four best songs, make a demo - you can always try to sell whole CD on your gigs. Try to book gigs, don't expecnt a lot of money and HAVE FUN!

[MAMMOTHvolume]

did your guitarists have a bigger say in the mix than you by any chance?

the ep is terrible for what you paid, i think you shouldn't let your ego get the better of you though.

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by GearHeadBassMan

the kids in high school, what cover band wants a member that can't even play clubs?

Typically high school bands play some covers and lots of originals, because they still have that dream of becoming famous, selling tons of albums and filling arenas.

Which is cool. Without this dream, there'd be none of these awesome bands we cover the songs from.

I think they are jumping the gun on this one and like someone else says, they should do a demo with 3 to 5 songs.

Gigs with only relatives, friends and girlfriends? That's how you get started.

It's hard to build a following and to reach your goal but there is no shame in trying.

Join a cover band for $$$ when you know the dream will not become a reality.

I too only play covers now. As a bassist you don't have to play the song as on the recording, unless it's a signature bass line, so there is still a lot of room for improvising.

[Getaway Driver]

Originally Posted by NickInMesa

Typically high school bands play some covers and lots of originals, because they still have that dream of becoming famous, selling tons of albums and filling arenas.

Which is cool. Without this dream, there'd be none of these awesome bands we cover the songs from.

I think they are jumping the gun on this one and like someone else says, they should do a demo with 3 to 5 songs.

Yeah, getting noticed or getting a record deal isn't something that just happens. It's not like a video game. You don't just get the big gun at the end of level 5. Recording an album early doesn't put you ahead of anyone. You'll get noticed when you get noticed, whether it's after your first gig, or after your 400th.

[spambot772]

no offense, but i checked out your myspace, and those songs arent mixed well at all....

the songs themselves might be good, but the recording/mixing job is rly rly bad.

[Disappear]

Will you guys give the OP a break? He's just ranting.

[southshoreconor]

the bass has pretty good tone, and appears to be in tune. which is more than i can say for your singers voice.