am I being unreasonable?

armybass · #1 03-04-2011, 09:25 PM

SO I joined this band a month ago, great group of pro players and I feel lucky to have found them and I think they feel the same way. Down side is I have to drive an hour each way to rehearse. Now I am a 25 year pro player and to be honest it has been a long time since I have practiced with any band. I have shown up on gigs with 10 pc horn bands and no rehearsal yada yada ect. These guys are of the same caliber and we are a blues band so there is not that much rehearsing to do in my opinion. Anyway I committed to what I thought was a solid month of rehearsing. Well now it is looking like they think it will be 2 months and I mentioned that since gas has gone up $.40 since I joined the band that we could cut back to every two weeks since we do not even have any gigs booked. They would hear nothing of it. I explained that it was costing me $30 to $40 a week to practice. They seem uninterested. As much as I like them and as fortunate as I feel to have found them...I am ready to walk just based on their seemingly callous attitude about the financial burden or my opinion.

Any input welcome....

lowfreq33 · #2 03-04-2011, 09:29 PM

A "pro" blues band should be able to gig after 2 rehearsals tops as long as the songs are already written. IMHO.

armybass · #3 03-04-2011, 09:34 PM

Thanks...that is what I was thinking but did not want to come off like a prick. I mean, I hope the they do not expect the tunes to be the same every time they play. I am used to showing up with a loosely laid outline of tunes and be musicians and see what we can create...no???

bassteban · #4 03-04-2011, 09:39 PM

Bad first impression, methinks. Ever met a woman whom you *thought* might be insane? Trust your feelings, Luke.

bassinplace · #5 03-04-2011, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armybass

Thanks...that is what I was thinking but did not want to come off like a prick. I mean, I hope the they do not expect the tunes to be the same every time they play. I am used to showing up with a loosely laid outline of tunes and be musicians and see what we can create...no???

I share in your opinion. If you've already played together and you know it sounds presentable, why not just take it to the stage? I personally don't see why you should dilly dally. It's not like you're working for someone who wants all of the arrangements to be spot on.

Even though the skill level of these guys makes it fun, it would seem like thier attitudes or opinions on it are different. Not wrong or right but different. Even though music is the name of the game, it's not the whole picture, as you're well aware. You also have to take personalities into account.

It seems as though they may not be real conducive to working with you. If I were in your place, I'd be making an honest evaluation on whether or not to continue.

armybass · #6 03-04-2011, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassinplace

I share in your opinion. If you've already played together and you know it sounds presentable, why not just take it to the stage? I personally don't see why you should dilly dally. It's not like you're working for someone who wants all of the arrangements to be spot on.

Even though the skill level of these guys makes it fun, it would seem like thier attitudes or opinions on it are different. Not wrong or right but different. Even though music is the name of the game, it's not the whole picture, as you're well aware. You also have to take personalities into account.

It seems as though they may not be real conducive to working with you. If I were in your place, I'd be making an honest evaluation on whether or not to continue.

Thanks and I am afraid you are correct and I know you are. I really like these guys and they are great players but it does appear we have different opinions of how to proceed and since they do not seem to be interested in my POV.... I know I have s tough choice to make.

James Judson · #7 03-04-2011, 09:53 PM

You need to rehearse with a blues band with no gigs lined up???? I'd say give me a call when you have a gig to do.

YMMV

prd004 · #8 03-04-2011, 09:55 PM

Yeah, gasoline expense is a factor, plus it's going to keep rising. Heck, I would have to quit my own band if were going to cost me $30-$40 per week to rehearse.

I also agree with the previous posts, a real pro blues band should only need a few practices to get started, and then if the giging scedule is consistent you shouldn't even have to practice more than once in a very-rare while to bring in new material.

Scatterblak · #9 03-04-2011, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Judson

You need to rehearse with a blues band with no gigs lined up???? I'd say give me a call when you have a gig to do.

YMMV

+1
This is why 95% of all bands never play a gig.

1. Get the guys and form a band.
2. Select the songs.
3. Learn maybe 4, and see if they suck.
4. If they don't suck, Book Something!

5. Rehearse for the show.

Don't know about how it works where you guys are, but in Nashville, booking something and then learning the show is SOP. I've played pickup gigs here where someone has booked a gig before they've even assembled the players or had the first rehearsal.

MHT75 · #10 03-04-2011, 10:08 PM

If they are uninterested in you , should you be interested in them ?
Let them know you can't do it with present conditions . They'll either work something out or let you go.
Let them make the decision for you.

Marko5657 · #11 03-04-2011, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MHT75

If they are uninterested in you , should you be interested in them ?
Let them know you can't do it with present conditions . They'll either work something out or let you go.
Let them make the decision for you.

+1

Rimshot · #12 03-04-2011, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

Ever met a woman whom you *thought* might be insane? .

I'm still hoping to meet one that isn't!

cableguy · #13 03-04-2011, 11:14 PM

I'm a hack wanna be blues player and I think I would be dailed in now. Record your practice, practice from home, practice as a band a week before the show. Or they can pick up your gas bill for the extra practices. I mean if you and the band have that much experience in the blues you guys could pull off a show without a practice now. But like I said before I'm a hack so band practice is needed for me. Good luck though.

Jim Campbell · #14 03-04-2011, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armybass

SO I joined this band a month ago, great group of pro players and I feel lucky to have found them and I think they feel the same way. Down side is I have to drive an hour each way to rehearse. Now I am a 25 year pro player and to be honest it has been a long time since I have practiced with any band. I have shown up on gigs with 10 pc horn bands and no rehearsal yada yada ect. These guys are of the same caliber and we are a blues band so there is not that much rehearsing to do in my opinion. Anyway I committed to what I thought was a solid month of rehearsing. Well now it is looking like they think it will be 2 months and I mentioned that since gas has gone up $.40 since I joined the band that we could cut back to every two weeks since we do not even have any gigs booked. They would hear nothing of it. I explained that it was costing me $30 to $40 a week to practice. They seem uninterested. As much as I like them and as fortunate as I feel to have found them...I am ready to walk just based on their seemingly callous attitude about the financial burden or my opinion.

Any input welcome....

how are the practices.....are they working up interesting arrangements or just jamming and socializing.....if the music is going somewhere i'd think about hanging in,but if it's just an excuse jam and yak,then no......

faulknersj · #15 03-04-2011, 11:24 PM

Sounds like a bad mutual fit. They need a dedicated guy that can rehearse more than you are able to. When someone joins my band I assume that their commute has been taken into account and will allow full active participation in all scheduled rehearsals. If one of my players realized that the commute no longer allowed them to fully participate in the bands rehearsal schedule, I would prefer that they inform me (as you did) so that we could part ways and find each find a better fit moving forward. Best wishes.

steveksux · #16 03-04-2011, 11:33 PM

Yeah, blues bands don't need lots of practice. I do fill in gigs and all I get is a cd ahead of time, and show up at the gig.

Are they going over really difficult arrangements? Are the songs/sets already presentable? Are the practices organized and productive?

You wonder if they've got any leads to getting gigs? Great to get things ready, but this sounds more like a social gathering than a rehearsal.

Offer to rehearse at their house for a while, see how they like driving an hour to go over songs they already know.

Randy

Munjibunga · #17 03-04-2011, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armybass

Thanks...that is what I was thinking but did not want to come off like a ~~prick~~ doo doo. I mean, I hope the they do not expect the tunes to be the same every time they play. I am used to showing up with a loosely laid outline of tunes and be musicians and see what we can create...no???

Just looking out for you. It has to be TV-approved.

Plays_For_Dog · #18 03-05-2011, 12:02 AM

If they have no more compassion then they do about the financial burdens you are going through to play with them, then it seems they don't care about you as a person. You are just the instrument to them and therefore YOU are unappriciated.

I'd say bow out gracefully and keep the bridge for future opprotunities. For now, you're not making any money gigging out so the cost of gas and travel time is investment you are making for the thrill of rehearsal.

Jim Campbell · #19 03-05-2011, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveksux

Yeah, blues bands don't need lots of practice. I do fill in gigs and all I get is a cd ahead of time, and show up at the gig.

Are they going over really difficult arrangements? Are the songs/sets already presentable? Are the practices organized and productive?

You wonder if they've got any leads to getting gigs? Great to get things ready, but this sounds more like a social gathering than a rehearsal.

Offer to rehearse at their house for a while, see how they like driving an hour to go over songs they already know.

Randy

if presentable is your goal a loosey goosey set list might do.....but if you want to stand out i think that a tad more work is in order.....the bands that draw around here seem to be the ones that have put in the time and effort to tighten up and work out the details....

FretlessMainly · #20 03-05-2011, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armybass

Thanks...that is what I was thinking but did not want to come off like a prick. I mean, I hope the they do not expect the tunes to be the same every time they play. I am used to showing up with a loosely laid outline of tunes and be musicians and see what we can create...no???

If this isn't the reason I play music, I don't know what is. Find some like-minded musicians in your zip code.