Another one of those, "What would you do?" threads.

[Flyingfrets]

Originally Posted by Rockbassist4

Good points. I am going to agree with you and Kmonk on the overall argument. If bands do not spend the time to rehearse they may never know how good they can be or realize their potential. I also don't understand why anyone would join a band and not want to rehearse. Its one thing to be a hired gun and do in fill in work. Its another to be part of a band.

For us, rehearsals are not taken lightly. They're next to impossible to set up on the spur of the moment because the 5 of us travel from 4 different states to be there.

We reconvene in January to begin basic rehearsals for next years shows (work in new material, new guitar player and tweak the setlists). 1/05-06, 1/12,13 & 14, 1/19-20 and 1/26,27 & 28...all 12 hour days. Run through the entire show 4X every day. If you don't have "it" down after that, you don't belong there. About as much fun as boot camp or cramming for finals (and involves at least as much coffee), but it serves its purpose.

Thankfully, we get along pretty well, because we're under the same roof for 48 - 72 hours at a stretch. If that's not a focused effort, I don't know what is.

Beyond that, we work steadily enough that full rehearsals aren't regularly scheduled events. Individual practice is on the musician. We play the same arrangements as on the original recordings, so source material to play with isn't an issue.

Sounds kinda like work, eh?

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Flyingfrets

Sounds kinda like work, eh?

No more work than any other working band. Only difference is you do it once a year in one shot.

Blue

[blindrabbit]

One point to add/consider regarding practicing is that the OP mentioned that this is a TRIBUTE band. I can see how with a cover band its just a matter of showing up and knowing the tunes. However, with a tribute, I think there is a lot more emphasis on putting on a good show - being in character, being in costume, interacting on stage the same way the musicians would, and depending upon how "exact" you may want to be, you really need to work on getting exact timing and choreography down.

If its a cover band without originals, then sure, minimal practicing is ok. But a tribute, definitely more practicing needed. Maybe not as much as an original band, but more than none.

I'll also concur with the points around considering what your intents and motivations are with being in the band. I don't play in bands to make money at the moment, so it doesn't matter much what I pocket at the end of the night - if I can use it to pay for some beer or towards new gear, then I'm happy. However, if this was my livelihood, then the venture would need to start turning into cash pretty quickly or else I'm out. For example, how many jobs - say, a house, for example - would a painter do for free "to exposure" or "practice" before they start thinking that money is needed?

[two fingers]

To the OP. Sorry, my post was part response to your OP and part just a rant over both ego maniac BLs and practicing too much. It wasn't all directed at your OP. Sorry if I derailed or confused things.

Cheers.

[Flyingfrets]

Originally Posted by bluewine

No more work than any other working band. Only difference is you do it once a year in one shot.

Blue

It's not usually that intense, but by then, we'll have been off for 4 months...and there's a new member to integrate as well.

Gotta do what ya gotta do, right?