Band "ownership"

[glocke1]

Is the group your involved with "yours", "someone else's", or "everyones" ????

I've always thought that if your in a band, it is pretty much a group effort, and in most cases belongs to everyone.
The exceptions being those bands that are real working bands where all of the equipment is owned by one person, and this same person hosts rehearsals, and does ALL of the legwork in terms of promoting the band and getting gigs.

Anything other than the above exception and the idea of one person taking ownership of the band and calling the shots really just kind of rubs me the wrong way. Case in point, one band I was in I was basically driving 60-80 minutes one way every week for rehearsals, spending gobs of money on gas and vehicle wear and tear, and was basically told that this is "so and so's band and I get little to no say". Now all "so and so" did was provide rehearsal space and equipment, they made little or no attempt to get gigs, and what gigs they did get either did not pay or paid very little. In addition the guy who hosted rehearsals would often "solicit" money from band members to help pay his electricity costs for hosting rehearsal.

Thoughts?

[Phalex]

Meh. At the end of the day someone has to be able to make a decision or nothing happens. My band has a group type of governance, but the drummer seems to have veto power. It seems to work out OK, because people seem to like us, and we get lots of gigs.

There's nothing I hate worse than a band having a meeting and eveyone just says; "Well, I guess that's OK, what do you think?" Someone has to be able to express an opinion and at times do it strongly.

YMMV of course.

[RustyAxe]

Depends. I'm 57, play mostly acoustic stuff (bass, guitar and vocals), bluegrass, country (standards), roots rock, blues, some jazz standards. Electric bass guitar, acoustic bass guitar, and upright acoustic bass. I'm involved in multiple projects. I'm no fool, and don't expect to be the next #1 band. I just want to make good music.

Band 1 - country dance band. Essentially, I'm a hired gun. We (they) don't rehearse, been doin' this stuff for many, many years. Huge repertoire. Good friends on stage and off. The leader gets the gigs (actually, puts them together) and we get paid for the night. My most active gigging band, averaging 4 gigs a month.

Band 2 - bluegrass/roots band. I'm the new guy. I suggest songs, might suggest arrangements. I can state my preference about gigs (eg, "not THAT place!" or "love that place"). I have nothing to do with booking otherwise.

Combo 1 - folk/roots. Equal partnership, but I do most of the leg work, arranging and booking.

Combo 2 - Playing bass with a GREAT singer/songwriter. I write my own bass lines, but we do his songs. I just say yay/nay on gigs he might book, but he'll play 'em without me if I don't want to do them. We're recording his 2nd CD in Feb.

Combo 3 - Playing bass with another GREAT singer/songwriter (completely different style). Same as combo 2. I'm laying down tracks for his next CD now.

Solo - It's all me, all the time. This is where I have 100% control and responsibility.

[billoetjen]

One of the wisest musicians I know has this to say: a band is no place for democracy.

Bands are nit-picking, ego-salving, ego-bruising, political, situations of perpetual back-and-forth negotiation in which EVERYTHING is crucial. It takes a lot of people skills and luck.

[stratovani]

I play bass in an original band where our rhythm guitarist/vocalist also writes the music and provides the rehearsal space. He's also a Baptist minister, so our rehearsal space is the basement of his church, and it's beautiful, full carpeting, and a fireplace and a small kitchen. He started the band, and he calls the shots. However, he does value our input, which we're not shy about providing. I think what it comes down to is trust. You trust the bandleader to make good decisions regarding the band, and he should trust his bandmates to give him good, sound advice.

[Crazyeelboy]

I've generally found two ways to influence a band - 1) do something and 2) speak up about your opinions.

By "do something" I mean be the one who gets things done. If you want to get more or better gigs, then be the one who makes that happen. If you want to propose new music (cover or original), go beyond just suggesting something. Basically, the more you do, the more you control.

As for speaking up, the vast majority of musicians I have met are afraid of voicing their opinions. Many seem to prefer to make passive aggressive comments or say nothing and then later complain.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by glocke1

Is the group your involved with "yours", "someone else's", or "everyones" ????

I've always thought that if your in a band, it is pretty much a group effort, and in most cases belongs to everyone.
The exceptions being those bands that are real working bands where all of the equipment is owned by one person, and this same person hosts rehearsals, and does ALL of the legwork in terms of promoting the band and getting gigs.

Anything other than the above exception and the idea of one person taking ownership of the band and calling the shots really just kind of rubs me the wrong way. Case in point, one band I was in I was basically driving 60-80 minutes one way every week for rehearsals, spending gobs of money on gas and vehicle wear and tear, and was basically told that this is "so and so's band and I get little to no say". Now all "so and so" did was provide rehearsal space and equipment, they made little or no attempt to get gigs, and what gigs they did get either did not pay or paid very little. In addition the guy who hosted rehearsals would often "solicit" money from band members to help pay his electricity costs for hosting rehearsal.

Thoughts?

Again, no gigs = not a real band

blue

[OOZMAN]

With our band, it's kinda "the frontman and mine's" band. We started it, he's the "leader" i.e. he gets the gigs, he contacts everyone, he has to get rid of people who aren't doing it for us etc, and I'm the main songwriter. We practice at the drummers house for obvious reasons, but other than that, the other guys just chill with us and play their instruments.

[Jeb]

I'm happiest if it is "someone elses" band. Show up, play the material well, get paid and go home. As long as there is drama, I want to play in someone else's band - do my best for them and then go do something else.

[OPBASSMAN1994]

I say "my band" to other people who I know I know, but might not know the rest of the group quite as well. I say "THE band" to the guys. I write most of the lyrics. i'm the lead singer. However, I make very few "executive decisions". Sometimes our guitarist takes the lead on stuff. We function as a democracy with one member occasionally becoming a president for a brief time. That's the best way to explain it.

[riotorgun]

In my band i write most of the lyrics,music is sorted by all of us in practice,drummer books most of the gigs and that kinda thing,it works well as im more creative and he's better at contacting and writing coherent emails.

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by Jeb

I'm happiest if it is "someone elses" band. Show up, play the material well, get paid and go home. As long as there is drama, I want to play in someone else's band - do my best for them and then go do something else.

I think this is pretty much my sentiment, too.

[tractorpull]

"my"...errr, "our" band that i play in was started by not one person but by the drummer and guitarist, who then found another guitarist and me to play bass. then we all together found our vocalist. a band can be everyones and democracy in a band does work, we play plenty of shows and are building a steady fanbase. if youre like me and want to play in a band WITH people instead of FOR a band,then...teamwork, duh.

[Renaissance]

I think it was Adm. Rickover that said - "If you have to ask who's in charge, no one really is".

The band I'm in isn't mine by any stretch, but I do seem to be the most effective at getting stuff "done" when we bog down or when democracy fails us. I guess ultimately someone has to be in charge, or no one really is - and someone has to be in charge for anything to be effective!

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by billoetjen

Bands are nit-picking, ego-salving, ego-bruising, political, situations of perpetual back-and-forth negotiation in which EVERYTHING is crucial.

And that's the good stuff.

[MNAirHead]

A bit depends..

When it's all together, someone has to be driving the project.

#1 -I have a cover band, I"m the benevolant dictator... I own all of the gear, own the practice place, the website, marketing materials, demos etc. I wrote the original plan.

#2 - Recording project... I do the leg work for a singer songwriter.. I set the direction and he has the final say --- it's his deal..... he'd be nowhere if it werent' for my soft pushing ---- we're going nowhere without his approval. Todate this has been very successful.


#3-Church gigs... I report to someone..

----

All in all.. someone needs to be the benevolant dictator.

Bands are funky - everyone seems to be actively wanting a voice (for someone else to implement).... having a single benevolant dictator really helps eliminate the band killers.

[fullrangebass]

As long as the roles are well defined (and roles come with responsibilities as well the power and freedom to make choices, within the role's expectations) I am happy to run MY band, as well as being a member, in OTHER people's bands

[AfroCubanFunkMa]

We've got a democracy going but that's because of a very rare case we have where everyone is doing a portion of the legwork outside of playing.. If that changed, I expect the dynamics would as well.

[Floyd Eye]

Well, my band is basically a democracy, but the fact is I am the one who actually knows what he's doing so they pretty much go along with whatever I say.

[WayneS]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Again, no gigs = not a real band

blue

Thats one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.