New band drama

DWBass · #1 05-24-2010, 06:03 AM

Hmmm......you ever get that feeling that the band is never gonna take off?? You just feel it in your gut? So you make yourself available for other projects/bands?

uhhh................yup!

Tricia · #2 05-24-2010, 06:07 AM

I hear you. can be frustrating.

JohnMCA72 · #3 05-24-2010, 09:03 AM

Realistically, most bands don't "make it." That should be the expected norm. "Success" is the exception. Covering your bets is just plain smart business.

Any band that expects exclusivity from its members should expect to pay them well for that exclusivity. That, & there should be so much going on that there just isn't time for side projects.

Even so, I always encourage everybody in my bands to branch out & do other things. Whatever everybody learns elsewhere, they bring back to our band & make us that much better, is my thinking.

yehongxiang · #4 05-24-2010, 09:34 AM

Yep.

Just left a band couple of weeks back that fits your description. The guitarist (kind of the band leader, since he got us together) kept saying that he wanted to make it big in the local scene, and claimed to have a few decent originals. Everytime we asked him to send us the originals or play it for us, he'd come up with some excuses not to.

In the end, we decided to play a few covers first to see if we could gel. The guitarist took three weeks just to learn Muse's Time Is Running Out, and wasn't too keen on jamming because 'studios are expensive'. To put things in perspective, studios cost about $10 an hour over here, and there's four of us.

I bailed, and joined my colleague's blues-rock band. One of the best choices I've made.

becker4567 · #5 05-24-2010, 09:42 AM

Like the man said, "follow your instincts"! Been in a couple of bands over the years that right from the start, either the chemistry wasn't there or the other guys just wanted to jam and not really play anything. When you find the right combination, you know it!

DWBass · #6 05-24-2010, 10:05 AM

Funny.....the band leader just called me about a possible gig 6/19! I asked him if he thought we were ready to do it?!?! He said yeah! I said..............ok (SMH at the same time)! Yet, the keyboardist and guitarist can't remember songs or, I feel, haven't even invested time in learning the damn songs but...whatever! I'll collect my paycheck and when another band comes along, I'm out!

Spent 6 hours recording demo tunes yesterday and I'm the only one who knew and nailed all my parts! Seems I'M the only one who knows all the songs (admittedly, I'm a walking musical library)! Songs had no life, full of errors and gaffs! Drummer starts copping an attitude, guitarist not wanting to do any Motown songs for the demo! What? Really? Ok! Then proceding to kill any semblance of funk and soul on "What's Going On"! Hmmm....strumming guitar in R&B, Soul/Funk music.......NOT! I don't recall hearing any strumming guitar on "What's Going On"!

Ooo, I can't wait to let y'all hear that one! LOL!

Anywho......competent bands and musicians have been scarce, nil to none, for me the last 2 years! If this keeps up, I'm just going to record my own music, which I started to 2 years ago!

TBrett · #7 05-24-2010, 10:34 AM

We're putting an original rock band together and figure we'll still be composing/rehearsing for several months yet. The guitarist and I are the main writers, and we're not interested in joining other projects at this point. This is our baby. Our bassist (who is also my spouse) is pro-level, very experienced, and also needs a working band so he can play out regularly. So he's joined a more established band that has been on hiatus for a while and is now looking to get back in the game. If all goes well, they should be performance-ready in the near future. Our guitarist had some concerns about what he saw as divided loyalty on the part of the bassist. I confess I was less than thrilled about the other band at first, especially since they're also an original rock band with a female lead singer, like myself. But what could I do? Tell my pro bassist bf that he couldn't join another project when we cannot yet provide him with gigs? Ha! I can just imagine how that would have gone over!

IMO, it is just not realistic to ask or expect musicians to commit exclusively when a band is not busy enough to warrant such a commitment. By the same token, I don't think any artist should limit their opportunities. As long as band members treat our project with respect and let me know when they're not available, I can schedule gigs around their other commitments when the time comes. And of course, if a member becomes too busy to devote the required time to our band, we would have to replace him (spouse included). It would be a shame if that had to happen because the four of us have excellent chemistry, but at the end of the day, business is business and we all understand that. But in truth, as long as folks can keep their schedules straight and communicate clearly, there shouldn't be a problem.

bluewine · #8 05-24-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

Hmmm......you ever get that feeling that the band is never gonna take off?? You just feel it in your gut? So you make yourself available for other projects/bands?

uhhh................yup!

Yeah, it's to bad, because some of the hottest coolest bands will not take off for several reason.

For me, I am in a hot Pop Rock Band, great musicians, fantatstic front person, great songs and set list, everyone is dependable. However we lack leadership and good management. Seem like nobody wants that responsibility.

Me, I would not make a good leader.

DWBass · #9 05-24-2010, 12:18 PM

When I say take off, I'm talking actually playing a gig!! And actually being ready to play a gig! This band is clearly NOT ready to gig by any means! The band leader couldn't talk when he mentioned the possible gig date but I'm fully expecting him to call me and ask about yesterday! He's gonna get an earful!

DWBass · #10 05-26-2010, 11:14 AM

LOL! Received an e-mail from bandleader. We actually have a gig 6/19!

hrodbert696 · #11 05-27-2010, 09:36 AM

I wonder too sometimes. The main thing is whether we're ever actually going to have an honest-to-god set list that we can play through. We circulate emails saying which songs are on deck to practice that week and then when we rehearse the singer pleads he didn't have time to learn half of them. We've had to take a break for a few weeks due to scheduling conflicts and if he still doesn't know them when we get together again I don't know what I'm going to do.

DWBass · #12 05-27-2010, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

I wonder too sometimes. The main thing is whether we're ever actually going to have an honest-to-god set list that we can play through. We circulate emails saying which songs are on deck to practice that week and then when we rehearse the singer pleads he didn't have time to learn half of them. We've had to take a break for a few weeks due to scheduling conflicts and if he still doesn't know them when we get together again I don't know what I'm going to do.

My biggest gripe is the guys learning the tunes! We been at this since March and they guys are still showing signs they don't know the songs!

JohnMCA72 · #13 05-27-2010, 09:56 AM

Somebody needs to take the lead. You've got to set goals & put plans into place to achieve them. If you wait for things to happen, they won't.

tdub0199 · #14 05-27-2010, 09:58 AM

If you guys as "A Band" don't know the songs then you should NOT do the gig.... just my opinion....

DWBass · #15 05-27-2010, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdub0199

If you guys as "A Band" don't know the songs then you should NOT do the gig.... just my opinion....

Ding ding ding! We have a winner!! My point exactly! Which is why I laughed when he told me we had a gig! I'm expecting the worse but I'll be positive going in because as you already know........I'm a professional!