New band, not off to a good start??

glocke1 · #1 12-25-2010, 05:36 AM

So, its not really a "new band", guitar player and drummer I played with in a previous band have put something new together with other people, and I was asked to play bass.

Had the first rehearsal 3-4 weeks ago. The guitar player and drummer said they would put together a song list, and also get a recording of the first rehearsal to everyone.

Its been a month, the next rehearsal is in a week and a half and I have not gotten any songlist or recording.

Ive emailed the guys twice now for a list of 15-20 songs that people want to work on for next time, so that we all show up knowing some stuff in common, and all I got was a list of 150 songs that is a combined list of what the guitar player and the new members know.

150 songs...keep in mind this is not a pro-working band that is out there right now doing gigs, it is more or less a startup project...

dvh · #2 12-25-2010, 05:54 AM

Take the lead. Why don't you make the list of 15 - 20 and send it around?

glocke1 · #3 12-25-2010, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvh

Take the lead. Why don't you make the list of 15 - 20 and send it around?

Mainly because I don't do any vocals, at all, and secondly in the past when Ive done that with these guys (guitar player and drummer), no one paid any attention. The most I can do is just call and send emails to keep these guys in line.

My biggest fear is that the next rehearsal I show up at it will just be a room full of people who know lots of songs individually but none collectively. No bigger waste of time than that IMO.

dvh · #4 12-25-2010, 06:33 AM

Well, again, someone has to step up and take control. Doesn't need to be the vocalists.

steveksux · #5 12-25-2010, 06:36 AM

If they really do have 150 songs that they know already in common, it doesn't matter which 15-20 songs you start with. it only matters to you.

Pick 15-20 and say I'm working on these to start with. Supposedly they already know them.

Randy

Haysoochreesto · #6 12-25-2010, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvh

Well, again, someone has to step up and take control. Doesn't need to be the vocalists.

Yep. Even at the age of 40 I had to relearn that in the abscence of leadership, someone will attempt to become the leader, and usually for the worse.

Don't be a jerk about it but just tell them you can't work this way. No one can. Tell whoever the acknowledged or unacknowledged leader is that you need a set, hard list of songs that you need to learn for upcoming rehearsals. If not, then don't do it. Well... I guess it's not really choice. You can't do it the way things are going now.

If you wanna try and step up and be the leader, then good luck to you. The project me and a friend are working out makes us the official leaders and that always makes things easier.

sleepytime · #7 12-25-2010, 10:47 AM

No, not off to a good start. A month of dithering and nothing accomplished? I would have one foot out of that outfit already. No one wants to lead and I would be willing to bet they are not too fired up about following either. Drifting along to mediocrity.

DWBass · #8 12-25-2010, 11:02 AM

Learn all 150. I go through this with my band. Guys are always saying 'oh, I didn't work on that song'! I'm like 'what?'! If it's a song the band is planning to play, why not just learn it!

It's just a pet peeve with me. Also, why are rehearsals so far apart? Just doesn't sound like a 'serious' project.

GreggBummer · #9 12-25-2010, 11:06 AM

I'm going to play devils advocate:

December is a tough time to get people to concentrate on band stuff, especially "for fun/weekend warrior" type situations. My band sort of took the month off... it was too hard to balance work, family, holidays, etc.

That might be a contributing factor to the situation.

Pick 15 songs you know that everyone knows or can learn easily. Send it around to the band. State something like "Hey guys, know it been a busy month... here is what I suggest..."

Then rock out.

bluewine · #10 12-25-2010, 12:25 PM

Do they or you have bookings for 150 song set list? If you do just learn them.

If not, it really does not sound like a band.

glocke1 · #11 12-25-2010, 02:57 PM

Well, no bookings, and the 150 tune list is actually a compilation of the lists that 3 people threw together, they are not songs that the whole band knows. Someone was supposed to go through and whittle it down to about 30 to start with. Having been down the massive song list thing with other bands, there is no way Im going to start in on a list that extensive without any input from other members as to what to spend time on, especially for a band that is newly formed and does not have gigs.

As for the frequency of rehearsals, the holidays are partly to blame, but the overall premise of the band was that people learn the songs at home than everyone gets together once every three weeks for a rehearsal. I've done that before with working bands and it has worked out ok, was kind of hoping it would work here.

I really don't want to be the one to step up to the plate on this one...These guys seemed to have a pretty clear idea as to what they wanted to do, but now Im not so sure they did. Kind of sucks as there is some good chemistry between myself and the drummer and guitar player, but I really have a hard time dealing with a lack of organization, and really am not into using band rehearsal time as "song learning time"

bluewine · #12 12-25-2010, 03:39 PM

Unless you guys are seasoned veterans, 1 practice every 3 weeks is not going to work.

Again this does not really sound like a band.
It sounds like what I am in, an un-organized start up that will never see it's 1st gig.

dvh · #13 12-25-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

Unless you guys are seasoned veterans, 1 practice every 3 weeks is not going to work.

+ infinity to that. Don't people want to practice (as a band)?

Lazylion · #14 12-25-2010, 10:55 PM

Call up the best singer and ask which are his 10 best songs. Have the band start with those @ next rehearsal.

Or bail.

MNAirHead · #15 12-26-2010, 03:30 AM

Step up.

------

From what I've learned.. the majority of folks are editing followers.

Write a first "bad" list.. then send it around for edits.

150.... too many

Just do one set...

Your first meeting is just to see if you can get through everything.

glocke1 · #16 12-26-2010, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvh

+ infinity to that. Don't people want to practice (as a band)?

Actually we are all pretty seasoned veterans.....and Ive done the once every 3 weeks (ramping it up to every week to get ready for gigs) for another band its worked out well. The idea being that people learn songs at home, than show up at practice (which is generally 6 hours or so) to run through them and work out any kinks. Its also not that we dont want to practice, the distance and schedule thing are working against us.

Anyway, I emailed again asking for a more condensed list, and pulled 15 songs from the 150 and says that if no one speaks up I'll be using that as a list to prepare for our next rehearsal.

klokker · #17 12-26-2010, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepytime

Drifting along to mediocrity.

Yeah, that's what it looks like to me as well. I don't think I would bail yet, but it doesn't seem to me these folks have much of an idea about what it takes.

Haysoochreesto · #18 12-26-2010, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glocke1

Anyway, I emailed again asking for a more condensed list, and pulled 15 songs from the 150 and says that if no one speaks up I'll be using that as a list to prepare for our next rehearsal.

That's the best way to do it. Hopefully then at least the rest of the band will then begin to chime in with what they know and what they don't. From there you can revise as needed.

It sounds like you're going to be the organizer. Hopefully it works out. Just hope that they show up to rehearsal having learned the songs.

markkoelsch · #19 12-26-2010, 11:03 AM

I would echo what others are saying. 150 songs...that is nuts. Pick a reasonable number, and let everyone know that this is what you are working on, and that you expect them to be working on the same songs so rehearsal is not a waste of time.

Seriously, being a leader can be a good thing. I am not saying you need to hold it over everyones heads either. Sometimes somebody needs to make a decision, and move on. Sometimes somebody needs to keep others on track. I have found it easier to be that person in a band than to not be. To do it effectively though takes confidence, the ability to listen, and the abilty to make decisions.

Because somebody sings does not make them any different than anyone else in the band. They need to learn to perform some stuff they do not want to occasionally to.

bluewine · #20 12-26-2010, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glocke1

Actually we are all pretty seasoned veterans.....and Ive done the once every 3 weeks (ramping it up to every week to get ready for gigs) for another band its worked out well. The idea being that people learn songs at home, than show up at practice (which is generally 6 hours or so) to run through them and work out any kinks. Its also not that we dont want to practice, the distance and schedule thing are working against us.

Anyway, I emailed again asking for a more condensed list, and pulled 15 songs from the 150 and says that if no one speaks up I'll be using that as a list to prepare for our next rehearsal.

I think seasoned veterans can mean anything.

I guess in this case,I would hope it means all the other guys in this, what I am not even sure is a band were gigging 3 times a month during most of 2010.

If not, the whole 1 rehearsal every 3 weeks is not a good idea for a band that want their set list 100% gig ready.