Show boaters

Jazzman23 · #1 07-31-2006, 08:04 PM

Dont you find a showboater in your band annoying?

My band's drummer is getting a little bit too big for his britches I think. During jams he does endless fills (offbeat, weird timing, fills no less), and whenever the other 3 of us are trying to discuss something, he'll just keep rocking out as if we're not even there. Technically, he's amazing, but for the good of the band he needs to learn his place! Lots of times he doesnt even play what we tell him to (we dont even do that that often).

Its a shame cause he's so much younger than us and a real nice guy, but we're gonna have to shut him down a little.

Anyone else have problem with a showboater in the band? How did you deal with it?

bassist286 · #2 07-31-2006, 11:08 PM

my drummer does that all the time! we have learned to just ignore him. also when disscussing things you could just give every one a mic. thats what we do or just tell him to shut the hell up we do that too. hehe good luck!

Dkerwood · #3 08-01-2006, 08:52 AM

He'll mature as he gets older, but you can help him to become a better musician more quickly by not being shy about your expectations. Help him to learn to differentiate what vocabulary is appropriate for different styles by telling him.

Will he take offense? Perhaps. He likely believes that he has arrived at the end of the musicianship journey, and he may be frustrated to discover that all he has done so far is pack his bags and stepped out the front door... I've had a few students like that - and opening their eyes is sometimes very painful. But the end result will be that he figures out his place within a group, which he will soon realize is a priceless lesson.

Furthermore, don't put up with him playing while you are talking. On the other hand, make sure that when you do stop DURING REHEARSAL to talk, it's relevant to the task at hand. If you're just talking about a football game or something that he doesn't particularly care about, I don't blame him for doing something that is important to him.

Bottom line - communicate your expectations to him. It can only help the situation.

Atoz · #4 08-01-2006, 08:59 AM

Our lead guitarist thinks he's Neil Young, and that every song needs a 6 minute guitar solo.

Last week, he got mad and went all Jordan on us; referring to the rest of us as his "supporting cast."

He's normally a pretty well-grounded guy, so that came as somewhat of a surprise.

chaosMK · #5 08-01-2006, 10:04 AM

Kick him side the head.

Well, talk to him about his "problem" and write some songs where he can get it all out.

invader3k · #6 08-01-2006, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atoz

Our lead guitarist thinks he's Neil Young, and that every song needs a 6 minute guitar solo.

Last week, he got mad and went all Jordan on us; referring to the rest of us as his "supporting cast."

He's normally a pretty well-grounded guy, so that came as somewhat of a surprise.

So, did you kick him out yet?

We used to have a lead guitarist like that. He lasted about two months in our band.

**cheezewiz** · #7 08-01-2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkerwood

He'll mature as he gets older, but you can help him to become a better musician more quickly by not being shy about your expectations. Help him to learn to differentiate what vocabulary is appropriate for different styles by telling him.

Will he take offense? Perhaps. He likely believes that he has arrived at the end of the musicianship journey, and he may be frustrated to discover that all he has done so far is pack his bags and stepped out the front door... I've had a few students like that - and opening their eyes is sometimes very painful. But the end result will be that he figures out his place within a group, which he will soon realize is a priceless lesson.

Furthermore, don't put up with him playing while you are talking. On the other hand, make sure that when you do stop DURING REHEARSAL to talk, it's relevant to the task at hand. If you're just talking about a football game or something that he doesn't particularly care about, I don't blame him for doing something that is important to him.

Bottom line - communicate your expectations to him. It can only help the situation.

+1, although I also agree with the "kick him in the head" suggestion.

Atoz · #8 08-01-2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by invader3k

So, did you kick him out yet?

We used to have a lead guitarist like that. He lasted about two months in our band.

No, the "supporting cast" comment was the first time he's said anything even remotely like that in the 9 months the band's been together. Up until then, he's been more or less a model citizen, except for us having to reel in his "showboating" tendencies from time to time. We are however, watching him closely, since a comment of this type may have a more significant meaning than just a simple blow-up over song interpretation.

invader3k · #9 08-01-2006, 02:44 PM

Well, maybe he was just having a bad day.

You should sit down and talk with him, as a whole band. Explain your issues you're all having with his playing. Do it in a non-confrontational way. Just explain that he needs to reign in his wild soloing, etc.

If it keeps happening, then you boot him.

Baryonyx · #10 08-02-2006, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atoz

Our lead guitarist thinks he's Neil Young, and that every song needs a 6 minute guitar solo.

Last week, he got mad and went all Jordan on us; referring to the rest of us as his "supporting cast."

He's normally a pretty well-grounded guy, so that came as somewhat of a surprise.

Supporting cast? What a cheek! If someone said something like that to me, they'd need a cast alright, but one for a broken leg arm rather than an "acting" realted one!

Max · #11 08-02-2006, 10:14 AM

We are in the process of kicking out our showboater, and it has been ugly. He's being a little bit like Bill Murray in What About Bob.

I have heard that band break ups are as trying as couples breaking up and that is proving to be true.

I also have the following universal truth to add to the things I have learned about bands.

If two band members fight, while both are wrong, other band members will side with the band member who is the lesser a**hole.

Atoz · #12 08-03-2006, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkerwood

He'll mature as he gets older, but you can help him to become a better musician more quickly by not being shy about your expectations. Help him to learn to differentiate what vocabulary is appropriate for different styles by telling him.

Will he take offense? Perhaps. He likely believes that he has arrived at the end of the musicianship journey, and he may be frustrated to discover that all he has done so far is pack his bags and stepped out the front door... I've had a few students like that - and opening their eyes is sometimes very painful. But the end result will be that he figures out his place within a group, which he will soon realize is a priceless lesson.

Furthermore, don't put up with him playing while you are talking. On the other hand, make sure that when you do stop DURING REHEARSAL to talk, it's relevant to the task at hand. If you're just talking about a football game or something that he doesn't particularly care about, I don't blame him for doing something that is important to him.

Bottom line - communicate your expectations to him. It can only help the situation.

Well stated. A special +1 to the part about staying on topic at practice, and keeping the extraneous talk to a minimum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris2112

Supporting cast? What a cheek! If someone said something like that to me, they'd need a cast alright, but one for a broken leg arm rather than an "acting" realted one!

In the last 24 hours, our offending guitarist has called each band member individually to apologize for his outburst. During these calls he has revealed certain things (to remain confidential) to us which to some degree explain (but do not completely justify) what he said. We are all over 40 and have known each other quite a long time, so we have decided as a group to forgive him and that the matter is closed.

73jbass · #13 08-03-2006, 03:37 AM

Drummers mature as they get older? I didn't think that was possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkerwood

He'll mature as he gets older, but you can help him to become a better musician more quickly by not being shy about your expectations. Help him to learn to differentiate what vocabulary is appropriate for different styles by telling him.

Will he take offense? Perhaps. He likely believes that he has arrived at the end of the musicianship journey, and he may be frustrated to discover that all he has done so far is pack his bags and stepped out the front door... I've had a few students like that - and opening their eyes is sometimes very painful. But the end result will be that he figures out his place within a group, which he will soon realize is a priceless lesson.

Furthermore, don't put up with him playing while you are talking. On the other hand, make sure that when you do stop DURING REHEARSAL to talk, it's relevant to the task at hand. If you're just talking about a football game or something that he doesn't particularly care about, I don't blame him for doing something that is important to him.

Bottom line - communicate your expectations to him. It can only help the situation.

jonpeck · #14 08-03-2006, 06:02 AM

Yer just have a quick word with him a explain just to turn it down a little.The only problem with drummers there arnt many of them or good ones there rare.
Guitar players on the other hand are common.I fell out with my friend/guitarist as he has this thing of every song has to have a solo,he doesnt learn anything for our band me and the drummer teach him it,he is narrow minded(guns and roses rock and slash best guitar player EVER) and tells us what to play and has a go at us when we complain.Best one is turn your bass amp down coz the neighbours will hear you coz bass can be heard miles off.
He now knows he can be replaced and now stays quite

Dkerwood · #15 08-03-2006, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73jbass

Drummers mature as they get older? I didn't think that was possible.

Percussionist Maturity Flowchart

Drummer = Infantile
Good/Solid Drummer = Juvenile
Musician = Mature

Disco_Gee · #16 08-04-2006, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atoz

Our lead guitarist thinks he's Neil Young, and that every song needs a 6 minute guitar solo.

Last week, he got mad and went all Jordan on us; referring to the rest of us as his "supporting cast."

He's normally a pretty well-grounded guy, so that came as somewhat of a surprise.

The 90's Bulls really were Jordan's supporting cast. It was obvious by the way they played when he wasn't there.

(I'm sorry, but I had to say it

)

NickyBass · #17 08-04-2006, 08:18 AM

One thing that I cannot stand is noodle-ing between songs during rehearsal. It gets me crazy. Time is so valuable and to be in a serious band, and work a day job, and all the other time burgalers, is stressful enough. Sometimes you can only rehearse once a week for a few hours. That time is for rehearsing. We can talk about the kids or the girlfriend or whatever before and afterward or all during the week. Back to the original question; I played in many bands and there were alot of egos. Life is too short to deal with this. We're all there to say something musically. When it starts to be self-indulgent, the music suffers, and so does the attitude of the band. Now, I'm very selective about who I play with, and try to determine up front if it's going to be a good or bad expierience.