Would you join a band named after the lead singer?

[deepBassie]

IMO it's a bit childish to jack your name above the rest of your mates even if you are a rock god. However, if the person is "all that and more" then I wouldn't let something like a stupid band name keep me from enjoying the ride.

[millsbass5]

Not if he's a no-talent wannabe. Hell no.

[jazzbill]

The band I Joined had been going for a couple of years already. The guy who's name is up front is well known as a popular DJ on a local radio station. Promotes and books the band, writes the songs, etc. In the last year we've played three festivals, opened club dates for six national or regional name acts, played for events for four cities and one for the state, in addition to frequent bar gigs, and, recorded a cd that is getting radio airplay on several stations in the region. I'm perfectly happy playing in a band with the "star"s name on top.

[LiquidMidnight]

The issue's not so much with the front's name being on the bill, but rather, the relationship between members. I play in a project named Bandleader Name & Backing Band Name. But I'm paid as a sideman. I get a guaranteed minimum for every gig. The BL handles booking, travel, owning the PA, picking songs, etc. Even so, I still end up signing drum sticks, CD covers, posters (and women's bodies), and posing for pictures with fans.

With the OP's situation, it sounds like the BL wants the perks of being a solo performer with a backing band but doesn't want to take the financial risk of being a solo performer. It's like naming your company Your Name Enterprises, and then asking the custodian, secretaries, and sales people to pay your light bill. I'm not down with that.

If Tom Petty called me up and wanted to know if I'd like to join The Heartbreakers, I wouldn't balk at his name getting first billing.

[LiquidMidnight]

Oh, I forgot to mention an interesting anecdote here. Where I'm from, there's a really good blues/classic rock three-piece that's pretty much an institution on local stages. They've had the same lineup for like 15 years now. The front guy is your archetypical bad ass guitar ace. A lot of times they're billed as Front Man's Name and Band's Name. However, that's just something that club owners started doing years ago, because they thought it would create a bigger draw. They are officially just a band name with no individual's name in front. None of their promo material or recorded material has the front person's name in the band name.

Ahh club owners and promoters: They have some funny ideas about pumping gigs. My favorite is when a band from out of state or from a big city is coming in and the club will make a big deal about that...as if sucky bands don't exist in other geographic areas. But that's a tangent for another time.

[Raymeous]

I guess it comes down to: are you in the band or are you simply the hired gun?

If you're in the band then you pay your share for rehearsal space, studio time, and t-shirts, but you also get a say in how and what you play.

If you're a hired gun then you do what the BL says. The key part is "hired" i.e. YOU get paid by HER, not the bartender. Get EVERYTHING in writing just like in any job. What are you hired to do? Are you expected to do more than play bass like doing promotions? What's the paycheck breakdown between your work as bass guy and advertising guy? Just cover your butt and be very specific in your contract negotiations.

Would I join a band with the singers name? Sure but it would take some specific arrangements to make it worth while. In any band with somebodies name on it, it essentially makes everyone else replaceable.

[MNAirHead]

90% of my work has been backing people.

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IT may be YOU that's not ready for this.... not busting on you -- just a strange spot to be in.

Being a sideman basically means you have to "brand" yourself... you have to make it known your attention is up for grabs/auction.

I've been amically replaced at a minute's notice... I've booked gigs then given them to other front people... I've let leaders know I have a better paying gig.

Basically if it's a mutual understanding, then it goes much farther...

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IF you're a side guy... you should have a logo, website, biz cards, online calendar etc....

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The warning signal is paying to be her side guy... this normally means she only is taking partial responsibility.

[jazzbo58]

I play in a band named after the Singer/Guitarist. We have no problems. The man is extremely humble and ask for our input constantly. It's a great situation.

Cheers,
Jim

[vlado]

I don't see that as a problem. Unless something else becomes an issue I cannot see that as an obstacle to a good, professional relationship. And I'd love to play with Sade!

[Hilton Marsh]

Only if his name was Free Beer

[Got2SadowskyNYC]

I did. Made good money at, traveled all over the US and Canada and picked up quite a few endorsements. That's the nature of the business.

I never "kicked in" for the rehearsals. In fact, I got paid even when the artist lost money on the gig.

[TOOL460002]

I would. Just legally change your name and you're good to go. Problem solved.

Actually, unless that person writes pretty much everything and you are basically just a backing band, then I wouldn't do it. There's gotta be some some kind of ego issues lurking. That's a good indicator that the band isn't for you.

Now, if that gig payed wheel, or got some sweet gigs, I might reconsider. Feel him out.

[mellowinman]

Originally Posted by Joebarnes

Thank you all for the forthright advice. For those of you who advised me to attend a few rehearsals; I attended the first one last night. Walked in to find lead guitarist playing through a Blues Jr. and a small extension cab and the vocalist/guitarist playing through a smaller Line 6; so no wall of noise or anything stupid like that.

Someone asked the vocalist's age; Mid 30's I would say. They gave me 3 songs to rehearse prior to the rehearsal. After we ran through those, they started in on some of the originals, and I was able to pick up the changes pretty quickly.

The drummer is one of the better ones I've played with; and we seemed to lock in right away.

Their goal is to get out and gig quickly, so that is in line with my goals. Several times they commented it was nice to play with a Bass player who didn't keep winding up their volume (And I thought it was only guitarists who did that )

I received several compliments throughout the night about my playing and they offered me the job at the end of the night (I know, a possible red flag, but based on the conversation throughout the night, I get the impression it is more they have gone through a lot of players who didn't mesh well).

So; Moral of the story at this point is I am going to ride this train a little bit and see how it goes. I am supposed to jam with the other group and see how that goes; but based upon that initial experience, a lot of my trepidation has washed away. Now I just have to work on that name.

Cool. I hope this works out well for you.

[Rockford]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

This is very common. I've worked with two such artists over the past couple of years. They spent a bundle on getting into a prime recording studio in some place like Los Angeles or Nashville, hired a producer with a proven track record for producing hits, hired the best session men available that they could afford, made what sounds like a polished major label recording, and spent a ton of money. But now they are faced with the task of promoting their brand and their product. Enter: Local musicians on a shoestring budget.

I can understand someone having an aversion to this, because the reality is, as soon as the artists get their big break and another big investment, the first thing they are going to do when they hit the road and widen their circle beyond their region is to hire better, more experienced musicians. But, you could be just good and just lucky enough to make the cut. Remember: It might not be the artist's sole decision whether you stay or go. Investors, managers, and producers could also have their say in the matter.

At the very least, it is good experience, if that matters to you. You meet people who are really sacrificing and trying to make a living at this.

I'm in that situation now where our aspiring artist wants to make it big, so she made some very good, highly professional recordings in Nashville. A few years back one of her songs actually made the Nashville charts but, unfortunately, her latest efforts fell short. Those of us who play with her locally are very good but we are not Nashville studio musicians and know where we are on the food chain. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to know where she is in the scheme of things. These studios often pump up their potential customers (artists they "sign" ; ) ) with dreams of success so they will pay for the studio time. Ultimately they get a nice finished product that goes nowhere because the studio is off "signing" new artists to fleece. Still, we enjoy playing the local bars and venues, but harbor no illusions about making the big time along with her in the (unlikely) chance that happens. It's kind of painful to watch the disappointment but that's the norm with folks desperately seeking the big time.

[4dog]

You already have a burr about joining or you wouldnt have posted about it,,, so if you feel iffy now,, any problems after joining will affirm the issues you have now and intensify them,, so start a new band with the guitarists so you can have no expectations other than fun.

[StrangerDanger]

Originally Posted by Oracle

seems like it is HER band and SHE is looking for a bass player, if that the case then I will ask for gigs and rehearsals to be paid, no paid? then I will hook up with the other musicians and try to start a band.

This.

If she wants hired guns then hired guns need to be paid not doing the paying.

[Hobobob]

If the band is named after somebody, I'm getting paid. I'm not making the mistake of not sticking to this ever again. Last time I was in one of these bands, I was dropped from the band and replaced (along with some other members) with no warning whatsoever, after I had helped this dude write and arrange many of his songs. Everyone was under the impression that it was a group effort, with group rewards. Everyone, that is, except this dude. A few months later, he called me to ask me back to the band. Apparently his new band all quit on him . I told him my rate, he got really disappointed, and never called me back.

[Rockford]

Originally Posted by 4dog

You already have a burr about joining or you wouldnt have posted about it,,, so if you feel iffy now,, any problems after joining will affirm the issues you have now and intensify them,, so start a new band with the guitarists so you can have no expectations other than fun.

We're way past that. All of us play around town in other groups and have other careers that are a priority. Even if something bigger was to happen we couldn't go with it. Just adding my experience to this, apparently commonplace situation, to the mix.

[invader3k]

Our current band has the lead singer/guitarist's first name in it. We're a cover band and I tend to handle most of the bookings. I find it makes our name more memorable. That's it.