Wow, that was really bad.

Stinsok · #1 02-20-2011, 08:39 PM

I met with a band this evening. They are looking for a replacment for a member that is leaving in a few months. I figured it could be a project while my band isn't doing much. I haven't heard them, but they work all the freakin' time! It turns out they cannot play or sing. I'm not saying that like I am a super great musician, it's just plain awful.

It was the longest and most painful musical experience ever. I am stumped as to how they get gigs!

Lazylion · #2 02-20-2011, 09:07 PM

They probably have a lot of friends that like to go out and drink a lot. IME that is usually the answer to this question.

electracoyote · #3 02-20-2011, 09:13 PM

Your area must be hurting for good bands.

Depth_Charge · #4 02-20-2011, 10:45 PM

The classic rock cover band I played with last year felt the same. You can hear them on my Myspace page. The vocals were pretty awful and the guitarist made too many mistakes for my liking (and drank too much). I took the gig because the band had consistent work lined up, paid well, and I thought I needed the experience.

They mainly did country gigs and the band leader was happy with that. He kept telling me they were really popular in the country venues they were playing however the turnouts and 'word on the street' told me different. In the end, I worked out we were the band the agents called when they couldn't book better. Good money though, but a bad hang in the end...my resentment for wanting better grew and grew until I dreaded showing up to gigs (we didn't rehearse, but I would have dreaded that too in the end!).

If you do choose to take the gig, best of luck with it and I hope you have success in improving them if possible!

Stinsok · #5 02-21-2011, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

Your area must be hurting for good bands.

No, that's not it! There are two guitars in the band. Neither one can kick a song off or play solos (yet they both have half stack amps.) It's at a beginner level but they are in their 40's.

drdunwoody · #6 02-21-2011, 06:08 AM

Sounds like you would find playing in the band a frustration. LEAVE before its too late. I play as a hobby and for fun. I want to play good music and would play good music with bad pay over bad music with good pay (I think). Are you already "in"?

Stinsok · #7 02-21-2011, 07:23 AM

No, not in. I have a couple of excuses for not doing it. They told me after the first song "you got the job!" After the first song I was thinking "oh, God!"

TWolf · #8 02-21-2011, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinsok

No, that's not it! There are two guitars in the band. Neither one can kick a song off or play solos (yet they both have half stack amps.) It's at a beginner level but they are in their 40's.

Don't hold the fact that they have halfstacks against them. It just means they have a little money to afford decent equipment and are committed enough to spend it on their music. As far as being in their 40's...gotta start somewhere.

steveksux · #9 02-21-2011, 11:02 AM

Sometimes the band connects with the crowd even when they sound awful. Its the entertainment business, not the music business. I've seem horrible bands working steady.

Sometimes a band is so bad only 1% of the people that hear them will like them. If they work hard, keep at it, sooner or later they're exposed to enough people.... 1% of 10,000 people is enough to pack a bar on a regular basis, and there you go!

Randy

MNAirHead · #10 02-21-2011, 12:49 PM

Why?

Like I've probably offended TBers many times..

In reality this isn't about music.. it's about attracting fans and selling.. they probably spend more effort selling beer and gigs that dorking around with Modes they'll never use.

Heck.. they could move on stage, smile and help their guests have fun.

Stinsok · #11 02-21-2011, 12:55 PM

If they had a youtube video, they would probably be famous.

paganjack · #12 02-21-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinsok

No, not in. I have a couple of excuses for not doing it. They told me after the first song "you got the job!" After the first song I was thinking "oh, God!"

Those make for the best/worst auditions! Your next thoughts were probably about how to phrase your exit so as to never hear from them again without generating animosity. Am I right?

Stinsok · #13 02-21-2011, 04:16 PM

You got it. My work schedule being the first, my primary band/being able to balance everything without making anyone suffer is my backup.

McSollis · #14 02-21-2011, 04:50 PM

I definitely know you feel.

I'm not the greatest musician or anything, but Ive been in auditions where I could tell the band wasn't going anywhere...

I once played with some guys who were all really great players, but together they could not write anything or even get in sync with each other.

I tried just sitting back and letting them do their thing (since i was the new guy) and i also tried helping out with the writing process. but after a month of driving to practices and we still didn't have a whole song to play through.. I knew I was just wasting my time.

On the other hand, I have been playing with my main band for 3 years now and we still haven't had a gig.

They are all great musicians, AND we write awesome music together.
But we cannot find a decent vocalist no matter where we look!! Its really frustrating because These guys are like brothers to me and I love playing with them, but its not going anywhere for lack of a singer!

Depth_Charge · #15 02-21-2011, 06:19 PM

Surely in 3 years one of you could learn to sing well enough to play shows? I started learning to sing for the same reason and although I don't like it I'm starting to get good enough to get by. Its not where I want to be, or where I want my band to be, but it gets our foot in the door while we look for a singer.

McSollis · #16 02-21-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Depth_Charge

Surely in 3 years one of you could learn to sing well enough to play shows? I started learning to sing for the same reason and although I don't like it I'm starting to get good enough to get by. Its not where I want to be, or where I want my band to be, but it gets our foot in the door while we look for a singer.

Thats exactly the idea I have had here recently.. but i know two of the guys couldn't do it
I have thought about trying to do it myself.. but Im too much of a perfectionist to put my voice out there knowing that its not that good haha.. but maybe I'll give it ago sometime, even though I really feel like our music deserves good strong vocals.

check it out if you'd like, myspace.com/inhonormusic

what did you use to help you "learn to sing"? just practice I guess?

Depth_Charge · #17 02-21-2011, 08:18 PM

I did start by just doing it but now I am taking weekly lessons, which has really helped me improve!

Richland123 · #18 02-22-2011, 10:00 AM

A few years ago, I was need of some money and am well known to do fill in work with other bands if my band is not working. A local oldies band that had a quite a few gigs booked needed me to do a handful of gigs with them. I agreed since I knew most of the tunes and there was no rehearsal involved and I know the people in the band. I knew they were not very good but they ended up being excruiatingly bad. Terrible vocals and playing but they did thank me and paid me and I graciously said I was glad to help them out but never told them they were good. I did the gigs solely as a hired hand. You can do that just to make some money and play as well.

jnuts1 · #19 02-22-2011, 11:08 AM

Rich, I played with a band last week with the worst drummer i have ever played with. every time he did a roll or a fill of any type or length the "one" would be in a completely different place. i have never experienced anything like it. Now they want me to play next monday & while i like getting paid i don't know if i can endure that again. how do you do it & not feel like you are making a fool of yourself? i doubt ANYONE would call me if they saw that & that is usually how i get pick up gigs.

Richland123 · #20 02-22-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnuts1

Rich, I played with a band last week with the worst drummer i have ever played with. every time he did a roll or a fill of any type or length the "one" would be in a completely different place. i have never experienced anything like it. Now they want me to play next monday & while i like getting paid i don't know if i can endure that again. how do you do it & not feel like you are making a fool of yourself? i doubt ANYONE would call me if they saw that & that is usually how i get pick up gigs.

The worst thing for a "fill in" bass player is to work with a sloppy drummer. Believe me, I have had way more than my share. If you really feel that uncomfortable to play with the band again, politely decline the offer. However, if you do the gig, ask the drummer if you and he can work through some tunes before the show to help tighten up the band because you are filling in and want to do a good job for them. If other musicians show up to potentially hire you for work, just make it clear that you are the "hired hand" for the night and that way they can't hold the drummer's bad playing against you. Good luck!