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I prefer the back seat both metaphorically and literally. I'm the type who calls reverse shotgun. Let someone else worry about the navigation! 
Been in both ballparks. Mostly I write my own parts if it is original material. As long as it benefits the songs it's cool. A cool bonus if they use songs I have written.
Depends on the gig and if the songs are already finished. I find it a bit stupid if they ask me to play something else when it's already been recorded.
But I have to say it is more fun grooving and playing in the pocket.
Depends on the gig and if the songs are already finished. I find it a bit stupid if they ask me to play something else when it's already been recorded.
But I have to say it is more fun grooving and playing in the pocket.
I am not content, right now, to be in the back seat for most gigs. The reason is solely because of my time. I work full time, go to school (have been a student for 5 years in a demanding program) and have a disabled son, as well as small business interests and consulting work outside of my full time job.
I like being the BL because of the freedom it gives me to pace myself as needed, as well as the opportunity to bring ideas to life that would not be possible if I am a side man. It also keeps me in control of how much time I spend in rehearsal orienting new players. But I like a few gigs here and there during non-busy periods that just fall in my lap from musicians I work with.
I can see myself being a sideman after I get bored of being a BL. Part of me often wishes I could just sit and practice new tunes and expand my skills like most of the other guys do in the bands I have been working with lately. It would be so nice to just show up and get paid.
But not for now. I guess if I've lasted 5 years of intensive band leadership, it's a good fit for me.
I like being the BL because of the freedom it gives me to pace myself as needed, as well as the opportunity to bring ideas to life that would not be possible if I am a side man. It also keeps me in control of how much time I spend in rehearsal orienting new players. But I like a few gigs here and there during non-busy periods that just fall in my lap from musicians I work with.
I can see myself being a sideman after I get bored of being a BL. Part of me often wishes I could just sit and practice new tunes and expand my skills like most of the other guys do in the bands I have been working with lately. It would be so nice to just show up and get paid.
But not for now. I guess if I've lasted 5 years of intensive band leadership, it's a good fit for me.
Right now, I am assuming a sort of "co-leader" role in my current band. Our guitarist quit last weekend, he wanted to do a different genre so he felt it was time to move on. The drummer, 48 hours later, tells us that he's not having fun playing music anymore, he feels that his anxiety is too much to bear during gigs, and feels this is a good time to leave, so he quits. That just leaves me and the vocalist. As the vocalist is fairly new to bands (this is her first band) I am stepping up to help get new musicians in for auditions, as well as get songs to prospects to learn, and so on. As the last one to join the band, I left a lot of that up to everyone else, so now it's my turn.
A minor update regarding my situation.
My brother came over and the two of us worked on his stuff some more. It was effortless. I can't claim to be entirely in the back seat since we do discuss the arrangement of the tunes, tempo's, dynamics etc but it's relaxing to let him take the lead on his music and it works very well for us.
It was nice not having to worry about which songs the the previous singer liked or didn't like, which covers he wanted to add, etc. My wife is a great singer and we're looking forward to having her in the next practice.
Lastly, I took my own advice and approached a drummer friend of mine. I explained that it was my brother's show and we'd be following his lead. Being a busy guy who's a good drummer without alot of time, but still looking for a musical outlet, he thought this was a good idea. We should be practicing late next month.
Moral of the story so far: The backseat can be fine if everyone knows who the driver is.
My brother came over and the two of us worked on his stuff some more. It was effortless. I can't claim to be entirely in the back seat since we do discuss the arrangement of the tunes, tempo's, dynamics etc but it's relaxing to let him take the lead on his music and it works very well for us.
It was nice not having to worry about which songs the the previous singer liked or didn't like, which covers he wanted to add, etc. My wife is a great singer and we're looking forward to having her in the next practice.
Lastly, I took my own advice and approached a drummer friend of mine. I explained that it was my brother's show and we'd be following his lead. Being a busy guy who's a good drummer without alot of time, but still looking for a musical outlet, he thought this was a good idea. We should be practicing late next month.
Moral of the story so far: The backseat can be fine if everyone knows who the driver is.
