Hey...ol' Bill Dance can't believe that dude is still on TV ...been watching him since the 70's
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Band Commitment
- Thread starter bluewine
- Start date
Hey...ol' Bill Dance can't believe that dude is still on TV ...been watching him since the 70's
Unfortunately, no. We all have day jobs and lives outside of music so our level of commitment isn't always the same at all times. But we're all committed enough to maintain a set list of about 80 songs and keep showing up for gigs. At times any team is only as strong as its weakest member. So we all make sure that when we're the weakest member we're at least strong enough to support our gigs.
Be careful with that one since your band mates may feel the same about you. Unless someone died and made you King, I wouldn't go calling out other band members as long as they are committed and allowing the band to work.
There are different levels. I am a jazz guy. Most of those gigs are mix and match. I have a weird/busy work schedule so I sub for other bassists a lot. Even steady gigs people send in subs a lot. It's a part of that genre.
In bands I've been in: up front, it I'd agreed everyone's role. I am either committed, or it is understood I am a side man.
I am in an originals project now. A singer/songwriter getting his project off the ground. He has invested the time and energy to get media, legal, management, etc. backing (promotors are digging it and promoting it). Off the bat I have functioned as a band member, but all of his band are sideman types with other gigs and opportunities. That is understood. So he pays us for rehearsals and takes care of us. He considers our schedules and takes care of us. That fosters commitment. When I accept another gig more than 4 weeks out I always disclaim that I MIGHT be sending a sub to this one but I'd know in the next week. If that's ok they book me. When the money, understanding, and consideration are there from the bandleader, he gets a good group of musicians around him. Good players are hard to find and commit because they want to be available for something good that may pop up.
In bands I've been in: up front, it I'd agreed everyone's role. I am either committed, or it is understood I am a side man.
I am in an originals project now. A singer/songwriter getting his project off the ground. He has invested the time and energy to get media, legal, management, etc. backing (promotors are digging it and promoting it). Off the bat I have functioned as a band member, but all of his band are sideman types with other gigs and opportunities. That is understood. So he pays us for rehearsals and takes care of us. He considers our schedules and takes care of us. That fosters commitment. When I accept another gig more than 4 weeks out I always disclaim that I MIGHT be sending a sub to this one but I'd know in the next week. If that's ok they book me. When the money, understanding, and consideration are there from the bandleader, he gets a good group of musicians around him. Good players are hard to find and commit because they want to be available for something good that may pop up.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
One of the bands I'm playing in now has had some tension from time to time because of exactly what you posted about. And we knew this from a while back, yet because we're all mature and decent people we're keeping it together without a ton of drama.
The band is a Zep tribute. At the first sign of discord we had a meeting and discussed what was top priority for each of us. For the guitarist and drummer it's to play great shows and break even. For the singer and me, it's to make money. We played an awesome cruise boat show last summer. Was loads of fun, it was a somewhat prestigous gig... I made nothing. 0. Nada. Shortly after we managed to get a fraternity party where we got put up in the Hilton for the night, and walked away with $500 each. I'm playing a 2 hour set this saturday in a small east village bar and I'll walk out with $50. In May we're doing party where I'll get $300.
What's my point... I don't know, I got interrupted by something midpost and forgot it.
I think the point is that:
The band is a Zep tribute. At the first sign of discord we had a meeting and discussed what was top priority for each of us. For the guitarist and drummer it's to play great shows and break even. For the singer and me, it's to make money. We played an awesome cruise boat show last summer. Was loads of fun, it was a somewhat prestigous gig... I made nothing. 0. Nada. Shortly after we managed to get a fraternity party where we got put up in the Hilton for the night, and walked away with $500 each. I'm playing a 2 hour set this saturday in a small east village bar and I'll walk out with $50. In May we're doing party where I'll get $300.
What's my point... I don't know, I got interrupted by something midpost and forgot it.
I think the point is that:- It is definitely best if all people are on the same page, but not essential.
- It CAN be managed so long as everyone is mature and can communicate.
- Commitment to the band doesn't have to have anything to do with either of those elements as everyone in my zep tribute is equally committed. We all do our homework and show up, on time, when and where we're supposed to.
THIS from Mushrooo:
When I see the word "committed" in a Craigslist ad, I see that as a red flag for "this gig doesn't pay well."
__________________
...Or will never get out of the basement/ rehearsal space.
When I see the word "committed" in a Craigslist ad, I see that as a red flag for "this gig doesn't pay well."
__________________
...Or will never get out of the basement/ rehearsal space.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Not related to OP, but when I see the words "no drama" that means the guys are the biggest drama creators you can find. No drama translates to me as, "You do as I say and you don't argue. If you have any kind of conflicting thought or opinion, we're going to have problems."
Good one, Joe Nerve.
Newbies...If you have NEVER been in a band and are contemplating joining one...PLEASE READ THIS THREAD FIRST.
Newbies...If you have NEVER been in a band and are contemplating joining one...PLEASE READ THIS THREAD FIRST.
my band's goal is to write music we're proud of and play awesome shows. very simple. it's a hobby for us. When "promoters" get mad when we refuse their pay to play schemes and start telling us how we'll never "make it" if we don't presale tickets we just laugh and ask how many of the bands that are selling tickets for them are making it.
DwaynieAD
Your band is straight-up honest... you don't find that often.
By the way.. I play for free.. but I charge $$ - $$$$ to haul my equipment and help set-up break-down PA.
Your band is straight-up honest... you don't find that often.
By the way.. I play for free.. but I charge $$ - $$$$ to haul my equipment and help set-up break-down PA.
I agree somewhat. In my opinion the word commitment is generally used as a way to try to get players to stick with an otherwise undesirable band. I usually don't hear or see the word unless it's in regards to bands looking for players, usually original or start up bands.
I'm committed to my band as long as it's providing me what I want. I work, I make my contribution, but I didn't take any vows. I'm not married to it, and it's not my baby. I've been in bands where the founding members of the band viewed it like one of their children... "It can't die, I can't let it die, my baby can't die!" Well, it's not my baby, and I don't really care if it dies... that might sound selfish, but it's working for me.
I see and agree. I think the question is how committed and what is enough to some is not enough to other's.
Good topic, Blue. I think it's a question that many bands, and many musicians, struggle with if you are anywhere in a category other than "I am a full-on professional and this is all I do and I make plenty of money doing it so I don't have to do anything else" (in which case, you've already committed to it fully).
As far as being committed, some nights I feel like I need to be.
Our band has fought with this and I still wrestle with it personally. Being in a gigging band takes a HUGE commitment. Practicing, scheduling shows, meetings, making demos or recordings (did that fun little thing last night....), it all means that you have to make choices about what you want to do with your time. What you will decide is, in my opinion, directly impacted by how much you like being in a band (notice I did not say "playing music"). But in order for a gigging band to be successful, there have to be a few things; there has to be direction and a common goal that all the members share, there has to be a common expectation for quality of performance, and there has to be comparable musicianship among the members. If you have these things, and the members are mature and serious about what they are doing and have experience doing it, the commitment sort of becomes understood among the group I think.
When we have had members who were unable to provide the commitment necessary to do what we are doing and wanted to do, we handled it as a group by addressing the situation with them and asking them to be honest with us and with themselves about whether they could make the commitment. That means doing a lot of your own homework and managing your own time without being with the band at the practice space. Which can be tough when you are juggling a full time job, a family, other hobbies, and personal time. In every case, the person who was not carrying their share of the load either left or was fired. I keep in contact with all of them and to the person they are much happier without the obligation in their life because what was required was more than what they were willing to put in as far as effort.
The one thing I have learned; if you have to ask about commitment or explain it to someone.....they are either rookies (not a bad thing, we all started somewhere and made the same mistakes) or they won't make the commitment anyway. Anyone with experience doing this understands the requirements and doesn't need the explanation. And all it takes is playing with one successful gigging band to learn all you need to know about the whole commitment thing. Then there's the question you have to ask yourself about whether or not you really want to make that commitment.
As far as being committed, some nights I feel like I need to be.
Our band has fought with this and I still wrestle with it personally. Being in a gigging band takes a HUGE commitment. Practicing, scheduling shows, meetings, making demos or recordings (did that fun little thing last night....), it all means that you have to make choices about what you want to do with your time. What you will decide is, in my opinion, directly impacted by how much you like being in a band (notice I did not say "playing music"). But in order for a gigging band to be successful, there have to be a few things; there has to be direction and a common goal that all the members share, there has to be a common expectation for quality of performance, and there has to be comparable musicianship among the members. If you have these things, and the members are mature and serious about what they are doing and have experience doing it, the commitment sort of becomes understood among the group I think.
When we have had members who were unable to provide the commitment necessary to do what we are doing and wanted to do, we handled it as a group by addressing the situation with them and asking them to be honest with us and with themselves about whether they could make the commitment. That means doing a lot of your own homework and managing your own time without being with the band at the practice space. Which can be tough when you are juggling a full time job, a family, other hobbies, and personal time. In every case, the person who was not carrying their share of the load either left or was fired. I keep in contact with all of them and to the person they are much happier without the obligation in their life because what was required was more than what they were willing to put in as far as effort.
The one thing I have learned; if you have to ask about commitment or explain it to someone.....they are either rookies (not a bad thing, we all started somewhere and made the same mistakes) or they won't make the commitment anyway. Anyone with experience doing this understands the requirements and doesn't need the explanation. And all it takes is playing with one successful gigging band to learn all you need to know about the whole commitment thing. Then there's the question you have to ask yourself about whether or not you really want to make that commitment.
Plus 100 to what ChrisB2 said.
He clearly stated in a couple of sentences what I illustrated in paragraphs!
I guess I am still resenting time wasted even though it was years ago...
It was real...It was fun.... but it wasn't real fun.
He clearly stated in a couple of sentences what I illustrated in paragraphs!
I guess I am still resenting time wasted even though it was years ago...
It was real...It was fun.... but it wasn't real fun.
the only commitment i require is that people show up on time and prepared, and that if they decide to not do that they give appropriate notice. in my adult life i haven't had too much trouble w/it.
