Band image matters

[wildman2]

I'd distance myself quick from them or else you will be a target also.Can and will happen.

 

[inanimate_carb]

90% of the success of any working band is 100% public relations and public perception. Or something like that.

If these guys want to have offensive views, they have to choose between broadcasting them to everyone or being in a band for hire. They don’t mix, period. If they can’t or won’t choose, then you can choose to leave that band and find another group to play with that has normal problems like drinking too much, womanizing, or not knowing the tunes.

 

[BassUrges]

There is in my state.

Assuming you mean a US State, and assuming the law purports to criminalize mere speech, there is a 0% chance of that law surviving a serious challenge. Which is very important.

 

[Supadope]

If you leave, which I would, the time spent practicing with other musicians is not time wasted.

 

[MordBass]

I'll echo most of the others and say that in this situation, I'd quit. A band is viewed as a band and todays inter-social-politica-business ways only make it more so.

 

[Marc valero]

All you need to say is 2 words - Dixie Chicks

 

[mikewalker]

 

[trailer]

I wouldn't be seen on stage with someone who wears political propaganda period. Right or left.

 

[DavC]

i will Not deal with any fringe wingnuts on any side ... !!

sounds like i'd leave ... and probably figured that out before , but might have ignored it for the music's sake ...

But ... No Thank You ... life is to short for that crap . !

 

[slagheap]

no way i'd be caught dead playing with chumps like that.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I literally just witnessed a NC band get destroyed on fb today because the guitar player made a very extreme and hateful public political post on his personal page. A singer from another band took a screen shot of it in case he tried to delete it and shared it and they are now basically blacklisted from everything. No bands, promoters, or venues in the area will book them. People even destroyed them in the reviews on their band page saying everything from the they are terrible to they have junk gear, to flat out saying don’t book this band. There have been times when musicians could be more opinionated. Now is not the time. Part of that is there’s a bigger divide than Ever amongst extremists on both sides while the majority of people I believe would like to see both parties comeback back to the middle. Fb does have different options for people who want to talk politics. I recommend private fb groups with likeminded people. But I’ll also say the private group I’m in. I was in it and kept my mouth shut for some time observing others posts to make sure I wouldn’t alienate people before I made the choice to post stuff there. FYI if any of you and I are friends on FB. I typically let political post slide a little bit but if you’re constantly posting political stuff especially if you are sharing post that fact checks prove wrong I will at minimum unfollow you, but I may also may block you

Shirt wise I don’t know how extreme you’re talking or what type of band you’re in. For example rocking a shirt with a confederate flag is probably not a good idea If you play anything other than country, southern rock or southern metal.

 

[40Hz]

Assuming you mean a US State, and assuming the law purports to criminalize mere speech, there is a 0% chance of that law surviving a serious challenge. Which is very important.

It's a US state. And it doesn't criminalize "mere" speech. It treats certain forms of speech that are motivated by bigotry and are intended to intimidate or otherwise terrorize someone as illegal. Which simply clarifies that it is considered a form of verbal assault under already existing law.

It's held up so far.

 

[1bassleft]

View attachment 2927640​

and don't dawdle, either.

 

[JaseyT]

Oh, brother..."extremists", really?

 

[Papalampraina]

I find it really hard to believe that there are some people who are implying or saying things like "well, if the music is good and the shirts are not tooooo offensive, maybe you can keep this up".
It's not all about the effing music, folks. There is a thing called dignity and another called empathy, and so on. Kick them out of the band and make it publicly known that you kicked the racist scum out. Or leave and publicly announce that you left because those guys are Nazis.

 

[Aidenn7]

All in all you're screwed!!

 

[Bthebassplayer]

Quit the band man! Music should be there to unite people and not to divide!!! Soon music will be one off the few ways to express how people feel in this world. Better be careful what you express or say IMO......

 

[Wisebass]

kick the Nazi in the face

Yes! Never surrender!

two of the members (drummer and second guitarist) are political extremists

Political extremists? Another word for @$$holes!

Leave, or even better: Fire the drummer and leave!

Wise(b)ass

 

[DonBorelli]

Nevermind the image thing - you are playing in a band with racist idiots that use social media to promote violence.

You really need to see the bigger pictures here, man. Leave and make sure you tell them why. Anything else is not ok.

 

[Oddly]

I know what the answer is -- I'm not a good fit for this band, leave. I'm struggling with it, because I have time in, the music is coming together and I want to get back on stage. Anyone have any ideas as to how to work this out?

There is obviously no 'working this out'.
You've tried to be reasonable, asking these guys to distance their views from the band (which, frankly, is more than I'd have done. These sound like people I'd just not want in my life.)
They've refused.
Walk away.