Band image matters

[turf3]

Well, I didn't read all eight pages so someone else may have pointed out the following scenario:

Imagine you are applying for a job. Imagine that the person interviewing you would be deeply offended by the image, behavior, and viewpoints of your two fellow band members. And imagine that that person does some digging around on Facebook etc. and comes up with pictures of you playing in that band and reads offensive comments from friends of theirs. How's that going to work out for you?

 

[ToneMonkey]

Agreeing on band attire is in bounds. Dictating social media presence is out of bounds. If their personalities make them a liability, replace them or move on. Agree with suggestion that you not friend them.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Thanks for the feedback and ideas everyone. Yeah, I know what needs to be done, and I’ll end up in a better situation for doing it. No way this could have ended well.

Feeling homesick and out of place since moving to the south, I just need to find the right crowd. Back to the search.

Pro tip, look closer to the urban centers...i live in a state just north of you, and if i am working with people in the sticks its like a 50/50 crapshoot. Even had a jazz trumpet player in my group who would spout prejudiced crap from time to time...he was a country boy through and through. The hard part was he was otherwise a great guy, but for me when you are against certain groups of people who have never done anything to you, you have a serious personality flaw and i am out. Never plan to play with him again.

 

[gjohnson441496]

 

[Frank Tuesday]

In general terms, you're either in a political band or an apolitical band. If you're in an apolitical, there can be no political messaging of any kind in any public facing material. This means if you are political on FB, you don't link it to your band page, and you set your personal page to private. No hats t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc.

As soon as any band member violates this, you're a political band, whether you want to be or not. This means that you are potentially forever associated with this political messaging. I have no problem with political bands. But they generally only work when everyone is on the same page, and want to use music as a platform for their beliefs.

In this case, there is no future for the OP in this band. It will end, and the longer you try to make it work, the worse the ending will be for you.

 

[lfmn16]

My last band we never discussed politics at rehearsals or gigs, but on Facebook my guitar player and I would bicker incessantly over politics. But not in person at rehearsals. Even with that careful separation, I got tired of it. I joined a couple "let off some steam" groups and for the last year or so, my Facebook page is all music videos and puppy memes. Now I am in two bands. One we don't talk politics, at all, ever. It's great. The other, the drummer can't say two sentences without throwing some hate at a certain politician. It started being "hmm, interesting" and now it's mildly amusing but eventually it will get tiring and annoying. I'm hoping he tires of it before too long, but I suspect I'll have to ask him to stop or learn to accept that he has that verbal tic like it's some disability.

When people I know post something offensive on my Facebook page I delete it. When they post something I don't agree with, rather than argue, I just post, "I don't think we're going to agree on this." and let it go.

 

[cchorney]

When people I know post something offensive on my Facebook page I delete it. When they post something I don't agree with, rather than argue, I just post, "I don't think we're going to agree on this." and let it go.

Now that I no longer discuss politics on Facebook (as best I can), I have embraced the "30 day snooze" feature Facebook put in for obnoxious friends who's posts you're tired of, but not so tired of as to block or unfriend. It's a nice feature.

 

[bdplaid]

I was putting together a band that had two fervent Christians in it. One night I had to stand between them to mitigate a fight.

 

[lfmn16]

Its actually tolerance and endorsement that most people confuse.

Unfortunately too many people confuse the right to have an opinion with an obligation to share that opinion. Everybody has the right to be a racist a-hole. It doesn't obligate them to share their views.

 

[bdplaid]

Unfortunately too many people confuse the right to have an opinion with an obligation to share that opinion. Everybody has the right to be a racist a-hole. It doesn't obligate them to share their views.

One does not have to be a racist to be an a-hole. As our experience in music will confirm, they come in all flavors.

My personal fave is the "Play something we can dance to" a-hole, with a tie for "Play Mustang Sally" or "Play Play that Funky Music" a-hole a close second.

 

[pie_man_25]

Politics ruins everything, I would say that some of the things you're talking about goes a bit beyond politics. I honestly wouldn't want to keep associating with guys like that - I'm pretty laid back, I've had a coffee or a beer with all kinds of people. But some attitudes i just can't jive with, partly because associating with them kinda tells them I think it's okay, and also because associating with them makes other people think I think a certain way. Both of those being unacceptable to me, especially since that's how some of these movements gain traction.

 

[MordBass]

Speaking of this, the lead singer of All That Remains is currently having public issues of the same type.

 

[matthewbrown]

You mentioned the project is a "business" so let's take a look at a recent example from the entertainment industry approaches to controversial topics.

Grammy Awards TV audience plunges, political digs a turn-off for some

...and just a few weeks later:

Invalid Link Removed

When an industry has enough power, powerful people within the industry can use their leverage to promote their politics. For most of us, pushing an agenda is not practical, IMHO.

 

[pigpen1]

Unfortunately too many people confuse the right to have an opinion with an obligation to share that opinion. Everybody has the right to be a racist a-hole. It doesn't obligate them to share their views.

I meant some people think tolerance requires endorsement. Others think you can't have tolerance without it. Neither are true.

 

[lfmn16]

One does not have to be a racist to be an a-hole. As our experience in music will confirm, they come in all flavors.

My personal fave is the "Play something we can dance to" a-hole, with a tie for "Play Mustang Sally" or "Play Play that Funky Music" a-hole a close second.

Not all a-holes are racist, but all racists are a-holes.

 

[Papalampraina]

Not all a-holes are racist, but all racists are a-holes.

Yes sir!

 

[joebar]

Religion and politics should be left out of any band situation- unless you’re U2.
I am currently playing good gigs with a duo that hired my brother and I to be sidemen.
I worry that my brother ( at some point), will shoot off his mouth about his philosophical views- his beliefs and political rants.
It’s enough that I don’t associate with him outside of playing music together.
So far, so good

 

[MordBass]

Religion and politics should be left out of any band situation- unless you’re U2.
I am currently playing good gigs with a duo that hired my brother and I to be sidemen.
I worry that my brother ( at some point), will shoot off his mouth about his philosophical views- his beliefs and political rants.
It’s enough that I don’t associate with him outside of playing music together.
So far, so good

Agreed. If youre a political band... then its totally different. Rage Against The Machine, Megadeth, etc... thats what the band was about. They had a consistent message so the members basically agreed to it when they joined.

 

[Oddly]

Now that I no longer discuss politics on Facebook (as best I can), I have embraced the "30 day snooze" feature Facebook put in for obnoxious friends who's posts you're tired of, but not so tired of as to block or unfriend. It's a nice feature.

I honestly don't understand this feature. If I dislike someone enough to 'snooze' them I'm unlikely to have changed my opinion after 30 days.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

When an industry has enough power, powerful people within the industry can use their leverage to promote their politics. For most of us, pushing an agenda is not practical, IMHO.

My point was probably unclear. The industry pushed a controversial agenda that had nothing to do with the product (music). The fans tuned out and value of ad sales plummeted. So a few weeks later, the Academy Awards is considering this outcome and is now encouraging members to "tune down" the political agenda and focus on the product (films).

It all comes down to money. Powerful organizations will push whatever they can until the money stops (e.g. YouTube advertisers revolting against placement against controversial content).