• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

BIG BAND MEETING this Monday

#21
oldrocker said:
Think in what terms? Was this supposed to be a practice or a band meeting?
Click to expand...

We were to practice today and have meeting monday but then had to combine them. By time meeting was over drummer had not come back in time so we missed rehearsal. Just being consistent is all. Guitar player told drummer his personal plans were not his problem but fails to see that personal finances should not be the band's problem.
 
#22
Metalbasspro said:
So we actually had the meeting today when someone could not make it monday. The Results, they liked all of my ideas except the band loan issues.

While I brought this up the singer who has a loan out was cringing. I knew it would be un comfortable and I was not looking forward to it but the situation was we got paid something like 140 dollars and the singer being the man who was paid took it home and I assumed planned to declare it next time we got together but at that time he was in the hole and has like ZERO money for food. SO he needed it and declared as much to the, main guitarist. He plans to pay it back but I raised the question of time frames. Made it clear I was not comfortable with that type of thing with the singer making mention that it was never a loan just that it was an emergency. He made mention three times and I had to cut to the chase and told him I did not see the difference that to me it's a loan. But he's going to pay it back ok. I suggested it not be allowed in the future but these guys are young with what I would call an idealistic sense of fair play. They want to keep it an option. So I said I had the idea to cover this situation with what I would be comfortable with and that was a pay out of the loan amount to other members and then forgiving the original loan and start over. They asked how that would help the band. I said Oh it won't help at all. I was hoping it would be a compliance measure to ensure loans get re paid with in a reasonable time frame. But as I said that was the one thing I could not seek them on. Maybe the Second Guitarist agreed but he did not say.

Everything else is now policy.

PS and I did say that no reason why members can't borrow from other members and leave band funds out of it. You can only lead a horse to water
Click to expand...

Singer takes the entire proceeds from a gig, does not share any of it with the rest of the band and does not consider it a loan!!! Why do you think he's intending to pay it back?
 
#23
Metalbasspro said:
We were to practice today and have meeting monday but then had to combine them. By time meeting was over drummer had not come back in time so we missed rehearsal. Just being consistent is all. Guitar player told drummer his personal plans were not his problem but fails to see that personal finances should not be the band's problem.
Click to expand...

Drummer had not come back from where? He was at the meeting portion of the day?
 
#24
oldrocker said:
Singer takes the entire proceeds from a gig, does not share any of it with the rest of the band and does not consider it a loan!!! Why do you think he's intending to pay it back?
Click to expand...

I don't honestly know. He did not have the funds to cover CD production costs so main guitar player covered it for him. So far as I know that has not been paid back. I did make mention that two or three of us heard about it from him long after the fact like last week. The gig money came from a month ago.
 
#25
Metalbasspro said:
I don't honestly know. He did not have the funds to cover CD production costs so main guitar player covered it for him. So far as I know that has not been paid back. I did make mention that two or three of us heard about it from him long after the fact like last week. The gig money came from a month ago.
Click to expand...

Ok, glad you got that all straightened out. ;)
 
#26
oldrocker said:
Drummer had not come back from where? He was at the meeting portion of the day?
Click to expand...

Well since drummer had made prior commitments, his girlfriend owns a car but is not yet licensed to drive and his car got wasted by a bad awl mart oil change where they only put in a court or two and when the oil burned off his motor sized and the thing was a loss. So if she needs to do something he needs to drive. He said he's be back but by 5 PM when the next band comes in that Main Guitar player and drummer are involved with came in our time was done.

I should have suggested that the other band's practice be cancelled because they have no gigs but then I left and have no idea if the drummer ever came back in time for even that practice session.

Something else I have noticed is these guys want to go to the next level but are not willing to put in any more time. Because three of us work nights, and one of them 40 miles away Sunday is the only day to practice. I have suggested some added Saturday's but I have heard "it's my only day to relax" and other excuses. This monday practice was a one time deal related to being off for the show in Oregon we had to cancel and then that got cancelled too.
 
#30
Metalbasspro said:
Yes, the story is, I messaged a known slimy promotor about getting on one of his music fests and he messaged back diverting me to a show that went down last tuesday. It was opening for a national act and he offered us the spot for 250.00 dollars. I knew right away that the fee just so happens to be the venue fee you get charged if you do not bring in a minimum of 35 people. Right away knowing we had 900 in band funds and shows coming up that would require expenses from that fund I was not in favor of it. I could have said no on behalf of the band and saved us from disaster but it's not my decision so I brought it to the band. The main guitar player told me in private I should post the gig for band consideration but the he was going to vote no.

By time I got back from work the drummer had talked him into it. We were given 300 dollars worth of tickets that I predicted we would not sell more then ten of. As it turned out we sold 7. While I was against the show I did at least think this national act would draw some people we would not otherwise be exposed to.

Boy was that wrong. Two of the bands coming in, one on tour and a regional band of some popularity cancelled, one due to slimy promotor the other to medical issues leaving just us and the main act. And we were not in most of the promotional materials until a last night radio spot add.

This was a co show by two promotors I guess behind the scenes things were getting heated and us being charged to play was one of the last straws the out of town promotor was told not to show up or he was going to be punched in the mouth so we never saw him.

There was at best 40 people there with maybe 55 total from bands and road crew. The band did learn from it, NO More pay to play on a week night or any night unless it's like a really big band. And since really big bands do not go there it won't be an issue.
Click to expand...
Talk about learning the hard way. Man I feel for you, trying to bring other people's kids up to speed on the harsh realities of life using a band as the teaching tool. Bugger that for a joke.

If I was you I think I would be declaring Marshall law on them.
 
#32
lfmn16 said:
I have a deal with the local banks. They don’t play clubs and I don’t lend money. I bet the guy that doesn’t have money for food has money for one or more of the following - drugs, booze, cigarettes.

There is no future in playing with losers.
Click to expand...

That's true plus video games but that's none of my business. He is being interviewed for a high paying position, maybe he will get that and be ok.
 
#34
lfmn16 said:
I have a deal with the local banks. They don’t play clubs and I don’t lend money. I bet the guy that doesn’t have money for food has money for one or more of the following - drugs, booze, cigarettes.

There is no future in playing with losers.
Click to expand...

These were my thoughts exactly.
You (The OP) say they want to get to the next level but then they say things like "I need my space" and "It's my only day to relax." They aren't looking to get to the next level. They have the dream but not the drive.
Too many red flags...this thing is heading for a train wreck, IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: instrumentalist and lfmn16
#40
@Metalbasspro - I just took a quick scan through your list of policies. They cover a lot of territory and I think many of these may take longer than one band meeting to figure out. Sounds like the band doesn't have a clear mission. Or maybe you do have a clear mission and the logistics are killing you.

My question for you is: what kinds of problems are you trying to solve? Sounds like a lot of effort vs reward type things causing issues??

Might take a bit longer, but maybe use your time in a band meeting to prioritize the issues/problems and start by tackling the higher priority ones first? E.g., the money out the door issues for gear/vehicle maintenance. To me it sounds like you guys aren't making enough to really cover that kind of thing - why is each band member not responsible for their own care and maintenance of their own gear and vehicle?

For inter-band comms/coordination, try something like Slack instead of Facebook.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back