I have no problem working on songs to get them right. We worked on one song for almost half the practice and we practice for 3 hours. The singer and BL/guitarist kept debating on the structure of the song. Guess what happened the next week? The same thing happened. Also I get the feeling that he never wanted me in this band.
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Controlling band leader
- Thread starter Twobass
- Start date
I have no problem working on songs to get them right. We worked on one song for almost half the practice and we practice for 3 hours. The singer and BL/guitarist kept debating on the structure of the song. Guess what happened the next week? The same thing happened. Also I get the feeling that he never wanted me in this band.
Something that remains unspoken in this thread is the musical ability of the bandleader. The music will never be better than the quality of their compositions and their basic musical chops.
This is a case where you could let them work on their tunes in a smaller group, and then pull you in once they are within striking range of a paid gig.
This is a case where you could let them work on their tunes in a smaller group, and then pull you in once they are within striking range of a paid gig.
He's an average guitar player and a below than average singer. He is good about putting dynamics in the songs, so much that he can't remember what he put in.
We practice at his place, so if we get rid of him it's time to find a new place to practice.
This indicates a major lack of focus on their parts. Lack of focus is not good for a BL.
Perhaps this lack of focus is associated with the pot smoking.
If the rest of the band wants you in, but the BL doesn't, then that will be a point of constant friction/contention within the band.
Uh, no, the best way is for each member to practice their parts at home and show up prepared for rehearsal.
It's a waste of rehearsal time and not fair to those who have done their homework.
If a member is consistently making mistakes and holding the band back, they should be told.
If nothing else, it's just plain disrespectful to those who have actually bothered to do their jobs!!!
Pick up that can...and carry my gear in while you are at it..
Play in enough bands and you will run into plenty of people like that. Had a LGP a few years ago who did that all the time...it turned what should have been a 3 hour rehearsal into a 5 hour ordeal.
Ultimately, it comes down to how much you want to play.
20 years ago I had a strong desire to play, so put up with alot of ******** such as you are describing.
Today ? No thanks..If someone wants to play a part 5 or 6 different times until it is just exactly perfect because they did not do their homework, I'll put my bass down and go surf the web while they do that.
As far as "play a gig, see how it goes"...I think thats a piss poor way of doing things, but is not entirely unreasonable, there have been people that I have played with in the past that were not vetted enough and it only became apparent at the gig.
Really isn't a bad idea, but I can't imagine anyone getting anybody in any band to pay a fine..
Now...withholding beer for not knowing your parts is another thing.
Other than telling people who don't know their parts not to bother coming back, I just don't think there is an easy solution.
In bands past I've tried to keep things on track by trying to get people to communicate prior to practice/rehearsal about which songs we should go over, or at least talked about playing last time...
Never really got it to work and what usually happens is guitar player and singer will have talked beforehand and decided what they wanted to play that week, and 9 times out of 10 it would be stuff I had never heard before...
great advice. I just used this rational and it feels good to have made this decision.
I show up to rehearsal always knowing my part and ready to play. That said, I would never join a band with a "fine" system.
