Define “Band”.

[bluewine]

I wish I'd have worded the OP differently, as it sound like I'm being negative, or trying to dis guys getting together to jam.

Actually, jamming with buddies is far more enjoyable to me than the band with which I play out.

I guess I dissed jaming too, but I am frustrated and dissing everything these days.

 

[bluewine]

Band and hobby band is kind of backwards from how we always looked at it.

Any group of people "Banding" together to do anything is a band. Remember Band of Brothers? No musicians getting paid there.... So any guys jamming in a basement can be considered a band.

We split the hair on the term "Gigging" A gigging band is a different animal than just a band. It means your working.

Why not let everyone form a band if they want? Just like anyone can form a sports team, you don't need to be getting paid to play baseball to be on a team.

Then, if anyone says they are in a band you just ask "are you gigging yet?" and the answer will be yes or no but they are still a band.

Just my thoughts on it.

-eSmith.

I think everybody is different.I am opinionated and blunt.I don't even like a lot of the things I say and write.

A guy at work, nicest guy in the world knows I play so he always tells me about these jams he has playing for hours with relatives over the weekend.

To most that would seem awesome and cool. To me it seems like a waste of time.

 

[Marko 1]

I think everybody is different.I am opinionated and blunt.I don't even like a lot of the things I say and write.

A guy at work, nicest guy in the world knows I play so he always tells me about these jams he has playing for hours with relatives over the weekend.

To most that would seem awesome and cool. To me it seems like a waste of time.

Man, I wish you’d give that a chance. I know you, and apparently about all musicians I know, feign to play in front of people…

But damn, why don’t you just give it a try.

Of course it won’t give you that audience-feedback thing, but hey, it might at least appease you to a point that you won’t be miserable.

 

[phatbass]

A guy at work, nicest guy in the world knows I play so he always tells me about these jams he has playing for hours with relatives over the weekend. .

To me, This would be like having all my teeth pulled out without any anaesthetic.

My definition of a band: a buncha guys (and/or girls) playing instruments together and having a common goal/direction/delusion. That may or may not include gigging, or even wanting to gig.

There's good bands and bad bands, but I won't touch that one.

 

[puddin tame]

Band
Several people, musicians working, making money and having fun playing music and working together.

Hobby Band
A bunch of guys that get together to jam and waste each others time.

I don't know if this is representative of your true attitude but that post reeks of elitism.

The only time wasted is the time the individual decides is wasted

 

[millsbass5]

Sorry to come off as a prick. But,you ain't a band 'til you "bust nuts" playin' out. Builds character......... And chops!!

 

[Step]

Sorry to come off as a prick. But,you ain't a band 'til you "bust nuts" playin' out. Builds character......... And chops!!

I don't think this is true, what about bands that haven't played out for 3 years or more?

The second part however is true, playing out increases your skills and 'character' more than just practicing

 

[klokker]

What about, for instance three/four marginal players, steadily jamming together in the basement, never having played out, but sorta working in that direction?

What else would you call it? Whatever adjective you put in front of it.........it's still a band.

 

[Marko 1]

I don't know if this is representative of your true attitude but that post reeks of elitism.

The only time wasted is the time the individual decides is wasted

I have to agree. And I’d rather be making noise with some buddies than sitting like a lump in front of the TV or computer on the weekend whining that I can’t find a band.

Seems some/many musicians are more about being “up there” than the music, which imho, is a shame.

 

[Marko 1]

What else would you call it? Whatever adjective you put in front of it.........it's still a band.

I agree.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Precisely. It's a "band" the second the 1st chord is struck and someone joins in.

My old "garage" band liked to welcome the "audient", being whatever brother/flatmate/girlfriend or mate was hanging about checking out band practice that day. More than 1 "audient" made an audience. Try telling them they weren't listening to a "band".

That band got about 5 paid gigs before imploding.

 

[Bassdirty]

two or more people making sound in a melodic fashion.

Surely you've heard of a 1 man Band?



Anyhoo...I think somebody here already said it best...people getting together to make music.= Band

Now, the kind of "band" you want to be is up to you.



.

 

[lpbass3]

+1 and I'd go as low as two members as a minumum requirement...

I just saw a band a couple of weeks ago. a drummer and a guitar player. They followed a nine piece band and held their own quite well. That being said I don't have alot of use for bands without bass players.

 

[Marko 1]

...

My old "garage" band liked to welcome the "audient", being whatever brother/flatmate/girlfriend or mate was hanging about checking out band practice that day. More than 1 "audient" made an audience. Try telling them they weren't listening to a "band".

...

 

[bluewine]

Man, I wish you’d give that a chance. I know you, and apparently about all musicians I know, feign to play in front of people…

But damn, why don’t you just give it a try.

Of course it won’t give you that audience-feedback thing, but hey, it might at least appease you to a point that you won’t be miserable.

I did a lot of that when I was young, I look at playing, what I like and my time differently now.

Sitting around noodling with guys is not my thing.

 

[bluewine]

I don't know if this is representative of your true attitude but that post reeks of elitism.

The only time wasted is the time the individual decides is wasted

Been doing this, playing in front of audiences since the 6th grade. Thats was way over 40 years ago.

At this stage of the game I concider being call an eletist a compliment.

 

[bluewine]

Sorry to come off as a prick. But,you ain't a band 'til you "bust nuts" playin' out. Builds character......... And chops!!

Awesome comment, it really nails it for me.

The guys that are out there on the front lines , playing crappy back rooms with funky crowds. Loading out at 2:30 in the morning.Always a risk that someone might kick your ass for no reason. These are the guys in bands.

The basement and bed room players say , I just like playing , but I have never had the desire to play out. Thats code for , I can't handle it, I don't have that kind of confidence

 

[dj150888]

Awesome comment, it really nails it for me.

The guys that are out there on the front lines , playing crappy back rooms with funky crowds. Loading out at 2:30 in the morning.Always a risk that someone might kick your ass for no reason. These are the guys in bands.

The basement and bed room players say , I just like playing , but I have never had the desire to play out. Thats code for , I can't handle it, I don't have that kind of confidence

While I agree with most of what you're saying, the only bit I don't agree with is the "making money" aspect of it. I don't rate popularity as a measure of talent, so I don't reckon the term "band" is in any way related to finances.

I don't think you're really a band if you aren't out actually performing though.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Just to clarify things for the poor OP. "Define band" is a nonsense.

"Band" is not reserved for a music group that gets paid.

Let us refer to "real" bands in order to answer his question.

The hardest point to get around is the timescale. I would say as long as there is a universal intent to get out on a stage and entertain, paid or not, then it's a "real" band. If it folds without a gig then it was a "failed" band.

The guys jamming in basements without the intent to play a show are not in a "real" band imho.

 

[bluewine]

Just to clarify things for the poor OP. "Define band" is a nonsense.

"Band" is not reserved for a music group that gets paid.

Let us refer to "real" bands in order to answer his question.

The hardest point to get around is the timescale. I would say as long as there is a universal intent to get out on a stage and entertain, paid or not, then it's a "real" band. If it folds without a gig then it was a "failed" band.

The guys jamming in basements without the intent to play a show are not in a "real" band imho.

Yeah, I'm cool with the "real band" thing