This sounds like a good measure to go by. Although, sometimes the money one gets valued a little higher in the short term.
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Ever been in a horrible but fun band?
- Thread starter NickInMesa
- Start date
This sounds like a good measure to go by. Although, sometimes the money one gets valued a little higher in the short term.
Remembrance to back when i had to play for cash because i had no other skills and everyone needs a bassist. I was in one really bad country/variety band. Eagles/Elks/Moose circuit. The drummer was waveringly, tentatively HORRID, but he owned the PA, drove the gearwagon, booked the gigs. He had an awesome day job, so the gear was top-notch, this was his little music fantasy. His also securely-employed buddy who was equally as horrible of a musician, was on guitar and lead vocals. Me & the keyboardist were 15 years younger than these guys and light-years ahead of them musically. But they were real experts at entertaining crowds of old people who want to dance dances with real steps and not be too loud and blahblahblah. Matching coats & ties, professional demeanor, paid gigs only, no drama. Nice guys, good pay, steady work. The audience thought the band was great, and they booked TWO YEARS IN ADVANCE!!!! Musicianship was not really an issue. They management/audiences only cared if 1. The band was not too loud (MOST IMPORTANT!!!!) 2. The music was recognizeable and danceable, and 3. All songs were in the approved canon of familiar animal-circuit songs. "White Sport Coat" - yes. "White Wedding" - no.
Great Music?
Personally I don't mind the music, I hope they could be a bit tighter, but you never know.
I have been a pain with these guys, actually, to get them to be serious about it. No matter what, if you are to gig, do it to the best of your capacity.
The first time we took the stage, whoever was supposed to bring the set list forgot it. We ended up chatting between songs. "What do we play next?" With the audience waiting.
Great Money?
Pass. Phoenix scene. Nuff said.
Great Hang?
Yeah, they're fun enough to hang around with
Maybe I'm misreading, but our band has a couple of what I would call "horrible" musicians. That is they know very little about music and are fairly limited in what they can play. They don't know what notes they are playing or singing. They don't read music. Its all pretty much in 4/4.
The thing is, that what little they do, they do well. Well enough to get people out on the dancefloor. Common layfolks out for a good time on Friday or Saturday night say they are great.
So in that sense, I'm in a "horrible" band that is fun.
The thing is, that what little they do, they do well. Well enough to get people out on the dancefloor. Common layfolks out for a good time on Friday or Saturday night say they are great.
So in that sense, I'm in a "horrible" band that is fun.
Yup. Now you know why I'm not playing too often, these days. I got accustomed to great guys and great-paying gigs, and am on a lot of sub lists for other gigs, so I don't worry. The day job is going very well.
Nick..
I'm well aware that you've been offended by some of my replies -- this was not the intention.
Stones suck --- if they "got serious" they'd be just another garage band --- I'm sure a "serious guy" would tell Mick to quit doing duck lips and the chicken dance.
------
Maybe this clip articulates what I'm discussing -- the band below was one of the hottest tickets in the EU (until the lead singer offed himself)
I'm well aware that you've been offended by some of my replies -- this was not the intention.
Stones suck --- if they "got serious" they'd be just another garage band --- I'm sure a "serious guy" would tell Mick to quit doing duck lips and the chicken dance.
------
Maybe this clip articulates what I'm discussing -- the band below was one of the hottest tickets in the EU (until the lead singer offed himself)
yes he's smoking.. swigs some rye....
guy sitting on the drum riser
living out the stereotype of the dental work
out of time
loose tune
no lock
freakin penny whistle solo
missed chord changes
3 drums for the drummer
they covered up the cute female band member
-------------
I'm sure their manager/producer fought the concept of dental work ---
Bands like this are more comfortable to the masses than Steely Dan, Rush, Primus or Dream Theater
guy sitting on the drum riser
living out the stereotype of the dental work
out of time
loose tune
no lock
freakin penny whistle solo
missed chord changes
3 drums for the drummer
they covered up the cute female band member
-------------
I'm sure their manager/producer fought the concept of dental work ---
Bands like this are more comfortable to the masses than Steely Dan, Rush, Primus or Dream Theater
A few years ago I started playing guitar in a group with a few co-workers who had never played in bands before---the bass player and drummer had never even played at all; the group started when I offered to show them some rudiments and we kept getting together to play, and it sort of evolved into a band.
I'd hesitate to call them "horrible", but they were of varying talent levels. For the couple years of the group's existence, my main concern was coming up with songs that they could reasonably play without embarrassing themselves. But through careful set construction and much practice, we were able to manage a few performances for friends and family that were not that bad.
And somehow, over the next year or so, the band morphed into a real band, to the point where it played some "real" gigs, in public for money. And looking back, we did pretty well. Part of that was due to setting a high bar for what was good enough for the real world. In that regard, it's good to have somebody in the band who actually knows the difference---I suspect lack of such a person is the main reason some bands just suck at their live gigs.
But I was lucky in that I almost never had to butt heads with them about musical stuff. If you're stuck with somebody who is both bad and deluded about it, there's not much you can do. I think the real test of whether a gig is worth pursuing is whether it can reach the minimum level at which you are not embarrassed to be seen on stage with the group. That doesn't necessarily mean that everything has to be rock-solid---many people have related experiences with sloppy groups that were nevertheless fun, exciting, crowd-pleasing, etc. But if the SHOW (beyond just the playing) sucks, I wouldn't want to do it, friends notwithstanding.
I'd hesitate to call them "horrible", but they were of varying talent levels. For the couple years of the group's existence, my main concern was coming up with songs that they could reasonably play without embarrassing themselves. But through careful set construction and much practice, we were able to manage a few performances for friends and family that were not that bad.
And somehow, over the next year or so, the band morphed into a real band, to the point where it played some "real" gigs, in public for money. And looking back, we did pretty well. Part of that was due to setting a high bar for what was good enough for the real world. In that regard, it's good to have somebody in the band who actually knows the difference---I suspect lack of such a person is the main reason some bands just suck at their live gigs.
But I was lucky in that I almost never had to butt heads with them about musical stuff. If you're stuck with somebody who is both bad and deluded about it, there's not much you can do. I think the real test of whether a gig is worth pursuing is whether it can reach the minimum level at which you are not embarrassed to be seen on stage with the group. That doesn't necessarily mean that everything has to be rock-solid---many people have related experiences with sloppy groups that were nevertheless fun, exciting, crowd-pleasing, etc. But if the SHOW (beyond just the playing) sucks, I wouldn't want to do it, friends notwithstanding.
Oh no, I am not offended, why do you think so?
Shane McGowan is not dead.
You may be thinking about this band:
They started as a pretty bad act but became better and better until they sounded awesome.
Regarding the Pogues, I saw them open for U2. 70,000 some people were jumping and bouncing like idiots. Then came UB40. Mood killed instantly.
Bottomline: it's not about how good you are as musicians, it's about how well you play the crowd.
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
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- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
Yup.. Playing with one tonight. They pay well and its loose.. Depending on the drummer they get, it can be a hell of a ride... or one hell of a good ride..
Tonight I have my favorite drummer to play with so it will be OK,
Three front guys. Acoustic player, Singer and Elec Guitar player..
I call them Fat , Drunk and Stupid..( FDS) Not the bands real name. just my nickname for them.
In that order... And the name fits perfectly...
But it is so much fun to do.
Players from , Delbert Mclinton, Willie Nelson, Storyville bands even an American Idol sit in at times..
Never know what ya gonna get with FDS.
But saturday i get to play with my real band before heading to Europe for 10 days with them. So that evens out the keel for me,.
Tonight I have my favorite drummer to play with so it will be OK,
Three front guys. Acoustic player, Singer and Elec Guitar player..
I call them Fat , Drunk and Stupid..( FDS) Not the bands real name. just my nickname for them.
In that order... And the name fits perfectly...
But it is so much fun to do.
Players from , Delbert Mclinton, Willie Nelson, Storyville bands even an American Idol sit in at times..
Never know what ya gonna get with FDS.
But saturday i get to play with my real band before heading to Europe for 10 days with them. So that evens out the keel for me,.
Yes, I play in a part-time rock band with some police officers (so there's some irony when we play Dimebag by Cross Canadian Ragweed, hehe) who gig maybe once every few months. Alot of fun, but you can just tell that rehearsals are few and far between, hehe. Luckily most of the crowd we attract are drunk bikers and wannabe MMA fighters.
I was in a band with 2 firefighters, so when we gigged, it was at their water hole and it was full, packed. Big crowd. Horrible, but was getting better, until an infamous t-shirt incident ...
Good thread, I'm in a bad but fun band. 3 piece with some friends, we have a great time hanging out, drinking some beers, trying some new tunes. But our leader (guitar, singer) is a bit too loose - we've played a few small gigs, and there is no organization or discipline (not bringing extra guitar strings or guitar, never sticking to playlist, drinking too much). Several times he's played a riff, called out a new tune that the drummer and I have never played before. At a gig. So we stumble through it. As someone observed, it's amazing the audience so rarely notices when we suck.
So our fun but nutcase leader decides we need to learn "Sweet Caroline". Drummer and I recoil, we play mostly alternative and classic rock covers, not Neil Diamond. "Guys, our audience consists mostly of housewives that have drank too much wine, it will kill." Despite having no horns, keys, and sucking our way through the song, he was right.
We're never going to be rich and famous, but if you're having fun and the drunk ladies like it, well then I guess we're doing all right.
So our fun but nutcase leader decides we need to learn "Sweet Caroline". Drummer and I recoil, we play mostly alternative and classic rock covers, not Neil Diamond. "Guys, our audience consists mostly of housewives that have drank too much wine, it will kill." Despite having no horns, keys, and sucking our way through the song, he was right.
We're never going to be rich and famous, but if you're having fun and the drunk ladies like it, well then I guess we're doing all right.
