Most of us have experienced the problem of new members joining a band (whatever side of that you're on) based on a good audition, only to discover a significant mismatch after several weeks being together.
Usually what happens is the band tries to make it work for a few months, only to eventually give up and quit/fire the band/member, leaving everybody disgusted at the colossal waste of time that took place.
I learned that a good way to prevent this problem is for everyone to agree that new band member hires should be on a probationary basis. A month or two should be adequate. If anybody (either the band or the new band member) decides - for any reason that the situation isn't working out, then the collaboration should just end (with no questions or explanations required) and no one should feel guilty or resentful. Just let it go and move on.
With the probationary period a given, right from the beginning, everybody can feel free to bring up potential problems as they arise and address them, rather than feeling pressure to stay silent, which only makes it more likely that any problems become worse over time, until tempers boil over and the arrangement ends anyway, but with bad feelings all around.
On the other hand, if the band makes it through the probationary period with everybody feeling positive, then the chances of long term success increase exponentially. After 6 weeks or so, you all declare the new arrangement "official" and feel more confident about the future
Usually what happens is the band tries to make it work for a few months, only to eventually give up and quit/fire the band/member, leaving everybody disgusted at the colossal waste of time that took place.
I learned that a good way to prevent this problem is for everyone to agree that new band member hires should be on a probationary basis. A month or two should be adequate. If anybody (either the band or the new band member) decides - for any reason that the situation isn't working out, then the collaboration should just end (with no questions or explanations required) and no one should feel guilty or resentful. Just let it go and move on.
With the probationary period a given, right from the beginning, everybody can feel free to bring up potential problems as they arise and address them, rather than feeling pressure to stay silent, which only makes it more likely that any problems become worse over time, until tempers boil over and the arrangement ends anyway, but with bad feelings all around.
On the other hand, if the band makes it through the probationary period with everybody feeling positive, then the chances of long term success increase exponentially. After 6 weeks or so, you all declare the new arrangement "official" and feel more confident about the future
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