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Growing Tired

Aug 7, 2012
910
471
Why does it seem like theres not a month that goes by where a crappy surprise manifests itself in the band... I know its my own fault by hanging with the guys Im playing with its just that I seem to have weeded thru most of the poor musicians and now have found great players but that just dont see things the way I do. For instance our Guitar Player when he sets up at rehearsal our a show he sets up with only concern for him self... last show we played this guy and the drummer set up all the while Im setting up the PA and after theyre done theres literally no where for me to stand... this friggin happens all the time. Petty as it may be when little petty instances like this happen over and over, over a broad spectrum of different scenarios I begin to forget the pettiness and remeber how I feel after it happens... the guys is constantly too loud, he friggin barrels up on his mic causing the mains to freekin spit like crazy, now the drummer who has a pro situation with his metal band (signed and touring) I think is getting tired of dealing with the guitarist and me. The drummer and I will spend 2 hours on the phone on any night discussing the guitar players downfalls then when it manifests into a bad situation at rehearsal the drummer always seems to not remember anything we talked about and not back me up so no progress is made.... I know everyone on here will tell me to run for the hills... then there the music (here in lies the mind f$@k.) Now I dont know what else to write and its hard to remember all Ive touched on cuz I cant see my whole rant above cuz Im on my phone.... sometimes I just want to give up music man...
 
Why does it seem like theres not a month that goes by where a crappy surprise manifests itself in the band... I know its my own fault by hanging with the guys Im playing with its just that I seem to have weeded thru most of the poor musicians and now have found great players but that just dont see things the way I do. For instance our Guitar Player when he sets up at rehearsal our a show he sets up with only concern for him self... last show we played this guy and the drummer set up all the while Im setting up the PA and after theyre done theres literally no where for me to stand... this friggin happens all the time. Petty as it may be when little petty instances like this happen over and over, over a broad spectrum of different scenarios I begin to forget the pettiness and remeber how I feel after it happens... the guys is constantly too loud, he friggin barrels up on his mic causing the mains to freekin spit like crazy, now the drummer who has a pro situation with his metal band (signed and touring) I think is getting tired of dealing with the guitarist and me. The drummer and I will spend 2 hours on the phone on any night discussing the guitar players downfalls then when it manifests into a bad situation at rehearsal the drummer always seems to not remember anything we talked about and not back me up so no progress is made.... I know everyone on here will tell me to run for the hills... then there the music (here in lies the mind f$@k.) Now I dont know what else to write and its hard to remember all Ive touched on cuz I cant see my whole rant above cuz Im on my phone.... sometimes I just want to give up music man...
I know more experienced players will share with me that these are situations that are very common and everyone has to get past them... hopefully I can.
 
Musicians are weirdo. (Myself included) That's why keeping a group of them together is hard.

Just have a calm conversation with the guitar player. Not during setup or rehearsal.

And when you get to a show to setup, just say something light-hearted in a joking manner like.....
"Hey losers, save me a spot on stage, will ya? 1st law of physics being what it is and all......"
 
Trying to get a bunch of musicians in a band setting to get along is about as likely as herding cats. Just a thought. Instead of setting up the PA first, why don't you set up your area first. Sort of like marking your own territory. Create your space and when he is setting up and crosses your space say something. I would show up a little earlier if possible to get a jump on things.
 
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I feel your pain. I quit my band for much needed shoulder surgery. Then the rhythm guitar was fired by the singer. Then the lead player was fired by the singer. The drummer got torqued about all the changes and drama and quit. After a new lead player and rhythm player and fill in drummer and going through three bass players the band is now going again. You guessed it. Same singer, I'm back on bass, original lead player is back and the original drummer is back. The only new guy is the rhythm player. Funny how things are different but wind up the same.
 
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I feel your pain. I quit my band for much needed shoulder surgery. Then the rhythm guitar was fired by the singer. Then the lead player was fired by the singer. The drummer got torqued about all the changes and drama and quit. After a new lead player and rhythm player and fill in drummer and going through three bass players the band is now going again. You guessed it. Same singer, I'm back on bass, original lead player is back and the original drummer is back. The only new guy is the rhythm player. Funny how things are different but wind up the same.
Yup its the same old song and dance played out in garages and clubs and halls all across this country and probably the whole world! Welcome to the wonderful world of music and humans trying to get along!
 
I'm the PA guy in my band. And the light guy. We're a 4 piece and I pretty much insist that everybody has a job. I still do most of it but... Everybody lugs, and everybody wires. It's enough. My bandmates also know to leave me my space and as we feature a lot of 3 part harmony, there is no hogging the mic lest there is a serious double glare. Same personnel for 4 years. Had rehearsal tonight and put 2 more songs on the list... You just have to have people that can work as a team... Some musicians can't... Leave them behind. They are nothing but heartache...
 
That's why I started picking up keys and guitar to work on solo stuff when it gets frustrating. These sorts of situations happen all the time in almost every band. Sometimes it can be worked out, sometimes not. Generally speaking the stuff you're talking about as far as volume and not giving you setup space probably won't change even if you say something. Or you will bring it up, they will fix it for a couple weeks then go back to doing what they do now. Good luck though.