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How big is your dream band?

B

b to g is yummy

Jan 6, 2007
270
2
Kitchener, Ontario Canada
www.unified-band.com
#1
If your sound had nothing to do with how many people were in your band, what would be your ideal amount?

I'd probably say 4. Nice even number, great for hotels, restaurant booths, travelling, etc. Enough people to give you some variety in personalities, yet small enough to get to know everyone really well. Nice amount on stage too.

Interestingly enough, my band currently has 4 members. Albeit, we are currently lead-singerlist, so, we are hoping to gladly be able to add a 5th member again. :)
 
#3
4-man with the singer playing rhythem guitar.

Less egos, still plenty of personality to go around.

And if the singer is playing rhythem guitar, s/he has something to do during the instrumentals/solos.

Sort of like MEtallica's/Megadeth's setup -- since James/Mustaine are both solid as hell on guitar too.
 
#5
For me, it'd probably be about 20 people. My current band is 18 people and its not as hard as it might sound so long as everyone does their own part. Then again, our percussion section is 4 people (2 drummers, steel drum, bongos) so we're a bit wasteful.
 
#7
I feel obligated to chime in.
I'm in a 10 piece outfit
(Two trumpets, Flute, Two Guitars, Drums, Bass, Keys, Vocals, Aux).
I never thought it would work, but it does...
But considering I've only met one sound guy who ever wanted to work with us without complaining ALL NIGHT, I'd say a three or four piece is truly ideal for the simplicity factor.
 
#8
Five or six. I play in one band with five guys (guitar, vocals, bass, drums, and keyboards) and the other (which actually is all the same people in the other band +1) which is six guys (vocals, guitar, two "keytar" synth controllers, bass, and drums).

I like that set up. We do video projections as well so any more than that, while it would be cool (like an EWI player, for instance) would probably get too complicated. As it is, we have to do a lot of prep work and have to play in places where we can fit.

I like trios too. Always fun to step out a little every now and then. ;)
 
#16
I'm currently fronting my own band, "The Phat Daddy Band", and it's a four piece which to me is ideal because everybody pulls their weight all the time and there's no Lead Singer's Disease because I'm a bassist before I'm a vocalist, and we bassists tend to be pretty humble. This band is my ideal in that everybody plays their a$$es of and sings pretty well, but I chose the songlist and book the gigs so I have a better say in what goes on than in previous projects. We are bass, drums, guitar and keys, I sing lead and everyone else sings backups. So far this is my dream band, we'll see how long it lasts.
 

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