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How important are personal beliefs in bands?
- Thread starter Catbuster
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It is my personal belief that your political beliefs are out of line with your life experience. You ought to check out #OWS, it's filled with people just like you.
Other than that, my only personal belief in music is getting paid to play.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Ya I probably would have played the last gig ... but I would NOT stay in any band where I got lectured and mistreated. If the music is not fun then why play? The hours suck, the pay sucks, also you have to put up with the drunks in the bar that yell "Freebird!" ... There has to be some fun in there somewhere.
I did notice that the OP quoted the language of the d**k guitarist's inflammatory remarks, while only giving us the gist of what the OP said. It would be interesting to know exactly what the OP actually said...whether there was anything inflammatory in there which could have provoked the guitarist to respond in the way he did.
In my line of work, I see that there is almost always another side of the story, and that the person telling their side first is usually very specific about what bad things the other side did, while being more vague about what they did. I don't know if that is the case here, but as I said, I see it every week.
OP, did you say anything to provoke the guitarist? I'm not suggesting that the guitarist was justified in what he said, but it would help to know all the facts.
In my line of work, I see that there is almost always another side of the story, and that the person telling their side first is usually very specific about what bad things the other side did, while being more vague about what they did. I don't know if that is the case here, but as I said, I see it every week.
OP, did you say anything to provoke the guitarist? I'm not suggesting that the guitarist was justified in what he said, but it would help to know all the facts.
Well, you did ask if you did the right thing....
You're acting like a spoiled jackass, that threw a tantrum and bailed on an obligation you made to do the gig because your feelings got hurt.
Unprofessional doesn't begin to cover it. If you feel that strongly about it, bring it up beforehand. Whatever "it" is, politics, religion, whatever.
The professional thing to do is tell them to start looking for a replacement, you don't feel like being in the project anymore, and do the gigs you agreed to.
What you did was screw everyone else in the band who did NOT mouth off to you in order to screw the guy that mouthed off. Childish doesn't begin to cover that. I would never work with you.
I'd rather work with someone who holds completely different views that I can depend on to show up and do a good job. People have a right to hold differing viewpoints.
Randy
5 days to find people, audition them, choose one, and have them learn the material?
Must be awfully simple material, and have an awful lot of competent musicians in the area.
Sounds more like a rationalization.
And point of fact, you showed up on Monday to tell them, so you left them 3 days. Tues, Wed, and Thurs to get ready for a gig on Fri.
Randy
The OP's question is, "how important are personal beliefs in a band?"
The answer is, "how ever important you make them."
I don't like to play in a band with people who have way different beliefs than me, as a rule. However, if they are a good player, and have a personality I like, I will suspend that rule. I find it hard enough to find people I gel with MUSICALLY, and I don't have to sleep with them, except for our lead singer/other bass player who I am married to.
I don't quit bands due to disagreements about anything. You can yell at me, insult me, and take it to me as hard as you want. Keep in mind, I will be giving back what I get. If you can handle it, let's air it out; get it out in the open.
Or not.
But I will still always be enough of a professional to play the gigs I've committed to, and nothing will stop me, short of death or dismemberment.
Because I'm a musician, and an entertainer FIRST.
And that's why we play rock and roll.
The answer is, "how ever important you make them."
I don't like to play in a band with people who have way different beliefs than me, as a rule. However, if they are a good player, and have a personality I like, I will suspend that rule. I find it hard enough to find people I gel with MUSICALLY, and I don't have to sleep with them, except for our lead singer/other bass player who I am married to.
I don't quit bands due to disagreements about anything. You can yell at me, insult me, and take it to me as hard as you want. Keep in mind, I will be giving back what I get. If you can handle it, let's air it out; get it out in the open.
Or not.
But I will still always be enough of a professional to play the gigs I've committed to, and nothing will stop me, short of death or dismemberment.
Because I'm a musician, and an entertainer FIRST.
And that's why we play rock and roll.
^ Ding-ding-ding.
Couldn't care less what other players believe in as long as they can play and they meet the obligations of the band.
So, you worship the crocodile god and collect your farts in a jar? Okay, 1, 2, 3, 4...
Couldn't care less what other players believe in as long as they can play and they meet the obligations of the band.
So, you worship the crocodile god and collect your farts in a jar? Okay, 1, 2, 3, 4...
If someone opens the door by sharing their own political, social, or religious beliefs they should not be surprised when it meets with opposition. There's a time and place for everything ... knowing this avoids unpleasant and unnecessary confrontations. I regularly play with a singer/songwriter whose political and religious beliefs are much different than my own. We agree that our beliefs will NOT be mentioned on stage. We both agree that audiences are there to be entertained, not lectured. Not a problem.
I pretty open minded, but even I couldn't over look that kind of weirdness.
Farts are meant to be shared with the ones you love, not stored in a jar.
Randy
I think its hugely important, your beliefs are the starting point to tons of your music.
My band :
-All left wing
-3 of the 4 are vegetarian
-All atheist
My band :
-All left wing
-3 of the 4 are vegetarian
-All atheist
OP - if you're meeting up only for structured rehearsals and local gigs, personal beliefs are not so important.*
if, however, you're going to be spending weeks together travelling in a cramped van, seeing (and smelling!) each other 24 hours a day, sleeping on floors next to each other, and sharing your last few cents on food, then yes, they are very important.
*provided you can live and let live.
if, however, you're going to be spending weeks together travelling in a cramped van, seeing (and smelling!) each other 24 hours a day, sleeping on floors next to each other, and sharing your last few cents on food, then yes, they are very important.
*provided you can live and let live.
Not at all. As for me, unless as a band they’re promoting something that I feel is morally wrong or harmful, it’s not important.
This move alone says a lot, but couple it with the fact that you have to actually ask if it was the right thing to do…
Well, let’s put it this way… if the guitarist was viewed by any of the other members as being harsh, all you did was hand him his justification on a silver platter.
This move alone says a lot, but couple it with the fact that you have to actually ask if it was the right thing to do…
Well, let’s put it this way… if the guitarist was viewed by any of the other members as being harsh, all you did was hand him his justification on a silver platter.
zevl said:I think its hugely important, your beliefs are the starting point to tons of your music.
My band :
-All left wing
-3 of the 4 are vegetarian
-All atheist
You guys looking for a tambourine player? Sounds like my kind of crew!
In all of life, we are required to work productively with people we don't share beliefs with. The earlier in life one learns to keep this stuff internal, the better.
As far as I'm concerned, the only people I will discuss politics, religion, etc. with are - my immediate family. No other friend or
colleague is allowed to enter that circle.
If you can't work productively with people you don't share beliefs with, you are going to have a very painful life.
As far as I'm concerned, the only people I will discuss politics, religion, etc. with are - my immediate family. No other friend or
colleague is allowed to enter that circle.
If you can't work productively with people you don't share beliefs with, you are going to have a very painful life.
That sounds like an acknowledgement that your views can be a little bit knee-jerk and one-dimensional.
I prefer to allow the discussion, but bear in mind that both I and the person I'm talking to are probably struggling with wrong assumptions about where the other person is coming from. That, and keeping it friendly and good humoured, and we can learn from each other...
My band argues so much about the music we're creating that we don't have enough time to argue the actual 'fun things'
But seriously, grow a thicker skin. Personal beliefs aren't that huge of a deal in a band as long as you all have mutual love and respect for one another. I argue with one of my guitarists on a weekly basis, but it's never about anything personal.
But seriously, grow a thicker skin. Personal beliefs aren't that huge of a deal in a band as long as you all have mutual love and respect for one another. I argue with one of my guitarists on a weekly basis, but it's never about anything personal.
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