How to deal with a band member that dislikes every name you come up with?

Find another guitarist?

 

Rule number 1: the day you start arguing about the bands name is the first day of the end of the band.

 

If guitarist is BL, go with whichever name he chooses. If he is not BL, remind him how many guitarists are out there.

or

Is there a local guitarist that he respects? You could pitch a band name, then say: "Yeah, well... I was talking to Player McGuitarist and he wished that he'd thought of that name first." Then pretend to tune your bass.

 

Murder is only one option. There are many other scenarios in which the guitarist gets to live.

 

Ime, band names can be harder to settle on than songs to play. Inevitably, someone will have to compromise. We literally went through hundreds before we settled on something. I think we all compromised in the end just so we could start working on some promo stuff. Good luck. If y’all are into reading the same kind of books, that could help some. Lots of inspiration on that track.
Of course, it’s of no help if you have a bunch of people that don’t take the time to read books (which is a small problem with a couple of my band mates). But I digress.
Have fun with it is all I can offer.

 

Fire the drummer.

 

This is why I don't go with the peer based model of band relationships anymore. You have a great idea and someone with a strong personality who knows nothing about the subject matter blocks everything. I became what I call an enlightened entrepreneur and things go much better. You have to be conscious that you use your power wisely and get the best out of the band. And your turnover is the indicator of how good a leader you are. Good leaders retain good members.

It sounds like this band is in trouble with this leading indicator. If he's this way on this issue, imagine how he'll be on other issues. the only saving grace I would give him is if he books gig. Those type of people are hard to find and should get some good say so in how to run the group for all their effort and sacrifice.

Anyway, if the enlightened entrepreneur model isn't feasible due to a) lack of someone with the skills and b) no way of making it work with the band, You need to have a conversation with the band about how to decide. As a band you have to decide how to decide. Here are some methods.

1) If an odd set of members, by a vote.
2) If an even set of members, by a majority vote. If a tie, the leader breaks the tie.
3) Everyone rates the band names on a scale of 1 to ten. Add up everyone's scores and the band name with the highest score wins.

Now, this guy will likely resist these measures because he sounds alike an autocrat -- and he won't grant that kind of power to the band. I don't like the sound of this guy. I would only put up with him if he is a gig booker and I'm not expected to do anything but show up and play and get paid. If he's the gig booker, and otherwise decent to get along with, and has gigs on the horizon, I'd put up with it.

 

Younger folks seem to care about this more. My current band, literally the first name that anyone suggested, think it was the drummer, was the one we went with.

My college band, we went through 200 names. Took weeks.

 

2 to 1 means you outvote him already.

 

Everyone knows the most important thing about a band is the name, right?

 

take a vote and if he gets butthurt find a new guitarist

 

Samples of "good" and "bad/silly" band names?

 

I would add that it could also be the day of the band picture or when you all just paid for matching "suits".

 

Here's a suggestion that would be fun to try ...

Let him make the band name HIS name the Joe Blow Band.

Have him book a gig.

Have all the band members agree to play all songs in a different key then what Joe blow thinks they are in!

 

I think you should make a TB poll. Include some of his names and some of the names you and the drummer came up with and let us pick.

 

Vote. Majority rules

 

- have someone outside the band make the decision - is there someone you all trust, a music teacher, someone in a successful band, a friend? - give that person, or those people, a list and let them choose their favorites -

 

It's like 4 or 5 parents trying to name 1 baby

 

suggest his name for the band: i.e., "the john doe band" --- if he agrees = you know where things are headed! if he doesn't agree: give him a choice between "the john doe band" and the band name you like. if he doesn't choose the one you like = you know where things are headed. good luck choosing a band name!

if he chooses "the john doe band" you and the drummer get to laugh at him!