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How to NOT find the new member you're looking for.
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So Anyway, my first band practiced three times a week, every week, with no gig on the books. We played out a handful of times in a couple of years. I did it because I was learning how to play my instrument. Maybe we were 'card night with guitars' as in the OP.
Ten years later, one of my music buddies calls. He's talked his way into a house gig and he needs a band. A few phone calls, one rehearsal, and we play three times a week for a year. We'd learn a few new songs a week and put them together on stage. Some worked, some didn't, but it sure helped to develop our ears and keep us on our toes.
If it takes more that a couple of rehearsals to put a bar band together, you might be trying to play stuff that's not bar music. Or maybe the band members just don't have enough experience or common musical interests. Either way, I'd be very wary...unless you just enjoy the 'card game'.
Ten years later, one of my music buddies calls. He's talked his way into a house gig and he needs a band. A few phone calls, one rehearsal, and we play three times a week for a year. We'd learn a few new songs a week and put them together on stage. Some worked, some didn't, but it sure helped to develop our ears and keep us on our toes.
If it takes more that a couple of rehearsals to put a bar band together, you might be trying to play stuff that's not bar music. Or maybe the band members just don't have enough experience or common musical interests. Either way, I'd be very wary...unless you just enjoy the 'card game'.
Depending on the complexity of songs, how many on the setlist and how competent the other players are rehearsing twice a week consistently, I'd say 4-6wks give or take, to play the songs tightly. And by rehearsing, i mean learning the sht at home and bringing it to rehearsal....Not hanging and noodling around at an hourly space for 4 hrs.
Provided with a copy of the setlist and links to the format of the version covered, being i dont sing i can show up and get it right. I think the majority of the effort is for the vocalists, as thats not always as clean cut.(at least imho). Now...the music I play most of the time includes possibly song base of a couple of hundred tunes and the original band (the Grateful Dead) has variations of each song over the years , not always the same format (but close enough, with a quick discussion can be clarified) . I can still show up cold and do a great show subbing with a new band in front of a 1000 people without a hitch or any stress. I guess point being if you know the music prior or learning new music requires different effort.
I went with 7 to 10 after just going through this with a new (to me) group, plus a new keyboard player and new backup singer. We were hustling to be ready for our first job together after maybe five rehearsals, weren’t really polished and…got rained out. Outdoor gig at a marina.
Best thing that could have happened. We crammed in a few more, played a local craft brewery and just booked our third gig there (both times we played this month they booked us again immediately). The extra couple of rehearsals took us from “we’ll be ok” to burning the place down. It’s fun to hustle up and get “good enough” to go through the material, but it really does pay to put in a couple of extra cycles if you can afford it.
I remember a bigtime musician telling me this once, "rehearsal? We get paid to do that every night on stage.."
As for your question, depending on complexity of songs, I would say 7-10.
As for your question, depending on complexity of songs, I would say 7-10.
Interesting thread. I just auditioned with some folks that were in a previous band, and they gigged regularly in the past, mostly country covers with a couple originals thrown in. Anywhere from 1 to 3 sets.
This new project is with the singer they gigged with before, but he is now signed and our focus is to get out and gig, primarily to promote his songs.
Country is a new genre for me (rock and roll!). These guys are really good, tight, and the guitar player has an endorsement from a guitar manufacturer and gigs regularly without practice or rehearsals. So I am under tremendous pressure to learn a set, along with the originals. We need get get out and play ASAP in an attempt to get the originals out there and support the A&R guy to get airplay.
With that said, I expect no more than a couple more practices, one rehearsal to start gigging. I have been playing way more years than I care to admit - but haven’t gigged in years.
So a little different than what this thread is about, but just my 2 pesos.
This new project is with the singer they gigged with before, but he is now signed and our focus is to get out and gig, primarily to promote his songs.
Country is a new genre for me (rock and roll!). These guys are really good, tight, and the guitar player has an endorsement from a guitar manufacturer and gigs regularly without practice or rehearsals. So I am under tremendous pressure to learn a set, along with the originals. We need get get out and play ASAP in an attempt to get the originals out there and support the A&R guy to get airplay.
With that said, I expect no more than a couple more practices, one rehearsal to start gigging. I have been playing way more years than I care to admit - but haven’t gigged in years.
So a little different than what this thread is about, but just my 2 pesos.
late to the party here, but really love your OP. should be a sticky or something.
my biggest thing I notice about CL ads recently in my area is the total cluelessness about band monogamy.
it's actually not a good idea to refuse to hire people who happen to be in several other bands.
If you find someone that claims to be great, but they are not in other bands, it's because they 1) just got out of prison, or 2) suck, or 3) both
And people wonder why it's so hard to find a good ....insert instrument here.....
it drives me insane.
end of rant
my biggest thing I notice about CL ads recently in my area is the total cluelessness about band monogamy.
it's actually not a good idea to refuse to hire people who happen to be in several other bands.
If you find someone that claims to be great, but they are not in other bands, it's because they 1) just got out of prison, or 2) suck, or 3) both
And people wonder why it's so hard to find a good ....insert instrument here.....
it drives me insane.
end of rant
Best answer to original question: it depends. It depends on the bar, the patrons, how "tight" you want your sound to be, how skilled the players are, etc.
Maybe I compare it too quickly to military training. You do it until it isn't fun anymore. That's when you're good to go.
Maybe I compare it too quickly to military training. You do it until it isn't fun anymore. That's when you're good to go.
It all depends. I have joined bands that were already gigging. I just showed up and played. Simple.
I have also joined bands that were just starting. I had to count every measure and commit everything to memory. Then I would have to be like a rock and make them follow me. After many many rehearsals they would finally get it. Yes we had gigs lined up and we were ready when the time came.
You have to be able to play with all levels of players sometimes to be able to keep gigging. Or you wait for those absolute pros to need you specifically. There’s a lot of competition out there.
I disagree with pretty much everything you said, unless you're talking about the cargo-shorts-wearing, Mustang-Sally-playing, dad band. We have a million of those around here and not a one of them is worth hearing.
On the the flipside, are bands like I'm coming out of, the one I'm putting together, and a couple of others around here that are worth the cover charge. These are 8 to 9 piece bands, with difficult material that very often needs to be worked out in person, not just using an mp3 player.
Of course, players are always expected to arrive at rehearsal prepared, but try doing an earth wind and fire or tower of power song as you suggest; it ain't gonna happen.
And bands that attempt more difficult material require more time and a definite commitment from the players.
One of the worst things I deal with is the herding cats nature of managing a large group of in-demand players. There's always a scheduling issue, so getting it out front that you want a commitment is a good thing.
Bar bands doing pop covers are fine for what you outline, but anything actually worth hearing requires a hell of a lot more effort.
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Assuming people that do the minimum of running through some songs before practices, you should be able to take non professionals from meet up for the first time to gig ready in 3 rehearsals. Most of that will be ironing out "I learned it from the original pressing", "I learned it from the radio edit" or stupid little things like that. Figuring out who is starting which song, what ending you're doing, especially on songs that fade on the recording. Oh, it's Eb standard on the recording, we always played it in E standard.
EDIT: I forgot the required ~ 15 minutes of discussion whether this IPA is better than that IPA.
EDIT: I forgot the required ~ 15 minutes of discussion whether this IPA is better than that IPA.
I thought if you're sucking as a bar band, you just encourage everyone to drink more, and problem solved. Why rehearse that much when alcohol can smooth off the rough edges?
1) I love both EWF and Tower or Power. I've seen both in concert several times. But your assertion that they are the "only thing worth hearing" is asinine.
2) I stand by original post. If you need lots of rehearsals to bring the music around, you have chosen music that is beyond your scope/talent level collectively. My corporate band was a horn band. We did the kinds of songs you are talking about. We ran them at soundtrack and played them that night. It is what it is.
Pros can show up and play, if you've got a book.
Hobbyists developing an act need time to figure out ALL the things.
If you're a pro looking for sub work, skip the "must commit to 2x a week rehearsals without any dates on the book" ads.
Seems pretty simple to me.
Hobbyists developing an act need time to figure out ALL the things.
If you're a pro looking for sub work, skip the "must commit to 2x a week rehearsals without any dates on the book" ads.
Seems pretty simple to me.
I do skip those ads. This wasn't about any kind of band I would be interested in to begin with. It was about tue frequency with which I see those kinds of ads.
That's just f*ck!ng sad, and explains why live bands only get $100.00 per man. We've pissed in our own beer.
It sounds like what you are saying is there’s a ton of bands beneath your level looking for bass players.
This-is in your geographic area. Not like that in mine. I would love to see some ads needing bass players near me but it’s very slim pickings.
I will say this, there’s been zero CL ads near me with ready to gig bands needing a fill in bassist. If there was, I would be all over it. The closer you get to a startup band. The more rehearsals you will need regardless of talent. Of course if everyone in the band likes the same 50 songs then 2 or 3 rehearsals should do it.
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I didn't say that. I was referring to more complicated music. The same could be true for yes or rush or beethoven or anything complicated. It's not limited to just the bands I mention.
Bullsh!t. But my question is, how long was that band together? Bands that have played together for a long time can bust out things very quickly. I've been there. However, when putting something together out of the air, it takes longer.
Reading music helps greatly, but most don't.
