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I think I'm done

#82
My only question is, why did you wait 14 additional years?

You already own transportation. Buy a small p.a. and start advertising for a guitarist and drummer. Maybe a singer/keyboardist.
Decide what music you're best at playing, and build a song list. Save the song list from your previous band and see how many you can move to your new band.
Hold auditions and talk with the musicians before you even start. Let them know you don't get high or drunk, don't want volume wars, want professional level attitudes and performances.
Oh, and everyone can meet you at the gig. No more free cab service.
You'll find if you look for people who are a little older and work daytime they will have a better work ethic, they've been at it a while.
Start rehearsals and if you don't like somebody, immediately move on and get someone else. Better to do it right up front rather than suffering.
Go out on a couple "fundraisers" with your new band and see how they act and perform. If they get wasted start over.
I've done this numerous times in my life, it is a lot of work but it's worth it to call your own shots.
Who knows--you may meet some really nice people.

Good luck! :thumbsup:
 
#83
iriegnome said:
After 15 years + with the same band, I think after this last weekend, I have about had it. Guitards on 13 in a room smaller than a closet, bitchen between the 3 of them constantly about how loud each is and how much they each need to turn down but none of them are too loud themselves. Monitors so loud they drown out the drummers. Drummers so loud I can't hear any monitors, me being pushed to behind the drummer so the guitards can have enough room at the front of the stage. Me singing 90% of all backups and not having a monitor. Drunk guitard singing over all my harmonies to show off to his wife. Super drunk everyone except me (I don't really drink) so bad that the drummer was using his coat as a cymbal the other gig. 15 years I have put up with this. I can't take it. 9 gigs and I have driven at least one if not both ways for 6 of them and there are 6 people who are capable of driving. Getting bitched at for a missed note and the same guitard completely just stops playing so he can get someone to get him another beer (usually 15 or 20 per night)..
I mean am I wrong?? I have been looking to join another band for about 2 years, passed on a couple of questionable ones. Seems everyone in my area wants to play metal.. not down with that. Want to be happy. Just hating life in my band right now.. Nobody else to complain to other than my TB family..
Click to expand...


If I ever get with MoFo's playin' all loud like that, I just play really really quietly. And look at them with a blank stare. Then after the set, I say "Could you a** holes hear me?" I've done this. Seriously. They'll get the message. Trust me.
 
#84
You have a lot more patience than I do. I would have walked the first time the drunks on the stage outnumbered the drunks in the audience. Personally I have zero patience or tolerance for dueling guitards and drunks. I don't allow smoking in my new truck, so I don't have to worry about hauling band mates to gigs. I'm about to walk on a Country Band I'm with because they have only had one (unpaid) gig in nearly five months. I'm an older guy and about past my expiration date. I don't need drama and I don't need to get worked up about other band members. There are plenty more bands looking for a bass on Craigslist.
 
#87
My current band owns it's own 15 passenger van, trailer, 3 PA's and more. Gear isn't the issue. I have my own PA. Have had all my own gear for years. Got to figure out how to make that move.. Way to involved. This is not just quitting a band. There are papers that will need to be done, probably a lawyer to draw up dissolution of my partnership agreement and sell my portion of the LLC..
 
#88
A couple of comments (not on the alcohol consumption, the most any of the bands I've been in have ever done was 3 light beers a night).

3 guitars is just silly.... I was in a 3 guitar band for a year. If a guitarist didn't show up for a rehearsal we sounded better. Several times one or another guitarist couldn't make a gig at the last minute and we managed fine. Eventually a guitarist quit. Band went on no problem.

I have seen photos of the band since. They brought the 3rd guitarist back in. They now have full marshal stacks. I couldn't imagine being in that band now.
 
#91
Yea, the ego thing is probably the worst of it.. We have always been a 3 guitar 2 drummer 1 bass band. 15 years of it. Since the guitarists are learned musicians and each have such a different style, our practices are about positioning and parts. Situation just sucks
 
#93
I'll offer a different opinion here. Against the grain so to speak.

Since you are seriously outnumbered, maybe you should get with the program and start drinking heavily too. I don't think that you realize just how much fun you're missing. I bet your bandmates would really appreciate it if you showed up with a fifth (or two) of Jack for everyone. Perhaps a liquor or beer company endorsement deal would be a good fit for the band.

Maybe even step it up and bring some crack to practice to really get them going the right direction. This gesture will be truly appreciated by the drummer. Nothing quite like hitting the crack pipe for a true rock and roll experience.

And you should definitely be encouraging much more volume. I'd suggest a pair of full stacks for each guitarist so that you can present a full concert listening experience in your shows. Encourage each guitarist to turn up so that he can hear over the other guitarists. Keep doing this until you reach eye-bleed volume. Contrary to what everyone here says, audiences really like deafening volumes. So do venue owners. This is rock, not a lady's tea party.
 
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#97
Yep, f**k em'
Your time is valuable, so use it well. Just left a band with my best friends because, well we no longer were a band. Hadn't played in two years, never practiced. but we hang out still, well not since I left, feelings were hurt, but i practice really hard, and it was a waste my time. If your like me, leave and don't look back. start your own band dood
 

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