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Is my lead singer that bad?

#242
Manuel101 said:
That is what i am very afraid of. We need a singer and most of the people who have responded don't sing well at all:bawl:
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I'd be honest and tell him you're not interested in being someone else's backing band. He can bring his songs in and if they're good then the band will play them.

If he pushes the subject then I doubt he's a good fit.

It took us over a year to find a drummer but the wait was worth it. We've rebuilt any lost momentum and having a tight band is better than having been playing for the past year.
 
#243
Manuel101 said:
I was thinking the justin guy is the best choice for now. Ernest declined the audition stating he doesn't fit our genre. The thing with justin is that he wants to create two bands. He wants to be the front man of march of the mannequins and he wants us to be his band for his solo project. Has that ever worked out the same musicians creating two bands? I worry whether or not we will be dispensable if his solo work picks up. we dont want to have to find another singer down the line.
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You should not worry to much about the two band thing. If you have his songs and the rest of you write as well and can work together creating music, then it may give you a 2 point of attack into the music business. He would be using you and you him from a networking point of view. Giving you all more exposure. Just keep copyrights to your songs and band names if and when people move on. If you were to achieve more success from this and even make your living from music, you are then in a better position to find new musicians. Also learn that there are other avenues to getting your music placed in commercials, movies, etc.
 
#244
father of fires said:
I'd be honest and tell him you're not interested in being someone else's backing band. He can bring his songs in and if they're good then the band will play them.

If he pushes the subject then I doubt he's a good fit.

It took us over a year to find a drummer but the wait was worth it. We've rebuilt any lost momentum and having a tight band is better than having been playing for the past year.
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So you suggest sort of fusing the two bands into one? God how i wish we can find a suitable singer. It really is sad when you have a group of people working hard to make things work but there are so many bumps in the road and it is hard not to get discourage. We have gained momentum and the venues around our area are really impressed with out music, other bands as well but this we are afraid this latest setback might kill the buzz we have generated so far. its really heart breaking.
 
#245
cmassa said:
You should not worry to much about the two band thing. If you have his songs and the rest of you write as well and can work together creating music, then it may give you a 2 point of attack into the music business. He would be using you and you him from a networking point of view. Giving you all more exposure. Just keep copyrights to your songs and band names if and when people move on. If you were to achieve more success from this and even make your living from music, you are then in a better position to find new musicians. Also learn that there are other avenues to getting your music placed in commercials, movies, etc.
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I feel like such a rookie when it comes to the music industry. I have usually played in latin bands and jazz ensembles so I didnt have to make hard decisions I would just show up to the studio or venue and do my job. Now the drummer and I are the ones doing the promoting, setting website, booking venues etc. I wish I was wiser. I am pretty sure there are better ways of doing things but as of right now i am still very inexperienced. That's why i have been bothering you guys so much for advice.
 
#246
Manuel101 said:
So you suggest sort of fusing the two bands into one? God how i wish we can find a suitable singer. It really is sad when you have a group of people working hard to make things work but there are so many bumps in the road and it is hard not to get discourage. We have gained momentum and the venues around our area are really impressed with out music, other bands as well but this we are afraid this latest setback might kill the buzz we have generated so far. its really heart breaking.
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Well...think about it like this: The buzz was created with a bad singer. Think what a good singer can do for you.

Now...think about what's more important. Protecting the band you were or building the band that you can be.
 
#247
father of fires said:
Well...think about it like this: The buzz was created with a bad singer. Think what a good singer can do for you.

Now...think about what's more important. Protecting the band you were or building the band that you can be.
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I contacted the singer and he alluded to the fact that he has many important connections as well as financial resources which we really need. We just worry that he could just kick us to the curve later on. Maybe our fears have no foundation but we are just trying to be be careful.
 
#248
Manuel101 said:
I feel like such a rookie when it comes to the music industry. I have usually played in latin bands and jazz ensembles so I didnt have to make hard decisions I would just show up to the studio or venue and do my job. Now the drummer and I are the ones doing the promoting, setting website, booking venues etc. I wish I was wiser. I am pretty sure there are better ways of doing things but as of right now i am still very inexperienced. That's why i have been bothering you guys so much for advice.
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Just know this, as you get more exposure and more people start to blow smoke up your shorts, that is all it is. Every one knows someone and you have to stay focused on being musicians, in the music business. I say this to you because it sounds like you are at an young age and you may have to move ahead as a bass player should "the band" not make it. Or you can just settle into a day job and have a very expensive/time consuming hobby, lol.
Which is ok, too. Have fun, network and good luck. You will need it as the playing field for be a working musician doing original music and getting paid for it, is tough. Patience as was pointed out is huge.
 
#249
Manuel101 said:
I contacted the singer and he alluded to the fact that he has many important connections as well as financial resources which we really need. We just worry that he could just kick us to the curve later on. Maybe our fears have no foundation but we are just trying to be be careful.
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The music business is not for the faint of heart. You can be kicked to the curb at anytime in your life. What you learn as you go, who you meet, is important. Always keep your eyes open. Just showing up and doing your job will not be enough. You have to believe in your abilities as musicians, the hanging out factor for getting along.
 
#252
I love your rig... I like the song, I feel he could do less and make it sound better. it just seems his voice is so overwhelming. I had a lead singer I couldn't stand for awhile... I just formed a new group... He couldn't play guitar either (of which he was the only one) so it was for the best.

Do you love your MB set up? That looks almost spot on of what I'm trying to grab Friday after this weeks pay comes in! :hyper: :bassist: :)
 
#253
cmassa said:
Just know this, as you get more exposure and more people start to blow smoke up your shorts, that is all it is. Every one knows someone and you have to stay focused on being musicians, in the music business. I say this to you because it sounds like you are at an young age and you may have to move ahead as a bass player should "the band" not make it. Or you can just settle into a day job and have a very expensive/time consuming hobby, lol.
Which is ok, too. Have fun, network and good luck. You will need it as the playing field for be a working musician doing original music and getting paid for it, is tough. Patience as was pointed out is huge.
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I actually have a good day job. Math teacher at a high school. I have a strong passion for music thought, most of my family members from my father's side are accomplished musicians (in latin music). I can get gigs playing in merengue bands but only as a hired gun. I love my current band because I get to write my own music and i am part owner as well. It feels great to have such creative freedom.
 
#254
So like i said my family is well known and are very accomplish in the merengue genre. I myself get around:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTcuPb7bbsA my uncles band a few years back. My uncle sings, my cousin is the female backup vocalist, my brother plays the conga. We all look alike lol.

This was about two years ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxna_9V6I7s

This one got me in trouble with my wife lol because the dancers were too hot. If you notice i made sure not to stare at their bodies hahaha.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDvxuaD8RaQ&feature=relmfu

Off course I turn down so of these paying gigs to play with my band.
 
#256
We used to be tighter in my uncle's band but we lost some of our top of the line musicians (brass section and percussion in particular) since they are charging more and the venues are offering less money. I stick around to support him since we are family but he has issues with me for giving march of the mannequins priority. Most of my friends are shock that i would in their words "downgrade myself" by playing in this rock band. But i have faith that we will succeed. Also there is more potential for success in a rock band as opposed to merengue.
 
#257
odie said:
I can see getting in trouble for that!!!:cool: It was pretty funny watching avoiding eye contact!!
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you have no idea how much trouble that caused me even though i was staring at them. I had to turn down some of these gigs until my wife relaxed a bit lol. She prefers for me to play in the rock band because Hispanic girls are a bit more forward and they dont have a problem pursuing you after a show.
 
#259
dbd1963 said:
I say let him know that people complain about his live sound, and that you don't want to replace him, but you DO want him to get lessons so that he can control his instrument. Until he's got it under control, he needs to simplify everything when doing it live.
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Exactly. He should spend no less time, effort, or money getting his "instrument" and his skills up to par than you did. You buy gear. You practiced for hours on end to get where you are. A lot of singers want to show up and sing. Heck, most don't even own a mic.

On a personal level, give him a chance. Talk to him about your concerns and see where his head is. If he is a pro, and cares about your project, he will stand up to the challenge and do something about it. If he storms out of the room all the while telling you that you have no idea what you are talking about then you have a head case on your hands already. He will be a problem down the road. As the old saying goes, "It's not a matter of if, but a matter of when." At some point his ego will get in the way. But I would allow him the opportunity to step up to the plate by being honest.

And by the way, he vibrato is a bit much. Perhaps if he would work on a "less is more" approach to singing he would do better. Good luck.
 
#260
So the search continues for a lead singer. We have about 20 days before our next scheduled gig and we are trying our best not to cancel the gig. This is the most promising reply so far. The other singers did not work out for some reason :crying:
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