Is your band a mess?

[outoftune]

'Band leader'...? in what sense?
If the band is definitely one persons baby then they need to be paying good rates/min fees.

It’s his baby. I respect that but don’t try to say band when everyone is expendable to make YOUR dream work. Pay me as a player in YOUR project. I brought that up before and it died quick.

In this day and age, No social media?

He can't manage himself on social media without letting everything get to him.

Sounds like the general consensus is go find something else. I will heed that advice and move along. I will probably leave only because I’m not driving 3 hours for a poorly planned out gig with little prep beforehand. It’s a shame really. The music is good and we were jiving well for a bit but I really think the guy can’t get out of his own way. Which drags us all under. I think I care more about his project and how to attack it than he does. But in one ear and out the other.
Here’s a couple tunes from the (maybe) upcoming release. Enjoy.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

is anyone else in a band that is an absolute mess?
So I am in a band that out the gate was active, as we could be in our area for original music, but lately everything has ground to a halt. We recorded, played, practiced, shot a video. All the things bands do. Now? Nothing.
We recorded an album last year that is in the can ready to go but for some reason it doesn’t get released. Leader says he’s working on it. Yet, is releasing stuff in the meantime.
We play occasionally and that’s usually without practice since our drummer moved away and the fill in thought he was the new guy (I thought he was too) got pissed and now doesn’t want to play.
The only gigs we get are 3 hours away for 45 minutes. Band leader says we need to get the music out there. Yet we have an album that’s not released and zero social media presence I don’t mind playing if there is a reason to do so. Something to gig for and promote.
I have seriously thought about walking but I just want to play and anything seems better than nothing, but funnily enough we are pretty much at nothing.
Should I stick around?
Should I just bail while the bailing is good?
Damn my writing skills are crap.

Just a few questions: What happened to your local market? Who told the drummer he wasn’t the new guy?

Are you aware of the cost to publish a release? Is your material copy righted? Are you pressing your LP on to CDs? Cost for art work, who is paying ? Do you have a written business agreement to define who owns what and who gets paid for their work?

If any of the answers to the second paragraph is no, your intellectual property may be at risk.

As for the band, sounds like you need a new drummer. Secondly, you need to make sure you don’t give your rights to any profits for the work you performed.

‘Either of those two is not happening, I’d walk.

 

[Andy Marshman]

I was gone at 3 hour drive. There are so many red flags here, I'd be leaving the group.

 

[outoftune]

Just a few questions: What happened to your local market? Who told the drummer he wasn’t the new guy?

The local market is pretty bad right now. Covid took a toll on live music but it is starting to come back.
The drummer situation is touchy since we have an album done but that drummer moved and he feels involved still (but can’t practice and will take gigs he can make) it’s the friend thing too. The new guy was lead to believe he was in then the other played a show and then the fight was on.

Are you aware of the cost to publish a release? Is your material copy righted? Are you pressing your LP on to CDs? Cost for art work, who is paying ? Do you have a written business agreement to define who owns what and who gets paid for their work?

NONE of this stuff is ever discussed and if so the BL says he has it all taken care of when obviously he doesn’t. I have taken the time to research and get these things in line but it ends up being a waste of time. I truly think that he thinks if you release something into thin air somebody will see it and come knocking. Lol. Rock star dreams, you know?

If any of the answers to the second paragraph is no, your intellectual property may be at risk.

As for the band, sounds like you need a new drummer. Secondly, you need to make sure you don’t give your rights to any profits for the work you performed.

‘Either of those two is not happening, I’d walk.

 

[HardNHeavy]

what's up with the album not being released..is that the BL responsibility or a record label/distributor issue. No drums, 3hr travel to short gigs, no social media or promotion. I'd def be looking at other options, in the meantime have a good talk with BL and everyone else.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

I struggle to see a situation where this ends any better than where it is now. I've been in situations kind of like this and they did not improve.

If band leader was good at his job you'd either be a happy group or a well paid group, or both.

When I was a younger man I would have stuck this out. I would not stick this out now. It sounds like a bad time, and that's not why I play.

Edit: I just realized that I've yet to see a post where a player said, "our band was a disaster and suddenly one day our band leader got his *stuff* together and now we're all pretty happy and on the same page and doing things."

 

[JRA]

that's too bad @outoftune --- your music is great (and the production is very cool!) --- seems like you could be 'on the verge' of some really cool opportunities if the right efforts were made. i enjoyed the youtube presentations you posted!

edit: per the OP: time to shake things up = a come to Gsus meeting is in order! you have the right to know, "what's the plan, man?"

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Sorry about the Drummer situation. I can certainly understand that dynamic.

As for the business side, this is not good. To put it bluntly, without an agreement in place, your band leader is either placing your work at great risk, or worse (and I hope this is not the case) stealing from you.

Our band had recorded and published 3 LPs over the last 18 months. It’s not free, I’m not so sure what the exact cost is as we have a recording contract which take a good bite out of our two sales a month on ITunes. LOL!!!

Don’t beat yourself over this, Most bands don’t bother with this sort of formality. But if you want to see what can happen if your work sells, look at the Eagle. When they got together it was 5 guys splitting profit 5 ways. Down the road Frey and Henley became highly irritated because they wrote most of the music sang the leads, but we’re getting the same amount as Felder the guitarist (a great on at that of which I can’t imaging an Eagles tune without his artistry) that ended in fisticuffs.

We’ve been recording and publishing since the mid eighties and have established a couple of publishing entities. Of course, if somebody saw one of our CDs with intent to steal ideas, after the first listen, they probably give it back. LOL…My wife says our work is like an Old Uncle Charlie, the one with the weird paintings in the attic.

Anyway, I hope all works out for you. Take care.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

is anyone else in a band that is an absolute mess?
So I am in a band that out the gate was active, as we could be in our area for original music, but lately everything has ground to a halt. We recorded, played, practiced, shot a video. All the things bands do. Now? Nothing.
We recorded an album last year that is in the can ready to go but for some reason it doesn’t get released. Leader says he’s working on it. Yet, is releasing stuff in the meantime.
We play occasionally and that’s usually without practice since our drummer moved away and the fill in thought he was the new guy (I thought he was too) got pissed and now doesn’t want to play.
The only gigs we get are 3 hours away for 45 minutes. Band leader says we need to get the music out there. Yet we have an album that’s not released and zero social media presence I don’t mind playing if there is a reason to do so. Something to gig for and promote.
I have seriously thought about walking but I just want to play and anything seems better than nothing, but funnily enough we are pretty much at nothing.
Should I stick around?
Should I just bail while the bailing is good?
Damn my writing skills are crap.

I’m not currently in such a band, but I have been. Probably the most important thing when trying to pull a band together is to find members that have similar priorities and purpose for being in the band. A lot of bands, and sounds like yours, have members with much different priorities & purpose for being in the band. That’s a recipe for what you are experiencing.

 

[two fingers]

is anyone else in a band that is an absolute mess?
So I am in a band that out the gate was active, as we could be in our area for original music, but lately everything has ground to a halt. We recorded, played, practiced, shot a video. All the things bands do. Now? Nothing.
We recorded an album last year that is in the can ready to go but for some reason it doesn’t get released. Leader says he’s working on it. Yet, is releasing stuff in the meantime.
We play occasionally and that’s usually without practice since our drummer moved away and the fill in thought he was the new guy (I thought he was too) got pissed and now doesn’t want to play.
The only gigs we get are 3 hours away for 45 minutes. Band leader says we need to get the music out there. Yet we have an album that’s not released and zero social media presence I don’t mind playing if there is a reason to do so. Something to gig for and promote.
I have seriously thought about walking but I just want to play and anything seems better than nothing, but funnily enough we are pretty much at nothing.
Should I stick around?
Should I just bail while the bailing is good?
Damn my writing skills are crap.

Your band leader is a total flake. End of story. That will not change. Ever. Period.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, decide what to do next based on those two truths.

 

[51PRI]

Travel 3 hours for a 45 minute gig? I wouldn't waste MY time.

Likely at no pay as well. OP's band is an all original band which is tough in many markets.

BTW and FWIW I'm in two hands, one an original band that never plays out and the other one that plays quite a bit, and both of them are a mess!

 

[bucephylus]

There are good gigs and not so good gigs. Just the way it is. Most are pretty tolerable to great; but, most also have their issues.

My current gigs are generally pretty great. Our biggest issue is that we have been unable to develop a shared calendar for scheduling purposes. Google has made their shared calendars much more obtuse of late; to the point that a couple of the band members had serious issues trying to tie in to the invites, and now are predisposed against the platform. Sadly, there are few alternatives.

In general, as the Internet becomes more and more about making profits, it is becoming more and more useless.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Bands are messy...
Pretty much every band I've ever been in was a mess, to one degree or another.
Outside forces, family issues, ego's, goals, drugs..etc,etc.
Success dosent preclude this. Thats how we get Vh1s "behind the music".
Being in a band does have its rewards...messy,messy rewards.
Good luck with your mess.

 

[pepj]

It’s his baby. I respect that but don’t try to say band when everyone is expendable to make YOUR dream work. Pay me as a player in YOUR project. I brought that up before and it died quick.

Ok, so you leave then, or stay and be their modern day slave?

 

[outoftune]

Ok, so you leave then, or stay and be their modern day slave?

I definitely need to make a move.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Play with other bands. Once you are busy doing other things musically what does or doesn't happen with this current group won't matter to you much.

 

[Marko 1]

Just curious... Do you have to do originals? Do you have to do that kind of music? Any interests in playing other genres of music? Covers by chance?

 

[MrLenny1]

My gig is a mess, not as bad as yours but what you describe
is kind of the norm for bands. Main issue IMHO is lack of work and
lazy musicians.
It's a very poopy business.

 

[outoftune]

Just curious... Do you have to do originals? Do you have to do that kind of music? Any interests in playing other genres of music? Covers by chance?

This is a 100% originals project. we have tossed a couple covers in for time for some shows we have played.

 

[Marko 1]

This is a 100% originals project. we have tossed a couple covers in for time for some shows we have played.

I mean you, with other bands.