Absolutely. It's helpful to find players that are roughly at the same level as you; that way you'll improve together without really doing more than playing for fun. Skill mismatches are a disaster in my book.
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Low drama hobby bands - share your tips
- Thread starter alex1fly
- Start date
Without doubt, the biggest ongoing frustration I experience in bands has to do with scheduling rehearsals.
Once you toss out there the fact that this is a hobby, nobody prioritizes their commitments to it at all. So I live in a world where I'm continually setting aside time for rehearsals that get cancelled or moved. Then you set aside the new time, and that also gets cancelled or moved. Multiply this effect by a factor of however many bands you are in, if you are in more than one, and the number of people in them, and you find yourself unable to commit to anything else but also, somehow, simultaneously always having your time free at the last minute.
It's a joy, for sure.
As for picking material, I'd just set parameters and let the others pick from there.
*My* formula for picking covers to play out... and if you plan on not playing out, you might find that you will eventually, so...
It has to be/have been a popular song, instantly recognizable by almost everyone (there are zillions of them, no excuse to not be able to find plenty).
It has to be upbeat, dance, toe-tapper, or slow dance ballad, no “listening songs”.
If it turns out to be a variety of genres, imo that's a good thing,
but again, chose the parameters that fit your situation, then let others have input.
*My* formula for picking covers to play out... and if you plan on not playing out, you might find that you will eventually, so...
It has to be/have been a popular song, instantly recognizable by almost everyone (there are zillions of them, no excuse to not be able to find plenty).
It has to be upbeat, dance, toe-tapper, or slow dance ballad, no “listening songs”.
If it turns out to be a variety of genres, imo that's a good thing,
but again, chose the parameters that fit your situation, then let others have input.
Involving spouses is close to the top of the list for drama in a band in my opinion.
deepestend
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- Feb 21, 2003
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This is frustrating for sure. With my longstanding band, we have a wed night rehearsal. We usually have more guys than we need in the rotation. If people can't make it, that's fine. Somebody goes and plays. We all have kids, spouses, etc. so we're pretty understanding when it doesn't work out. We keep momentum with online playlists of covers and originals that we're all working on in some fashion and gives us a framework for when we do play. It mostly works!
Now, we had to take a break due to covid etc and I started playing with a new group. Two unmarried guys without kids and then me and another guy from my old group. I loved playing the music with them. All original tunes that pushed what I can do musically. However, scheduling was so hard with them. Maybe they just didn't "feel" like playing, or they wanted to schedule practice during a prime family time like 4-7 on sunday afternoon/evening, or maybe one of the two married/kids guys was late or had to leave all of a sudden due to kid stuff-- which the other two would resent. On top of that, the lead guy was a bit of a perfectionist and would not be happy if we were making mistakes or not playing things "right." The tension became a little bit of a drag and not a lot of fun in the end.
Ultimately, things weren't working out even though we sounded great... and the two other guys were having trouble calling it. So, I just called it. Said I'd love to play with them in the future, but that it was clear that it wasn't going to move forward.
We went back to the old group... which was serendipitous because suddenly it could happen again... and it's been pretty good.
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I do think being on the same wavelength for rehearsal times is key. I hate, hate weekend rehearsals. I'll do Friday nights, but weekend afternoons? As a dude working a M-F job, weekends, unless gigging, are for getting stuff done around the house and spending time with the kiddos.
Ok, so I hear this word bantered around quite a bit here on talkbass, "rehearsal".
I'm stumped. Can someone explain?
I'm stumped. Can someone explain?
Recently there was a car jacking where a vehicle belonging to a funeral home was stolen, with a body in the back. When they recovered the body and transported it back to the funeral home: rehearsal.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
Some of my favorite non-gigging musical experiences have been at people's homes, at picnics, and during break-out sessions during music festivals.
There is no set list. Few of the instrumentalists are "regulars" and there's no significant pecking order.
People show up with their instruments at a designated place and time, and playing takes place.
There is no set list. Few of the instrumentalists are "regulars" and there's no significant pecking order.
People show up with their instruments at a designated place and time, and playing takes place.
deepestend
Commercial User
- Feb 21, 2003
- 6,249
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a little bit
but when everyone is taking it pretty seriously in the moment and working hard and the perfectionism starts making it not fun—that’s when it can be an issue. I'm usually that guy, so it was interesting to have someone else take that role and really run with it.
if everyone is being a clown and just doing stoned jams, that can be annoying. But that wasn’t this situation.
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Involving spouses is close to the top of the list for drama in a band in my opinion.
Results may vary. Keep in mind this is predicated on having functional adults as band members.
If their spouse doesn't want to come to the gig/thinks our music sucks/doesn't like the band mates - then THAT will spell doom.
I'm winning over EVERY heart/mind/derriere
NO BOOTIES LEFT BEHIND!
