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meeting new band today.. without instruments
- Thread starter dalconthenovice
- Start date
Lay it all out..
timelines.. pay scales.. PA gear...
It's always amazing the number of times we see threads revolving around spending 5 months practicing then realizing one guy wants to busk and another won't leave the house for less than $150
I know it's not all that fun.. circulating a sheet that lays out the plan REALLY helps.
I always deadhead asap some 1 hour showcase gig.. this ensures we don't get into a band that's going to practice for 10 years then break up.
timelines.. pay scales.. PA gear...
It's always amazing the number of times we see threads revolving around spending 5 months practicing then realizing one guy wants to busk and another won't leave the house for less than $150
I know it's not all that fun.. circulating a sheet that lays out the plan REALLY helps.
I always deadhead asap some 1 hour showcase gig.. this ensures we don't get into a band that's going to practice for 10 years then break up.
How did the meeting go? This happened already, right?
"Fear is the mind killer" -Muad'Dib aka Paul Atreides
"Fear is the mind killer" -Muad'Dib aka Paul Atreides
Me too, I'd much rather a guitarist have at least 2 full stacks w/ 100w tube amps, one for each side of the stage.
the meeting was... interesting
i had previously known the drummer because we worked together for a local original group and because the manager/producer wannabe guy was as controlling as **** i left, so when i got in i found out the guitarist, keyboardist, and singer at one point or another were all members of THAT SAME project that left
crazy huh? glad to know i'm not the only one!
so it all went fine, i think, after discussing our individual past with the band that sort of brought us together we started talkin about what we want to do planning blah blah blah
then we all started talkin and getting to know each other which was about 2 hours worth of stuff, based off of my impression? the guitarist seems to love to argue, of course isn't that typical of your typical guitard?
anyways, we're hittin the rehearsal studio tonight, via evolution studios and jammin out to a few covers and a few keys
i had previously known the drummer because we worked together for a local original group and because the manager/producer wannabe guy was as controlling as **** i left, so when i got in i found out the guitarist, keyboardist, and singer at one point or another were all members of THAT SAME project that left
crazy huh? glad to know i'm not the only one!
so it all went fine, i think, after discussing our individual past with the band that sort of brought us together we started talkin about what we want to do planning blah blah blah
then we all started talkin and getting to know each other which was about 2 hours worth of stuff, based off of my impression? the guitarist seems to love to argue, of course isn't that typical of your typical guitard?
anyways, we're hittin the rehearsal studio tonight, via evolution studios and jammin out to a few covers and a few keys
This one thing I will agree with this dude on.We all come from different backgrounds.
For example, if I met up with a band and outside of music they were fanatic sportsmen, huntin, fishin. driving trucks then I know our personalities are not going to match.
I just invested 4 rehearsals with some guys, we had nothing in common and a host of other problems.
At the top of the list was they wanteed to do material that they did not have the resources to pull it off. I did not want to invest any more of my time.
so i had the rehearsal today
wow.. um... so the singer wanted to spend the whole time playing cheesy ass covers of sublime songs, songs i haven't listened to since like 2006 so that didn't go well as planned...
wow.. um... so the singer wanted to spend the whole time playing cheesy ass covers of sublime songs, songs i haven't listened to since like 2006 so that didn't go well as planned...
jive1
Commercial User
I just landed a gig using the meet and greet. Met with the band, just to shoot the sh** and see if we could get along. Went to their open mic the following week, played 2 songs with them, and now I'll be playing a couple of gigs for them this week.
I think alot of audition hoops can be bypassed through a meet and greet. But, for some reason, people aren't always amenable to it. I wish more were as I find that most bands break up due to personal conflicts, tastes, and schedules more than playing ability.
I think alot of audition hoops can be bypassed through a meet and greet. But, for some reason, people aren't always amenable to it. I wish more were as I find that most bands break up due to personal conflicts, tastes, and schedules more than playing ability.
Damn, beat me to it. If they order Smirnoff Ice (and they're male) say thanks but no thanks.
You can laugh, but I never really met a guy who drinks that who was remotely interesting.
I like how it says on the Smirnoff Ice label that it's "Flavored beer".
I don't like to drink beer at gigs (too much bloating and belching - not cool when singing), so I've switched to cider - looks like beer, but without the bloat factor.
My favorite is Dickens Cider. Nothing I enjoy more than having a hot Dickens Cider.
"He is the Kwizatz Haderach.
He is born of Caladan
And will take the Gom Jabbar.
He has the power to foresee
Or to look into the past
He is the ruler of the stars."
Iron Maiden "To Tame a Land"/Dune
The fact that they want to meet in person BEFORE jamming is a good thing in my book. As far as the drinking "advice" I would be hesitant to order the first drink, of course I'm not a heavy drinker so what do I know, but this is in effect a business meeting, so although casual and relaxed I would still try to be professional about it. If drinking is a major part of how they opperate that may be a clue of how things will go down the road as well.
One thing that eventually sneaks up on you, along with relationships, are jobs and transportation. If they don't have a way of hauling their own gear, or a job with which to pay for the little things like food, guitar strings, and drum sticks, who do you think is going to get tagged with the "hey man can you loan me a couple of bucks" or "hey dude can I get a ride?" questions. Outside activities are also something you want to consider. Any of these guys in a softball league that gets together on Thursdays? That could affect rehearsals and gigs.
Gear is only somewhat of an issue for me. They need to have enough gear to do what needs to be done, i.e. heavy rock bands need halfstacks, jazz trios dont. I am more concerned about the people I'm dealing with than what brand of drums they use, or how many collectable guitars they own. Crap gear can get replaced or upgraded if need be, but an @-hole is an @-hole and thats hard to fix and definitely not worth your time.
Think of all the bands you been in and all of the horror stories you heard about or witnessed and bring in a list of questions. Seriously write down some questions and bring them with you. They're interviewing you for the bass position but you're also interviewing them for the "band" position.
In the end GO WITH YOUR GUT. If something feels off, or is mildly annoying now, it will probably only get worse.
He is born of Caladan
And will take the Gom Jabbar.
He has the power to foresee
Or to look into the past
He is the ruler of the stars."
Iron Maiden "To Tame a Land"/Dune
The fact that they want to meet in person BEFORE jamming is a good thing in my book. As far as the drinking "advice" I would be hesitant to order the first drink, of course I'm not a heavy drinker so what do I know, but this is in effect a business meeting, so although casual and relaxed I would still try to be professional about it. If drinking is a major part of how they opperate that may be a clue of how things will go down the road as well.
One thing that eventually sneaks up on you, along with relationships, are jobs and transportation. If they don't have a way of hauling their own gear, or a job with which to pay for the little things like food, guitar strings, and drum sticks, who do you think is going to get tagged with the "hey man can you loan me a couple of bucks" or "hey dude can I get a ride?" questions. Outside activities are also something you want to consider. Any of these guys in a softball league that gets together on Thursdays? That could affect rehearsals and gigs.
Gear is only somewhat of an issue for me. They need to have enough gear to do what needs to be done, i.e. heavy rock bands need halfstacks, jazz trios dont. I am more concerned about the people I'm dealing with than what brand of drums they use, or how many collectable guitars they own. Crap gear can get replaced or upgraded if need be, but an @-hole is an @-hole and thats hard to fix and definitely not worth your time.
Think of all the bands you been in and all of the horror stories you heard about or witnessed and bring in a list of questions. Seriously write down some questions and bring them with you. They're interviewing you for the bass position but you're also interviewing them for the "band" position.
In the end GO WITH YOUR GUT. If something feels off, or is mildly annoying now, it will probably only get worse.
