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Multiple Band Issues

M

manbearpig97

Mar 28, 2010
150
2
29
#1
Okay, this may or may not be long, but I need help from you guys. Right now, I'm a freshman in high school, and so many of my friends in the older grades have bands, but don't have a bassist. My problem is, as of right now, three different bands are recruiting me, and I doubt I can handle them all with my schoolwork, and the track team. So, I need to drop one of them.

Band #1: This band is my oldest band, we've been together for about a year. It's made up of my two best friends, and another great friend. One of them I've known since Pre-K, and the other is like a brother to me. the problem is we all mess around to much, but never actually write ****.

Band #2: This is a band with the guitarist of Band #1. We've only practiced once, but we all worked so well together, and it actually seems like we'll go somewhere, since our singer already knows a producer, and has places for us to play.

Band #3: I've never played with this band, but I have seen some of there stuff, and it's pretty good, and they think I'd be a prefect fit with them. the only problem is they'd have to kick out their current bassist, who is a good friend of mine.

Any help would be nice.
 
#3
Forget about band #3.

Use these other 2 bands to learn about playing bass, playing with people, and song writing. Record your practices, constantly try to improve your material.

Have fun.

Find a gigging bassist who also teaches lessons. Take lessons. You can learn a TON of good info from him/her about your playing , your role in the band, how a band operates, what gigs are out there, what gear you need... Etc.

I'm telling you now, the most important thing you can do at this point is learn. Search far and wide for the mentor I'm talking about. It's probably not one of your friends or their parents.

Think, obi-wan and luke. Or dumbledore and Harry potter. Mr miagi and Daniel-san.
 
#5
The obvious choice is to get out of band #1. You can still hang out and even jam with your friends, but if there's no music being written or learned, it's not really a "band" anyway.

Maybe the guy getting kicked out of #3 can go mess around with the guys from #1 and get a bit better. Everybody wins.
 
#6
I'd keep #2 as a formal band. #1 is a jam band and nothing more. If the rest of them decide to start organizing around goals/gigs/etc, this has potential though. #3 is too dramatic and I'd pass. They're already "good" so leave them alone, maybe give some guidance to your bassist friend.

Considering that you have school and other activities, one band is probably enough
 
#9
Most of us who have been around for awhile "know a producer" and places to play. I'd be a bit scared using this as a reason to join a band. If you can swing #1 and #2 for awhile to see which one works for you, that would be the best way to go for now. One practice doesn't give you much insight into the other musicians personalities, and it's a big factor in enjoying working with any band. Ditto on #3, sounds like backstabbing, which always sucks.
 
#10
ibateur said:
I'd keep #2 as a formal band. #1 is a jam band and nothing more. If the rest of them decide to start organizing around goals/gigs/etc, this has potential though. #3 is too dramatic and I'd pass. They're already "good" so leave them alone, maybe give some guidance to your bassist friend.

Considering that you have school and other activities, one band is probably enough
Click to expand...

This
 
#11
Play in one band and give it all your effort rather than trying to play in 3 bands and giving each band one-third of your effort. Pick the band with the most reliable musicians - people that will practice on their own and show up ontime for rehearsals and gis. If possible, pick the band with the best paying gigs. If you're not playing gigs that pay yet, that's ok too - just pick the band with the best gigs, "best" meaning venues and/or events you enjoy playing the most. Good luck!
 
#13
What's dramatic about 3? They just want a (presumably) better bass player. To make that happen, AT SOME POINT the rest of the band is going to have to meet together to come to that decision. What would you prefer, that the whole band (including current bassist) just gets together and someone brings it up out of nowhere and totally ambush the guy? Without doing that, at SOME point it's going to be "behind his back". The real key is how they go about getting rid of the old guy. If they just stop telling him about rehearsals and let him wonder *** is going on, that sucks. But if they tell him honestly, "hey, we feel it's just not working out and we feel this other guy would be a better fit for the band and allow us to achieve our goals" then I don't see anything wrong with that.

I mean, Metallica just woke up Dave Mustaine with a bus ticket and his stuff packed and that was it (with Kirk Hammett ready to go as his replacement). Metallica ended up as one of the most successful bands of all time, and Mustaine formed Megadeth who were also extremely successful.

Honestly, I would RATHER be in a band where people aren't so tied to the lineup of "friends" that they're unwilling to replace people who aren't cutting it.
 
#15
jungleheat said:
What's dramatic about 3? They just want a (presumably) better bass player. To make that happen, AT SOME POINT the rest of the band is going to have to meet together to come to that decision. What would you prefer, that the whole band (including current bassist) just gets together and someone brings it up out of nowhere and totally ambush the guy? Without doing that, at SOME point it's going to be "behind his back". The real key is how they go about getting rid of the old guy. If they just stop telling him about rehearsals and let him wonder *** is going on, that sucks. But if they tell him honestly, "hey, we feel it's just not working out and we feel this other guy would be a better fit for the band and allow us to achieve our goals" then I don't see anything wrong with that.

I mean, Metallica just woke up Dave Mustaine with a bus ticket and his stuff packed and that was it (with Kirk Hammett ready to go as his replacement). Metallica ended up as one of the most successful bands of all time, and Mustaine formed Megadeth who were also extremely successful.

Honestly, I would RATHER be in a band where people aren't so tied to the lineup of "friends" that they're unwilling to replace people who aren't cutting it.
Click to expand...

I disagree 100%. Bands HAVE to communicate.

If someone is screwing up or not "cutting it" they need told TO THEIR FACE by the whole band at practice. Then they need TOLD what actions will be taken and when they will be taken if they do not change. Bands don't need to be FRIENDS but they do need to be PROFESSIONAL.

Regardless if Metallica is successful they screwed Dave Mustaine if he was not TOLD and given a chance to make good.

If you are given a warning and THEN you continue to suck...THEN you get what you deserve.
 

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