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My Band was Auditioned and ...

Been mixing a lot of these Tik Tok/ Insta "stars" live shows lately, it really has me thinking of quitting live production because it all blows so bad, for the reasons stated by the OP. There is no development in the art of live performance, lots of auto tune and tracks. The worst is when it's completely pre- recorded with vocal and all, and the main "mc" or whatever jumps around and randomly shouts some of the lyrics and poses- might as well go for a workout at Curves, same thing. There's massive talent out there, wonderful fresh stuff, but the circuit is packed with garbage. /rant
 
Imagine your 19-year-old self being given the option of fronting a band comprised of people your parents and grandparents age.

You are probably not what she had in mind when the label told her 'We'll find a band for you".

When I was that age (and younger) I had gigs with people in their 60's and 70's all the way down to people my own age. Styles ranges from country to classical, jazz standards in bars, church music in church (of all kinds).

I never wanted to "front" anything. I was super nervous playing with the older folks and I didn't always get called back, but sometimes I did. I can think back to two or three different dumb things I said or did, and it's pretty tough now to think about it.

I'm not sure that age, disappointments or nerves absolve her from common decency. Her handlers are trying to teach her the basics.
 
So you never rehearse, and all tried to be professional musicians early in life and failed? Is that right?

The bar /club scene in the 90's, here in Detroit anyways, always had bands playing with different musicians from other bands sitting in at any time, no rehearsal, call the tune and go. And they got paid. So yes, you can be a professional without rehearsing. Did it work every time of course not but that's the case anyways.
 
This right here. We middle-Agers tend to forget just how incredibly old we seem to people who are barely out of childhood. She was way out of line for lashing out like that, but then again what do you expect from someone who is basically a child?
Imagine your 19-year-old self being given the option of fronting a band comprised of people your parents and grandparents age.

You are probably not what she had in mind when the label told her 'We'll find a band for you".
 
The problem is NOT the age difference. The problem is her immaturity. Period.

I have backed plenty of "kids". Some are very professional and mature. Some are spoiled brats. (The same is true for "grownups" as well.)

Anyone who would storm off the stage in the middle of a song is the problem. End of story.

Sorry you had to deal with that. Best of luck moving forward. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail.
 
@two fingers
I fully agree on the lack of maturity.

From what I'm read here, I don't subscribe to any notion that she suffered any mistreatment at the session. It wouldn't make sense anyway for the musicians to do so. Making her happy makes her management want to use you again in the future, so why risk being blackballed?

I am puzzled by this management company. In the vetting process, they did notice her inexperience, but nobody picked up on her short fuse? Apparently not, since she didn't have a handler with her at the session to run interference.

Speculation: I was wondering if this was a set up to see if she would blow up and basically make management's decision to cut her loose easier.

The result of her whining away on social media is so juvenile, it's almost beyond belief. However, it seems to be the rule nowadays. Her character is clear to me with that action. Immature.

To me, it also sounds like she just wanted someone to throw under the bus instead of looking in the mirror and saying: What could I have done better?

To the OP: Keep on truckin' buddy! ;)
 
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Yeah.. we've all been there.

Last Christmas my band was booked for a tree lighting. We opened for this artist who had been on American Idol. Twice! Even made it to a live show once. Saw the band and said artist before the show. All giggles and smiles. Then they proceeded to hog up all the sound check leaving us to go out hoping for the best. After our set the band and "artist" suddenly started snubbing us. When they started playing, we realized why. We smoked em. They we're just horrible. The artist was a "good singer". But no better than the millions that they sounded just like. We we're invited back for another gig 2 days later by the city. Artist forgotten.
 
The 19 year old Instagram "star" called us a bunch of "Old fakers that sound like an elementary school orchestra."

We are 9 people in our 40's, 50's, and 60's who all tried to be professional musicians early in life and failed, so we now do this for fun. We were asked by her management to be the live backing band for 5 local gigs in April because her record label wanted her to get some crowd time before they spent real money on an out of state tour.

Our impression - she is a Karaoke singer with no experience with a live band. Shelly, our lead singer, did one of her songs with us last night and blew her away, and she did that reading the lyrics off a piece of paper. That's when our "star" stormed out.

We are now waiting to see if we are fired. It wouldn't disappoint any of us.

No names to protect from legal actions

Everything is self-explanatory in your post, both literally and in between the lines..........Thank you for sharing
 
I've had both good and bad experiences playing with younger singers and also younger musicians. In each case, I'd say it pretty much had everything to do with who that person was and how they were raised and treated others and nothing to do specifically with age. If a person is good, their immaturity can often be overlooked pretty easily. Pretty much the same thing for older musicians.

Sounds like the OP had a bad experience with a self-centered one to me. That will probably become worse as she gets more famous. I've had similar experiences and understand the frustration.
 
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It's only true because Boomers cut funding for music education in schools.
So don't make it sound like it's the kid's fault... ;-)

That's kind of a blanket statement, wouldn't you say? Almost like saying that ALL 19 y.o. singers/musicians suck...which is obviously not true. And of course schools had to divert funding. Do you know how expensive it is to provide that many kids with trophies just for showing up to class with a pencil on a Tuesday!?

Besides, music education is still there. Almost every high school in the country has a concert or marching band. Except, sometimes kids label other kids as 'band geeks' or nerds, etc...because sometimes it's just not socially acceptable to be a part of that group when you're on IG and think that you're Ms. Thang.