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One really important question in a young musician's life.

zombiecatz

zombiecatz

Guest
Apr 4, 2012
16
0
Mexico
#1
Where do you draw the line between attempting to be the best band you can be and being able to enjoy yourself when you play with your band together? I just feel like my band could kick it up a notch as far as quality but i also feel like my whole band feels the band is like a job or something where everyone has to meet up with performance after every show. I would like some advice from the pros and would also like to know if whether being in a rock band is actually my thing or im just being too attached to the idea and will be better off focusing on other musical related things(i.e aspiring film scoring/sound designer, recording engineer career)
 
#2
That's a highly personal decision. The best advise I can give is to trust your gut. Being an artist isn't about cold/calculated decisions (though you occasionally have to make those). If a musical situation doesn't feel right, it isn't. Ultimately, you're the only one who can decide what works for you. That said, being young means you have time to figure stuff out. This might sound very glib, but just keep doing what you're doing until you don't want to do it anymore. The point is that when you really are done with whatever your musical situation is, you'll know, and you'll want to leave. If you have mixed feelings, that's normal. Just focus on what you truly want out of any given situation, and that'll guide you to make the right decision for yourself. Good luck!
 
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#3
I've found that playing in a rock band can be a lot of fun, but every situation involves some compromise. Having goals will help.

I may stick with a situation where several close friends play together, but have different levels of musicianship. I have thoughts of "upping the game" but that band is one that does only Benefits and Charity gigs, so I place a high value on the volunteer aspect rather than approaching it as a hired gun.

Then there are situations where I insert myself among better musicians and push myself to rise to the occasion.

Other times I'm asked just to show up and record parts for songs I've never heard. This is another type of challenge that uses a different part of my brain. It's nice sometimes to play without the drama associated with a "band".

For me, satisfaction comes from having multiple outlets. Any one situation on its own has bits of dissatisfaction. All together they seem to work.
 
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#5
zombiecatz said:
Where do you draw the line between attempting to be the best band you can be and being able to enjoy yourself when you play with your band together?



will be better off focusing on other musical related things(i.e aspiring film scoring/sound designer, recording engineer career)
Click to expand...

I personally don't find that the two HAVE to be mutually exclusive.
As far as what's better for you, only YOU can decide that my man.
What I WILL tell you ,
is that you have a much better chance of financial success
pursuing the film scoring/sound design/engineer career.:thumbsup:
 
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#6
For a lot of us here we are weekend Warriors and a band sometime feels like a job but a fun one. If it is not fun I'm out.

You however sound like you have a career in mind and a future in music or plan to have one. If so you have to see if this is wasting your time or you can deal with it.
For me music is a release and hobby, the money is nice but second. I want a gigging band who has fun but again it's just a hobby.
 
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#7
Kmonk said:
Its pretty easy for me. If my band can't be the best it can be, I won't enjoy it.
Click to expand...
Almost everybody enjoys the gig. I haven't met a lot of people that enjoy the hard work it takes to produce a professional product. In my current band everyone practices their parts, shows up at rehearsals ready to work and our performances show it. It's the tightest band I've ever been in, but we all work hard to make it happen. There are no tricks, shortcuts or easy ways to do it.

To the OP, there are no easy music related ways to make a living. Talk to professionals who are actually making a living doing what you want to. Ignore the plumbers, accountants and arm chair quarterbacks; they will try to convince you that it's impossible, and even if it wasn't, it's not worth trying.
 
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#9
Like most things, you will get out of your band whatever you put in. For me, I enjoy working on it. I enjoy thinking about it.

Having said that, I would also say that like most things, it will ebb and flow. For you and all the members of your band. There will be times you are hyper-motivated and times when the status quo is just fine.

Ideally, you will find like minded musicians that have the same motivation and goals you do. Just remember, they may not always be at the exact same time. Ha!
 
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#10
Goatrope said:
I've found that playing in a rock band can be a lot of fun, but every situation involves some compromise. Having goals will help.

I may stick with a situation where several close friends play together, but have different levels of musicianship. I have thoughts of "upping the game" but that band is one that does only Benefits and Charity gigs, so I place a high value on the volunteer aspect rather than approaching it as a hired gun.

Then there are situations where I insert myself among better musicians and push myself to rise to the occasion.

Other times I'm asked just to show up and record parts for songs I've never heard. This is another type of challenge that uses a different part of my brain. It's nice sometimes to play without the drama associated with a "band".

For me, satisfaction comes from having multiple outlets. Any one situation on its own has bits of dissatisfaction. All together they seem to work.
Click to expand...

^^ This is probably one of the best replies i've seen on TB in quite a while.
 
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#11
Kmonk said:
Its pretty easy for me. If my band can't be the best it can be, I won't enjoy it.
Click to expand...

This is exactly right. You need to put in a performance you can be proud of. If say, you reach a point where the performance is as good as it is going to get, you have to tape it, listen to it back, and decide if "as good as it is going to get" is "good enough."

I think there IS always some compromise, but I think WHERE we draw that line is an individual thing. If you think your band is 90% on a pretty difficult song to perform, you may have to decide that 90% is worth putting over. Maybe gauge it against the actual artist's live performances over many years. Is it just studio trickery that made it so good in the first place? Are you shooting for an impossible standard?

If so, off you go.

If not, you may have to find out what the weak link is. If its a band member, (who isn't you,) you may need to replace them, or find out what you can do to help them improve their performance.

It's best if you are satisified with what you are putting out there, and not settling.
 
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#12
Thanks to everyone one for their replies, I'm just at a situation where i just landed a full time job and I have to choose to devote my time to make myself grow or work with my band to make us grow together. Unfortunately I dont know if I will have time to do both so I have to choose either my band or myself.
 
#13
tangentmusic said:
Music - whether playing it or simply listening to it - should be enjoyable.

If you're in your car flipping thru the stations, and you don't enjoy a tune, you keep looking.

If you're in a band you don't enjoy... you get the idea.
Click to expand...

BY God feller, THIS right here is one of the best, concise, usable examples I have encountered.:thumbsup:

If you cannot grasp the awesome simplicity provided in this statement,:)
then you have much bigger problems than we
will be able to address here.
 
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#15
I've said it it in related threads. You have to determine what is best for you, and make that a priority. Too many people are engaged in the 'I'm in a band' mentality. They value being a member of that team. That's a good thing, except when the team isn't going where you need to go. One of the hardest things I had to learn over that years is that there will always be more opportunities, even if I have to manufacture them myself. When the situation isn't productive for me any more, it's time to move on.

As a young person, planning to pursue a career in music, there are a lot of options and a lot of questions you have to ask yourself. You need to understand that your success in the business of music should never be held at the mercy of the committment of others.
 

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