Our Band is doing everything wrong. Should I try to fix it or just quit?

[51PRI]

I may quit anyway but I'm just asking for opinions here.

The band I'm has been together and around and playing this region for a long time. I'm the newest member and I've been in the band almost 18 years. The band was started as a blues band, back when blues was "hot" in the wake of the Stevie Ray Vaughn era, and still has that identity/mentality. All of the members of the band have changed over the years except the drummer. The band now consists of two guitars, bass and drums. One of the guitarists is the band leader.

The over riding problem, as I see it, is this...we're having trouble getting bookings. Even clubs where we were one of their top bands won't book us at all this season. So I started trying to figure out why. This is what I've come up with...we don't have a following and we don't hold the crowd that is there. And why is that? Here are my observations/thoughts:

1. We (still) think and play like a blues band. We have two guitarists who like to solo a lot, and they do. Our bar gigs are more like what you would see at a blues festival instead of at a bar.

2. We do originals (blues) and covers. Many of the covers that we do end up sounding like blues, the way we play them. Again, lots of solos.

3. Lots of I-IV-V songs that sound similiar, if not to the public, identical.

4. We don't do a show. At a recent gig the BL decided to let the audience call the songs, and that included songs that we don't know, play, or at least in one case, haven't heard. There was often a long time between songs as the BL found the song online on his IPad and "learned" it onstage. Then he played it, reading the lyrics, occasionally missing chords, and we had to follow him as best we could.

5. At one recent gig the BL called a new original song that none of us had heard and we had to follow him to play it. It was a train wreck.

6. We play too loud. Both guitarists love to play solos and love to hear themselves above everything.

OTOH, the BL books the gigs and does a lot of online publicity, and he pays everyone equally. He has some regional notoriety and probably gets gigs because of that.

Some of this is redundant from another thread of mine. Sorry about that. Just wanted to vent and get some thoughts.

So my questions are:
1. Is this fixable? Should I even try?
2. Should I just accept a "it is what it is" attitude and hang on till the end?
3. Should I even talk to the band about it?

BTW despite the problems we had a good time playing. I had fun. However, we did not hold the crowd playing this way and the chance for more bookings is, in my opinion, greatly diminished by "performing" this way. If we had held the crowd and had people having a good time I would be holdiing my tongue now.

Sorry for the long post. Thanks for listening.

 

[gln1955]

If no one else in the band sees the problem, there's little chance you can fix it. They've been doing this same thing for way too long, so until it hits bottom and you can't get gigs, they won't change.

 

[fu22ba55]

If you're getting a local rep as a band that doesn't hold a crowd, you're in a death spiral (locally):

-Less people will come
-So less venues will book you
-So less people will come.... etc... etc...

I say it's time for a new genre of music, or some young blood in the band with more contemporary choices for tunes?

 

[Discount Bassy]

You seem pretty solid on what you don't want to do/what you think doesn't work. Start a band not doing that and bring in members of a similar mindset. The other important parts of the equation are knowing what you want to do, what a successful band does and what you are willing to do in order to make that happen. Step one is usually communication with the current band about your feelings on the situation and getting to work on a alternative. Who knows, you might be band leader material.

 

[two fingers]

Look for other opportunities. Stick it out with this band until one comes along. A month's notice is plenty. When you get another gig, put in a notice with this band and leave.

To answer your question, no, they will not change. Two guitarists who get off on their own lengthy solos and "same old same old" blues music aren't going to wake up one day and say "You know what? Our bass player is right! We should start playing more crowd pleasers and less guitar wankery songs!" Not gonna happen. Nevuh evuh. Period. Zero chance.

Find a gig. Put in a notice with this one. (No more than a month. If they can't find a bass player who can walk 1-4-5 all night in about 20 minutes that's their problem.)

 

[truand85]

After 18 years, I'd likely feel like the band is family, so I'd try to work it out personally.

 

[pepj]

Not really getting any sense of an upside.
Doesn't seem a viable band and the only reason its still going is because its harder to walk away.

 

[ShadowGroover]

Sounds like it's time to rehab the repertoire. That your band leader asked people what they want to hear is a great start.

That he then tries to play those songs onstage without hearing/knowing them not so much. Instead, take the requests, learn the tunes, rehearse them, then take them to the gig.

Play a yacht rock set. Play a country set. Play an alt rock set. When you can keep or grow a crowd, throw in a blues cover for old times sake. Otherwise, your BL is just a proverbial "fat lady."

 

[micguy]

Your band does a lot of solos. People don't dance to solos. Most clubs, if people don't dance, you don't get hired back. Unless they buy a lot of beer from the place. That can also work. But the rest of it just makes me think - yeah, time to go.

I'd guess your band is already dead; all that remains is for the doctor to pronounce the body on the table's time of death.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I may quit anyway but I'm just asking for opinions here.

The band I'm has been together and around and playing this region for a long time. I'm the newest member and I've been in the band almost 18 years. The band was started as a blues band, back when blues was "hot" in the wake of the Stevie Ray Vaughn era, and still has that identity/mentality. All of the members of the band have changed over the years except the drummer. The band now consists of two guitars, bass and drums. One of the guitarists is the band leader.

The over riding problem, as I see it, is this...we're having trouble getting bookings. Even clubs where we were one of their top bands won't book us at all this season. So I started trying to figure out why. This is what I've come up with...we don't have a following and we don't hold the crowd that is there. And why is that? Here are my observations/thoughts:

1. We (still) think and play like a blues band. We have two guitarists who like to solo a lot, and they do. Our bar gigs are more like what you would see at a blues festival instead of at a bar.

2. We do originals (blues) and covers. Many of the covers that we do end up sounding like blues, the way we play them. Again, lots of solos.

3. Lots of I-IV-V songs that sound similiar, if not to the public, identical.

4. We don't do a show. At a recent gig the BL decided to let the audience call the songs, and that included songs that we don't know, play, or at least in one case, haven't heard. There was often a long time between songs as the BL found the song online on his IPad and "learned" it onstage. Then he played it, reading the lyrics, occasionally missing chords, and we had to follow him as best we could.

5. At one recent gig the BL called a new original song that none of us had heard and we had to follow him to play it. It was a train wreck.

6. We play too loud. Both guitarists love to play solos and love to hear themselves above everything.

OTOH, the BL books the gigs and does a lot of online publicity, and he pays everyone equally. He has some regional notoriety and probably gets gigs because of that.

Some of this is redundant from another thread of mine. Sorry about that. Just wanted to vent and get some thoughts.

So my questions are:
1. Is this fixable? Should I even try?
2. Should I just accept a "it is what it is" attitude and hang on till the end?
3. Should I even talk to the band about it?

BTW despite the problems we had a good time playing. I had fun. However, we did not hold the crowd playing this way and the chance for more bookings is, in my opinion, greatly diminished by "performing" this way. If we had held the crowd and had people having a good time I would be holdiing my tongue now.

Sorry for the long post. Thanks for listening.

1) Only if the other members are willing to change. Just a side bar on the blues, people today have enough trouble of their own, let alone listening about yours for 2 to 3 hours. Secondly, variety is the spice of life. You need to mix it up more. And finally, throwing things together at your paying customers expense is not good for business. Being tight and polished is a good thing.

2) You all keep going down this path, all that you will have is the hang, and no gigs.

3) Yes, but be prepared. Before you do anything, record your next band gig. No cell phone recording. Get a pocket digital recorder, the audio is much better. Secondly, take a picture of the room before you start to play, then a second after the crowd leaves. At a team meeting play the recording then asking them if it is acceptable. Then show them the before and after picture photo. They should be getting the point by now.

You should know from your band’s reaction whether or not you want to continue.

BTW, we record every gig (you know, “For quality assurance purposes”), and passing it on works. The way we started was every time I’d hear something somebody did that was outstanding, I’d get them to the side and say, hey, I have something you need to hear… the more often the more they wanted to listen to their work. And when they did they started cleaning things up.

Best wishes. You certainly have a challenge.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

I don't know if there's much future here, from what you've told us.

It would be interesting to know if these guitar players knew each other before they met in your band. It would help me figure out the dynamic a bit better to give a more informed answer.

If you and the drummer are "senior" members, why doesn't that count for something? You two have been building/maintaining this band since before they were in it.

I don't know if your band is on the radar of other bands in the area, but staying in the band may diminish your ability to find a new gig, when the time comes.

It sounds like this band needs an intervention and, unless you see one on the horizon, it may be time to pack it in.

 

[DJ Bebop]

If you're getting a local rep as a band that doesn't hold a crowd, you're in a death spiral (locally):

-Less people will come
-So less venues will book you
-So less people will come.... etc... etc...

I say it's time for a new genre of music, or some young blood in the band with more contemporary choices for tunes?

...Or gig further out of their regular territory.
New ears to hear them.

 

[Chickenwheels]

I may quit anyway but I'm just asking for opinions here.

The band I'm has been together and around and playing this region for a long time. I'm the newest member and I've been in the band almost 18 years. The band was started as a blues band, back when blues was "hot" in the wake of the Stevie Ray Vaughn era, and still has that identity/mentality. All of the members of the band have changed over the years except the drummer. The band now consists of two guitars, bass and drums. One of the guitarists is the band leader.

The over riding problem, as I see it, is this...we're having trouble getting bookings. Even clubs where we were one of their top bands won't book us at all this season. So I started trying to figure out why. This is what I've come up with...we don't have a following and we don't hold the crowd that is there. And why is that? Here are my observations/thoughts:

1. We (still) think and play like a blues band. We have two guitarists who like to solo a lot, and they do. Our bar gigs are more like what you would see at a blues festival instead of at a bar.

2. We do originals (blues) and covers. Many of the covers that we do end up sounding like blues, the way we play them. Again, lots of solos.

3. Lots of I-IV-V songs that sound similiar, if not to the public, identical.

4. We don't do a show. At a recent gig the BL decided to let the audience call the songs, and that included songs that we don't know, play, or at least in one case, haven't heard. There was often a long time between songs as the BL found the song online on his IPad and "learned" it onstage. Then he played it, reading the lyrics, occasionally missing chords, and we had to follow him as best we could.

5. At one recent gig the BL called a new original song that none of us had heard and we had to follow him to play it. It was a train wreck.

6. We play too loud. Both guitarists love to play solos and love to hear themselves above everything.

OTOH, the BL books the gigs and does a lot of online publicity, and he pays everyone equally. He has some regional notoriety and probably gets gigs because of that.

Some of this is redundant from another thread of mine. Sorry about that. Just wanted to vent and get some thoughts.

So my questions are:
1. Is this fixable? Should I even try?
2. Should I just accept a "it is what it is" attitude and hang on till the end?
3. Should I even talk to the band about it?

BTW despite the problems we had a good time playing. I had fun. However, we did not hold the crowd playing this way and the chance for more bookings is, in my opinion, greatly diminished by "performing" this way. If we had held the crowd and had people having a good time I would be holdiing my tongue now.

Sorry for the long post. Thanks for listening.

Life’s too short

 

[Carl Hillman]

I may quit anyway but I'm just asking for opinions here.

The band I'm has been together and around and playing this region for a long time. I'm the newest member and I've been in the band almost 18 years. The band was started as a blues band, back when blues was "hot" in the wake of the Stevie Ray Vaughn era, and still has that identity/mentality. All of the members of the band have changed over the years except the drummer. The band now consists of two guitars, bass and drums. One of the guitarists is the band leader.

The over riding problem, as I see it, is this...we're having trouble getting bookings. Even clubs where we were one of their top bands won't book us at all this season. So I started trying to figure out why. This is what I've come up with...we don't have a following and we don't hold the crowd that is there. And why is that? Here are my observations/thoughts:

1. We (still) think and play like a blues band. We have two guitarists who like to solo a lot, and they do. Our bar gigs are more like what you would see at a blues festival instead of at a bar.

2. We do originals (blues) and covers. Many of the covers that we do end up sounding like blues, the way we play them. Again, lots of solos.

3. Lots of I-IV-V songs that sound similiar, if not to the public, identical.

4. We don't do a show. At a recent gig the BL decided to let the audience call the songs, and that included songs that we don't know, play, or at least in one case, haven't heard. There was often a long time between songs as the BL found the song online on his IPad and "learned" it onstage. Then he played it, reading the lyrics, occasionally missing chords, and we had to follow him as best we could.

5. At one recent gig the BL called a new original song that none of us had heard and we had to follow him to play it. It was a train wreck.

6. We play too loud. Both guitarists love to play solos and love to hear themselves above everything.

OTOH, the BL books the gigs and does a lot of online publicity, and he pays everyone equally. He has some regional notoriety and probably gets gigs because of that.

Some of this is redundant from another thread of mine. Sorry about that. Just wanted to vent and get some thoughts.

So my questions are:
1. Is this fixable? Should I even try?
2. Should I just accept a "it is what it is" attitude and hang on till the end?
3. Should I even talk to the band about it?

BTW despite the problems we had a good time playing. I had fun. However, we did not hold the crowd playing this way and the chance for more bookings is, in my opinion, greatly diminished by "performing" this way. If we had held the crowd and had people having a good time I would be holdiing my tongue now.

Sorry for the long post. Thanks for listening.

I'm sorry, but you've got Guitarrhosis of the Band.

There are great things being done these days with band personnel transplants, though. It's not hopeless.

 

[DTRN]

For bar gigs, you gotta play what the chicks wanna hear. I promise it won't be blues all night. Girls attract boys. Boys spend lots of money on girls. It's that simple. I love blues but I would go crazy if that's all I played.

 

[Killing Floor]

If you’re hoping to achieve a higher level of success right now your the bass player in that band with 2 guitar soloists that plays unrehearsed material on stage and isn’t sure why gigs are drying up. If it’s just fun stick with it.

 

[JonathanPDX]

Those guitarists don't see it as a band in trouble. They see it as their solo-wankery playground and the gigs are a bonus. They are never, ever going to come around to the idea of treating this as a professional endeavor. You're the only one who sees anything wrong.

Run fast, don't throw more time and energy into something that's a waste. Besides, one club owners see that you are too loud, too sloppy, AND don't bring in any money, you'll have a hell of a time convincing them you've somehow changed. Especially if you already have a very long and probably bad reputation.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

I'd tell them what's up, then if their response is something along the lines of "I agree but didn't know how to bring it up," then give it a go for a short bit to see if there's actual commitment to the follow through.

More likely their response will be neutral to bad and in that instance I'd make plans to walk.

 

[Stranger Danger]

18 years is a good long run. I’d say it’s past being stale and time to move on

 

[StayLow]

Obvious and only answer is “QUIT” before even opening the thread.

Reading half the OP, gotta state the fact that your band “leader” is a band saboteur.

Also, QUIT QUIT QUIT !!