practice anyone?

[eno50]

I would like to start a thread about so called throw together bands or gigs that I see all the time now,and what others think about it..
I see alot of bands being put together on the fly,someone books the gig and then scramble around trying to find guys to put a band together no practice,just show up get a set list and try to get thru the night. My wife and I go out every now and then to have dinner and a see a band other than the one I'am in. and it just kills me to see these guys struggle to make music,trying to traspose in a different key,someone don't know the songs and try to fake there way thru,all are looking at each other like there lost. needless to say the band doesn't get called back.
What ever happend to practice? or getting your s##t together before preforming .don't you think you should get together and get your songs polish up,for some it could as little as one or two rehersals, other more but at least get it together.
Am I the only one that see this or is this happing in your neck of the woods. I know some stuido guys that would'nt take a chance like that,and there used to learning a song on the fly.
so what do you think ? if your going to be in a band should you get your act together?
eno

 

[bomofiglio]

In northeast connecticut, it seems like most of the bands at the bars on sat night just plain count on everyone being drunk.

 

[Shoot_A_Hostage]

+1
Before my current band I had a lot of experiences with this.
Now my guitarist won't even let us play a song until we;ve had it under our belt for a month =P

 

[kayakbass]

That pick up band thing CAN work but you need a "well" of talented musicians to draw from that already KNOW the material. Too many people try swim in the deep end of the pool and just can't. They are only fooling themselves....

 

[bgressman82]

a friend of mine's dad has done this a lot. a few years ago, i saw him play his first gig with a cover band he had thrown together. bunch of guys in their 40's playing the songs that they all knew. they scored a regular gig twice a month at the bar they were at that night. you would think they had been together for years.

more recently, he started playing on his own, singing and playing keyboard. he decided he wanted a drummer for a gig one night, so he asked my friend to come do it a few hours before he went on. now they're a 2 piece playing with pre recorded tracks. it's a sight. they'll go from keyboard/drums to keyboard/guitar to guitar/guitar and back all night long playing classic rock/easy listening. seems more and more, somebody will come up, hand them some cash, and they've got a singer for a few songs, too.

 

[robd]

works ok with blues bands I've done it with

either you can play the blues or you can't

 

[kayakbass]

works ok with blues bands I've done it with

either you can play the blues or you can't

EVERYONE should learn to play the blues. You don't have to be a "blues guy" to be versed in the standard feels and lines. GOT to know it!

 

[Stereo Joe]

I've been in a few 'pickup' bands and it can work well when the leader is strong and confident and can clearly show the band where to go.

Lately though, I'm playing with bands that like to rehearse more and it's actually a little frustrating. If everyone takes care of knowing their own parts, you can have a good night of music with people who've never rehearsed together before. Some of these bands seem to use the rehearsal time to try to LEARN the material and this is a big waste of time for the musicians that already learned their parts.

Honestly, for a $100 per man bar gig, I'm not really going to be enthusiastic about lots of rehearsing. If it's a theatre show with higher pay or better exposure, then rehearsing is more worthwhile just to sound as tight as possible.

 

[HaVIC5]

That pick up band thing CAN work but you need a "well" of talented musicians to draw from that already KNOW the material. Too many people try swim in the deep end of the pool and just can't. They are only fooling themselves....

This. I'm primarily a jazzer, and the vast majority of my gigs are "pick-up" gigs, and with very few exceptions, they all have gone very well. If the people are on top of their game (reading, transposing, improvisational skills are all down cold), and the leader knows what he's doing, nobody will be able to tell. Rehearsal is just time spent not getting paid in those circumstances.

Some of these bands seem to use the rehearsal time to try to LEARN the material and this is a big waste of time for the musicians that already learned their parts.

This is the worst.

 

[Audiophage]

Lately though, I'm playing with bands that like to rehearse more and it's actually a little frustrating. If everyone takes care of knowing their own parts, you can have a good night of music with people who've never rehearsed together before. Some of these bands seem to use the rehearsal time to try to LEARN the material and this is a big waste of time for the musicians that already learned their parts.

Sometimes that's more the fault of the bandleader than anyone else. You may be just handed a chart at a rehearsal that you've never seen before.