• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Reasons why projects don't work out...

G

glocke1

Supporting Member
Apr 30, 2002
3,470
5,020
PA
#1
Lat post before bed and I should have been bed already, but I drank a five hour energy 4 hours ago and I am hoping the ambien and xanax (yes, both are Rx''s)i took kick in and counteract that stuff.

Anyway, I agreed to play bass on 3 songs a friend has...3. Even the guy at the studio was like "focus on 3 songs, you'll thank me later".

We are all busy, and frankly Im really not interested in this stuff that much anymore since I started delving into the jazz side of things, but we go back a ways, so..

Last Friday we got together and played, went over his 3 songs than did some fun jamming. Than spent more time on his three tunes.

They are easy enough, and I'll get to play some creative stuff on them...sI've got a few hours a week I can to devote to this for a shot period of time so I said yes.

Today he sends a text with an additional 3 tunes, and wants to add in some zeppelin/pink floyd...so 6 new originals, and 3-4 other tunes. No time for any of that...If this was a band that would perform out that would be one thing, this is a guy that wants to record his music

Its really something I see often, guys with limited time and big goals throwing out huge lists of tunes for people. Happened a couple of years ago, I was asked to sit in at a bike rally band. Asked for a list of tunes that will be played, I get a list of every tune they ever played. 40-50 tunes. I basically told them get back to me with a real set list that I can work on between now and the gig that is three days away. They never called back.

SO being too unrealistic/too ambitious given time/resources is one thing that leads to bands failing.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: LowActionHero, mikewalker, Ellery and 9 others
#2
glocke1 said:
Lat post before bed and I should have been bed already, but five hour enerhoping the ambience and xanax (yes, both are Rx''s)i took kick in and counteract that stuff
Click to expand...

Ambien/zolpidem/stilnocht/whatever they call it - this is poison, pure and simple.

It's the stuff that makes you empty your bladder into your keyboard and question what happened when you wake up.

It's the stuff that makes you post racist messages at night and lose your talk show the next day.

It's what made Elon Musk go totally overboard on several occasions in 2018.

Add alcohol to the mix and you are gone forever.

Just say no.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Seanto, Raulplaysbass, mikewalker and 9 others
#3
Sid s said:
Ambien/zolpidem/stilnocht/whatever they call it - this is poison, pure and simple.

It's the stuff that makes you empty your bladder into your keyboard and question what happened when you wake up.

It's the stuff that makes you post racist messages at night and lose your talk show the next day.

It's what made Elon Musk go totally overboard on several occasions in 2018.

Just say no.
Click to expand...

hmmm..last time i did this i woke up to find a bag of costco bacon crumbles had been half eaten. and i live alone..and don't remember it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker, Sid s and Sixgunn
#5
glocke1 said:
...
Today he sends a text with an additional 3 tunes, and wants to add in some zeppelin/pink floyd...so 6 new originals, and 3-4 other tunes. No time for any of that...If this was a band that would perform out that would be one thing, this is a guy that wants to record his music
Click to expand...
In software development that's called scope creep. In the studio, it's called "no. three means three, not six."
 
  • Like
Reactions: design, Bunk McNulty, DavC and 17 others
#8
I remember last year , some promoter wanted to do a show with some tribute bands...My band agreed and we scheduled a meeting .I was in the meeting representing my bandmates... All the sudden people started to talk about doing four shows in 4 cities, renting two vans for all the bands, and so on... I'm a kind of down-to-earth guy...and I said " Maybe we can do the first show in and see how it works "..

Most of the times I'm right so...a week before the show a band cancelled and, two days before, one of our guitar players had heart surgery...(we had a sub ready BTW)... Those things happen..

But the fun part of that was that the day of the gig , most of the people had issues to be on time at the venue before setting gear and soundchecking... (basically most of the musicians were at their day jobs..some of us took the day off)..

We did the show and it was a sold out event and it was great ...Days after the show some people told in a chat group that the first idea of doing 4 shows was great..and we could think about it again..

My answer was straight and simple : Basically I wrote that if , even playing in a local, gig most of the poeple couldn't be on time at the venue for soundcheck I don't figure how may we could organize 3 more gigs in 3 different cities...too many different job schedules and responsabilities..(for the record they were talking about a four band tour ..19 musicians)

It's good to have illusions and goals, but sometimes you must be down-to-earth.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LowActionHero, mikewalker, TheBear and 4 others
#9
It's simple.

Musicians are weirdoes.

And, usually, you have one of two scenarios.

1) A democracy of weirdos. This rarely works out. When all of those delusional people rank equally and have different delusions, chaos ensues.

2) A benevolent dictatorship with one weirdo in charge. This rarely works out. His/her delusions rarely mesh with those of the delusional minions. Eventually, each minion goes to his/her own version of TalkBass to explain to his/her cyber buddies how much better he/she could do it. One we all encourage the individual minions, crap hits the fan. Drummer get fired. Guitarists get told to (gulp) turn down. In true acts of defiance, the dictator gets told how his/her setlist stinks, how the minions are tired of rehearsing so much, etc. Minion 1 thinks minion 2 needs a bath. Minion 3 thinks minion 4 should practice more at home. Next thing you know...…

giphy.gif



See where I'm going with this?

If you can keep ANY band together for a year you have beaten the odds. You have become a ninja level cat herder.

Tell your friend in simple terms what you will and will not do. Period. Then whatever happens is on him.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Positive Light, pcake, Jimmy4string and 19 others
#15
rashrader said:
Why do people find it so difficult to be honest?
Click to expand...

I suspect lots of people regard bands like a team or even a family so on one side there are people who leverage that to impose on you and on the other side there is temptation to avoid the guilt of letting the team down or disappointing your family. Also it can get a little cult like when you try to leave and the rest of the band try really hard to persuade you to stay. When the group has invested a bunch of time and money, it's more difficult to be fully honest when pulling the plug. You should still be fully honest, but it's not easy for many.

This is why at the beginning of a band or project, it's a good idea to explicitly lay out your expectations, your limitations (the amount of time you can give, what you won't do, etc.), and, if possible, your exit protocol.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: RexxRokket, Michael Bauer, TheBear and 2 others
#18
two fingers said:
It's simple.

Musicians are weirdoes.

And, usually, you have one of two scenarios.

1) A democracy of weirdos. This rarely works out. When all of those delusional people rank equally and have different delusions, chaos ensues.

2) A benevolent dictatorship with one weirdo in charge. This rarely works out. His/her delusions rarely mesh with those of the delusional minions. Eventually, each minion goes to his/her own version of TalkBass to explain to his/her cyber buddies how much better he/she could do it. One we all encourage the individual minions, crap hits the fan. Drummer get fired. Guitarists get told to (gulp) turn down. In true acts of defiance, the dictator gets told how his/her setlist stinks, how the minions are tired of rehearsing so much, etc. Minion 1 thinks minion 2 needs a bath. Minion 3 thinks minion 4 should practice more at home. Next thing you know......View attachment 3294320


See where I'm going with this?

If you can keep ANY band together for a year you have beaten the odds. You have become a ninja level cat herder.

Tell your friend in simple terms what you will and will not do. Period. Then whatever happens is on him.
Click to expand...

Chemistry between the people involved. Common goals or lack thereof.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Last Rebel

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back