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Should I bail?

Totally voting team bail, but if you want to preserve any relationship musical or otherwise, do not do it by email. If you just want to cut bait and walk, send a hasta la vista. Otherwise talk to them in person, or at least on the phone.
This makes me wonder...has this "band" gotten together or rehearsed since the BL went into the studio?
.... People show you who they are with their actions.......
I agree
 
28 likes so far. Most people fail to realize that the majority of professional musicians are lackeys. Servitude is what they get paid for. Some even earn a living for it.
i think that's because you'll find plenty of people aren't earning a significant amount of money by playing music and are in it for things other than getting paid, even if the $ is enough to buy a few pizzas....
 
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If it were me, I'd have bailed as soon as he booked the studio date without asking for your availability. That shows pretty much where he's at with it. He's the bandleader, so I guess he gets to make decisions about how he want to view the other in the band, and he's treating everyone else like hired guns. So let him hire someone else.

The next step on this will be him asking you to learn his recorded lines so that it "sounds like the record."
This. There's nothing worse in a creative situation than being relegated to the role of an interface for somebody else's ideas. Especially when there's nothing else in it for you.
 
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28 likes so far. Most people fail to realize that the majority of professional musicians are lackeys. Servitude is what they get paid for. Some even earn a living for it.

If you are a pro getting paid for your services, it's a mutually beneficial relationship. If you still feel like a lackey in that case, you'd do well to find a different line of work.
 
If he's that impatient and doesn't have the sense or ear to hear how bad it sounds (as you described it), I really don't see that changing anytime soon....or at all IME.

The question is: Is a problematic band a better situation than no band at all?

Don't know if anyone has suggested this already or not, but if he sucks at bass and isn't Guthrie Govan or whatever on guitar....why don't you and the sensible guitarist both leave and do your own thing together? Amputate the bad toe instead of the whole leg, IMO. That way you've got a larger pool of members (easier to recruit that way) and can still be writing songs in the meantime while looking for new bandmates.
 
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I've read what some think you should do roughly 3 ways. Run, send a text or email, or, face to face conversation with the whole band. I will say this. Send a text or email, simple, cowards way out. If you don't have the stones to do this in person, you just need to leave. Just run, OK, without a personal conversation, what does that tell the rest of the band? Not to mention you may be the only one gone? They will find another bass player. Is everyone on the same page about this? Do you know? If you chose to bail without an attempt to save your only project without possible resolution, isn't this cutting your nose off to spite your face?

If after a necessary face conversation its realized that nothing is going to change, or the conversation becomes confrontational, then it's time to leave.
 
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Best to just have a FULL band meeting in person. Explain your concerns and let him explain his.
Then get opinion of other musician(s) and go from there.
If he "listens to you and follows your guidance" then see what the attitude is towards next couple of practices.
IF he wants you to record the basslines over for him then have him send the files and record them at home. (if possible)
 
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I'd consider sending a group email that lays out your issues, and see if the other guitarist chips in. Make it as friendly and non-confrontational as possible. Then it's up to him. If you don't like his answer, why put up with the frustration and lack of respect?

I'm with Hummergeist.
 
if you want to put the fear of God in him, tell him you gave me his name, and I’m going to listen to his stuff to see what I can steal. I have a publishing company and looking for fresh ideas. Just remember, the first one to publish wins.
:rollno:
"childlike" (honesty) trumps "childish" (silly/immature) almost always. and where does an attempt at 'getting even' really get us? ;)

Am I right to regard the red flag and just bail before sinking any more of my short time into this?
if you've already made up your mind (and now you're seeking affirmation from an anonymous herd) then you may not be up for a real task...
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....You talk to adults like an adult. You DON'T just take all your marbles and go home. Then you're no better than him....TALK to the guy. Sure, what he did was stupid. But if I kicked to the curb every friend of family member who ever did something stupid to me I would be very lonely. Same goes for me. I need a second chance from time to time....Be the grown up. It may get you nowhere. But it may get you a continued project with more collaboration and friendship....Seriously, just quitting makes you no better than him. A grown up conversation is needed here.

whining and quitting are tools used by people who are afraid of adulting.

don't be one of them, OP! seek resolution/closure/whatever, but get some personal understanding of what it is you need to do. talk it over/out with the guy and see for yourself what a difference it makes to show some real respect for yourself.
good luck! :thumbsup:
 
Here's the thing. I'll assume you're all adults. You talk to adults like an adult. You DON'T just take all your marbles and go home. Then you're no better than him.

Calmly, but firmly, express to him that what he did was unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

You have NO IDEA how he will react to that.

It could be "Screw you. You're fired." (In which case, the end result is the same. You're out of the band. No big deal.)

Or, on the other end of the spectrum, it could be "Dude, I'm SO SORRY. I just got so excited that I wanted to get these songs done. It won't happen again. Lemme buy you a beer and let's talk about some of your ideas."

Very likely, the truth will be somewhere in between.

But TALK to the guy. Sure, what he did was stupid. But if I kicked to the curb every friend of family member who ever did something stupid to me I would be very lonely. Same goes for me. I need a second chance from time to time.

Be the grown up. It may get you nowhere. But it may get you a continued project with more collaboration and friendship.


Seriously, just quitting makes you no better than him. A grown up conversation is needed here.

^This.

It's obvious the OP values the collaboration. It is not a pro level project, and the OP doesn't present himself as a pro level player. Amateurs that expect professional behavior 100% of the time, without having to talk about things, are going to have a tough time finding and staying in a band.
 
So, been playing with two less experienced and younger guitar players for a few months now.....A couple weeks ago the BL said he wanted to get into a studio to record three songs. I said the best weekend for me was the veteran's day long weekend, the second guitarist agreed. BL said that was 'too late in the year'? and went ahead and booked this past weekend without even confirming with us....He's still texting us about next practice and stuff...
I would probably ghost him. And I'm not sure I'm kidding.
 

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