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Singer & Perfection

M

Michelob_64

Feb 6, 2008
136
5
Cincinnati, OH
www.myspace.com
#1
I have a question about an issue building in our band. We recently reacquired our old singer, replaced a drummer & for the past 2 months have been learning some new material, not a bad thing. But here is my issue.

We have been offered up 2 gigs, one this weekend & one next weekend. In both instances we would be saving the bar from a bandless night due to cancellations. One venue is one that we'd really like to get a foot into the door and get future dates. The other is just a favor with a venue we played every couple of months in the past.

In both instances the singer had adamantly refused to play either show citing “we aren’t ready.” We have played the past 2 years together doing 3 to 6 shows a month. Our drummer has filled in for us in the past and knows all of the songs. We are only adding about 10 new songs to our existing setlist. When the new venue called, the bar owner he asked the singer to do the 19th, singer says “no, we aren’t ready” & then asks if there were any other later dates available. The bar owner quickly ended the conversation with “I’ll check back with you in the summer.” That tells me that our hopes of getting in there are probably just went to hell in a hand basket.

I really don’t understand our singer, sure we may make some mistakes but these songs aren’t new to us, but I think he is looking for absolute perfection. I tell him to relax and take chances sometimes, that he has to trust all of us as professionals. I’m really not sure what he’s really thinking or if he’s told people so much will be different not that he's back or what is going on. As of now the other ¾’s of the band are wondering if we vote on it & make him show up.

Thoughts????
 
#3
Has your singer done any gigs before? It sounds the issues isn't "the band" but, perhaps, his own insecurities about performing. Your singer needs to understand that perfection will never be acheived. People aren't going to shows to see perfection. They are going to see live music, chase booty, have some drinks, and make a good time of it. Whether or not the bands singer is flawless is way down on the overall good-times priority list. It just doesn't matter.
 
#5
deepBassie said:
Has your singer done any gigs before?
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He has been the singer in the band for the past 3 years, got mad at the drummer in the summer & left the group in September. He's not green by any means, that's why I really don't understand his thinking right now. The rest of us have subbed for plenty of other bands, some of those subs with an hour notice & no practice with the host band, we aren't green either.

But I agree, perfection only results in frustration & mistakes. As long as you play well, you have fun, the people will have fun. It is all about getting your drink on, your skirt chasing in, and busting a move here & there. Like I said we only replaced 3 songs out of each of the old sets he had sung with us in the past.
 
#6
Meyatch said:
that gig is gone. The venue has already called another band.
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Meyatch, unfortunately you are right both gigs are gone & our chances of getting into the new venue have greatly diminished. He doesn't see opporunities for what they are, chances for the future. I don't want to go up there & flop either but sometimes you just have to be willing to jump off the bridge & trust that you will be okay.
 
#7
I was in a band once who had a drummer like this. He never felt we were ready to gig until everything was just right. I told him it never will be perfect just good is enough and we would gel as we play live. I got fed up and after 6 months went out with no booking experience at all and booked 3-4 shows that went well. The drummer still was never happy with any of the gigs...not enough money,had to pay for drinks etc. I got sick of it and told him keep your band I'm movin on.
 
#8
Some the best advice my mom gave me, when I was preparing for a certification tests that I kept on putting off scheduling because I wasn't ready enough. She told me, as long as I didn't have a test scheduled, I'd never be ready enough. Schedule the test, and pay for it, I bet you'll be ready. In my case, she was absolutely right.

Without a test scheduled, I'd either put off studying or study half-heartedly. But, with it scheduled and paid for, I was able to focus and put my nose to the grindstone because something was at stake then.

I apply the same thing to bands. Without an actual performance to prepare for, it's easy to meander, lose focus, and not be productive. But, if you have a performance scheduled, with people watching you and your rep on the line, you'll find that practices take on a little more sense of urgency and you get more focus.

Also, the gig is the carrot on the stick for many people. No carrot, and the horse won't want to run.
 
#10
jive1 said:
Some the best advice my mom gave me, when I was preparing for a certification tests that I kept on putting off scheduling because I wasn't ready enough. She told me, as long as I didn't have a test scheduled, I'd never be ready enough. Schedule the test, and pay for it, I bet you'll be ready. In my case, she was absolutely right.

Without a test scheduled, I'd either put off studying or study half-heartedly. But, with it scheduled and paid for, I was able to focus and put my nose to the grindstone because something was at stake then.

I apply the same thing to bands. Without an actual performance to prepare for, it's easy to meander, lose focus, and not be productive. But, if you have a performance scheduled, with people watching you and your rep on the line, you'll find that practices take on a little more sense of urgency and you get more focus.

Also, the gig is the carrot on the stick for many people. No carrot, and the horse won't want to run.
Click to expand...
Its all about goals, same with just about everything. I have no triathlons signed up /paid yet, so I am strugglign to find reasons to go out and train, even though I love doing it!
 
#11
My first suggestion was going to be to take the gigs & get a sub for the singer, but then I saw where you lost the gigs anyway. I would try to not let that happen again, even if it means getting another permanent singer.
 

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